am I getting the hang of it?

[mimitabby]

sounds like you are doing great!

[RoadRaven]

Hey there GG... well done on learning to relax

I find sometimes it takes a real mental effort to relax muscles - a bit of a contradiction - flex mental "muscle" to relax "physical" muscle.

But it does make the riding so much more pleasant, and recovery too.
Well done on getting the "hang of it"...

I also cocur with your decision not to make too many adjustments too soon. Baby steps always when your position is just about right, and then try that out for a week or two, before taking the adjustment further...

Hmmm.... are you going to want a road bike... well... what other answer is there than YES! OF COURSE!



Road ~obsessed-roadie~ Raven

[KnottedYet]

Sounds right! Your breathing will get easier as your body re-learns to breathe with your diaphragm/rib cage as you hold your core firm. If it's used to using floppy-belly breathing it will feel odd for a while. Soon you'll have greater ribcage flexibility and happier intercostal and diaphragm muscles AND a firm core and you'll be amazed at how powerful you feel!

(if you have been trained in singing or wind instruments, use some of the breathing cues you learned then. Musicians breathe while holding the lower ab/core muscles firm and can toss some belly-breathing in there without losing the core control.)

One good way to practice (and strengthen) is to hold the core firm and breathe with your ribcage whenever you sit. Sitting at work, sitting at the computer, whatever. Imagine you are pressing your ribs out to your armpits or trying to stretch your bra band as you inhale. Good stuff!

[gingergin]

Thanks everyone!