Legs and Lungs

[annie]

Just curious as to how this works for the rest of you...........

After a long winter with little to no biking outdoors, when you get back on the bike and start riding again, which do you notice has suffered the biggest decline during the off-season, legs or lungs? I consistently find that my legs are always ahead of my lungs, come spring. I can climb without burning quads, but I run out of aerobic capacity waaaay sooner than I feel like I should. I spin all winter, hike, x-country ski, but still loose some fitness. Frustrating! It comes back, but it takes awhile. How everyone else? What's your experiences with this?

[Irulan]

heh, I'm convinced that spinning cures all.

Seriously. I was out mountain biking yesterday, and I couldn't beleive the hills I was just buzzing up. My friend who has been doing some resistance work but no cardio was just sucking wind. I really feel like my legs and lungs are in balance and that I'm well set for the beginning of the season

Irulan

[ragbrai40]

I'll second that - spinning works wonders.

I've been spinning 3x's week all winter, plus weight training and went out yesterday for a 3 mi run that normally is a struggle and I zipped right through it - no problem. Spinning has made a believer out of me!

[annie]

I'll agree that spinning helps tremendously, but I STILL don't feel I get the cardio workout in a spin session that I get outside......... maybe it's just me. Or maybe its because, as a spin instructor, I can't workout quite as hard as the class can. I HAVE to be able to have enough breathe to talk and coach. And usually, after having taught 3 classes a week, I don't have the time to go to more than one where I am a participant and can go till practically breathless. Ah well, I am very happy to hear good things about spinning. Glad you think it helps so much. And ever so glad to be able to get back outside, whether legs and lungs match or not! I'll get there soon enough........

[sno4rent]

I got out on my bike last night for the first time since last year. My lung capacity seemed fine, my legs seemed fine - until I got OFF the bike... I had practiced the "full circle" pedaling, the one leg at a time pedaling, and the scraping the gum off the bottom of the shoe pedaling (All highly recommended by the experts on this board ). Apparently, there are other muscles involved riding a bike than I am used to in running and weight lifting (everyone say, "DUH"). I believe it was the "upstroke" that got me since the "jello" feeling was in the front groinal area - where the leg attaches to the lower abdominals, give or take. Obviously, this needs more work... Although I am not sore at all today. I did notice a HUGE difference pedaling up, around and through. Much more efficient and my speed seemed to be faster than I remember it being last year when I was just "half-pedaling". Good advice on the techniques. So, in regards to this post, I'll have to say lungs are better off than legs for me right now - which actually surprised me.

Here's to getting it ALL back soon!!! <<holds up bottle of water to fellow bikers>> CHEERS!!!

~ Wendi

[fultzie]

I had my first race of the year two weeks ago in Ohio... whew! lungs were definitely worse off!! i usually don't have a ton of problems with the asthma while biking, unless it's a huge climb or i'm sprinting my legs off (low impact sports don't seem to bother my lungs as much as, say, running) but I hit the first big climb and about died. i blame the cold air and having not been outside on the bike since november
it was frustrating, though, because I wanted my legs to be tired and sore (that "good" tired feeling that means you worked your butt off), but i had to drop out of the race since my lungs couldn't keep up
oh well, there's all of spring with the nice mild weather to look forward to!
oh, does anyone have any suggestions for improving VO2 max/ helping with full-blown asthma? I already swim a few times a week (swimming was my first love ) and do yoga, but neither seems to have much of an effect.
thanks!

[Dogmama]

I rarely spin - we don't have decent classes around here. I ride a little but normally do stair climbing on a step mill, running and weight lifting. Lungs definitely take a couple of weeks to get back in shape. Legs are pretty good as I do riding-related weight lifting (e.g., squats, lunges, seated ham curls).

Personally, I think a break from the saddle is good. Not just a physically. I need a mental break too.

[cyclingnewbie]

I've been riding a few times a week indoors on a trainer all winter. The couple of times I have been able to get out so far this spring, I did better than I thought I would. So I would like to add my voice to the spinning supporters. The rides I got in on pavement weren't very hard, but my legs got tired before my lungs gave out, which surprised me. Maybe if I had been working harder, the reverse would have been true; I don't know. Last year, my cardio was ALWAYS the problem. I have to agree with Annie; the workout indoors just doesn't seem to be the same as a "real" ride. Maybe it's because you have the additional work of balancing, watching what's going on around you, etc.? But spinning in the winter definitely helps.

[grannydea]

I have to say that this is the first year that I did any real amount of spinning indoors. though I did noticed that at the mid winter point when I got my roller that I was alot more out of shape than I thought beings I had been using the trainner (but then I'm bad at mindless spinning) but with the roller I had to pay closer attention as there is no mindless peddling with it. I am in better shape than previous springs when I didn't get in much winter riding. Legs and lungs are about the same this year. Glad to be back outside no matter what shape I am in.

Dea

[kelrunran]

Finally, last weekend, I had my first ride where I was not dying. The type of ride, where when I am done I just lay on the family room floor, bike shoes and all.

It was a beautiful spring day in Boise on Sunday and got in a 35 mile ride. My husband keeps reminding to stop riding as hard as I can all the time - until I am back in cycling shape. Whatever !

Oh, even trying to get back into cycling shape it is so wonderful to be outside.