Training for travel exercise - climbing mountains
Jul 19, 2011, 6:49 pm
#32
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
About the knee. Nope, not until clients pay me. I have a $5K deductible.
Actually did a lot of bike riding (a few hours solid) last week when electricity was off for 52 hours & I rode around taking pics of all the damage. I was actually quite surprised how much biking hurt the knees! Who knew that walking would be better. I thought biking would be.
Pics here to t-storm damage:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16733102-post72.html
Cheers.
Jul 19, 2011, 9:31 pm
#33
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,700
Images are great (and were when up in the mountains).
About the knee. Nope, not until clients pay me. I have a $5K deductible.
Actually did a lot of bike riding (a few hours solid) last week when electricity was off for 52 hours & I rode around taking pics of all the damage. I was actually quite surprised how much biking hurt the knees! Who knew that walking would be better. I thought biking would be.
Pics here to t-storm damage:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16733102-post72.html
Cheers.
About the knee. Nope, not until clients pay me. I have a $5K deductible.
Actually did a lot of bike riding (a few hours solid) last week when electricity was off for 52 hours & I rode around taking pics of all the damage. I was actually quite surprised how much biking hurt the knees! Who knew that walking would be better. I thought biking would be.
Pics here to t-storm damage:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/16733102-post72.html
Cheers.
That is some serious storm damage.
Jul 20, 2011, 1:25 pm
#34
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
When I tore my Achilles tendon years ago I found that swimming helped, so am thinking of going back to that. Shouldn't be too hard on the knees.
Jul 20, 2011, 2:13 pm
#35
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,305
A suggested training outline for urban climbers in our Alps:
1. Start by conditioning your feet. Walk blindfolded through the local junkyard.
2. For added alpine weather effect, have someone also spray you with a water hose while walking through the junkyard.
3. Scree: Have your wife friends, or neighbors continually pour large stones onto you from your roof. Include a few bricks for realistic effect. ( Sans Helmet ! )
4. Rope/Belay safety: Using your best harness, have someone drag you around the yard, driveway, or neighborhood street. Repeatedly, and without warning.
5. Climbing: Select the highest building in your city and walk up all stairwells to the top and back. To gain the translatlantic jet-lag effect, do not sleep for a few days prior.
6. Repeat this again on the run, double-time.
7. Repeat this again now wearing a 45 Kg pack.
8. When your hospital convalescence is finished and you recover, return to step 1.
Good climbing and Bon Chance !
1. Start by conditioning your feet. Walk blindfolded through the local junkyard.
2. For added alpine weather effect, have someone also spray you with a water hose while walking through the junkyard.
3. Scree: Have your wife friends, or neighbors continually pour large stones onto you from your roof. Include a few bricks for realistic effect. ( Sans Helmet ! )
4. Rope/Belay safety: Using your best harness, have someone drag you around the yard, driveway, or neighborhood street. Repeatedly, and without warning.
5. Climbing: Select the highest building in your city and walk up all stairwells to the top and back. To gain the translatlantic jet-lag effect, do not sleep for a few days prior.
6. Repeat this again on the run, double-time.
7. Repeat this again now wearing a 45 Kg pack.
8. When your hospital convalescence is finished and you recover, return to step 1.
Good climbing and Bon Chance !
Jul 21, 2011, 1:28 pm
#37
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
A suggested training outline for urban climbers in our Alps:
1. Start by conditioning your feet. Walk blindfolded through the local junkyard.
2. For added alpine weather effect, have someone also spray you with a water hose while walking through the junkyard.
3. Scree: Have your wife friends, or neighbors continually pour large stones onto you from your roof. Include a few bricks for realistic effect. ( Sans Helmet ! )
4. Rope/Belay safety: Using your best harness, have someone drag you around the yard, driveway, or neighborhood street. Repeatedly, and without warning.
5. Climbing: Select the highest building in your city and walk up all stairwells to the top and back. To gain the translatlantic jet-lag effect, do not sleep for a few days prior.
6. Repeat this again on the run, double-time.
7. Repeat this again now wearing a 45 Kg pack.
8. When your hospital convalescence is finished and you recover, return to step 1.
Good climbing and Bon Chance !
1. Start by conditioning your feet. Walk blindfolded through the local junkyard.
2. For added alpine weather effect, have someone also spray you with a water hose while walking through the junkyard.
3. Scree: Have your wife friends, or neighbors continually pour large stones onto you from your roof. Include a few bricks for realistic effect. ( Sans Helmet ! )
4. Rope/Belay safety: Using your best harness, have someone drag you around the yard, driveway, or neighborhood street. Repeatedly, and without warning.
5. Climbing: Select the highest building in your city and walk up all stairwells to the top and back. To gain the translatlantic jet-lag effect, do not sleep for a few days prior.
6. Repeat this again on the run, double-time.
7. Repeat this again now wearing a 45 Kg pack.
8. When your hospital convalescence is finished and you recover, return to step 1.
Good climbing and Bon Chance !
Cheers.
Jul 24, 2011, 1:49 pm
#39
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,700
Swimming is great as an overall exercise, but it doesn't do much specifically for the knees.
Jul 25, 2011, 1:03 pm
#41
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
Too funny - I thought that bike fit meant you had to be fit/already riding a gazillion miles/day, not bike fit bike fit.
Saturday I rode my bike to the local fancy-schmancy bike store - aka, the one that sells Cannondales etc to have a basket put on the front of mine. That way I can use the bike to return/get books at the library, go to the farmers market, and the post office & save some gas $$, as well as just riding it in general.
The people were nice at the bike store, but they & their customers are very serious about biking stuff. I didn't have the fancy clothes or shoes, and have a 2nd-hand 21-speed bike (whose gears I don't really use), so I was pretty intimidated. Found out they have a biking 101 for women class they do, so if they do it next month I think I'm going to go.
It took a while for them to get the basket on because the bike I own does have some fancy stuff on it - or did. There's a spot for the computer & cables still are on for that etc. It was hot but not blistering, so I actually did ride the bike to the library, Hallmark, post office, resale shop, etc. The a/c felt good when I got back. My knees were sore though from all the peddling. I think I did about 10 miles.
Cheers.
Saturday I rode my bike to the local fancy-schmancy bike store - aka, the one that sells Cannondales etc to have a basket put on the front of mine. That way I can use the bike to return/get books at the library, go to the farmers market, and the post office & save some gas $$, as well as just riding it in general.
The people were nice at the bike store, but they & their customers are very serious about biking stuff. I didn't have the fancy clothes or shoes, and have a 2nd-hand 21-speed bike (whose gears I don't really use), so I was pretty intimidated. Found out they have a biking 101 for women class they do, so if they do it next month I think I'm going to go.
It took a while for them to get the basket on because the bike I own does have some fancy stuff on it - or did. There's a spot for the computer & cables still are on for that etc. It was hot but not blistering, so I actually did ride the bike to the library, Hallmark, post office, resale shop, etc. The a/c felt good when I got back. My knees were sore though from all the peddling. I think I did about 10 miles.
Cheers.
Jul 25, 2011, 3:06 pm
#42
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,700
Too funny - I thought that bike fit meant you had to be fit/already riding a gazillion miles/day, not bike fit bike fit.
Saturday I rode my bike to the local fancy-schmancy bike store - aka, the one that sells Cannondales etc to have a basket put on the front of mine. That way I can use the bike to return/get books at the library, go to the farmers market, and the post office & save some gas $$, as well as just riding it in general.
The people were nice at the bike store, but they & their customers are very serious about biking stuff. I didn't have the fancy clothes or shoes, and have a 2nd-hand 21-speed bike (whose gears I don't really use), so I was pretty intimidated. Found out they have a biking 101 for women class they do, so if they do it next month I think I'm going to go.
It took a while for them to get the basket on because the bike I own does have some fancy stuff on it - or did. There's a spot for the computer & cables still are on for that etc. It was hot but not blistering, so I actually did ride the bike to the library, Hallmark, post office, resale shop, etc. The a/c felt good when I got back. My knees were sore though from all the peddling. I think I did about 10 miles.
Cheers.
Saturday I rode my bike to the local fancy-schmancy bike store - aka, the one that sells Cannondales etc to have a basket put on the front of mine. That way I can use the bike to return/get books at the library, go to the farmers market, and the post office & save some gas $$, as well as just riding it in general.
The people were nice at the bike store, but they & their customers are very serious about biking stuff. I didn't have the fancy clothes or shoes, and have a 2nd-hand 21-speed bike (whose gears I don't really use), so I was pretty intimidated. Found out they have a biking 101 for women class they do, so if they do it next month I think I'm going to go.
It took a while for them to get the basket on because the bike I own does have some fancy stuff on it - or did. There's a spot for the computer & cables still are on for that etc. It was hot but not blistering, so I actually did ride the bike to the library, Hallmark, post office, resale shop, etc. The a/c felt good when I got back. My knees were sore though from all the peddling. I think I did about 10 miles.
Cheers.
http://www.bicycling.com/maintenance.../fine-tune-fit
Generally, the two most important parts of bike fit are seat height and seat position (forward/back). This is true for my grandpa's old single speed, balloon tire Schwinn and the bikes in the Tour de France.
Some bike shops charge quite a bit for a comprehensive bike fitting, but you can do quite a good job by trial and error.
I'd definitely suggest trying to raise your seat a bit. Start even with half an inch and see if it makes a difference. On your downstroke, the down leg should be pretty extended, just not locked out straight.
Jul 25, 2011, 4:31 pm
#43
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: INN
Posts: 2,909
Saturday I rode my bike to the local fancy-schmancy bike store - aka, the one that sells Cannondales etc to have a basket put on the front of mine. That way I can use the bike to return/get books at the library, go to the farmers market, and the post office & save some gas $$, as well as just riding it in general.
The people were nice at the bike store, but they & their customers are very serious about biking stuff. I didn't have the fancy clothes or shoes, and have a 2nd-hand 21-speed bike (whose gears I don't really use), so I was pretty intimidated. Found out they have a biking 101 for women class they do, so if they do it next month I think I'm going to go.
And yeah, I own three bikes that I use regularly and still don't consider myself a religious biker. I even have a car that I use once in a while, although mostly just for riding out to the skiing spots.
Jul 25, 2011, 7:03 pm
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: where the chile is hot
Programs: AA,RR,NW,Delta ,UA,CO
Posts: 41,700
Was that in the US? It always surprised me how serious people take biking over there. Here no one looks bad at you for riding a big downhill MTB or race bike in normal shorts and a t-shirt, nevermind everyone just riding through the city in normal clothes, for whatever defintion of "normal" the person likes.
For a while, the bike shops were really trending high-end technical, but at least where I live, more bike shops are paying attention to low-key urban, family and recreational cyclists. Not all shops - we have one that is dedicated solely to hard-core triathletes, for example, but they are around.
Jul 26, 2011, 12:40 pm
#45
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,113
Depends where you are, and things are definitely shifting (a good thing, IMHO).
For a while, the bike shops were really trending high-end technical, but at least where I live, more bike shops are paying attention to low-key urban, family and recreational cyclists. Not all shops - we have one that is dedicated solely to hard-core triathletes, for example, but they are around.
For a while, the bike shops were really trending high-end technical, but at least where I live, more bike shops are paying attention to low-key urban, family and recreational cyclists. Not all shops - we have one that is dedicated solely to hard-core triathletes, for example, but they are around.
We're getting a bit afield from training for walking in the mountains though.
Cheers.