Kelly’s Korner: Ride Fit not Fat
Last Updated: November 30th, 2020
I used to be fat. For a long time. And until I got un-fat, I did not realize how much my poor physical condition had been impacting my riding. Of course I knew my size and lack of exercise created problems on the bike — that became ultra clear to me in summer of 2012. I was riding down from Flagstaff with friends and couldn’t carry a 20-pound backpack without falling far behind my group because I was so tired from the added exertion. At a stop in the Verde Valley, a friend took the backpack for me. Embarrassing.
It wasn’t until six months later or so that I began to comprehend the extent to which my physique had been slowing down my abilities on a bike. In the intervening time, I had started a sane version of CrossFit and been following a new eating lifestyle. As I lost weight and gained strength, and continued to ride on the street and track, and then added dirt biking to the mix, I saw how much my out-of-shape body had limited my riding capacity. Thus I conclude that physical fitness is not just a desirable component to riding enjoyment, it is a critical one. When my body is firing on all cylinders, I can ride longer, farther and with more focus, whether on the track, street or in the dirt.
There’s just one problem with being a rider who’s in shape: you know when your body is not operating at 100 percent, and that circumstance is aggravating beyond belief. That’s been the case for me for the past several months as I have been dealing with (and yes, getting help for) a lower back injury. I knew the problem was affecting my workouts and everyday quality of life, and now it’s apparent that it’s also hurting my riding. I discovered that this past weekend when I went dirt biking for the first time since April. (I don’t ride much in the summer, so this came as a bit of a surprise to me.) And let me tell you, the hard landings and the crashes hurt. At one point, near the end of the ride, I even refused to go down a small but steep hill, and back up another, because the thought of again jolting my back was too much. Making matters worse, all that day, I couldn’t pick up my own bike — a major annoyance and potential problem when dirt biking — and my endurance has gone downhill in just five months. That led to earlier onset of fatigue, which resulted in more crashes and minor war wounds than I can count.
Still, a not-great Sunday of dirt biking is better than a regular Sunday. And will I let my back stop me from riding as the Phoenix weather cools down? Absolutely not. I learned from this most recent outing that, when it comes to dirt riding, I need to opt for easier trails while the back rehab continues, and I need to be more careful in the gym with the weightlifting movements.
Do you want to enjoy riding more? Get in shape. If you’re already fit, shake up the routine a little. I really recommend cross-training (weights, cardio and gymnastics) because, from what I have witnessed in other people and experienced myself, it seems to be the most effective method for building strength, slimming down, increasing athletic capacity and being able to deal with unexpected physical challenges — many of which can occur on a bike. At the least, it’s better to be able to carry one’s own backpack.
Do you need some inspiration or insight? Reach out to me at kellyteal13@gmail.com.
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