Exercise and riding

[BranNwebster]

I hit 40 last year and I with my doctors advice and my family history I decided that I need to get serious about exercising. I've half-a$$ worked out since I got out of the Army, 1989, but never really been motivated. Until I got my FZ6!

What a difference getting in shape makes. I started to hold my torso with my back and stomach muscles and grip my bike with my legs without thinking about it. I can go a lot longer and not get lazy and rest my body on my arms and hands, I can make it all the way to work and not get tired/sore hands. I noticed also that when I use my back and stomach to hold me up I kind of pivot at my waist (it keeps my head from jiggling on a bumpy surface) it seems to relieve the suspension of my upper body weight a little. In doing this I feel like I am part of my bike a little more, a bit more sensitive to what it's doing and the bike is a touch more responsive to my inputs.

So exercise = better performance is a great motivator.

Also the more weight you lose the better HP/Weight ratio.

Originally Posted by BranNwebster

I hit 40 last year and I with my doctors advice and my family history I decided that I need to get serious about exercising. I've half-a$$ worked out since I got out of the Army, 1989, but never really been motivated. Until I got my FZ6!

What a difference getting in shape makes. I started to hold my torso with my back and stomach muscles and grip my bike with my legs without thinking about it. I can go a lot longer and not get lazy and rest my body on my arms and hands, I can make it all the way to work and not get tired/sore hands. I noticed also that when I use my back and stomach to hold me up I kind of pivot at my waist (it keeps my head from jiggling on a bumpy surface) it seems to relieve the suspension of my upper body weight a little. In doing this I feel like I am part of my bike a little more, a bit more sensitive to what it's doing and the bike is a touch more responsive to my inputs.

So exercise = better performance is a great motivator.

Also the more weight you lose the better HP/Weight ratio.

I'm very free about the bike using a good deal of body English. Much like riding a horse I will post up when I need to and as the road surface may change. Yes, a strong set of stomach muscles will make a huge difference as will legs, arms, neck and wrists. In all, this combine to reduce rider fatigue. Going 100 miles on the FZ6 for me is a non stop buzz and I have no issues going 3 or 4 hundred miles on a day ride with zero complaints from head to toe. You are also correct in that a significant loss in overall ride weight is probably the cheapest in terms of gains because horsepower to weight ratio does improve which only makes things easier for the bike.

Glad to hear you are getting healthier.

[fast blue one]

And there was me thinking you were going to tell me the fz6 would get me fit.

[teeter]

Originally Posted by fast blue one

And there was me thinking you were going to tell me the fz6 would get me fit.

No kidding! I thought we were gonna vibrate ourselves into shape ala...

[BranNwebster]

Originally Posted by fast blue one

And there was me thinking you were going to tell me the fz6 would get me fit.

If we all rode correctly we would definitely give our abs a workout

[grumpy1luvs2eat]

My Doc told me I had to get into shape and I told him that I was in shape, since when is round not a shape? GRUMPY

[OneTrack]

The only part of my body that "hurts" the next day after a long (2 hours +) ride is my left hip joint and accompanying muscles/tendons. I guess it's because it's the most used leg (shifter and "put down" leg at a stop). It's not terrible, but I'm aware that I did something unusual from my regular routine.
I would think that some sort of basic squat and abdominal exercises would help, but yes, even riding a bike is a bit of a workout. The first time I went on a 2 hour ride on my FZ6 I thought I'd been in a bar fight the next morning, I was so sore. It doesn't bother me that much now.