Upper Body Workouts are Important For Cyclists, Too

Competitive and amateur cyclists alike know that the majority of power comes from the legs, but upper body strength can be equally as important. If you are looking to train for a competition or just want to be able to bike between the boroughs, focusing training on both legs and the upper body will help you perform and feel better.

Keep Your Balance

While the legs do the work in powering a bicycle, you still need to keep your upper body strong so that you maintain adequate balance for long periods of time. When you don’t have a strong core, you are more likely to move in the saddle, which means you aren’t streamlined for speed and efficiency. Plus, the more tired you get, the less control you’ll be able to exert over your body.

Feel Less Pain

One of the biggest problems for long-distance cyclists is the lower back pain that can come from being hunched over for hours on end. While cycling in itself promotes leg strength, it doesn’t actually do much in terms of supporting your upper body, which is where the core comes in. A strong core will help you use those muscles when pedaling for long hours, as opposed to straining your back with excess weight displacement. Working with a personal trainer Midtown East can help you develop the core strength that reduces aches and pains and the chance of injury.

Pedal More Efficiently

With a strong core, each time you pedal you are using less energy. Instead of relying on your leg strength to overcome your upper body, you are stabilizing yourself with core strength which gives the legs less resistance to work against. There is a reason that personal training for distance cycling NYC focuses on the core just as much as, if not more than, the leg muscles.