Cycling and those damn skinny arms...
09-03-09, 07:48 PM
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Some people balance out their fitness and others just specialize in one area, not quite sure what the problem is exactly. Pro cyclists aren't competing in triathalons or weightlifting competitions and their lighter weight and high endurance is much more beneficial than having added muscle weight.
https://www.crossfit.com/journal/libr...w_Glassman.pdf
09-03-09, 07:50 PM
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So you don't want upper body mass? You don't want to be able to do a pushup? You don't want to be able to pull yourself up on a bar? Thats fitness too, just as much as cycling is. It's silly to have your body so unbalanced, especially to that extreme where wrists connect to shoulders as opposed to forearms.
09-03-09, 07:51 PM
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Strength to weight ratio is the key to cycling (aside from the engine) Having said that there are many sports if not all in which the elite level athletes are not "fit" by your definition. In fact the dudes with the biggest arms (weightlifters, powerlifters, etc) I would argue are just as generally unfit as a cyclist who specializes in their respective sport. This thread does seem like a giant troll, but if you want a really fit person go look up Laird Hamilton.
09-03-09, 07:59 PM
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I agree with you, Frankum. It stands out to me as well. There are many aspects of fitness, not just cycling. That is why the winners of the Crossfit games are considered the fittest man and woman in the world. Don't just race bikes, don't just run, don't just lift, don't just swim. I would rather be 90% in all categories than 100% in one. So, to conclude, when I see a super skinny armed cyclist, I see a person that is completely missing a big part of fitness.
09-03-09, 08:01 PM
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I like cycling. The fitness is a bonus. I don't think that most of us have the time to bike ride so much as to impact our health in a negative way by performing only one type of exercise, which is what you seem to be suggesting. Exercising to achieve a certain look is a waste of time to me, as is proficiency in multiple categories of whatever it is you are talking about (multiple categories of fitness? What is fitness? Right now you are saying that it is a certain look more than anything else).
I'd type a longer response but my arms are too tired.
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09-03-09, 08:06 PM
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Skinny dudes usually have sizeable dongs!
09-03-09, 08:14 PM
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athletes build their bodies to suit their specific sport. I would not imagine you would find a pro arm wrestler doing too many squats in the gym since it would not help his performance at all. Why would a pro cyclist add upper body mass that would only hurt their overall performance. If pure muscle mass equals performance I guess Ronnie Coleman is going to be winning the next TDF.
09-03-09, 08:17 PM
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Arm muscles probably have the least contribution to health out of all muscle groups.
BTW arm size does not equal strength or endurance. My arms had roughly the same diameter from when I could do 100 pushups to now, when I can barely do 30.
Enjoyed your whining though, OP.
BTW arm size does not equal strength or endurance. My arms had roughly the same diameter from when I could do 100 pushups to now, when I can barely do 30.
Enjoyed your whining though, OP.
09-03-09, 08:20 PM
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I agree with you, Frankum. It stands out to me as well. There are many aspects of fitness, not just cycling. That is why the winners of the Crossfit games are considered the fittest man and woman in the world. Don't just race bikes, don't just run, don't just lift, don't just swim. I would rather be 90% in all categories than 100% in one. So, to conclude, when I see a super skinny armed cyclist, I see a person that is completely missing a big part of fitness.
I'm sure he could snap Rasmussen in two...
09-03-09, 08:28 PM
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So you don't want upper body mass? You don't want to be able to do a pushup? You don't want to be able to pull yourself up on a bar? Thats fitness too, just as much as cycling is. It's silly to have your body so unbalanced, especially to that extreme where wrists connect to shoulders as opposed to forearms.
If I was a pro at whatever sport I would optimize my body for that. This is why cyclist have that look. Not better or worse or to be judged. That is my point. It is personal preference, training, and genetics.
09-03-09, 08:31 PM
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So you don't want upper body mass? You don't want to be able to do a pushup? You don't want to be able to pull yourself up on a bar? Thats fitness too, just as much as cycling is. It's silly to have your body so unbalanced, especially to that extreme where wrists connect to shoulders as opposed to forearms.
my skinny arms can climb 5.12
09-03-09, 08:44 PM
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I think the Chicken is retired.
There was a thread once about guys who had to get their women to open jars for them. A lot of BFers said they were in that group.
09-03-09, 09:05 PM
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I don't need to carry around a lot of muscles in my upper body any longer. I'm no longer a roadie for a band. No more heavy equipment to haul around. Unneeded muscle mass. Even before I got it, my skinny arms climbed 5.11. Never was good enough for 5.12. Now I have skinny arms again and I like it.
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09-03-09, 09:35 PM
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Wow, OP stirred up a hornet's nest of insecurity I think.
Interesting!
Interesting!
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09-03-09, 09:37 PM
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it has really changed my upper body strength! when I started riding in 2005 I used to lift 6 days a week and would max out on bench right around 335lbs.....I went to lift last week for the first time in a year and I was struggling doing sets with 135lbs....
09-03-09, 09:39 PM
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I'm thinking I'll be needing a bigger bowl.
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09-03-09, 09:51 PM
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If I was a pro at whatever sport I would optimize my body for that. This is why cyclist have that look. Not better or worse or to be judged. That is my point. It is personal preference, training, and genetics.
You lose credibility for mentioning that.
Having said that there are many sports if not all in which the elite level athletes are not "fit" by your definition. In fact the dudes with the biggest arms (weightlifters, powerlifters, etc) I would argue are just as generally unfit as a cyclist who specializes in their respective sport. This thread does seem like a giant troll, but if you want a really fit person go look up Laird Hamilton.
The problem is that people who do crossfit think that they are superior because they might win a gravel shoveling competition.
You mean 'fit' guys like this (from the crossfit site):
I'm not trying to sell everyone on crossfit workouts here, they just happen to be a good example in this situation IMO. Keep it civil and we can keep this discussion going!
09-03-09, 09:53 PM
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I sort of agree with the OP, I mean the skinny guys that cycle give me a chuckle but look at contador, he looks like he has'nt seen a burger in his life. And his arms are the size of my toothpicks. Yet he is the best cyclist in the world right now. But I agree, that to be a good athlete you should be optimized on all parts of your body. Abs, arms, legs. But skinny guys have a chance in cycling, what they lack in muscle and power they recover with fitness and endurance. I think the perfect cyclist has a mix of both which is what makes Lance Armstrong the best of all time.
09-03-09, 09:54 PM
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I laugh everytime I see a cyclist with those skinny muscle-less looking arms. Makes me just want to run over and punch 'em in the arm and probably snap a bone. Anywho, I lift weights & swim and make sure I don't get nasty skinny arms. Thoughts?
[IMG]h ttp://media.npr.org/news/images/2007/jul/25/leader_540.jpg?t=1248646854[/IMG]
[IMG]h ttp://media.npr.org/news/images/2007/jul/25/leader_540.jpg?t=1248646854[/IMG]
My second thought was that you are fat.
A fat idiot.
09-03-09, 10:08 PM
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https://articles.latimes.com/2009/feb...h/he-cycling16