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question about swimming

42 posts & 23 voices | Started 5 months ago by richieokeefe1 | Latest reply from aracer

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excitable1 - Member

Aracer... you need to calm down, relax, and get out of that sweaty gym with all those egos flying around. Why not go for a swim !

Why does (nearly) everything that anyone says on here always have to end up in confrontation. FFS this post was just someone asking if swimming was worth doing, it wasn't an invitation to flame what each of us do for additional exercise !

Each to their own Aracer. You enjoy the gym, stay in the gym. Others enjoy swimming, let them swim. Some of us may even like to Zumba !

The point is cycling plus another form of exercise is better for you than just cycling. Doing another form of exercise, wether it's in the gym, pool or in the dance hall will build your strength, stamina, mussel power and endurance meaning you will be able to cycle harder, longer and yes... faster.

Now I'm off to eat a big fat f in cake !

Posted 5 months ago #
nikk - Member

I took up swimming lessons in April of this year, primarily for self preservation reasons due to solo packrafting, but I also had meant to get into it for years as another form of exercise. I do seem to enjoy swimming, so that is a bonus... I love the sensation of floating and moving through the water. I tried running last year and basically hated every moment...

I try to swim 3 times a week, including one leson. Up to 1 hour each time. Considering when I stared this year, I couldn't swim 25m without feeling like I am drowning, I am chuffed I can do 1000m in 30 mins on a good day now. The group lessons I take (6 of us max with 2 instructors) help hugely with lots of variety, fun, things to work on, and goals. My other 2 sessions I try for a distance constant swim (no stopping), then maybe a warm up and cool down (usually some floating, diving, and breath exercises).

I feel the cycling helps the swimming more than the other way round in terms of lung conditioning, but I'm sure swimming helps in terms of overall condition. Also, at this time of year, going to a nice warm indoor pool feels good, especially as a stretch the day after a long cycle.

If you are thinking about it, just go try it out. I do recommend lessons, swimming seems to require much more technique than cycling.

Posted 5 months ago #
iDave - Member

Doing another form of exercise, wether it's in the gym, pool or in the dance hall will build your strength, stamina, mussel power and endurance meaning you will be able to cycle harder, longer and yes... faster.

That's not actually correct though. Nothing wrong with swimming but unsure how it develops strength and power for example.

Posted 5 months ago #
ade ward - Member

Doing another form of exercise, wether it's in the gym, pool or in the dance hall will build your strength, stamina, mussel power and endurance meaning you will be able to cycle harder, longer and yes... faster.
That's not actually correct though. Nothing wrong with swimming but unsure how it develops strength and power for example.

I'm sorry to take an extreme view have you seen the size and tone of any club swimmer you should use your core muscles to obtain a good position in the water , when I get out of the water after a 4 k swim I am completely toasted all over , if I climb it's my top half if I cycle it's the lower half ,
Come along to one of my sessions with the Oxford tri club ,

The op was talking of training not just a few lengths of doggy paddle and a chat with the lifeguard

Posted 5 months ago #
The Southern Yeti - Member

Ade Ward.... tell me more about the Oxford Tri Club?

Posted 5 months ago #
ade ward - Member

Well we are based in Oxford , roughly 350 members
We have 4 coached swim sessions each week in different pools dragon, Barton and radley
Tuesday turbo session
Thursday track at horsepath track
Saturday cross country ( will start in the next couple of weeks)
Sunday group rides

We have all abilities and ages from newbies to GB athletes
Link to website

Posted 5 months ago #
aracer - Member

have you seen the size and tone of any club swimmer

You do realise that top swimmers spend plenty of time in the gym?

You enjoy the gym, stay in the gym. Others enjoy swimming, let them swim.

Now here's the thing. I hardly ever go to the gym (don't even belong to one anymore, and didn't go that often when I did). Yet I spent many years regularly swimming. Despite finding swimming a bit boring, in general I'd also much rather do that than go to the gym. However I don't let that cloud my judgement on what is and isn't effective training (for cycling).

Listen to iDave - he knows far more than you (or I) will ever know about training for cycling.

Posted 5 months ago #