[Closed] What does mtbing do to your body?

I think that road cyling may not be weight bearing exercise, but not so off road - if our joints take the battering you mentioned, then they must be weight bearing - no?

Makes me fitter and possibly marginally slimmer.

Makes me ache, lots of scratches, some crash damage.

Time will tell if it was worth trade off, but I suspect it is.

After 20 years...

Some scar tissue
Crooked middle finger on left hand
Limited range of movement in left shoulder
Some surgery to afore mentioned shoulder
Shagged out left knee

However, thanks to MTB I'm fitter and happier, with some fantastic friends and memories.

it makes my ankles hurt a bit, but that is just old rugby injuries letting me know i should have stopped earlier.

compared to contact sports cycling is nice and easy on the body.

I was reading recently that cycling is not good for you bones as it's not a weight bearing exercise.

Where as running isn't either as there's a lot of impact load.

Everything in moderation.

I think the benefits far outweigh the potential downsides. Take an average couch potato and what the total lack of exercise throughout their life does to them and I'd rather have a few knocks and bruises along with a healthy heart 🙂

Wrists are a bit knackered. Lots of scars on shins and arms. I have exercise induced asthma which the mountain biking doesn't help (anecdotal but if I don't ride for a bit my breathing seems to improve).

Unless I have too I won't be stopping any time soon though.

It helps it, massively. Relatively low-impact on joints, no major twisting, good all-round cardio.

It's all in the phrasing. Cycling might not be good for your bones but it's not bad for them. Sitting on the sofa isn't weight bearing either. I know what I'd rather be doing.

If you have something in particular that needs addressing, it might be useful to consider something to supplement your cycling. Maybe a well structured strength and conditioning routing might help.

Its fantastic compared to
Football
5-aside especially
Running
Rugby

Its interval training, body core, hike a bike, balance, mental agility, calming.

An osteo doc told me recently that it's common for people with borked knees to be able to ride bikes when walking is a problem for them, so it's not just me. OK, I can still walk to the shops, but I can ride a bike for two or three hours.

Where did the view 'cycling isn't weight-bearing exercise' come from? And don't forget fresh air and sunlight, shame about the grass pollen though.

What does mtbing do to your body?

Well this is me before I discovered enduro.

[img] [/img]

The second picture is from doing 2 hours of level 2 enduro weekly, and the third picture is where I'm at now. Full enduro.
8)

It's ****ed my shoulders. Both of them. Completely.

Is that falls though?

It is not a downside that it is not bone enhancing, it is not as though it is bad for you bones (just not good like some other stuff).

No downsides for the sort of riding I do - fastish XC. Low impact with very good cardio and a bit better than road because of the need to actually move your body above the waist, stand up a bit more etc,.

Enduro? In the gym?

I was reading recently that cycling is not good for you bones as it's not a weight bearing exercise.

Sceptical - cycling may not be as good for bone density as some other exercises, but I doubt it's actually BAD for them.

In any case, I read years ago that MTBers have something like 30% greater bone density than roadies due to all the shock and vibrations. Although that was years before 6" travel enduro machines were commonplace 🙂

Just go to the Alps and count how many incredibly old cyclists there are still winching themselves up passes, and then compare that with the numbers of similarly aged runners or footballers....

I'm pretty sure its given me piles.

Kayak - I'm reading that eastern style from right to left, correct?

Mountain biking you say?

[img] [/img]

I consider myself living proof... No really.

We had heard that shares in kleenex have gone up due to excess sales round your way 😀

I'm reading that eastern style from right to left, correct?

haha..
whats that bronski beat song?....beat boy,beat boy..... 😀
Fair play Kayak...

back to op..It's given me alot of scars,comedy calves and thighs that do not fit into pants that match my waist...

Wouldn't say it's the effect on my body of mtb. Doesn't do that much.
It's the affect on my head and general wellbeing that makes it worth whatever I have paid out on it

[IMG] [/IMG]
[IMG] [/IMG]

Improved my long term dodgy back, neck and shoulder no end

One GP said it could have been contributory to my Prostrate Cancer. My surgeon said very unlikley tho..

They did both reckon that epidiymal cysts could be bike related...

Well my neck feels pretty ****ed from When I hit the deck on Saturday felt like I was in a car accident when I woke up this morning.

I have exercise induced asthma which the mountain biking doesn't help

That's odd as it's been brilliant for mine. Peak flow improved over 15% (and then pretty much stayed there) since I started riding/switched asthma medication/attended SMART clinics. Was recommended to start cycling again by my previous doc.

Lots of broken/healed bits but definitely worth it. Only thing I KNOW it does for sure is shorten your hamstrings...

Makes me look like a selfharmer to my legs and arms and after a large off last week now cant stand straight ,bad back

Apart from that , my knees have been so much better since jacking football in 18 months ago

I got a horse fly bite the other day, now my leg is the wrong size.

Other than that, no ill effects here.

It makes my Gooch numb if I spend to long in the saddle...

It's what it's done to my brain that worries me.

Kayak23 - that's amazing.

I completely agree that for the mind mtbing is perfect. I't helped me get over stress and mild depression.

One of the reasons I was asking about mtbing being bad for your joints is that after breaking my hip nearly 12 months ago, the doctor doesn't think I should be out on my bike (easy cycling yes but not full on mtbing), could this be that jarring this joint which is screwed, could be doing me more harm than good?
Atm I can't do any other activities or sports.

The fact that without mtbing (only started again in April) I'd be a nut case, so have chosen to ignore his advice.

Bunnyhop - Member
Kayak23 - that's amazing.

Just in case it wasn't clear..that ain't me like...
🙂

I bet they don't really understand mountain biking so are going with the theory of "if in doubt, chicken out".

I've no doubt that a serious fall would be bad news but I'm guessing the comment wasn't after careful consideration of the biomechanics.

Consult a sports doctor. Non-biking GPs don't get it.. 🙂

What mountainbiking has done to my body, as of last week, third time my ribs have been redesigned since I started as well as a dislocated arm in the past and various minor injuries, knees, fingers, wrists, but it oddly seems worth it, to push my limits and the adrenaline..

Alex - Member

That's odd as it's been brilliant for mine. Peak flow improved over 15% (and then pretty much stayed there) since I started riding/switched asthma medication/attended SMART clinics. Was recommended to start cycling again by my previous doc.

all different I guess..............

You people need to learn to stay on your bikes 🙂

Thrustyjust as I said to Pook of this Shire. I can ride a hell of alot quicker however you should always hold something back, because riding at 100% means one day you'll be off the bike and work for weeks. That and not being able to walk, wash and dress properly.

Its also nice knowing that every so often you can visit this speed then smile.

Why end up stopping riding before your 50 due to busting up your knees, or shoulder etc?

Well I'm back in hospital again later this week to get my wrist repaired this time. In 2007 it was a knackered collarbone and 2008 a knackered scapula. In total after this next op I'll have 5 scars from riding bikes.
MTBing got me through a very stressful period in my life and has brought me some brilliant friendships, taken me all round the UK and kept me far fitter and stronger than most UK males aged 42 so, overall, despite being temporarily broken again, I think my body is better off...

To the OP - don't knacker yourself in the long-term for the sake of a short-term fix would be my advice...

one day you'll be off the bike and work for weeks.

brooess - too late I'm already knackered and old, time isn't on my side. Good luck with your op.

Re bones... I've got osteoperosis, and the doctors instantly go down a checklist that goes:

Anorexic?
Cyclist?
Coeliac?

There might be others. Coeliac for me. But I got read the riot act when I took up cycling, to stay on top of calcium intake etc, upped my meds for it etc to compensate.

We worry about dehudration, salt and sugar but we sweat out a buttload of calcium when we ride apparently and nobody ever thinks about it. And mtb isn't a high enough impact sport to compensate. Luckily a lot of recovery drinks are milk based

I'm fitter than I have ever been. But also have a few more scars...

I suspect that doing stuff that keeps you from going mental and also improves your muscle mass slows down ageing. There was a study of cyclists and the ones who were still doing longish fastish rides in their 70s had no indicators of ageing (they do measure reasonably everyday things like how fast you get out of a chair... not your sprint times or anything sporty). So I reckon I'm adding muscle now (in my 40s) so the decline will be slower later on...

Be careful that you're not being treated as a precious unbreakable girl... sit down, have a nice cup of tea and do some needlework dear. The reaction to that female rugby player who carried on playing with a broken nose is an indicator that expectations are still slightly different.

Oh, and I expect you're taking lots of calcium and Vit D3?