[Closed] Exercise related "Over-training"... please share your knowledge and experiences.

testosterone is a steroid

silly deadly

i dont watch the tv's i listen to angry music, loudly. oh and i use my peripheral visionz to check out the wobbling boobies around the gym.

Oops...

I stand corrected in that case.

woffle - (I had started to type out my exercise schedule - you'd have thought I'd be a prime candidate for 'over-training' but it started to look ridiculous so I'm not going to bother

Do it!

Molly - I have no idea if she's losing sleep. I'm just reading between the lines and it seems like she's not enjoying things quite so much at the minute.

Solo - running it's an iPod. Weights - I just enjoy them and the feeling of knackeredness and what I'm going to move onto. Swimming - not drowning/technique. Cycling - the sound of the bike.

[i]that makes you shoutier[/i]

Can't do.
I don't have the Abs for it 😆

[i]What do monks think about when they are meditating? [/i]
❓

[i]Not very shouty outside telling you to do stuff though so maybe it's not him...[/i]

Tell you something.

If someone shouted at me through some misguided attempt to motivate me.
It would have the totally opposite effect.

I just can't take that shouty type of encouragement seriously.

And if I were paying for a coach or trainer.
Then shouting would definately be banned.

What do monks think about when they are meditating?

how awesome dinosaurs are.

i need music when i'm doing weights, i wait til the heaviest sections then try to keep my reps in time. there's one chap who works at the gym who sometimes puts one of the tvs onto a teleshopping channel that shows a bra advert on repeat, that keeps me distracted whilst stretching

[i]oh and i use my peripheral visionz to check out the wobbling boobies around the gym.[/i]

Phil.
I have mates who would have me think thats the only reason they go to the gym.

I dare not lech for fear of getting caught.
Far too higher price to pay.
🙂

When road riding or running I just muse on whatever is going on in my life, or just zone out.

[i]there's one chap who works at the gym who sometimes puts one of the tvs onto a teleshopping channel that shows a bra advert on repeat, that keeps me distracted whilst stretching [/i]

😯

[i]I just muse on whatever is going on in my life, or just zone out[/i]

Molgrips.
Are you a closet Monk ?.
🙂

I dare not lech for fear of getting caught.

It's when you catch someone leching over you... that's pretty nice.

Ummm..

No 🙂

i worry not about being caught, seeing as i go in the mornings its never too busy and all the girls always come over and say hi... its kinda frustrating when i'm pulling a silly face trying to bench press a mighty 10kg.

the girl personal trainer is making me feel really awkward, she's started wearing make-ups in the mornings and spending the whole hour looking at me or sitting next to me trying to keep a conversation going whilst i look silly doing a otherworldy 15kg pectoral fly.... plus it means i miss out on my early morning loud music fix.

worse of all the first time girl personal trainer had the guts to chat to me properly was when i had mrsconsequence along with me for a spinning session.... AWKWARD!

there's a girl who spins with me in the mornings use her as a way of getting through the difficult tracks.

EDIT -

Ummm..

[img] [/img]

[i]It's when you catch someone leching over you... that's pretty nice[/i]

Ha !. good for you.

But you obviously haven't had to keep that shitty stick to hand.
Let me tell you.
It aint easy.
😉

[i]Ummm..

No
[/i]

Glad to hear it.

worse of all the first time girl personal trainer had the guts to chat to me properly was when i had mrsconsequence along with me for a spinning session.... AWKWARD!

And mrsconsequence says, "I thought you said she was pretty average looking Philly"

[i]And mrsconsequence says, "I thought you said she was pretty average looking Philly" [/i]

[img] [/img]

Awwww... look at his happy smiling face.

#ihavethestrangest

[i]Awwww... look at his happy smiling face.[/i]

You'd look like that if you had to cycle bare foot.
Over Pave.

EDIT:

Come on Dave.

Give us a Smile.
😀

I just tried IT band stretches. Wonder if it'll help my knee.

[i]Wine of the week: Mojitos, about 9 of them post-race[/i]

[img] [/img]

😆

[i]I just tried IT band stretches. Wonder if it'll help my knee. [/i]

What is that ^^ ?.
🙂

What stretches you done Molly?

[i]I just tried IT band stretches[/i]

Genuine Q.
Is this equipment or an exercise ?.
Vids are good, like those TRX ones.

It's a stretch Solo... but there's more than one way to stretch teh iliotibial band.

Ah, anatomy.

EDIT:
[i]stretch teh iliotibial band.[/i]

Ah, after your previous post I just googled IT band stretch.

Ta.

[img] [/img]

That one.

Doesn't seem to have done much, but you never know.

there's one chap who works at the gym who sometimes puts one of the tvs onto a teleshopping channel that shows a bra advert on repeat, that keeps me distracted whilst stretching

I didn't think they encouraged that sort of stretching in the gym.. 😀

MolGrips.

I'm not sure if my link to that Video works.
But the demonstrator was using a foam role for one of the movements.
And then some floor positions.

Yea I don't have a roller.

The Southern Yeti - Member
woffle - (I had started to type out my exercise schedule - you'd have thought I'd be a prime candidate for 'over-training' but it started to look ridiculous so I'm not going to bother
Do it!

Well - for what it's worth - today was 'legs'. Below done with max 10 secs between reps, 30 secs between exercises. (No chatting and it's why I pay a PT - all kit ready for next set so no excuse for grabbing an extra breather..)

If you want the detail - as below

Warmup with kettlebell swings.

3 sets of (increase weight, decrease 15/10/6 reps)
- Deadlifts (hex bar).
- Forward lunges with dumbbells - 2 lengths of the track (30m total).
- Goblet squats. Backside down to touch 30cm block.

3 sets of the below - again, increase weight, decrease weights 15 / 10 / 6. Hops stay at 15 reps regardless.
- Squat thrust with dumbbells jumping onto 60cm foot box. Squat, thrust jump up, squat, thrust jump down counts as 1 rep.
- Jumping single-leg lunge - 20kg on bar over shoulders. Both legs counts as 1 rep.
- 1 foot hop/jump onto 30cm foot box. Both legs counts as 1 rep.

3 sets of the below - again, increase weight, decrease weights.
- Starting at 2 x bodyweight sled pull (forward). 2 lengths of track (30m total). 10kg increment.
- Burpee over weighted olympic bar. On the up, close hand lift to chin (not sure what it's called). Not sure about weight increase.
- Jump sequence - left over 30cm block, back to centre, right over 30 cm block, back to centre. Forwards up onto 60cm block.

3 sets of the below - again, increase weight, decrease weights on medicine ball + split squats. TRX squats are 15 reps repeated.
- 10kg Medicine ball to chest. Squat to bum on floor, 'frog jump' forwards pushing medicine ball in front of you. Soft landing down to squat position. Repeat 2 lengths of track (30m total).
- Bulgarian split squats with dumbells. Up for 3, down for 1.
- One foot squat using TRX.

And try and walk to the shower.

Good work Woffle!

I like that a lot.

cheers - arms and chest on Monday. I can post that if you're interested..

Yep... what are you doing for the next three days though?

My itinerary...

Friday.

10k run
20 mile ride to gym
2k swim
20+ mile ride home

Sat

Group ride
Gym or run intervals

Sun

Lake swim
Gym or bikram yoga
Run

Not that awesome but I have :

Today started with 4am 6.75 mile run to station with 8.5kg pack. 2 miles at the london end. Off to gym this afternoon for spin (with simple circuit warmup and 20 mins in pool to warm down). 2.75 mile run home from station. Yoga if I have time in the pm.

Tomorrow - the week's rest day. Will do 5 to 10 mile "farmer's walk" with the dog at dawn ( distance determined by dog / weather / time we have to be out viewing houses ). Might do 3 sets of kettle bell swings before 30 mins of yoga in the pm.

Sunday - Gym in the morning. Short and sweet - tabata sets - front squats and thrusts. Then some core work. Spin session at 10am followed by 20 mins in the pool. Walk the dog at some point. Perhaps yoga in the pm.

Woffle - respect is due. You should hang out on these threads more often.

Woffle - respect is due. You should hang out on these threads more often.

Don't have the time 🙂 - you read around fitness at all? If you've not read it already I'm working through Dan John's "Never let go" on the train and I'd thoroughly recommend it; a bit of a different focus to what I'm used to (more heavy lifting) but some really interesting ideas for workouts and training generally. Easy read too.

It's on sale at the moment - £5 for the kindle version on Amazon.

Oh and a tip for anyone wanting to try this:

- Jumping single-leg lunge - 20kg on bar over shoulders. Both legs counts as 1 rep.

You start from kneeling on one leg, the other leg back. Now jump up and lunge, swapping legs, ending back down on the other knee.

Seriously - remember to put a towel over the back of your neck and shoulders. I've a painful bruise the size of an apple on the top of my spine this morning from the bar hitting it. (You really need to be spotted for this too)...

I'll have a look at that book... always good to get more info.

Was wondering how a 'single-leg' lunge worked. We've got weighted vests at the gym which sounds ideal for that exercise.

Right, got to run...

weighted vests at the gym

😆

Blimey, some of You exercise addicts come across as normal online 😉

Was wondering how a 'single-leg' lunge worked. We've got weighted vests at the gym which sounds ideal for that exercise.

To be honest I've no idea what half the exercise's "official" titles are. They're not nice but certainly effective.

I'd also suggest adding a set of 10-15 jumps or hops at the end of series of leg exercises. The single-leg hop up onto a block sounds ridiculously easy but you'd be amazed how difficult it can be when coming straight after 2 sets of heavy squats / lunges (and I do mean straight, under 10 seconds after, no messing about resetting bars etc, drop the weights and up you hop)...

Aw, someone seems to have rubbed out my piccy of iDave.
🙄

[i]weighted vests at the gym[/i]
Yeeeoooooowh.

Woffle.
You are big time Yeti league.
When you say
"[i]They're not nice but certainly effective.[/i]"

What effect are you seeking.
Are you training or just exercising ?.

Woffle.
You are big time Yeti league.

Nah - don't think I am really but thanks (I think).

What effect are you seeking.
Are you training or just exercising ?.

Training - I try and have specific goals in terms of body fat % ratio, weight I can lift in certain exercises, number of reps, increase/decrease in measurements etc. Depends on the sport - it's the only way I can keep motivated - can't see the point in just 'exercising'.

On the boot-camp I go to occasionally theres some who seem to think that just turning up and going through the motions will sort their fitness / weight-loss etc. I get that some people loathe the gym but there's a millon and one ways to get fit, find something that you love doing and give that a proper go rather than going light on the weight and half-arsedly doing 14 of the 20 reps you're meant to be doing before then loudly lying to the group that those full 20 reps really killed. Bizarre.

The same boot-camp has a series of challenges - no. of burpees in 60 seconds, squat thrusts in 60 seconds, weight pulled on sled (as % of bodyweight) etc. Winners get personal training sessions, free lunches etc.

I've gone from pretty much no exercise and about 3 to 4 stone overweight last September to much, much fitter, a good deal leaner and most importantly, happier and less stressed (with subsequent benefits when spending time with the kids and my wife). Late 30's and fitter and faster than I was in my teens - it's a good feeling.

Woffle - in my opinion it's the premier league... Solo's working his way up through the divisions.

find something that you love doing and give that a proper go rather than going light on the weight and half-arsedly doing 14 of the 20 reps you're meant to be doing

+ 1 lots

There's lads that go to my gym that I also work with... I swear they only go to the gym in the morning to justify drinking a protein shake at their desk... based on what they do in the gym they might as well stay in bed and have a fry up.

The other thing I have an 'issue' with is personal trainers who are too chatty. I'm lucky to have a really good deal with mine 'cause they're stupidly expensive in my gym (£187 buys you 1 hour a week for a month!) but there's a good number that spend a massive amount of expensive time nattering away to their clients. I don't get it - you're paying for an hour of direction and they probably get 20 minutes tops. It'd be different if they were pushing / pulling massive weights with long recovery but it'll be 3 sets on the TRX or 1 minute of plank followed by 5 minute discourse on Britain's Got Talent...

[i]I've gone from pretty much no exercise and about 3 to 4 stone overweight last September to much, much fitter, a good deal leaner and most importantly, happier and less stressed (with subsequent benefits when spending time with the kids and my wife). Late 30's and fitter and faster than I was in my teens - it's a good feeling. [/i]

Respect !.
Thats a flippin good Friday story.
😀

[i]The same boot-camp has a series of challenges - no. of burpees in 60 seconds, squat thrusts in 60 seconds,[/i]
That reimnds me of that 70s / 80 TV show where they use to have [i]Celebs[/i] doing sports / exercises like that.
Can't remember the name of.

[i]Woffle - in my opinion it's the premier league... Solo's working his way up through the divisions.[/i]
Agreed.
You two are somewhere way above the clouds compared to me.
🙂

[i]based on what they do in the gym they might as well stay in bed and have a fry up.[/i]
I see those types.
4 guys sitting on and standing round a bench just chatting, for what seemed like ages, last night.
The only issue I had was they were taking a bench away from everyone else and not using it.

Shifting towards or around the OT.
There has been talk about [i]listening to your body[/i] wrt to restraint and rest days, etc.
I had a really crap hour on the bike last night.
And I wasn't really up for it, during the day before going t'gym.

So, now I'm wondering if some folk are disadvantaged with bodies that are constantly resistant to strenuous activities ?.

And Woffle.
You're right.
If there is a mental motivation for activity, such as enjoyment or targets.
Then I can see how much easier this makes getting up off your ass and doing something.

Cheers.

🙂

Shifting towards or around the OT.
There has been talk about listening to your body wrt to restraint and rest days, etc.
I had a really crap hour on the bike last night.
And I wasn't really up for it, during the day before going t'gym.

So, now I'm wondering if some folk are disadvantaged with bodies that are constantly resistant to strenuous activities ?.

As far as recovery goes - I swear by zinc and magnesium - 3 myprotein.co.uk tablets in the evening with water before bed. Seems to take the edge off of any aches and stiffness...

Woffle ^^^.
Thats exactly what I saw last night while in the free weights area of my gym.

Guy with his trainer, chatting about Arnny and Lou Ferrigno, blah, blah.
And yes, they did briefly touch on the subject of diet / nutrition.

I used all this as motivation for getting through my sets and getting the heck out of there.
I'm up to deadlifting 70Kg plus whatever the bar weighs.

[i]expensive in my gym ([b]£187 buys you 1 hour a week for a month![/b]) [/i]
😯

[i]As far as recovery goes - I swear by zinc and magnesium - 3 myprotein.co.uk tablets in the evening with water before bed. Seems to take the edge off of any aches and stiffness... [/i]

Its strange really. I wasn't too achey, but just didn't feel the Zest for getting it done.
And legs felt empty after 7 mins.
Yet, at the begining of the week, I was happily spinning at around 100 rpm, even up the hills, which is unlike me.
Result was Monday I convered 32Km on 60 mins
Last night, 27km 🙁

expensive in my gym (£187 buys you 1 hour a week for a month!)

One of the top five gyms in the capital supposedly but I now go as client of on PT rather than as their client. Get to use the facilities and a bunch cheaper.

'tis good though.

Its strange really. I wasn't too achey, but just didn't feel the Zest for getting it done.
And legs felt empty after 7 mins.
Yet, at the begining of the week, I was happily spinning at around 100 rpm, even up the hills, which is unlike me.
Result was Monday I convered 32Km on 60 mins
Last night, 27km

The Dan John book I mentioned talks about this - he has a rule of 5; the perfect workout / spin / run etc is hard to repeat. He reckons that in a group of 5 workouts you'll have 1 really good one where you blast your targets and feel like you're really getting there, one that's so awful you doubt you're even capable of the basics, the other three are 'punch-the-clock' workouts. You go in, you get it done, work out. Nothing more than that.

Chimes with my experience. On Tuesday ran the station route in record time, felt like I could have run it straight over again. This morning was blowing about 2 miles in and had to force the pace for the rest of it, coming in way behind my averages.

The take-away thought from this being - what else in your life keeps getting better and better and better every time? Meals? Sleep? Work? Sex? 🙂

IMO training improvements are never going to be linear (the analogy being that you press 60kg now, you keep adding 15kg a week, you'll be pushing silly weights by xmas - it doesn't work like that)..

You need to be able to give yourself a break physically and emotionally.

[i]You need to be able to give yourself a break physically and emotionally. [/i]

I will admit.
I feel that I'm on the thereshold of that guilt trip thing.
If I take a day off.
And that bothers me, cos that way lies the 7 day a week exercise world.

Today is ladies day, so I won't be getting to the gym at all.

Midly interesting to note iDave's comments in his blog.
He seems to stress how little time he spent training.
Of course, this will be viewed in context of his performance.
He appears to have achieved his target of 5.5hrs on 9hrs training a week.

Question is, would someone need to increase the time spent training, in order to see a reduction in their time taken to complete their competetive event ?.

Just a thought.

what else in your life keeps getting better and better and better every time? Meals? Sleep? Work? Sex?

Meals - I get better at cooking
Sleep - ok you win that one
Work - I get more responsibilty and get to do more cool stuff, my current job is easily the best one I've had
Sex - no substitute for experience, and now I'm married it's also regular 🙂

Midly interesting to note iDave's comments in his blog.
He seems to stress how little time he spent training.

That's kind of his thing really - minimum effective dose. It seems to make a lot of sense to me. I've heard quite a few stories about people doing little training but of the exact right kind, and being very quick.

There are strange things at work in the world of fitness. One particular stand-out race I remember was a Polaris where I rode like a god all weekend (relative to my level at the time of course) - I'd done nothing but sit on my arse for 4 weeks beforehand.

Question is, would someone need to increase the time spent training, in order to see a reduction in their time taken to complete their competetive event ?.

I'd say not necessarily. I'd look more at intensity, type of exercise, weights, doing intervals etc...

Sex - no substitute for experience

Doesn't necessairily impress the mrs that you're trying to get the quickest time yet though, does it?

Depends what you are timing 🙂

He appears to have achieved his target of 5.5hrs on 9hrs training a week.

I think he slam-dunked his goal in training terms. He still easily beat his time despite having a total nightmare on the day.

Well this morning was another sprint session, hills this time....and it was ok. Felt pretty good. Was dreading it a bit from earlier in the week. Now got 20 miles on Sunday...Must Run Slower LOL. V impressed with all the plans and what nots, can't do all that, not enough time

Hate gyms, if it's not the dinosaurs letching it's the big hairy yetis 😆

I don't over train, events just get in the way of training! . I treat events as getting in the way of training :-/ I got polar HRM last year and made and stuck to a plan and it worked for major event. I now rate myself as rehabilitated. In all honesty applying some plan, rest, science and suitable goal produced a far better result than when I was a serial over trainer. I was just doing poor training because I was tired.

I guess I upped the quality not quantity.

[i]Doesn't necessairily impress the mrs that you're trying to get the quickest time yet though, does it?[/i]

Ha !.

That reminds me of seeing some lad on TV declare that he viewed the [i]union[/i] as a race to the [i]finish[/i].
At which he was undefeated champion.
😯

I knew there was a reason I haven't sorted out a TV since I moved house.

I tried intervals once, and I hurt myself.
I might be tempted to try again.
But I'm really not sure what I'm doing.
I tried paying for advise once.
That didn't work out very well for me.
Once bitten and all that.

[i]Hate gyms, if it's not the dinosaurs letching it's the big hairy yetis[/i]

I can only base this on myself.
But, wrt, I sometimes think women over exagerate the lech factor in a gym.
Like I say, [b]from my perspective[/b] its just not an issue.

I'm not staring at you and I'm not likely to, you are perfectly safe to come to the gym and do what you want to do.
I'm not going to bother you.
Its a public gym, innit.
I'm busy getting on with my workout.

I just think its pity if someone who thinks they want to get into a gym.
Doesn't go for fear of being letched at.

However, I undrestand the draw of just getting outdoors.
Thats what I get from cycling, esp MTB.
😀

[i]In all honesty applying some plan, rest, science and suitable goal produced a far better result than when I was a serial over trainer. I was just doing poor training because I was tired[/i]

Could you expand on that please.
🙂

Well I went swimming last night, starting up after a bad two weeks or so. Last time I did 800m and felt nothing in my arms. This time I only did 600m in 100m slots and my arms were knackered, could hardly drive home. Still achey this morning a bit. This is good though, it means I was doing some work.

[i]However, I undrestand the draw of just getting outdoors.
Thats what I get from cycling, esp MTB.[/i]

...which is why I like to do my circuit training in the park, No need to be locked inside a gym at all.

Kev

Solo,

Everyone checks everyone else out. Of course. Some people work hard at getting a good bod and it's nice to gaze. You know? But the overt staring and comments that me and mates/ gf has had are a bit ****y tbh

Mol/TSY, i'm not losing sleep over my training. Its just different to me making it up. The wallpaper/decorating reference is quite apt.

I do the training plan and follow my coaches advice because i want to get better. If i just wanted to carry on getting shelled out the back of chaingangs and dropped when the pace went above 20mph, i'd carry on training myself. But I want to get fitter/faster for racing so i'm out of other options as i don't have the knowledge to coach myself in the best way.

I don't hate training this way, but its not the same as going for a ride with your mates. I don't feel guilty for missing a session these days but i do feel a bit like i'm letting my coach down if i decide its too wet and cold to go out - that'll be every day atm then 😉

My bike fit on the other hand was stressing me out, but having spent 5 hours and £200+ to then have pain from something that wasn't there before....well, im sure anyone would get annoyed at that, plus then having to potentially pay for physio and having an injury from it.

What's been interesting to note is that already (3 weeks into my plan) my resting heart rate is lower already and i'm feeling much more comfortable at race pace (36-37kph). If my knee wasn't giving me grief, i'd say my performance has improved tons already.

Hate gyms

PS, mol, get yourself a foam roller. You can't stretch your IT bands properly, foam roller or massage is the only way. Did you figure out your VMO muscle?

[i]But the overt staring and comments that me and mates/ gf has had are a bit ****y tbh [/i]

Well thats very poor imo and I'm sorry you are made to feel that you can't go to the gym.

But on the plus side.
Sounds like its driven you to going outdoors.
Which you sound as if you are enjoying.
🙂

I looked at VMO, I thought it wasn't the issue. Not had patella pain in years and years. Will try and pop out for a foam roller later.

LOL emsz - I'm too busy checking out myself to perve over women!

Mol - if your arms are hurting swimming... you're doing it wrong. The main drive in the stroke should be coming from your back and pecs.

Dirty - cool, I can definitely see the benefits of a coach as an extra motivator like that and was hoping that would be how it was working for you 🙂 Out of interest... what was it that inspired the bike fit?

Oh, and my 10k time this morning was 45m10s. 2nd 5k completed in 22m. Still got a long way to go with my running...

Mol - if your arms are hurting swimming... you're doing it wrong

It's mainly the outside of my upper arm. I think it's from the recovery part of the stroke, since that muscle hardly gets used. My pecs are less sore but still feeling it.

Your triceps? These should be being used in the last part of the drive.

If it's more shoulder then it could be that you press down at the start of the stroke rather than cocking the wrist/forearm.

The recovery wants to be as relaxed as possible.

It's all that muscle slowing you down 🙂

Those are good times though. 45 mins for 10k is pretty cool for a non runner

I went to the GFs posh gym ages back when we first started dating oh my gosh loads of tanned yummy mummies and rugger boys checking themselves out in the mirrors. I was pissing myself

what was it that inspired the bike fit?

I probably do press down, to keep my head close enough to the surface so I can breathe without needing a great lunge upwards. Which no doubt drops my legs and makes me slower.

The recovery is relaxed but in concentrating on keeping my arm close to my body it has to do a movement I'm not used to.

I found it harder to breathe steadily last night, not sure why - I was doing tumble turns though (of a sort) which means rather than getting an extra breath every 50m I have to hold my breath for a tad longer.

DG - experiment with saddle position, a lot!

[i]rugger boys checking themselves out in the mirrors. I was pissing myself [/i]

I cringe when I happen to notice a lad checking himself out in the mirrors.
Its sooo sad.
They'll pump some weights.
Then stand and look at themselves, poking the muscle they've just been working.

Its just soooo cringe worthy.

[i]Some saddle/soft tissue discomfort. But now i wish i'd not gone as i can live with the discomfort and would rather have it any day than knee pain and back to the physio! Although the rest of the bike feels good with the shorter stem and teeny tiny 36 bars with very shallow drops[/i]

I wouldn't pressume to advise on bike fit for you DG.
But had I experienced similar symptoms to those you describe.
I might have considered a saddle change ?.

Ime, knee pain is a real pisser, I hate that and sympathize.
I've always viewed knee pain as a sign of incorrect saddle height / leg extension.
Pain on the front of the knee was saddle too high.
Pain in the back of the knee, saddle too low.

I'm actually up for a new set of bars and a stem, but wrt bars, I'm not sure how to set about the selection.
You mention bar width.
Is this a function / related to your shoulder width, anyone ?.

I went to the GFs posh gym ages back when we first started dating oh my gosh loads of tanned yummy mummies and rugger boys checking themselves out in the mirrors. I was pissing myself

Best yet was the chap on the spin bike in front of me who kept (and I sh*t you not), checking his guns out and then kissing his biceps when we did certain exercises that involved holding your arms up.

And not in jest either.

The whole row behind him kept getting fits of giggles.

Did they change the saddle height at all? Or the saddle?

emsz - pretty cool is not good enough! It was only a training run though so I'd hope to race faster. I am toying with losing some muscle mass...

I like looking at myself looking destroyed... sweating and ****ed from exercise... you can't help but have the 1000 yard stare of a haunted man if you're doing it right.

Solo - if you want to know about bike fit etc look at the Bike Dynamics website. Mike is a really good guy and in Warwick.

Keeping the saddle nose out of my bits is a fine line. I have it a little lower than I used to think was proper, and slid a little forward so my sit bones are on the back. Rather than tilt it forwards to relieve the nose pressure, I'm setting up so my pelvis is tilted back a little more instead. I am now sat on top of the saddle rather than it being jammed up my crack.

A bike fit can probably get you in the right ball park if you don't know where to start, but I would be sceptical about anyone claiming to have a magic formula for setting up the ideal bike position. I would recommend trial and error, patience and progressive wee adjustments to your existing position to find out what works for you. Do you have a record of your pre-fit position to work back from?

I suffered from knee pain many years ago when I started getting into cycling more seriously, and it was related to the fore-aft position of my saddle. This may be completely unrelated to your problem, but might be something else to look at.

Thanks all.

Gotta run.

Have a goodun.

😀