Inline Skating and Cycling - Updates

[cyclochica]

I have decided to dust off my lovely inline skates and start alternating cycling and skating days. Right now trying to ride my bike every beautiful day is tiring and I am afraid I will burnout. Plus I need to change my routine to keep my mind fresh.

I would like to hear from people who are currently doing both or have in the last couple of years. I know Fubar5 and couple of others were looking into this topic a while ago, so if you have an update I want to hear about it.

Thanks
CC :beer:

[lotek]

cyclochica,

well I haven't been on my skates for a while I can tell
you this, If you want to be a sprinter (think huge thighs
like Eric Heiden) Skates are the way to go. Very good
for developing massive quads, or if you go a bit easier
building up strength in quads without mass.
I think the 2 compliment each other quite well.
both are also great ways to keep legs in shape
for skiing (which is why I started cycling all those
years ago).
Just don't overdo it to the point that both skating and
cycling suffer. Even tho its two different excersizes its
still possible to overtrain.


Marty

[nathank]

i skate a fair amount, although somehow i don't get out as much as i would like - also because skating is more weather-sensitive as skating on wet streets sucks...

here in munich is the huge Blade Night Mondays with 20,000 to 30,000 people - but i only skate it every so often because they go so slow it's not much fun --- and it can be dangerous to skate fast with all the beginners.

we also have a "speed skate" group of 50-100 people every Tuesday night and in 2001 i went every week during April-October, but last year and this year i only seem to make it about 2 times a month. plus this year for some reason they're skating a lot more slowly and most of the fast guys seem to no longer come --- 2 weeks ago i tried to kick the pace and only a few skaters would go with me -- so in the end a friend and i had to add a few laps to make it a good workout.

there's a race training group here and some day i will go train with them - that would be a good workout i think...

but as to your original question: i think skating and cycling are different enough that there's not much conflict. 2 weeks ago i skated monday and then tuesday and then had sore legs for the Wednesday MTB ride i lead --- and i was just as strong as usual on the bike.

skating is low impact and good for the cardio system. as far as helping your cycling... i guess it helps with cardio, but i think the muscles are so different it doesn't help a whole lot there (but then i also like to go for total fitness - i also lift weights 2-3 days a week)

[cyclochica]

Thanks for all the input. I think I am going to try to alternating skating and cycling, with my long rides on the weekends. I am hopeful this will allow me to continue to improve my cycling skills.