rbart4506

So spring is coming and like every year the debate begins to rage within me, do we quit the gym? My wife and I started going to a gym a number of years ago and made good use of the free weights and machines they had. Over the last few years though things have changed. First we purchased trainers to do our cardio workouts, since the Lifecycles didn't cut it and spin classes just weren't for us. Then we both started to find that the weights were playing havoc with our back and knees. Now we find we spend most of our time there doing core work and isometrics that could be easily done at home with a matt, a ball and some light free weights. Not to mention that the summer time is spent primarily on the road.

So are we better off sticking with the gym and all the wonderful equipment they have, or do we stay at home and do the core and isometrics stuff?? I know that the $80 we pay could be put to better use paying off our house or better yet, buying bike related things or home gym equipment.

GuitarWizard

Quit the gym

DMF 

$80 per month? or per year? (I pay about $100/yr.) If the former, then maybe. If the latter, hell no.

Snuffleupagus

Quit the gym, it's mid-February.

DXchulo

You want to do your hard lifting in the winter, but you need to maintain it during the year with some slightly less intense weight about once a week.

You don't want to quit working out all together. Now, whether you want to spend your money on a gym membership or on building up your own home gym is a whole different question all together.

Surferbruce

i find now that i'm approaching 40 years old if i stop lifting i lose an edge to my overall fitness and strength really fast. just twice a week for 30-45 minutes helps me feel so much better on the bike. if you're injuring your back and knees you're doing something wrong.

BigSean

Exactly. Ill keep my membership. Ill still go 3 days a week, but the routine will change. I tend to do alot of stretching at the gym. Then Ill do some weights and core work. To those who can do this at home, my hats off to ya. Personally I just cant get motivated to do the kind of workout I get from the gym. I have a bad back, and the lifting helps keep it strong.

timmyquest

My thoughts exactly

aham23

cool. spring is coming!! later.

timmyquest

For sure! i keep forgetting how soon it will be here, i gotta get goin on the trainer real quick like

Dubbayoo

I'm 42; this year i'm making a point to ride AND lift year round...something i've yet to try. I just to want to improve my strength to weight ratio in case I race the track next year.

If you're not going to go then $80/month is a no brainer. After a year take some of that savings and buy a leg machine for home use.

rbart4506

Actually according to my chiro I'm not to use the leg press machine and stay way away from squats. Since I stopped doing those and focusing on core work my back has been nice and stable.

BlastRadius

Switch to a yoga class to help with flexibility, breathing technique, balance, and core strength.

I recommend Iyengar.

8Lives

I agree with the yoga reccomendation, though Vinyasa and/or Ashtanga work better for me. I think lifting is pretty pointless (I know I'll get flamed for this). Other than some bodyweight work (pullups and dips) I don't bother with it. Between yoga and my other sport, rock climbing, I don't find lifting adds anything except non-functional mass. I usually do 2-3 90 minute yoga classes and two 20 minute bodyweight sessions a week. Plus core most days. Plus cycling of course!

I have been through a pretty wide range of workout regimens and this is far and away the best balance for me. I am 46 (almost 47), a former semi-pro triathlete, and am in as good a shape as I was in my 20's. Not as fast, but in better all around shape. Oh, and I also have a spinal fusion at L5/s1...yoga is the ticket.

Aaron

Markedoc

I just quit this month. Very happy I did. 2 things pushed me over the edge:

1) I just bought a treadmill, which I put in my finished basement in addition to the CompuTrainer and free weights (all dumbells and a nice adjustable bench).

2) The gym near me isn't great, and they are up to $560 per year. Poorly maintained, poor ventilation, too small etc.

I am finding that having the stuff at home is so handy that I use it more. Get up at 5:30 am, do weights or cardio for 30-45 mins, get ready for work. Use mostly the bike at the end of the day, probably 5x a week. Got a TV down there, stereo, can workout and keep an eye on the kids, etc.

Surferbruce

squats are a great exercise, but they can be risky if done incorrectly. you almost have to have someone (who knows lifting) to be spotting you.
i also find i do a better stretching routine at the gym, and spend more time.

SaabFan

My office has a nicely equipped exercise room (even more nicely equipped in the winter, since I set my bike up in it on a trainer), and there's a college in town with free open swimming in their pool.

You're all SUCKAS!!!

JayC

I dont quit in the summer but I scale way back. From 5 days a week down to just whenever I cant ride because its raining or something.

merlinextraligh

For me, there is no way I can lift for my legs, and still race and train with intensity.

A hard session lifting is putting the sort of stress on your legs that an interval session would. So if you lift for your legs in season you're limiting your ability to do the hard work on the bike.

AGGRO

I need to change my answer You can get an olympic set for around 200 total. I hit it in the garage when I can't do the gym at work. No time for a 24 hour fitness routine.

idcruiserman

$80/month? I would definitely quit. That being said I commute to work and use the gym in the morning.

GuitarWizard

Too bad you didn't live closer - going to be selling my home gym and weights.

KendallF

rbart,

How old are you and what are your fitness goals? As others have noted, lifting may not improve cycling performance but becomes important to maintain muscle mass and bone density as we age (especially past 40).

I lift year round, though like merlin mentions I struggle with fitting in leg workouts that don't hurt my cycling performance, especially 2 days later when I'm maximally sore. I do so not because I think it'll make me a faster cyclist but because I believe it helps me stay injury free. Also, I don't want to look like T Rex in spandex (where's that Rasmussen picture...?).

StanSeven

Several very knowledgable people now question the benefits of weight training. I saw where Chris Carmichael even said the jury is out on the subject and that most riders could make better use of their time riding on the roads or on a stationary bike or trainer. He and others advocate plyometrics (jumping exercises and squats ) to build power, along with intervals on the bike.

I wouldn't give up strength training, nor stretching (and/or yoga) because you need balance and flexibility. But that can be done at home with minimal equipment.

DataJunkie

Find a cheaper gym or a rec center.
I pay $40 a month for my entire family at our local rec center. The gym near my rec center costs $30 a month for just me and does not have a swimming pool. While the equipment is not quite as good, the price and amount of activities at the rec center make it worth it for me.
Cycling is wonderful and all but one needs to cross train. It also helps me from burning out by giving me other choices.