Originally Posted by Metieval
No pain no gain?? or is that a mass building statement?
And does bike riding help build abs? or is there a position that is better for ab conditioning?
No pain no gain works...although it should be muscle pain and tough cardio, not joint pain. Joint pain = bad.
I don't know how riding a bike is going to build abs, but burning fat will allow them to be more defined. Doing some extra ab workout can do a lot to help you on the bike, as well as some work on back muscles. Core strength often goes unmentioned with cyclists, but it helps a bunch.
Are you riding your mountain bike on dirt or mostly or mostly on pavement? If pavement, some slick tires may make your riding more pleasurable, allowing you to do longer distances.