Questions tagged [fitness]
Use this tag for questions related to the use of cycling to maintain or improve physical fitness. For questions about improving cycling ability on its own, use the [training] tag.
89
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Is there a standard equivalent for effort between distance and elevation?
I'm starting to keep track of how far I ride on paper and while it's nice to have the data, I'd like to know how different rides stack up.
I have one path I like to take which is really flat and goes ...
10
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Advice for beginning cyclist
I am interested in getting into cycling for fitness, i.e. I want this to be my regular form of intense exercise. I am 20 years old and in decent shape. For context of where I’m at with cycling ability ...
12
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Is there a maximum amount of time I should spend on an exercise bike?
I recently picked up an exercise bike of eBay for a good price. I'm trying to get more into mountain biking but time, weather and family life often mean that I might only get out on the bike a 2-3 ...
11
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What are (a) the source of and (b) the justification (e.g. experimental) for the concept of "normalized power" used in physical endurance training?
In lots of places, I see the concept of "normalized power" recommended for measuring the intensity of a workout and it is claimed in many of these places to be superior to "average ...
5
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3
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Commuting two days a week and resistance training the rest of the week
I have been working out at the gym five days a week for some time now (Upper, Lower, Push, Pull, Legs) and I have started to commute (40km round trip) twice a week to work.
I do some high intensity ...
9
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2
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How should I measure my heart rate recovery?
My heart rate monitor has a feature that measures my drop in heart rate over a 60 second resting period. It is suppose to just be a measure of heart fitness (the faster the drop the better your heart)...
7
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2
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Does a build-up of CO2 in the lungs make you out of breath?
I used to get out of breath when cycling, running or swimming and a friend mentioned that it is important to fully breathe out when feeling slightly out of breath, as it is due to a build up of carbon ...
7
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Does always commuting at the same rhythm/speed improve your fitness level?
I have been doing a new longer commute (round trip of 17 km) for the last 6 months and definitely saw an improvement of my fitness level if I compare to when I started.
When I commute though, I do not ...
14
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9
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Multi hour ride nutrition
Ok. We're talking about when you'll be on the bike for 5+ hours. For example, a Century or 200K.
What is the best nutrition for a ride of this type?
So, I'll be on the bike for 5+ hours, with few ...
7
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3
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Muscle fatigue and tightness 3 days after the ride
I'm riding a 26" MTB on tarmac roads once or twice a week. The rides are performed on a flat road around 40 kms. I take it slowly and don't push myself on the bike too much because of the ...
18
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Is it normal to stop so much because of thighs burning?
I've taken up cycling because of an operation I had in August 2015. My consultant made it clear I had to get regular exercise.
I thought cycling was probably one of the best exercises I could do.
...
3
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4
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How does biking speed correlate with the required effort?
The simple answer is that the faster you go the more effort/energy it takes but I would like to understand this in more detail, especially at relatively low speeds. Assume a flat smooth road and fix ...
6
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Daily commuter - stamina got worse after saddle height adjustment
Over the last three years, I’ve regularly commuted by bike - thirteen kilometers each way pre-pandemic, now I’m down to five each - and until recently, it’s gone smoothly. To my surprise (especially ...
3
votes
1
answer
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Recovery time after daily cycling - before anaerobic sports
Just started riding daily (road bike) on a local university's outside running track that's paved with asphalt and cordoned off for only cyclists. Typical rides are 10-15 miles per day. However, I ...
4
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Is there a noticeable difference in the calorie-burning benefits of road vs. off-road cycling?
I monitor my rides using FitBit and Strava. I started out as a full-time road cyclist. However, I've recently begun gravel cycling. My primary purpose for cycling is fitness, in addition to enjoyment, ...