Exactly how exerting is riding a bike?

[_Will_]

We all know the process riding a bike takes effort, but how much effort?

For example motogp riders loose an incredible amout of wieght,(a lot of liquids) in one race.

And riding a bike for a while can really take it out of you.

Today i set off at 10am and got in at 7pm, at points really pushing it in the twisties, got home and felt exhausted.

How much effort does riding a motorcycle take that we don't really realise?
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[Sparks!]

Motocross is knackering, absolutely knackering
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[stinkwheel]

It can be pretty bad if there's a crosswind. Gives your abbs and triceps a good work-out. Rode up over the A66 a couple of months ago when it was closed to HGVs, muscles felt 'pumped' for about three days after.

[_Will_]

Yea i know what you mean, went riding in the valleys in scotland the crosswinds were terrible
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Past -Honda qr50 | 2004 Peugeot Tkr s 50| | 1996 Yamaha XJ600s Diversion|

[mr.z]

Theres so many muscles at work that your not thinking about while your using them keeping you upright and going where you want, even just pushing against the air hitting you..

Actually it'd be interesting to know what muscles exactly are used..
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>RidingSkills<->Tech Tips<->MyBikes<

[sandino]

[lilredmachine]

I would say depends very much on the bike itself. for example on a cruiser in still conditions you would expend less energy than when on an enduro in a cross wind (based on the DR, just keeping the fucking thing in a straight line keeps me fit )
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Bikes: too many, too much for one man to maintain anyway.

[steveh]

i recently went for a blast (my first big group ride) with a few lads up towards bowness, keswick and kendal and through shap village if anyone knows it?

the roads up there were simply amazing..was like another world, it was a roasting day, cranking over at silly speeds and not skipping a beat, felt so comfortable and fully committed it has to be one of the best rides ive had.

got home, and i collapsed, flicking a 400kg bike around the twistys didnt half fuck me over.

was anyone up that way on friday? im sure i saw a few familiar bikes, one of wich was a Nastro azzuro rvf wich few past a couple of times as we were pulled over.


Steve.
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Current : 06 Zx10r, 07 Wr450f SM, 74 850 norton commando, 63 bsa b40, 1962 Triton 650, 67 Triumph Tr6r, 1955 Triton 750, 1978 TY250E.

[Keen]

I think its actual very tough on the body, when I rode down through France, I did the route napoleon 2-up with luggage on the last day and I could barely move for a day or 2 afterwards. Do a long touring trip where you ride big miles every day and you soon realise how much effort you use to muscle a bike around.

I noticed something last summer when me and some friends rented jet ski's. My mate is a much bigger and fitter guy than me, goes to the gym alot and very active. But after riding the jet ski he said his arms, shoulders and neck were absolutely killing him, he said the effort of holding on, turning the bars and straining his neck really knackered him out.... yet I was completely fine I think riding a bike strengthens muscles that you might barely use otherwise.... especially your neck muscles when riding a naked bike.
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"he who makes a beast of himself gets rid of the pain of being a man"- Dr. Johnson

[Sephiroth]

[Dom]

[shonajoy]

Im a new rider and still find it tiring - yesterday out for three hours, and was done in when I got home.

I think with me half of it's tension cos I'm crap though
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Shona

[Bru]

It's all about training the muscle groups used when riding. That's why being fit on a bicycle does not make you a good runner. When I started bike despatch work (ages ago - survived and retired), the first month was a killer for the arms, shoulders and back. Six months later I was doing 12-hour days without real bother. Relax and let the bike do most of the work - wrestling with it just wastes energy.

[doggone]

You also use a lot of mental energy as you really need near 100% concentration especially if you're trying to make good progress.

I think for many of us a spin on the bike shares some aspects of taking drugs - you slip into another world and have to forget about your day to day worries for a few hours.

[JonB]

I remember my first ride out on the bike back in May 2005. Went out at 9AM, came back at about 4PM after only 150 odd miles. I was so shattered! I went to bed at 7PM and woke up at 10AM the next day! Was so knackering!

The same goes for track days, my arms and legs both ache a lot after a track day.

Put me in a car and I can drive for hours though and my mental tiredness isn't nearly as bad as on the bike.
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Be careful whose advice you buy, but, be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia, dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it?s worth.

[steveh]

[Sparks!]

[Louise]

Doing the DAS knackared me out each and everyday. You just dont relise.
Going to Brighton, leave here at midday, arrive 1:20 - Thats just a little over an hour - I almost fall asleep when Im there

[Timmeh]

Thanks to the hard race suspension riding my TZR for extended periods makes my arse go numb and really cains my wrists, especially when I'm ragging it. My left hand also gets a bit sore because of my not-so-gentle clutch and the fact you always require a certain amount of slip to regulate the rather silly engine, especially when you're pulling away from the lights.

The 600 is a slightly more comfortable beast and soaks up those potholes and crap road surfaces with ease. It's also easier to steer due to its higher CoG and non-linear rear suspension.

I've just bought a gixxer 400 so we'll have to see how a middleweight bike handles. I expect somewhere between the two; although the 400 has a more advanced setup so I could be in for a surprise or two.
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GSXR400 x2 | '94 RVF400 | '93 TZR125 4DL (again)
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