I do both - climb all year, road race April-August, MTB race Oct and Nov - and it is much more difficult/they are less complementary than you might think:-1. climbing develops upper bod, cycling lower, doing both means excess weight compared to 1-sport specialists2. cycling reduces dramatically high-stepping flexibility, you have to do loads of stretching3. if I cycle the day after climbing, my legs are more tired than you might think, and heart rate doesn't go as high4. racing and hard climbing both take lots of mental effort5. doing two sports means you only spend half the time on each, compared to if you just do one6. I got a touch of golfer's elbow from 2 days hard climbing followed my a 5-hour MTB stage, all that vibration while gripping brakes descending wasn't good newsOver the summer, I got good climbing and cycling results with climb one day, road cycle one day, rest one day, even though I don't do as well in the single sports as I did during the periods of my life when I just did one. I think I have more fun doing both, though, and don't feel like changing.Do other people find the same?Peter
do you have a job as well?
let go of the brakes
ah, road cycling. now I understand your thread, you're one of them competitive types aren't you?
I'm with jfw on this, plus trying to cycle to work (I've also started swimming which is knackering) .... I don't think it's possible to be a "normal" human i.e. no amazing genes, hold down a day job, have a relationship, go to the pub and be competitive at all activities. I need sponsorship.... then I could pursue one activity properly.
Quote from: matthew on January 21, 2010, 03:49:36 pmI'm with jfw on this, plus trying to cycle to work (I've also started swimming which is knackering) .... I don't think it's possible to be a "normal" human i.e. no amazing genes, hold down a day job, have a relationship, go to the pub and be competitive at all activities. I need sponsorship.... then I could pursue one activity properly. Sponsored drinking?