The Benefits of TRX for Cyclists and the Best Exercises
Being a good cyclist calls for a lot of skills and strength, but we often forget the type of strength we actually need to build upon! Yes, strong legs are important to being a strong rider; but it certainly is not the answer to being successful. Your core, mobility, shoulders and stabilization of muscles should all be part of your strength training. Want to know why and how? Read more to find out!
Having a strong core will allow you to provide a solid platform to push off from with every pedal stroke; good mobility will ensure smooth movements through your joints; and strong shoulders, posterior chain and stabilized muscles will help you maintain your cycling position for hours on end!
Suspension training is a great way to ensure all the above elements are being trained. The stronger we are, the less injuries we sign up for! Physical therapist Chris Nentarz has found that Suspension Training helps to enhance cycling performance whilst proactively preventing injuries.
Of course, you’d rather be on your bike than working out with a suspension trainer, but don’t worry, suspension training is way more fun that your typical gym workouts!
One of our committed YouTube viewers Shawn Cox has shared his experience with Suspension Training and his cycling journey:
“As a person who rides both road bikes and mountain bikes, I was really looking to get away from a traditional 'gym / weights' routine and find something that would help me with not only strength, but also endurance and balance. TRX was the perfect choice. I have found Carla's workouts to be very applicable across both riding disciplines and not just for legs as you would expect but also upper body and even more critically for me core and balance. While road riding may appear to just be "going straight for a long time" there is a lot happening in the saddle. Changes in elevation, handling and adjusting as you go happen all the time. Additionally, for mountain biking I have found TRX to be a GREAT asset to my fitness routine. The core and off balance exercises have really helped me. In the woods on a bike you have rocks, roots, trees, dips and are CONSTANTLY changing body positions, gears and even your seat height with a dropper post. Having a strong core, upper body and increased balance make a HUGE difference especially on longer rides. TRX applies to "real world" scenarios of moving in different directions and being off balance. No matter what your sport is, TRX can help because after all the world is not always paved, balanced, flat or smooth.” - Shawn Cox
Give it a few sessions, and you will already feel an improvement in your strength, stability and mobility! Please do make sure to warm-up and cool-down before both your TRX training sessions and your cycling sessions!
