[Closed] What does mtbing do to your body?

I think that road cyling may not be weight bearing exercise, but not so off road - if our joints take the battering you mentioned, then they must be weight bearing - no?

Makes me fitter and possibly marginally slimmer.

Makes me ache, lots of scratches, some crash damage.

Time will tell if it was worth trade off, but I suspect it is.

After 20 years...

Some scar tissue
Crooked middle finger on left hand
Limited range of movement in left shoulder
Some surgery to afore mentioned shoulder
Shagged out left knee

However, thanks to MTB I'm fitter and happier, with some fantastic friends and memories.

it makes my ankles hurt a bit, but that is just old rugby injuries letting me know i should have stopped earlier.

compared to contact sports cycling is nice and easy on the body.

I was reading recently that cycling is not good for you bones as it's not a weight bearing exercise.

Where as running isn't either as there's a lot of impact load.

Everything in moderation.

I think the benefits far outweigh the potential downsides. Take an average couch potato and what the total lack of exercise throughout their life does to them and I'd rather have a few knocks and bruises along with a healthy heart 🙂

Wrists are a bit knackered. Lots of scars on shins and arms. I have exercise induced asthma which the mountain biking doesn't help (anecdotal but if I don't ride for a bit my breathing seems to improve).

Unless I have too I won't be stopping any time soon though.

It helps it, massively. Relatively low-impact on joints, no major twisting, good all-round cardio.

It's all in the phrasing. Cycling might not be good for your bones but it's not bad for them. Sitting on the sofa isn't weight bearing either. I know what I'd rather be doing.

If you have something in particular that needs addressing, it might be useful to consider something to supplement your cycling. Maybe a well structured strength and conditioning routing might help.

Its fantastic compared to
Football
5-aside especially
Running
Rugby

Its interval training, body core, hike a bike, balance, mental agility, calming.

An osteo doc told me recently that it's common for people with borked knees to be able to ride bikes when walking is a problem for them, so it's not just me. OK, I can still walk to the shops, but I can ride a bike for two or three hours.

Where did the view 'cycling isn't weight-bearing exercise' come from? And don't forget fresh air and sunlight, shame about the grass pollen though.

What does mtbing do to your body?

Well this is me before I discovered enduro.

[img] [/img]

The second picture is from doing 2 hours of level 2 enduro weekly, and the third picture is where I'm at now. Full enduro.
8)

It's ****ed my shoulders. Both of them. Completely.

Is that falls though?

It is not a downside that it is not bone enhancing, it is not as though it is bad for you bones (just not good like some other stuff).

No downsides for the sort of riding I do - fastish XC. Low impact with very good cardio and a bit better than road because of the need to actually move your body above the waist, stand up a bit more etc,.

Enduro? In the gym?

I was reading recently that cycling is not good for you bones as it's not a weight bearing exercise.

Sceptical - cycling may not be as good for bone density as some other exercises, but I doubt it's actually BAD for them.

In any case, I read years ago that MTBers have something like 30% greater bone density than roadies due to all the shock and vibrations. Although that was years before 6" travel enduro machines were commonplace 🙂

Just go to the Alps and count how many incredibly old cyclists there are still winching themselves up passes, and then compare that with the numbers of similarly aged runners or footballers....

I'm pretty sure its given me piles.

Kayak - I'm reading that eastern style from right to left, correct?

Mountain biking you say?

[img] [/img]

I consider myself living proof... No really.

We had heard that shares in kleenex have gone up due to excess sales round your way 😀

I'm reading that eastern style from right to left, correct?

haha..
whats that bronski beat song?....beat boy,beat boy..... 😀
Fair play Kayak...

back to op..It's given me alot of scars,comedy calves and thighs that do not fit into pants that match my waist...

Wouldn't say it's the effect on my body of mtb. Doesn't do that much.
It's the affect on my head and general wellbeing that makes it worth whatever I have paid out on it

[IMG] [/IMG]
[IMG] [/IMG]

Improved my long term dodgy back, neck and shoulder no end

One GP said it could have been contributory to my Prostrate Cancer. My surgeon said very unlikley tho..

They did both reckon that epidiymal cysts could be bike related...

Well my neck feels pretty ****ed from When I hit the deck on Saturday felt like I was in a car accident when I woke up this morning.

I have exercise induced asthma which the mountain biking doesn't help

That's odd as it's been brilliant for mine. Peak flow improved over 15% (and then pretty much stayed there) since I started riding/switched asthma medication/attended SMART clinics. Was recommended to start cycling again by my previous doc.

Lots of broken/healed bits but definitely worth it. Only thing I KNOW it does for sure is shorten your hamstrings...

Makes me look like a selfharmer to my legs and arms and after a large off last week now cant stand straight ,bad back

Apart from that , my knees have been so much better since jacking football in 18 months ago

I got a horse fly bite the other day, now my leg is the wrong size.

Other than that, no ill effects here.

It makes my Gooch numb if I spend to long in the saddle...

It's what it's done to my brain that worries me.

Kayak23 - that's amazing.

I completely agree that for the mind mtbing is perfect. I't helped me get over stress and mild depression.

One of the reasons I was asking about mtbing being bad for your joints is that after breaking my hip nearly 12 months ago, the doctor doesn't think I should be out on my bike (easy cycling yes but not full on mtbing), could this be that jarring this joint which is screwed, could be doing me more harm than good?
Atm I can't do any other activities or sports.

The fact that without mtbing (only started again in April) I'd be a nut case, so have chosen to ignore his advice.

Bunnyhop - Member
Kayak23 - that's amazing.

Just in case it wasn't clear..that ain't me like...
🙂

I bet they don't really understand mountain biking so are going with the theory of "if in doubt, chicken out".

I've no doubt that a serious fall would be bad news but I'm guessing the comment wasn't after careful consideration of the biomechanics.

Consult a sports doctor. Non-biking GPs don't get it.. 🙂

What mountainbiking has done to my body, as of last week, third time my ribs have been redesigned since I started as well as a dislocated arm in the past and various minor injuries, knees, fingers, wrists, but it oddly seems worth it, to push my limits and the adrenaline..

Alex - Member

That's odd as it's been brilliant for mine. Peak flow improved over 15% (and then pretty much stayed there) since I started riding/switched asthma medication/attended SMART clinics. Was recommended to start cycling again by my previous doc.

all different I guess..............

You people need to learn to stay on your bikes 🙂

Thrustyjust as I said to Pook of this Shire. I can ride a hell of alot quicker however you should always hold something back, because riding at 100% means one day you'll be off the bike and work for weeks. That and not being able to walk, wash and dress properly.

Its also nice knowing that every so often you can visit this speed then smile.

Why end up stopping riding before your 50 due to busting up your knees, or shoulder etc?

Well I'm back in hospital again later this week to get my wrist repaired this time. In 2007 it was a knackered collarbone and 2008 a knackered scapula. In total after this next op I'll have 5 scars from riding bikes.
MTBing got me through a very stressful period in my life and has brought me some brilliant friendships, taken me all round the UK and kept me far fitter and stronger than most UK males aged 42 so, overall, despite being temporarily broken again, I think my body is better off...

To the OP - don't knacker yourself in the long-term for the sake of a short-term fix would be my advice...

one day you'll be off the bike and work for weeks.

brooess - too late I'm already knackered and old, time isn't on my side. Good luck with your op.

Re bones... I've got osteoperosis, and the doctors instantly go down a checklist that goes:

Anorexic?
Cyclist?
Coeliac?

There might be others. Coeliac for me. But I got read the riot act when I took up cycling, to stay on top of calcium intake etc, upped my meds for it etc to compensate.

We worry about dehudration, salt and sugar but we sweat out a buttload of calcium when we ride apparently and nobody ever thinks about it. And mtb isn't a high enough impact sport to compensate. Luckily a lot of recovery drinks are milk based

I'm fitter than I have ever been. But also have a few more scars...

I suspect that doing stuff that keeps you from going mental and also improves your muscle mass slows down ageing. There was a study of cyclists and the ones who were still doing longish fastish rides in their 70s had no indicators of ageing (they do measure reasonably everyday things like how fast you get out of a chair... not your sprint times or anything sporty). So I reckon I'm adding muscle now (in my 40s) so the decline will be slower later on...

Be careful that you're not being treated as a precious unbreakable girl... sit down, have a nice cup of tea and do some needlework dear. The reaction to that female rugby player who carried on playing with a broken nose is an indicator that expectations are still slightly different.

Oh, and I expect you're taking lots of calcium and Vit D3?

Clover and Northwind - interesting.

Knitting is one of my new hobbies but it just doesn't give me that Adrenalin buzz.

Yes on calcium and trying to get out into this wonderful sunshine while I can.

Northwind I eat natural yoghurt and milk daily. I guess I never stopped liking dairy from childhood... feel for those who cant eat dairy though 🙁

I'm pretty sure doing rough & rocky trails on a hardtail contributed to my slipped disc, but then it was probably the last straw after a lifetime of abuse. Anyway the positives must outweigh the negatives for me as I'm back on the bike again, though it's full suspension only now and I avoid the really jarring trails.

What does it do to my body?

Forget that. It keeps me off anti depressents and sane*.

Thats priceless.

*As long as I dont leave a mechanical fix till Friday 7pm

I reckon mtbing is good for your body overall.

But crashing is a good way to do permanent damage.

A dislocated collarbone, aggravated a previous neck injury thru whiplash and scarring on legs and arms. Untold disputes throughout my marriage.

Fitter than I've ever been at nearly 42. Brilliant for my mental state (so long as I keep riding-can't handle days off!) and saves me from the boredom of the gym.

I guess as I get older I'll progress to more road-riding/gentle trails but as of now that's not an option!

We worry about dehudration, salt and sugar but we sweat out a buttload of calcium when we ride apparently and nobody ever thinks about it

Interesting. Don't some electrolyte drinks/supplements contain calcium too?

I've started drinking a pint of milk before every ride. The stuff is amazing (funny that) 8)

If I drank a pint of milk before each ride I'd not get much riding done for the uncontrollably violent diarrhea it would induce!!

Cycling helps me clear my head, though in fairness that's more sport in general, football and cricket have done the same in the past.

It's also given me a damn fine pair of legs, albeit with some interesting scares on them. It's compensated this by giving me the under body of a 12 year old. It's also given me the tightest and shortest hamstrings and a calves the podiatrist has ever seem, I really should stretch more.

It's helped my asthma to the point I rarely use my inhaler.

Thrustyjust as I said to Pook of this Shire. I can ride a hell of alot quicker however you should always hold something back, because riding at 100% means one day you'll be off the bike and work for weeks. That and not being able to walk, wash and dress properly

It wouldn't be half as much fun, mind you, Hora, if you weren't elbows out through some singletrack with like minded friends, laughing at line choices and manic decisions.
Weirdly, my first rib issue was in a Gorrick race, where the bike slid away in a slow section and I hit a tree stump with my back, second was on a night ride and hit a badger, who jumped out the undergrowth on a wide gravel track and third time was last week, where I was pootling along in the massive heatwave last week, pedal was grabbed by a root and threw me into the handlebars. So none actually linked with massive speed and wild abandon. These things can happen, without any prior warning.
Oh the shoulder dislocation was 4 abreast tanking it down hill into a 1 mtre wide funnel of singletrack at the bottom and I didn't win. 😀

Well I've got the skin of a 90 year old on my shins, my wrists grumble at me in cold weather, both shoulders make strange noises and I spend most of the year looking like someone with a major self-harm issue.

On the other hand, I'm 65kg, can eat what I want, can wear the same size clothes as when I was 16 (although trousers are a bit tight round the thigh), relatively sane and don't get out of breath when climbing a flight of stairs, unlike many of my contemporaries.

Oh, and like most things, you get better at crashing with practice...

I'm pretty sure I owe my life to MTB, or maybe my lifestyle would be more accurate.

When I started again at 28 I was massively over-weight, but more dangerously I was seriously depressed, although I didn't know it at the time and suffering from stress which meant I only slept for 2-3 hours a night and had uncontrollable spasms. To deal with it I got drunk every weekend and took pills and coke occasionally which didn't help - finally I developed mild type 2 diabetes - all the hallmarks of a unhappy life that was going to end all too soon and alone.

I got a bike through R2W because it will such a good deal at the time - £1000 bike voucher, for £16 a month over 3 years, although a bought a crap bike from Halfords it got me going - a couple of my mates bought bikes about the same time and headed out on our first ride - the route was about 5 miles around a local nature park, it took 4 stops on the way down, 6 on the way back and a few hours to do it, I could do it in about 30 mins now I'm sure.

At first the real benefit wasn't the fitness element, although it helped - I guess we all know that when you're concentrating on not hitting that rock, or not slipping on that mud or going around that stump you can't think about that meeting, or that target or that psychotic ****er in work that wants you dead. Within weeks the binge drinking and drugs stopped - there was NO WAY I wanted to go and get hammered on Friday and Saturday night because it meant no riding the next day.

10 years on and I'm no catwalk model, but I'm very fit by the standards of the average man on the street - perfect blood pressure, a nice low resting heart rate and I'm supple and flexible.

Downsides? Well I've got a plate in my left wrist which is a bit sore in the mornings, especially when it's cold, I've lost the tip of my right elbow which is also sore in the mornings, it's misshapen and I've got limited range of movement - but I know I was unlucky there - I'm lucky enough to ride with a big group of friends and I'm the only one who's really got any long-term injuries. My chest hurts sometimes, I cracked a few ribs so now cartilage grows between them at the joints, I've got to throw my shoulders back and puff my chest out and it makes a horrible crack, but doesn't hurt after that - it goes away for a few weeks. Other than that I get the usual aches and pains, but less than my Wife gets from being a Nurse - on the few occasions when I've had to stop riding for a couple of weeks they've all gone away so I'm pretty confident if I don't have another big crash that when I finally do hang up my FiveTens I won't have any lasting issues.

It gives me an enormous sense of well-being 8)

Goldigger - Member
It makes my Gooch numb if I spend to long in the saddle.

That's the beauty of MTB over the darkside, generally you spend less time just sat in the saddle, spinning away and what time you do is broken up by out-of-the-saddle bumpiness 🙂

we sweat out a buttload of calcium when we ride apparently and nobody ever thinks about it

Forget thinking about it, I never even knew that! I drink shed loads of milk anyway. Incredibly, despite smashing up more bikes over the years than I can remember (due to rider incompetence) I've yet to break a bone *touches wood (stop s****ing at the back)*

Interesting. Don't some electrolyte drinks/supplements contain calcium too?

I'll do some classic half-educated sharing here. I recently read somewhere that most post recovery drinks are no better than a pint of milk. That's not to say that they're bad per se, but that you get the same recovery effects from milk (protein, sugars, calcium I guess). Apparently "they" did a load of tests with elite level athletes and the milk performed to the same level. I've been drinking a pint of milk after all exercise now for a while and I swear that I don't feel nearly as beat up, in terms of muscle stiffness, the next day.

Apart from that I'm 43 and the biking is brilliant, keeps me young and my body is in way better shape than it would be without it

Since it seems to have raised some interest, this looks like a decent blog on the subject

http://www.joefrielsblog.com/2011/03/bones-and-cyclists.html

My source was from my consultant rather than research so I don't have any firsthand links/studies etc. It's less of a risk if you have a good diet but again, calcium's something people overlook in diet. (there's a suggestion that in normal people, supplements don't help over and above a good diet- don't know about that)

Where does it say it needs to be weight bearing for it to be any good? Does this mean swimming is terrible for you?

Hypermobility means I occasionally dislocate my shoulder going down some rocky stuff. Just need to pop it back in and I can finish riding. It's sore for a few days after, but nothing some painkillers and rest won't cure. Weight training usually sorts it out, but I've been riding more this year so the upper body wastage is worse.

MTB (cycling in general)means I've become more aware of what I eat and more aware of my weight. Both of these are major positives. A lot of people are unaware of how much their diet affects their lives in general.

Cycling has screwed my hamstrings so I now get back ache if I don't stretch daily. I think I have hand nerve damage from mtbing which results in the odd pain in my hand. I also get knee pain occasionally from a an old damaged ligament. Otherwise nowt

I have exercise induced asthma which the mountain biking doesn't help

My asthma is much better controlled if I do exercise. All I can think of is you aren't fit enough to get a noticeable improvement.

MTBing and cycling in general are great for wellbeing and fitness IMO. And injuries are part of doing sport and exercise, with certain sports more likely to result in certain injuries.

I now have a mental image of bunnyhop engaged in extreme knitting. I must go for a ride to clear my head.

It ruins your fingernails.

...calcium's something people overlook in diet

probabaly because there's so many foodstuffs which supply it, assuming you are a healthy individual with a diet unrestricted by superstition &/or lifestyle choices.

If you need to supplement, look for calcium citrate not carbonate and don't exceed about 1500-1800mg/day or you risk guts ache

I think unless you crash big time its generally positive, I took it up aged thirty when I stopped canoeing [ that gives you the shits on a regular basis due to what goes into rivers ], I'm sixty and still out at least twice a week , I've only ever had bruises/scratches/loss of dignity dangly form a bush type accidents whereas playing five a side I've had black eyes, sore ankles and six stitches in me eyebrow.Even the numb nob syndrome is sorted with the improvements in saddle design -win win

Where does it say it needs to be weight bearing for it to be any good?

Weight bearing exercise strengthens bones - this is well known.

calcium's something people overlook in diet.

Really? Milk and cheese seem popular..?

I recently read somewhere that most post recovery drinks are no better than a pint of milk.

The ratio of protein/carbs is similar in milk, but you need to drink some ridiculous amount of milk (like three pints or something) to get the amount of carbs suggested for recovery. Plus (decent) recovery drinks contain more things than just protein and carbs - whether or not they work is also under debate. However I recommend anyone sceptical of recovery drinks to at least try Torq (specifically this one, not the others) after a big ride - it's very effective. You can get it in single sachets for £1.50 or something, worth a punt on a couple of them.

molgrips - Member

Really? Milk and cheese seem popular..?

Yes, really- people tend to eat dairy or not based on whether they like it but most healthy people won't go "Better drink some milk because I've not eaten enough calcium today". A typical western diet will usually supply enough for most people without worrying about it but that's exactly why it gets overlooked- and not everyone eats typically. And cyclists need more than most, because we waste so much of it.

As someone who can't stand milk it's a moot (sorry) point. I'm fine with cheese BTW.

If you think you are low in calcium then the list here http://nof.org/articles/886 shows that it's surprisingly common in foodstuffs.

Posted on first page about waterworks problems that may of may not be linked to cycling. Overall it keeps me healthy and sane. I rode from early thirties to mid 40's with no major injuries, then had 2 ambulance crashes in a 3 month period, which changed my outlook (and face) significantly. Now a lot more cautious but probably a better rider after doing a skills season to sort my head post crashes. First one was a horrid otb, second a high speed wipeout in velodrome. I haven't ridden on the track since....

Resistance work, is beneficial to bone health, via the body's reaction of adaptation.

Question: What is the effect on the body's net acidity, after consuming dairy?

And didn't I read somewhere that there is no correlation between dairy consumption and a reduced incidence of osteoporosis?

The bone Dr.I'm seeing at the moment says yogurt is good. Too much cheese,bad, due to fat content.Also at least half to full pint of milk a day.

Solo - Member

Question: What is the effect on the body's net acidity, after consuming dairy?

None, except in the urine.

Solo - Member

And didn't I read somewhere that there is no correlation between dairy consumption and a reduced incidence of osteoporosis?

Quite likely, people write all sorts of bollocks and diary seems to attract pseudomedicine and quackery.

Northwind - Member

....cyclists need more than most, because we waste so much of it

why do cyclists "waste" more calcium then any anyone carrying out other strenuous activity??

@molgrips
I'd question the thinking that it has to be weight bearing for it to improve bone strength. Tennis players for example have greater upper limb strength due to repeatedly striking a ball. There are studies that confirm this.

Potentially MTB confers similar benefits due to having to absorb vibrations/impacts with your limbs?

Either way, I think we all agree that exercise>no exercise. Where it gets tricky is deciding if MTB is the best exercise for us!

hilldodger - Member

why do cyclists "waste" more calcium then any anyone carrying out other strenuous activity??

We don't. Well, not for a given amount of sweat, anyway.

dragon - Member

I have exercise induced asthma which the mountain biking doesn't help

My asthma is much better controlled if I do exercise. All I can think of is you aren't fit enough to get a noticeable improvement.

Yeah, that must be it. Thanks for your expert diagnosis!

I'd question the thinking that it has to be weight bearing for it to improve bone strength. Tennis players for example have greater upper limb strength due to repeatedly striking a ball. There are studies that confirm this.

Well limb strength isn't the same as bone density, is it? And there is a fair amount of shock going through the arms and shoulders.. but I dunno - I'm not a doctor anyway.

why do cyclists "waste" more calcium then any anyone carrying out other strenuous activity??

Perhaps because we can easily be out for four or five hours - this is probably longer than any other sport apart from walking, and we're working at a higher rate. Well, some of us are at least 😉 2 hours is a long run but a short bike ride.

this is probably longer than any other sport apart from walking

and a lot of golf rounds...

Mentally it's done me no good whatsoever, I've gone from being more or less normally adjusted to semi-permanently staring at the sky looking for weather, staring at maps looking for singletrack, staring at internet bike shops at the bits I can't afford.

physically I'm either mostly knackered or stinging, or having to explain why my arms look like I've been fighting cats, or why I'm limping, or why my fingernails are black

Financially I'm ruined, my food shopping bill is massive, all my spare cash goes on bike bits, and a good deal of "not spare" cash, my car's filthy, and has too many miles on it, and smells..."funny" All my clothes are stained with oil, or hydro fluid, all my tees are product release freebies.I don't have many non biking friends, I can't look at FB on DH day or the next couple of weeks at all in case I see results

Yeah, mountain biking....it's great