Will it get better?

The Fat Fonz wrote:
> G'day all, my first post here
Do you understand "match fit " ?


you might need to walk a little and ride some more until things
toughen up
>
snippage
> Cheers, Mick (The Fat Fonz)
>
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

In aus.motorcycles on Sat, 19 Jan 2008 12:26:49 GMT
The Fat Fonz <fonz.DeleteThis@heyyyyy.com.au> wrote:
>
> I took both for small (200 K) rides and after both got off to feel
> absoulutely stuffed, aching back and legs.
>
> Here is my question, Im wondering (hoping) that this is simply due to not
> being used to riding and with time my fat unhealthy body may somehow adjust
> to compensate, While highly motivated to get back into riding I cannot say
> the same for healthy living and exercise which I find highly overrated.
>
Well... it depends.

Some of it is spending a couple of hours in one position when you
aren't used to it.

Some of it may be fit - slight changes in bar and control positions
can sometimes make a lot of difference. Plus bolt upright isn't as
comfortable as you might think. Especially if you aren't relaxed and
in tune with the bike.

I bet a lot of it is that you have forgotten how to sit on a bike, it is
likely you were tensing up and trying to hold yourself onto the bike and
hold yourself up. And you have lost the muscles you need to do that with.

Most people don't realise how much core muscle you use sitting on a bike.
If your back is bolt up[1], then you put all the weight on your bum which
is OK if you have sold core to hold yourself up (especially if your legs
are in front of your hips) you hold yourself up with the bars rounding
your shoulders and your back, so they are sore. You also tend to tense
up a lot generally trying to hold yourself up and on.

If you have good core - abs and corset - then you hold your back straight
and yourself up with those. Which is how the human body is designed
to work.

You develop these muscles over years of riding, lose them when you stop.

You don't have to do the gymrat
thing to get the core fitness back, check out
http://www.healthline.com/blogs/exercise_fitness/labels/abdominal%20muscles.html
and wander about that site for a bit. Changing how you stand and sit
and bend will help to strengthen your core so you can hold yourself up
on the bike properly.

I'm not a fan of the average Harley riding position, I think it encourages
back and shoulder problems. The Goldwing is a better long distance stance
because with the legs more under the hip angle is better you can brace
with the legs and hold your lower back at the right bend more easily.
However people manage long miles on hogs so it is certainly doable.

Pick the bike you like. Ride it a lot so you get back into the way of it.
But pay attention to how you hold your body all the time - get those
core muscles engaged all day as you walk and sit and definitely when on
the bike. Stretch your chest muscles so you find it easy to keep your
shoulders back on the bike, rounded ones will get sore. Pay attention
to your head position so your neck is straight and not kinked with the
chin forward under the weight of the helmet. Hold yourself up with your
core muscles so you aren't tensing your legs and arms to do it.

And have fun!

Zebee

[1] and if you have a low bar bike then lots of people bow their backs
and drop the stomach down towards the tank, causing back and shoulder
problems, and rest weight on the hands (thus hurting the wrists because
of the angle) because their core isn't strong enough to hold them up.
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

> G'day all, my first post here
>

G'day.

> Here is my question, Im wondering (hoping) that this is simply due to not
> being used to riding and with time my fat unhealthy body may somehow
> adjust to compensate, While highly motivated to get back into riding I
> cannot say the same for healthy living and exercise which I find highly
> overrated.
>


I think you will fit in nicely here with that attitude.


> Cheers, Mick (The Fat Fonz)



 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

The Fat Fonz wrote:

<snip of background>

> Here is my question, Im wondering (hoping) that this is simply due to not
> being used to riding and with time my fat unhealthy body may somehow adjust
> to compensate, While highly motivated to get back into riding I cannot say
> the same for healthy living and exercise which I find highly overrated.

Dunno. It depends.

What looks comfy may not always actually be comfy for you.

Maybe you could try something along the lines of a big naked bike....
a GSX1400 or similar big Yammie or Honda.

Perhaps a Jap cruiser might "fit" you better. <shrug>

You have to go and try, we can't tell you what works for you.

Perhaps you might try something rather smaller and lighter...after 20
years off bikes, they have come a long way....maybe a Honda Deauville or
a 900 Hornet.

In the final analysis it's up to you to try all the options, and given
your described background in the bike business, I do feel tempted to
agree with Clem's
"if you need to ask then it's not for you..."

regards,
CrazyCam
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

This message is not archived
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

Peter wrote:
>
>> G'day all, my first post here
>>
>
> G'day.
>
>> Here is my question, Im wondering (hoping) that this is simply due to
>> not being used to riding and with time my fat unhealthy body may
>> somehow adjust to compensate, While highly motivated to get back into
>> riding I cannot say the same for healthy living and exercise which I
>> find highly overrated.
>>
>
>
> I think you will fit in nicely here with that attitude.
>
>
>> Cheers, Mick (The Fat Fonz)
>
>
>
>

Don't you mean with that 'fat unhealthy body' type


G-S
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

On Jan 19, 11:26 pm, "The Fat Fonz" <f....DeleteThis@heyyyyy.com.au> wrote:
> Im not in a hurry to get anywhere and prefer large touring type bikes, to be
> honest I like the look of them more than anything and living in rural nsw I
> have no hassles lugging an overweight bike in traffic. (cos there is none)
>
> The nearest bike shop to me has been kind enough to loan me both a Harley
> Ultra-Classic and a used Honda Goldwing for a couple of days at a time, both
> bikes appeal to me and I assumed the upright riding position with running
> boards would be the most comfortable option.

Probably a repeat but look at lighter tourers than the heavy weights,
note also cruisers lock you into a position that can be very bad for
dodgy backs - you want your legs under you not out in front.

Consider things like the STX /ST1300 the yamaha equivalent (errm is it
FZR1300 ? I forget) or the BMW K1200 (ermm GT ?) if you go a bit
lighter than the leadwing you won't need as much muscle to punt it
around.

Also consider a middleweight tourer such as the SV650/GSF650F etc
until you're back in condition.

JL
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

Forget the cruisers.You will be crippled after a longish day.I found out
the hard way.Ride a Suzy GSX1400 now .Best bike I have had in 40 years.
Ron
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:58:23 +1100
Ron <rbdent.RemoveThis@aapt.net.au> wrote:
> Forget the cruisers.You will be crippled after a longish day.I found out

Theo seemed to be able to do long days on various Calis without being
crippled.

Although a California's probably not what most people mean by
"cruiser".

Zebee
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

<Mr_Hankey RemoveThis @qnr.com.au> wrote in message
news:4ot4p3tn0r9vind3c8eikrt8426ec9772f@4ax.com...
> On 19 Jan 2008 20:04:03 GMT, Zebee Johnstone wrote:
>
>
>>I'm not a fan of the average Harley riding position, I think it encourages
>>back and shoulder problems. The Goldwing is a better long distance stance
>>because with the legs more under the hip angle is better you can brace
>>with the legs and hold your lower back at the right bend more easily.
>>However people manage long miles on hogs so it is certainly doable.
>>
>>Pick the bike you like. Ride it a lot so you get back into the way of it.
>>But pay attention to how you hold your body all the time - get those
>>core muscles engaged all day as you walk and sit and definitely when on
>>the bike. Stretch your chest muscles so you find it easy to keep your
>>shoulders back on the bike, rounded ones will get sore. Pay attention
>>to your head position so your neck is straight and not kinked with the
>>chin forward under the weight of the helmet. Hold yourself up with your
>>core muscles so you aren't tensing your legs and arms to do it.
>>
> What she said.
> Ya gotta love this ng. After you get past the smartarse putdowns
> (sometimes funny, often not) you will invariably find a good answer
> like this. Such is usenet, but more so with aus.motorcycles.
>
> --
> Mr H

You obviously haven't been to aus.cars lately.....95% sarcasm and 5% good
pointers....sometimes it can vary but usually not by much!!

cheers

DJ
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

Zebee Johnstone wrote:
> In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 18:58:23 +1100
> Ron <rbdent.TakeThisOut@aapt.net.au> wrote:
>> Forget the cruisers.You will be crippled after a longish day.I found
>> out
>
> Theo seemed to be able to do long days on various Calis without being
> crippled.
>
> Although a California's probably not what most people mean by
> "cruiser".

Even further on the Norge.


Theo
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better? 

On Jan 21, 11:25 am, Zebee Johnstone <zeb....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> wrote:
> In aus.motorcycles on Sun, 20 Jan 2008 16:00:14 -0800 (PST)
>
> JL <jlitt....TakeThisOut@my-deja.com> wrote:
> > Consider things like the STX /ST1300 the yamaha equivalent (errm is it
> > FZR1300 ? I forget) or the BMW K1200 (ermm GT ?) if you go a bit
> > lighter than the leadwing you won't need as much muscle to punt it
> > around.
>
> If you want lighter than the BMW or Wing or Hog, good looking and very
> comfortable indeed...
>
> Norge!
>
> Well you know I had to say it.

I deliberately deleted it back off the above list so you could

JL
 >> Stay informed about: Will it get better?