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Post by Bob716SR on Mar 23, 2009 21:10:51 GMT -5
Just a question. Are mountain bikes a viable way to CROSS TRAIN for motocross? I think, however I'm not a mountain biker, that it should be a good way to train. Any input??? Bob716SR
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moto131
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honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.- gandhi
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Post by moto131 on Mar 23, 2009 23:00:00 GMT -5
This is a great question! and made really relevant by a conversation we had at the fernley prepped practice two weks ago. I had just come off the track and was talking with scott stillmock about how damn tired i was after just a couple laps even though i had been trail riding alot and getting some riding in on my mountain bike. i can honestly tell u I was beat up. my mountain bike helps my cardio for sure but doesnt come close to preparing my body for the race track. which brings me to another great northern nevada motorcrosser (Al McElroy) who once told me his theory on the subject...Dont drink light beer, cuz nobody drinks beer to get skinny, and the only way to get faster on a motorcycle is to turn laps on a motorcycle! and i think he admitted at the time to quoting Malcom Smith. So have fun on your mountain bike and enjoy the cardio work out and build your lungs, but in my book nothing prepares you for racing like being on your MXer at the race track!
Anybody else have an opinion?
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Post by Mr Moto on Mar 23, 2009 23:16:19 GMT -5
Most racers trying to do cardo have parked the mountain bikes for road bikes or even spin bikes. The intensity levels are much higher on a road bike or spin bike. In Training for moto it’s important to keep the intensity level high.
Think of how high the intensity is when racing motocross…. This why this phrase is so true.. ”the only way to get faster on a motorcycle is to turn laps on a motorcycle.”
I can tell you many supercross riders have taken up bmx bikes to improve their timing…
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Post by beaupre716 on Mar 24, 2009 0:22:44 GMT -5
This question occurred to my dad because I upgraded my old mountain bike yesterday with a newer one I found on Craig's List. He said it would be good for getting me in shape, and I had to disagree. I said the only thing that would get me in shape for riding would be the actual burning of gasoline through my 450.
I say this because I tried to get ready for Mammoth in '00 by doing a lot of intense mountain biking: about 4 days a week of 45-minute to one-hour rides with lots of heavy climbing. (I was trying to keep my KX250 in good shape because my budget for the race was limited.)
So I went to Mammoth, grabbed a great start in my 250 Intermediate qualifier, ran with some really fast guys for a few laps...but eventually faded back to 11th, which was not a qualifying spot. On the fourth lap of the eight-lap qualifier, I knew my mountain bike method had betrayed me.
Still, my dad isn't completely wrong--the mountain bike is probably of some help to my general fitness (though I do have a strong preference for going downhill, which doesn't help the fitness cause as much.) But when it comes to motocross-specific fitness, I think there's no substitute for hanging on to your actual motocross bike.
I'm still pretty pumped on my new mountain bike though--it sits more like my 450 than it does my old mountain bike.
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Post by Mr Moto on Mar 24, 2009 0:38:25 GMT -5
I'm still pretty pumped on my new mountain bike though--it sits more like my 450 than it does my old mountain bike. Oh, the feel of a new bike whether it has a motor or not. Anything new always feels sooooo nice.
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Post by beaupre716 on Mar 24, 2009 1:26:15 GMT -5
I'm still pretty pumped on my new mountain bike though--it sits more like my 450 than it does my old mountain bike. Oh, the feel of a new bike whether it has a motor or not. Anything new always feels sooooo nice. Yes it does. The bike is not technically new, but it doesn't have a scratch on it. There are things I know I want to do to it mechanically, but I'm still so much in the honeymoon, I just tend to stare at it.
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Post by rgrant on Mar 24, 2009 5:01:31 GMT -5
Oh man that's a sweet bike!
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Post by Sam361 on Mar 24, 2009 10:42:42 GMT -5
I raced mtn bikes for a couple years and it is good training. But you need other training too. I was in way better shape when i was ridin the bicycle. I have to get another one soon. Riding is good for riding tho for sure. I got tired of spinning and graduated to pinning
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Post by beaupre716 on Mar 24, 2009 13:45:37 GMT -5
Oh man that's a sweet bike! Thanks, Ryan. Did you race XC or downhill, Sam?
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Post by Larry63r on Mar 24, 2009 17:28:04 GMT -5
I ride all kinds of bikes. Today I rode about 20 miles on my 24" BMX bike. Tomorrow I will ride my 20" BMX bike and Thursday my friends and I will do our 30 mile ride on our MTBs. It takes about 2 hours to do our 30 mile ride. The secret is to not stop riding. No rest breaks! You have to do 20 minutes before you get any real benefit from your ride. You have to get tired and then push yourself as hard as you can. I have a road bike as well but it is just to boring to ride it. I hate being stuck on pavement. I like the dirt much better! Every kind of bike will help to train you on a different aspect of riding. 20" bikes are very nervous and will keep you sharp. They are very unforgiving. 24" bikes are just a bit more forgiving but you have to ride them smoother or you will break them. MTBs are fun but they break easily and the wheels fold if you slam them into a berm to hard. They are great trail bikes but they require a lot of maintenance to keep them running right. Most importantly is that they are all fun and they keep you from getting burnt on one kind of riding. I have many friends that all ride bikes. Some only have MTBs, others only have BMX bikes, a few only have road bikes. Many only have motorcycles. I think that the ones that only have one kind of bike are missing out on a lot of fun!
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Post by ☆eddy on Mar 24, 2009 22:25:21 GMT -5
Oh, the feel of a new bike whether it has a motor or not. Anything new always feels sooooo nice. Yes it does. The bike is not technically new, but it doesn't have a scratch on it. There are things I know I want to do to it mechanically, but I'm still so much in the honeymoon, I just tend to stare at it. no way ive been lookin at that bike on craigslist how much did you get it for?
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Post by Davis325 on Mar 24, 2009 22:28:06 GMT -5
haha eddy we where just talkin about that bike, remember?
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moto131
Privateer
honest disagreement is often a good sign of progress.- gandhi
Posts: 91
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Post by moto131 on Mar 24, 2009 23:29:14 GMT -5
the BMX bike is a great choice layne! I just bought a 24" GT from Tony at KCH (sold at mach 2 in fern) and it is soooo much fun! the one thing I noticed right away was that it just might teach me to carry more speed into my jumps and break my lazy habit of coasting into corners because i now have no throttle to rely on!. its really a great purchase even if only for the fun factor.
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Post by Mr Moto on Mar 24, 2009 23:37:21 GMT -5
Just remember what the old man use to say....."Thats a lot of pedaling to give your a$$ a ride"
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Post by beaupre716 on Mar 24, 2009 23:37:41 GMT -5
no way ive been lookin at that bike on craigslist how much did you get it for? $750. The guy I bought it from was really cool and had a couple of clean CRFs in his garage too.
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