ChrisCowan.us
I'm just your average 30 something white geeky male who want's to be cool... but it's hard when you drive a minivan!
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Day 1 of 365 on the Platforms
Whoa! I could really feel the burn in my bum today on the climbs. I managed to clear all the climbs without dabbing which was a first for me with the platforms. The key to climbing on platforms seems to be keeping up enough momentum which means pedaling harder up hill (which means more burn).
I also did a core workout yesterday which reminded me today why those dumb muscles are so important. Ever turn and climb I would get a nice little reminder, kind of like when you sister pokes a bruise and says, "Does that hurt?"
Damn! I'm a Flip Flopper when it comes to pedaling!
Recently (like yesterday) I made a commitment to start getting my fitness back under control. I did some searching and found a blog called MTB Strength Training which is exactly the type of information I'm looking for, something tailored for mountain biking. I'm sure Bike James isn't the only game in town but what I've read of his so far makes sense to me.
Today's blog post is a follow up to an previous post he wrote about "Barefoot Pedaling" which really translates to platform pedaling (did you catch the foreshadowing... you probably know what's coming next don't you). He describes how over use injuries are caused by bad pedaling technique which clipless pedals allow you to get away with. It's pretty insightful given my past knee issues and the problems I had with Patelar Tendonitis. If you are into cycling it's worth a watch, maybe it won't change your mind or maybe it will.
On the trail I've been missing my platforms, especially in the sketchy sections. I feel like I really didn't give my body sufficient time to adjust to the platform pedals. Also I tried to make the transition while I was exhausted and the stress of learning something new compounded with the stress (and exhaustion) of a new baby didn't really set me up for success.
I've decided that I'm going to give the platform pedals another honest try but this time I'm going to commit to a year of pedaling with platforms only. Also to get this to work I'm going to pack away my cycling shoes and clipless pedals (in an very inconvenient place) so I can't get to them very easily (maybe I can have my wife hide then so I can't find). That way if I get frustrated I will just have to push my way through (pun intended!).
