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Pilates Bike Riding

By David Walrath guest blog writer for A Room For Pilates Studio

Pilates and bike riding go hand in hand. All of the muscles in the body are involved in biking riding.  Pilates can specifically target muscles so that all your muscles work together so that stronger muscle groups don’t dominate weaker groups, causing imbalance.

It’s all about the abs

Cycling is all about the abs! It may seem like biking is mainly a leg workout, but don’t be fooled. To ride in proper alignment, your core muscles are actually doing a lot of work. If your abs are weak your back muscles must work harder to hold the spine correctly.

In these photos Ruth is building abdominal muscles with a very basic leg movement mimicking a bicycle movement. A two for one payoff.

Weak abs mean overworked back muscles

Overworked back muscles, over compensating for under developed abs, translate into back fatigue and pain, both while riding and afterward.

Don’t forget the upper back

Next to the abs, the upper and mid-back muscles are essential for maintaining alignment, supporting the spine and torso, and keeping the entire body open and functioning freely, not collapsing, fatiguing and not functioning fully.

The lats, those wide muscles that spread from your spine to your side, are the ones you want responsible for keeping your shoulders down. If they aren’t properly active, the low back can take over, and that’s nothing but trouble. Pilates allows you to engage your abs and back simultaneously to ensure that your entire core is working as one efficient team.

More power to the pedals

Core strength will help transfer more power to the pedals by providing a solid platform for the lower body to push against. Riding with a weak core can be compared to pedaling with moccasins rather than cycling shoes, the power isn’t transferred efficiently.

Pilates is an excellent way for cyclists to acquire more core strength that helps support the lower back. Many riders complain about lower back pain and this is an area that frequently fatigues on a long ride.

The Pilates reformer has an attractive “flow,” “speed” and “grace” to it that bikers will feel harmonious with bike riding. At A Room for Pilates we look forward to working with you to improve your bike riding experience. Call or text Ruth Dreier 707-529-2530 at A Room For Pilates, Sebastopol CA