Strength for motorbike riders – it sounds a bit like an advert for some kind of supplement. The real question is whether it is necessary to be physically strong to ride a bike.
Although it is a myth that you need to be particularly strong to ride a motorbike, without doubt, especially for fast high performance riding, having a strong core, shoulders, back and legs will be a distinct advantage.
A strong core and lower back will support your body allowing your arms and hands to steer and control the bike rather than supporting your weight.
Strong legs enable you to change position easily and help control your bike so exercises focusing on leg strength are particularly relevant for bikers.
It’s a strange thing to hear, but simply being strong (maybe due to regular workouts) doesn’t necessarily help with riding a motorbike. Building muscle for the vanity of looking good is all very well but can still leave you feeling fatigued after a long ride.
You’d think fitness was, well fitness.
Let me ask you a question, do you think Mo Farrah and Usain Bolt are fit?
Of course they are, but could Mo Farrah compete at 100 metres or could Usain Bolt run a 10,000 metre race?
It’s the same with strength – it needs to be the right kind of strength for whatever you are engaged in. Focusing on building biceps won’t necessarily help in building the strength that will help with riding a motorbike. So strength for motorbike riders will be a different kind of strength to that required if you fancy hanging out on Venice Beach!
It’s an area dear to my heart and one of the reasons for starting Bikers Fit – helping other bikers understand what will really help with their overall fitness but particularly to help increase the enjoyment of motorbiking.
