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Do bents give less upper body workout?

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Old 15-02.-2007, 08:05 AM   #1
chero
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Default Do bents give less upper body workout?

I commute with an upright. In addition to the leg and cardivascular workout, I feel I get a reasonable amount of upper body workout from standing on the pedals going up hills, and pulling on the handlebars a bit. I am thinking of trying a bent for greater comfort and a more straight ahead view. But, in a bent do you get less of a workout of your upper body?

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Old 15-02.-2007, 09:39 AM   #2
Slugster438
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

Quote:
Originally Posted by chero
I commute with an upright. In addition to the leg and cardivascular workout, I feel I get a reasonable amount of upper body workout from standing on the pedals going up hills, and pulling on the handlebars a bit. I am thinking of trying a bent for greater comfort and a more straight ahead view. But, in a bent do you get less of a workout of your upper body?

chero
Yes, it is true.

An alternate choice to a recumbent is a semi-recumbent, like the RANS Fusion (and similiar), Surefoot Lightfoot, Day6Bicycles and Sun SunRay. The RANS bikes are the more performance-oriented of the bunch, but they are also the most expensive.
~
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Old 18-02.-2007, 04:46 AM   #3
blazingpedals
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

Yep, they do require less upper body. That's one of the advantages - you can put all your energy into pedaling instead of wasting it doing pushups. Recumbenteurs who want upper body exercise can get it by doing something else, no bike required.
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Old 22-03.-2007, 10:42 AM   #4
bkaapcke
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

There is virtually no upper body workout on my LWB recumbent. For that , I got a rowing machine. During the rainy season, it's often the only workout I get. bk
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Old 23-03.-2007, 08:43 AM   #5
Slugster438
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

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Originally Posted by bkaapcke
There is virtually no upper body workout on my LWB recumbent. For that , I got a rowing machine. During the rainy season, it's often the only workout I get. bk
For that, you could get a rowbike: http://www.rowbike.com
......
(-I kinda like the look of these things, but I wuldn't buy one before trying it out [just ot make certain it was long enough for me]... and I ain't looking for them. Last thing I need right now is another $1K bicycle....)
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Old 23-03.-2007, 10:00 PM   #6
blazingpedals
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

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Originally Posted by Slugster438
For that, you could get a rowbike: http://www.rowbike.com
...or an Irish Mail: http://www.champiot.com/
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Old 09-08.-2007, 01:20 AM   #7
jcbarnett
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

Well, if you are on a 'bent trike, you could always bring along a set of dumbells and do bicep curls, shoulder presses, and chest flys while merrily peddling away since many of the trikes will let you ride "hands free" in a straight line once you're accustomed to the trike's nuances. Just a thought)
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Old 14-09.-2007, 03:45 AM   #8
LeakyDuck
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

I have a Sun EZ-3 SX. Once I laid the seat back and learned to spin and not mash I discovered that my Abs were getting a good work out. Still don't have a Six-pack but any thing that flattens my gut is a good thing.
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Old 14-09.-2007, 10:06 AM   #9
ChacoBent
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Default Re: Do bents give less upper body workout?

Quote:
Originally Posted by chero
I commute with an upright. In addition to the leg and cardivascular workout, I feel I get a reasonable amount of upper body workout from standing on the pedals going up hills, and pulling on the handlebars a bit. I am thinking of trying a bent for greater comfort and a more straight ahead view. But, in a bent do you get less of a workout of your upper body?

chero
Any sort of biking will not give your upper torso a decent workout. That's what regular weight training is for -- pullups, bench presses, rows, military presses, etc.
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