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• #2
You would think so wouldn't you.
But the fact that crossfit involves lots of really random (and advanced) stuff, done at high speed, with reckless abandon and no attention to appropriate individual advancement/programming and little or no technique coaching. Means that results will be poor and risk of serious injuries is sky high.
Just start a simple progressiveley loaded strength programme and keep up with your conditioning (both on the bike and off). If you have some time away from racing (off season perhaps?) then focusing purely on strength till closer to season might be more productive.
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• #3
Thanks, I did find the repeated bouncy unweighted squats a little worrying, but figured I was ignorant. Guess i'll invest in a squat rack, bench and weights. That should be about the same as the 175 introduvtory course I was going to do.
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• #4
Dont bother getting the bench. For upper body/pressing movements you can just overhead press either strict or do push presses if you want a heavier loaded movement.
A decent bench is fairly expensive and large. The bench press will add upper body bulk & strength the fastest, but you dont really need such aggressive upper body strength work for a cyclist (or runner). Invest in a good quality barbell, full size steel or rubber weights. A power rack or squat stands. (with stands you may need something like sawhorses to use as safety catches if training alone). And a pull up bar.
If you do want to get the bench, just get a normal compact flat bench and place it INSIDE the power rack for bench pressing. Like this:
This will allow you to bench press alone in safety, as the safety catches will stop the bar crushing you in even of failure. Just place the hooks at the right level for benching.
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• #5
Crossfit has changed recently, there is now also crossfit endurance, but like most things it has a percentage of people who do random, high risk and poor technique exercises. There are coaches in and around london that offer bespoke programs that use crossfit ideas and exercises to help athletes of various levels reach new goals.
I personally enjoy longer efforts in most disciplines, particularly long cycles, but friends of mine who don't find the time/space for these enjoy their crossfit short and fast exercises/training blocks. They train with a coach and log all sessions (bike/run/swim/gym/stretch) and are given feedback and are assessed regularly. I know initially they were coached in performing different techniques and exercises correctly so that injury became less risky and it was emphasised that rest and stretching were as vital as the training.
All types of programs have their pro's and con's. I agree with DFP that crossfit has been practised by many in a callous manner and that by just using the website would/could be dangerous. Also, I agree that paying too much for certain things is a waste but if you pay for something that educates and helps you reach certain goals then that could be worth looking into.
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• #6
Crossfit has changed recently, there is now also crossfit endurance, but like most things it has a percentage of people who do random, high risk and poor technique exercises. There are coaches in and around london that offer bespoke programs that use crossfit ideas and exercises to help athletes of various levels reach new goals.
I personally enjoy longer efforts in most disciplines, particularly long cycles, but friends of mine who don't find the time/space for these enjoy their crossfit short and fast exercises/training blocks. They train with a coach and log all sessions (bike/run/swim/gym/stretch) and are given feedback and are assessed regularly. I know initially they were coached in performing different techniques and exercises correctly so that injury became less risky and it was emphasised that rest and stretching were as vital as the training.
All types of programs have their pro's and con's. I agree with DFP that crossfit has been practised by many in a callous manner and that by just using the website would/could be dangerous. Also, I agree that paying too much for certain things is a waste but if you pay for something that educates and helps you reach certain goals then that could be worth looking into.
+1 not too sure about HOW it is implemented but there are some great ideas on the site- I like the idea of all the dimensions of fitness, as well as moving to more activity relevant lifting as well as practically applicable core strength/control.
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• #7
It's very effective and by definition and its semantics it is the most effective way to get fit.
Most of what DFP says sounds right to my non-expert mind, however...
But the fact that crossfit involves lots of really random (and advanced) stuff, done at high speed, with reckless abandon and no attention to appropriate individual advancement/programming and little or no technique coaching.
Pretty much eveything there is incorrect.Nothing is really random, its done at varying speeds and everything is scaled or subbed to individual strength and ability. The coaching is generally more advanced than any other program.
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• #8
A couple of friends of mine are holding a free crossfit workshop this Saturday in cental london, I can send any of you the info from them if needed. Let me know.
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• #9
it is the most effective way to get fit
Fit for what though? What definition of 'fitness' are you attributing to it?
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• #10
I tried Boxcercise (sp?) once it was full of chicks.
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• #11
Fit for what though? What definition of 'fitness' are you attributing to it?
You've snipped the phrase you've quoted of mine from a sentence of mine where, right before, I say "by definition and its semantics".Edit: If you can get over the grating smugness (and I acknowledge its a tall order) the quote they bandy around quite often is something like: "We do your stuff almost as well as you, you can't do our stuff at all and we do stuff neither of us do way better than you can."
Wondering if anyone here does Crossfit, and whether they find it has helped them with their track performance at all. Had originally looked into spending the money on a home gym set up (bar, weights and a bench), but my form is abysmal and I'm still a bit tubby, so thought Crossfit once a week might kill two birds with one stone.