Increasing skill by wearing weights

[Punxatawneyjoe]

If you want to get better at balancing you can always ride back and forth across a long bridge during wind storm. That might do it.

Edited May 5, 2023 by Punxatawneyjoe

[Lonerider]

You don't need weights, just practice.

[Lonerider]

Just go out and practice!!! You don’t need weights!!!!

[Scubadragonsan]

I think training with weights would help in areas where certain physical muscles are involved such as stepping up in mounting. If every time you step up let's say with 10-20 lbs weight on your shoulders. Over a period of time, you'll feel very easy to step up because the additional weight has helped you built up your mounting leg muscles. However, balancing with extra weights might be a case-to-case situation. For example, I use my wheel to pick up 30 lbs. of groceries. The sense/feel of balance without a 30-lb groceries and with a 30-lb groceries are exclusive from each other. The difference between the two is the extra 30 lb weight would make it harder to step up due to more leg muscle required. Balancing, besides the vestibular structure inside our ears, is more a mental awareness/sensitivity to your body in relation to the wheel. Every person at a certain weight would have a different awareness. The mental awareness of one person's weight is not increased by weight training. In other words, whether you are a 100-lb person or a 300-lb person, putting on the extra weight doesn't change or improve your vestibular structure though you might feel lighter after the extra weight is removed. Your manipulation of the wheel still in large part relies on your skills and techniques, not so much on feeling lighter or heavier. That's my take on weight training. To me, it only helps in areas where actual physical muscles are needed!

[woke rider]

@ScubadragonsanThat certainly seems logical. I am curious about how Hirsute trains. I know he has a lot of talent, but suspect he has acrobatic training as well. Awesome Acrobatics Exercise 101 https://www.acroschool.com/acrobatics-exercise-101/  I plan to practice my acrobat skills in addition to weight training to be a better rider. I'm still going to do the weight training a few rides per week and see if it helps me. I'm optimistic.

[Mono]

Late to the game, but my answer would be somewhat "yes". Learning to comfortably ride while wearing a +10kg backpack or a suitcase (in the hands in front or behind my back or in one hand on the side) or dragging a suitcase behind me is/was, I think, to me helpful to better understand the limits of balance and how to extend these limits.

Edited August 9, 2023 by Mono

[Funky]

1 hour ago, Mono said:

Late to the game, but my answer would be somewhat "yes". Learning to comfortably ride while wearing a +10kg backpack or a suitcase (in the hands in front or behind my back or in one hand on the side) or dragging a suitcase behind me is/was, I think, to me helpful to better understand the limits of balance and how to extend these limits.

Huh is there really big difference while riding with backpack or carrying a grocery bag ~10kg one handed? Whit grocery bag you simply lean more other side and all good. I at least have zero problem riding like that.  With backpack i don't even notice any difference.

[bpong]

that video of damien gaumet is amazing.  that guy is like a cat on an euc, ... he has an uncanny sense of balance !

earthwin,  if you have been riding for at least 1 season or more,  you basically have what it takes to ride your euc.  if you want to improve skills that are directly related to your riding,  perhaps exercises related to maintaining and improving balance will enhance your current skills.

Edited August 9, 2023 by bpong

[woke rider]

The most I ever carried was a case of water that weighed like 40ish pounds. It made riding me wheel feel weird after that, like I damaged it or something, but I didn't damage my wheel, I just made it feel burdensome. I'm still going to do the weight and acrobat thing. Just trying to get motivated. I can't even make myself do Yoga right now, and Yoga has some good balancing exercises. I think I've been riding now for like 3-1/2 years or so. I think I've been having arthritis lately, but I ordered some capsaicin/arnica cream that should help. Today I actually rubbed fresh Habanero pepper on my elbows, lol, and it made a big difference.

[Mono]

17 hours ago, Funky said:

Huh is there really big difference while riding with backpack or carrying a grocery bag ~10kg one handed?

I suspect mileages vary (a lot). I wrote +10kg and I'd say it makes a very notable difference, to me. Maybe for some (heavier) riders it takes 15kg or 20kg to make the difference "big", and it all depends on what you even mean by "big difference". I also can imagine that some people may feel no difference or have the natural talent to cope with the difference immediately without even noticing (these mileages vary, a lot) in which case there is probably no point to explore this for enhancing skills.