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cycling anatomy (2nd edition) shannon sovndal, m.d. human kinetics paperback 246pp illus. £20.99

cycling anatomy - shannon sovndal

in 1994, i was involved in a road traffic accident, resulting in two weeks in a glasgow hospital and a sizeable skin graft on my right forearm and shoulder. aside from the loss of skin, i lost more muscle than i'd have preferred, added to which, having my arm sit uselessly in a sling for several months, meant that, as the healing proceeded, there was not only the necessity of rebuilding the forearm muscle, but learning to straighten the arm at the elbow. the latter process took nigh on nine months.

during that period, aside from practising latin american conga technique (a series of relatively complex rhythmic patterns that provided untold benefits), for the only time in my life, i clambered aboard a turbo trainer, in the hope that it might engender some sort of recognisable physical fitness. however, i might remind you that i was unable to fully extend my right arm, entailing my left having to take the bulk of the strain. thus, while frantic and unstructured pedalling took place, leaning ever so slightly to the left became an unfortunate corollary of my situation.

never has the phrase 'old habits die hard' rung so true. for even to this day, i involuntarily place a greater percentage of my weight on the left arm/hand, both at work and while perambulating the estates of a weekend. though i frequently take note of and correct this imbalance while sat at my computer, 'tis but a matter of minutes before i have reverted to my lopsided posture. it's harder to effect any corrective procedures when cycling, and i cannot deny that my latimus dorsi muscle frequently has cause to grumble as the kilometres whizz by (a guy can dream, can't he?)

i can tell from hushed mumbling in the ranks, that you are impressed by my technical definition of the offending back muscle. sadly, this is a skill not of my own making, for i have been reading shannon sovndal's second edition of cycling anatomy. within the 200 plus illustrated pages of this excellent manual, not only is there a comprehensive explanation of just how the muscles of the human body do their stuff, but just where they are and ultimately, how to train them to do the sort of stuff you need/want them to do.

"Once you understand how a muscle works, you'll also understand the optimal muscle position and, hence, the importance of proper form during your exercises."

that above quote offers at least a partial insight into the rationale behind mr sovndal's comprehensive book. on that basis, i might suggest to the publishers that they amend the title a smidgeon. on receiving the review copy, i was expecting an academic and technical dissertation on the anatomy of the average and perhaps, not so average, cyclist. while that is still true, the principal raison d'etre behind cycling anatomy is a substantial range of gym exercises that offer to hone the various muscle groups in a structured and logical fashion. i think it worth pointing out that this juncture, that i have tried precisely none of these exercises.

this is hardly because i consider my perfectly honed physique to need no further honing, but more because the majority require the possession of a gym membership card, an item which does not occupy real estate in my wallet. though i'm generally in total agreement with a 'can do' attitude, i was concerned that i might do more harm than good without the appropriate equipment. the giveaway sentence is probably that within the opening paragraphs of chapter one...

"To excel as a cyclist, your body must be well conditioned, strong, and balanced. [...] This book explains the anatomy of cycling through various training exercises."

following an expounding of strength training principles, each chapter deals with the differing parts of the body: arms, shoulders and neck, chest, back, core etc. however, rather than deal with these individual regimes in isolation, each section relates the exercise to a specific, cycle-related activity, detailing the muscle groups involved and how to proceed with the workout, complete with any variations on offer.

though 'cycling anatomy' can be used as a diy manual, it would also benefit those who work with a coach or trainer. assuming the latter identifies areas in which you may be deficient, it would seem a simple matter of undertaking the appropriate exercises to bring about a greater overall balance. for those of us well past the point of submitting to an exhaustive training system, the obvious immediate chapters to pick would be numbers eight and nine, which concentrate on the legs. of course, remembering my admission of historical, one-sided back pain, chapter six might prove a tad more beneficial.

"Developing a strong and fit back is paramount to your cycling fitness, health and performance. [...] The best strategy for a healthy back is to proactively condition your back muscles to avoid any problems before they arise."

possibly around twenty years too late in my case, but arguably, nothing's impossible.

sovndal was team physician for the garmin-sharp professional race team for several years, so his experience with top level cyclists is hardly in question. but combined with exhaustive medical and physical expertise, comes a relaxed and informative writing style. what the big bang theory's, sheldon cooper described as 'squishy stuff', is not usually a subject with which i prefer to associate my reading habits. but in this particular case, intrigue took over, as, i would imagine, will be even more the case for those of an age to benefit from the potential improvements to be gained. a thorough investigation of the chapters on offer is made easier by the inclusion of an index of exercises at the back of the book.

cycling is positioned as a healthy and occasionally physically strenuous activity. it therefore makes perfect sense to condition your anatomy to take advantage of the bicycle for as many years as possible. this could be the very means of achieving that.

thursday 15 august 2019

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................