So, let me spill the beans on why I kicked off Be-Spoke last year. It wasn't just about teaching people mountain biking skills - oh no, I had bigger plans. I wanted to sprinkle in a dash of body conditioning magic! You see, from my years of coaching, I had an epiphany: being a two-wheeled skilled wizard isn't enough to conquer those trails with a confident grin on your face.
Let's face it, as we mature (read: get older), we aren't as bouncy as those carefree childhood days. Suddenly, it's not just about skills; your body needs some muscles in the game to actually pull off those cool tricks you learned or will learn. And believe me, as someone who doesn't quite bounce back like a rubber ball anymore, this became my Achilles' heel. Progress and confidence can take a nosedive thanks to mishaps and aches that felt like a never-ending rerun.
In a plot twist you won't see coming, I went through this whole saga myself. Yep, your coach had a dose of humble pie! I dived headfirst into riding like there's no tomorrow, but guess what? Muscle imbalances and muscles that felt like they were in a tight straitjacket were my new companions. Walking was a mission, and biking turned into a painful ordeal. Was it worth it? Well, it was a crash course in understanding the human body and how to make it a trusty sidekick instead of a grumbling enemy.
After some research (read: googling) work and a chat with a local Physio, I embraced basic body conditioning and became best buddies with my stretch routine - courtesy of the internet's finest freebies. When I started coaching riders from all walks of life, it was like a lightbulb moment: I wasn't alone in my battle against muscle niggles and wobbly weaknesses. (FYI, I'm not your typical athletic superstar - I'm built more for feasting than speed if you catch my drift! 🍩🚴♀️)
With that revelation, I set out on a quest to craft exercises and stretches that spoke the mountain biking language. Now, here's the scoop: I'm not a gym rat. Believe me, I tried - but swapping fresh air and trails for gym walls? Not my jam. And I bet my fellow riders are nodding along. We bike for the thrill and maybe a smidgen of health, not to be Hulk-like gym buffs. So, I had to MacGyver a plan that didn't involve pumping iron for hours.
To really own this game, I took a detour back to school. Yep, I morphed into a Personal Trainer (I don't think my school PE teacher would believe it 🤣). I signed up with the New Zealand Institute of Health and Fitness at their Christchurch Campus. Let me tell you, there's a universe of exercise wisdom out there I didn't even know existed!
And guess what? After a whirlwind of 7 months, yours truly is now officially qualified with a snazzy NZ Certificate in Exercise (Level 4 & 5). And just so we're clear, I'm still not hitting the gym with bells and whistles! I'd much rather train at home when the timing is convenient, and I don't have to drive anywhere 😉.
If your curiosity's piqued and you're itching to know more about our
training shenanigans, hop over to the rest of the blog posts or send us
your details and we'll be in touch for a chat.
Let's ride strong and bold, shall we? 🚵♀️💪