Core work outs .... Worth bothering with?

GT_TDI_150

Ok, I'm back on the bike after a forced layoff of nearly a year and prior to this i had only a very average years worth of cycling in my legs...

Ive never been good up hills, thruth be told most inclines no matter how gradual they are tend to drain me fairly quickly.

Before asking the question, let me point out that when im heading out i plan a route where i'll be forced to do inclines ( try to get a ratio of at least 100m rise for every 10km travelled where possible)
And i take a spoon of HTFU every morning....

Ive read that 'climbing' (if i can call what i do it) comes as much from your core as it does from your legs SO is it worth starting to focus on core workouts on days when im not out on the bike? Or is riding hills more beneficial for strenghtening your core? Or is this core theory just a load of boll!x?

AnotherView

Look at Quintana, Valverde and Rui Costa on a bike and you will see how the core is so important ...they all drive through their core without getting out of the saddle and have a great fluid motion

Of course there are many styles of cycling but a strong core improves strength/power and this in turn helps with inclines...

Sky also work on their core and you can see how successful they are at climbing

hueylewis

Certainly can't hurt to do strengthening exercises off the bike, though you'll strengthen all of the required muscles simply through practice and repetition.

Make sure you're climbing efficiently too. Some good advice in this video - don't mind the "like a pro" angle of the video, there are some fundamental tips in there.

Billycake

Definitely worth working on the core IMO. I had lumbar disc surgery in March 2012 and was off the bike & legs (and head on prescribed medication!!) for about 2 months. As soon as I could which was about 5 months later I started pilates work and I still do it twice a week together with a lot of kettle bell work. I've found a strong core really has helped me on the bike and I do a fair amount of hill work both here and in the Alps every year. It's helped in daily life too, picking up the kids etc etc.

kenmc

i'd second kettlebells, but get a decent instructor who knows what they're doing. If they don't start you on 8kg or so, you're wasting your time.