Chi Riding-Tip 2 – Core control

Core control and core stability are terms used interchangably and mean the same thing. Lets have a look at what they mean, and there relevance to riding.

What is core control/core stability?

Core – It is our centre, like the core of an apple, our mid region, the region that links our arms and legs.

Core Control/Stability – Being able to control this mid region, keeping it stable so it is in a good efficient position.  In riding, having control of your mid region so you can achieve and maintain the “A” riding position.

What muscles are involved in core control?

Do you remember the crunchy epidemic? Thankfully we now understand that there is far more to abdominals than attempting to gain a six pack (like that was ever achievable). One of the key roles for our abdominals is the stability and control of our mid region. We have four different abdominal muscles the deepest one, Transversus Abdominus, plays the biggest role in stability and control of your centre.  Along with some other muscles (as shown in the diagram) these muscles form the core muscles.  These core muscles are deep, that is they are close to the spine so they have the greatest ability to control its position.

They are not big powerful muscles but rather designed to be able to work for long periods of time.  This means they are able to keep your mid region in a good position, in that “A” position and stable throughout your ride.

Chi Riding – a goRide SERIES to develop or enhance an understanding of your position and form on your bike. 

Have you heard of Chi Running? It is a running technique that emanates from the principles of pilates, yoga, and tai chi. We are going to piggyback on that concept and introduce you to Chi Riding – a riding form that emanates from some of those same principles of being relaxed, having less tension and stress when you ride, efficiency, ease, engaging the senses and core control (control from your mid region). All things that will make time on your bike more enjoyable, easier, will give you less discomfort, it will also have positive effects and influences on other aspects of your life.

Chi Riding – forms the platform to allow you to improve your riding and challenge yourself whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider.

How do we achieve core control when we ride?

1. Firstly you need to be in the correct riding position. In tip one of the chi riding series we talked about the “A” position where both the upper and lower back is straight, not rounded . This “A” position puts you in the correct position to allow you to activate/use your core muscles.  See Chi Riding – Tip One – Riding Position.
2. You need to maintain this “A’ position throughout your ride. That is both when seated (3 points of contact with the bike) and when you are off the seat (2 points of contact with the bike). We achieve this by keeping our mid region stable and moving the other parts of our body –  our elbow, wrist, hip, knee and ankle joints – to keep balanced when biking. In the photos we see the mid region is stable it remains in the same position (one side of the A) and the position changes happen at the hip, knee ankle, shoulder and elbow joints when performing different skills.
   

   

   

   

   

   
3. Being aware.  Being aware of the correct riding position and maintaining this correct position through your mid region as you perform different bike skills. Aware of what it feels like to activate/to work your core muscles. You will be amazed by just being aware what you will notice and the small changes you will start to make.

Note: You can do some training off the bike to help teach your body and brain about how to activate your core muscles and work to strengthen these muscles.  There are many resources to help you achieve this.  A few suggestions include; videos and information online, Pilates, Tai chi, Yoga and some gym classes.  Others include books and personal trainers. Whatever method you choose, ask questions and make sure it includes your focus/goals before you commit.

Why is it important?

The importance of core control goes well beyond the bike. Core control is essential when moving your body.  It doesn’t matter what the task is, we need core control to be able to complete the task with ease, efficiency and without causing discomfort.

On the bike having good core control;

1. Will help ease general discomfort and more specific lower back/pelvic discomfort. We have big powerful muscles in our legs that drive our pedal stroke and this stroke will only work efficiently if we have good core control. In fact these big muscles will cause all sorts of horrible shearing forces on your low back and pelvis if you are asking them to work really hard or over a long period of time without good core control.
2. Will provide the platform for both your upper limbs (arms) as well as your lower limbs (legs) to be relaxed and not carry any tension when you ride. However, having relaxed limbs doesn’t automatically happen because of good core control, it only provides the platform. There are two elements here engage your core and relax your limbs, let them be loose. In Tai Chi they talk about having empty hands, both your hands and your feet need to be light and empty. What? But I need to have contact with the bike; my hands on my handlebars and my feet on the pedals. Yes, but we are saying you can still have contact and not carry tension.

Why are loose, relaxed limbs important? Relaxing your limbs allows you to move them freely and transfer different proportions of weight through your arms or a single arm or your legs or a single leg, when you ride. This ability to transfer your weight between your limbs as well as move them freely is essential for balance. It allows you to manouvere and change the position of your body and/or your bike so that you can maintain balance during riding. This may mean simply transferring your weight forward following braking to dismount your bike or leaning the bike when cornering on the trail. Whatever the riding task, balance is the primary skill required to be able to ride your bike. Having good core control and loose limbs will help keep us on our bikes as we start to challenge ourselves in different riding environments.

The goride way. Whether you are a beginner or experienced rider, commuting, road riding or mountain biking improving core control has benefits for us all. Those benefits go well beyond the bike to our everyday activities. In riding good core control provides the platform for you to improve your riding and challenge yourself allowing you to goRide more places, more often.

Thanks for reading Chi Riding – Tip 2 – Core Control.  Used together our stories and resources support you to achieve and develop as a rider.  Do it, at your own pace, in your own time, in a fun, supported way – the goRide way.

Related goRide resources and stories:

Chi Riding – Tip One – Riding Position.

goRide is a shared journey, so we would like you to assist in guiding it along the way.  Contact us with your thoughts, comments or feedback. Thank you for being a part of the goRide way.