It’s Wacky, But The 4 “Reverse Fitness” Pillars Make You Ride 20 Years Younger [urgent]

[@8654ZuluFoxtrot]

I’m 56 and getting back into mountain biking. Due to a severe injury (from the Marine Corps) I sustained in 1991, and simple job and life getting in the way, I had to stop riding in the early 2000’s and sold my bike. Fast forward to 2024 and I had full ankle replacement surgery at the end of Oct 2023 and I’m finally healed up enough, and strong enough, that I rewarded myself with a new Canyon 125 CF8. Long story short, my life took me from spec ops in the military, to law enforcement, playing semi-pro football for 9yrs, to one day never being able to run again in my life. Since 2017 I haven’t been able to do anything with my legs because of that ankle injury that finally shut my athletic life down. This video is spot on how everyone needs to approach staying in shape and becoming good at just about any sport, or just being healthy. As I got older, and now that I’m doing everythign that I can to regain some of my athletisism, I’m realising that the consistancy with training the body and the mind is the key. Low impact HIIT is working for me and Yoga. Lot’s of men don’t try Yoga and I can attest to the amazing things it will do for you…..whole body balance, strength, and you just get in tune with how your body works. Take that whole body fitness and awerness onto your bike and you are in-tune with it.

[@viperdemonz-jenkins]

am 48 and been riding my whole life and what this man says is spot on.

[@kerrywilliams6596]

I’ve been a mountain biker for 35 years (I’m now 55), and my poor muscle movements came to a head last year with back issues that would keep recurring. I went to a physical therapist and what you’re prescribing is exactly what he did for me. My back is way better now and the exercises I do now help in all aspects of life including riding.

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Pts are godsends

[@kerrywilliams6596]

@@mountainbikeacademy indeed. The personalized attention cannot be underestimated.

[@zondthree]

This is my favourite mountain bike channel on KZbin right now. So much great content, stripping things down to basic fundamentals. Thanks, David!

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Big thanks! I’ve been in USA only for a few years glad to be connecting across the pond!

[@ChristopherBloom]

Dude's so rad they named him twice.

[@lancestephenson2665]

Dave, one of the funniest thing I heard in the mid 90s from an old coach of mine was something he said about strength. Context, 90s was an era of 1.95 26inch Steel or alloy mountain bikes with 80mm of suspension and tyres were NOT tubeless and pumped to 2 bar. He said, "IF you can't compress your tyres in 2 inches with your hands..........you're not strong enough to ride mountain bike" And this annoyed me, because I couldn't....but I was a bloody good rider. But I worked grip strength and in doing so, other muscles also. It made me ride better! There is truth to being strong enough to ride. We have riders coming to us to go faster, but the invest in expensive indoor trainer setups and screens....they improve their power to race at...but they can't apply that to the ground. As you say, there's a disconnect. Then you get the guys spending money at this skills coach, get's little or no improvement and shifts to the next one, again little or no improvement. My athletes, I tell them straight.."bro, you're weak AF and need to train that or you body won't hold up in the corners a that speed" Like F1 drivers are flipping insanely fit cardio wise but insanely strong and fatigue resilient due to training to handle the g forces. Mtb is similar.

[@mountainbikeacademy]

So true - and pretty funny! Thanks for sharing. I missed a generation of fun it sounds like

[@rogereheadbyrne4790]

Im in the UK and this is my wake up call! Im an ehead and have been into the ebike game for over 20 years i ride down chalk escarpments on the Isle of Wight ive developed a belly which looks gross its completely my fault as i retired from work to become my wifes carer(she has stage 4 cancer) i use the riding as escapism, and get out riding as often as i can, last season i went over the bars several times and now i understand why! Im not young anymore im nearly 60 and will practice your advice as i am totally impressed with your clear concise reasoning as to why its crucial to stay in muscular shape, i will be practicing off the bike now as i need to keep these rides regular as its helped me keep focus! Thankyou for this logical video! Its what us dedicated guys need to keep us in the game👍

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Good on you for taking care of your wife- sorry she’s going through that. I lost my dad to cancer 20 years ago. Glad this vid helped a bit!

[@SprSonik13]

Basic fitness, body awareness, and practice are what matter for most people. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but getting a coach can help people who don’t know how to get fit.

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Exactly

[@recordednowhere]

Appreciate your no bs and honest approach. I have watched a couple of your videos, and while I don't follow your advice in any structured way (yet) I have noticed that some of your advice and words suddenly hit me when I am in the middle of riding and make me take a closer look at what I am actually doing. So I guess that's a good thing. 😅

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Well I need to structure it better frankly lol but good on you! I love it when we get awareness. It's what helps you succeed in every aspect of life. I used to work with entrepreneurial teams - leadership had to know 1. What does this person need 2. What actually happened And if you apply these to your riding...you get what you talked about. Love it.

[@anthonysei]

I've been doing weighted squats with lateral hip sway and various feet orientation. It has helped my core immensely. Gym sandbag on shoulders.

[@danyelpiccin]

Perfect explanation! In fact, I’m getting better doing exactly what you’re saying. I’m 44 now 🚀🚀🚀

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Epic. Good job extracting value - that's what this movement is about!

[@Watcher1989-gd8zw]

I wish we had videos like this back in the early 80s when I startred riding. Thanks so much!

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Glad you enjoyed it! I wasn't born till mid 80's so I don't think I would have. been much help lol 🤣

[@Watcher1989-gd8zw]

@@mountainbikeacademy Ha, Joined the group. See ya over there. Thanks

[@EdgarSnowSki]

Apart from MTB riding I also do some skiing, couple of years ago I dropped wrong cliff and broke ACL, the doctor said i could be ok without the operations but ACL is missing obviously, so I had to do recovery, also started ski prep with a coach, that 3-4 trainings per week, weights, sprints, jumps, balance and other specific stuff. I continue this program all year long for couple of years now, now Im 50 but feel stronger than I was at 25!

[@annarepetto2430]

Ha! 35 to 55. I'm a 56 year old, post-menopausal woman trying desperately to channel my inner 12 year old when it comes to mountain biking.

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Epic! That sounds so fun. How long have you. Even riding? Very cool profile pic

[@annarepetto2430]

@@mountainbikeacademy Since 1986, when I got my first mountain bike, a Trek 850. Hardtail, of course, which I then equipped with the Flex Stem a little later and rear suspension was a damper seat post...LOL! Would ride up the back side of Aspen Mtn (Midnight Mine Rd) and then the front side on super steep rds back into town. Ahhh, the technology young people today missed out on! Now I'm on a Revel Rail and just splurged on a Norco Range VLT. And when I met my hubby in '90, he also had the Trek 850. It was meant to be! We're still mountain biking together all these years later. I f-ing love this sport, even if I'm not hucking my meat...LOL! Anyway, thanks for the vids...we love them!

[@ChampyOnPC]

I mean that gigachad thumbnail was already worth the like 🤘

[@mountainbikeacademy]

that gave me a chuckle. I had fun making it. This is ChadGPT's fault lol

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Https://www.mountainbikeacademy.com/yt-waitlist - join the waitlist!

[@simonfrostneuroresettechni6215]

Dave thanks for another good video. There is so much more to getting in shape for MTB than you are describing as your “hybrid muscle training”. Activation is something we learn during development and is involuntary. The way you are trying to improve muscle recruitment is slow and often unsuccessful. This step needs a neurological potentiation of sensory pathways, with long term brain learning. Should you want to discuss some of this reach out. I specialize in sensory motor learning and can help you rapidly improve this step and more.

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Thanks for the comment! On KZbin I talk about concepts that help. Inside the academy we have functional movement specialists, exercise scientists, and professional mobility practitioners, so we’re probably all set BUT I’m always interested in learning more! Looking you up :)

[@NaZ-rs1dd]

You're good at explaining things. How about you give us your take on how to tune the forks and shocks bar roll and cockpit in general? 🔧 🛠️ 🏍️

[@cherrymansk]

absolutely!

[@steveprice9737]

We should be able to climb a tree... if you can't you need to sort it out 😅 Seriously, being able to maniac on the bike requires strength and physical ability otherwise you crash.. I'm not a powerful rider, puny old bloke tbh, but do well in technical stuff, particularly really muddy cx . Makes up for bike choice in xc , 26" hardtail with old Pace RC35 forks.. at least to a degree 😊

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Climbing is the easy part 😂 Meowww

[@mountainbikeacademy]

26" is so fun

[@anthonysei]

Most guys could climb a tree if there were a sandwich up there.

[@LaurentiusTriarius]

Sitting still kills, studies tends to prove it but salt and sugar are easier to blame 😂 I still do the kangaroo with my 10 yrs old daughter on my back, 10 yrs ago I was working a desk job and I had cramps and difficulty standing up for long periods, at 30. 😅

[@mountainbikeacademy]

I almost couldn't lift my right arm at 26 due to poor mobility/injuries/stressful job! You can come back from it with the right method.

[@DavidParathyras]

I'm 22!

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Epic I miss being 22 a little- just gets better overall though!

[@DavidParathyras]

Yep, I'm just starting mountain biking after having bought a great €5K (discounted) Enduro beast from work money. I love it and I wish I could buy it and get started earlier. Awesome videos by the way! Keep it going!💪🤘

[@mountainbikeacademy]

You’re going to have a blast man- stay connected here hopefully my channel can help. Let me know any topics you want to see I’ll gladly cover them.

[@fedo616]

Ok, am I the only one that feels the horse stance hold only in the legs? I mean, great exercise to build up stamina for holding the correct riding position, but not sure whether it is the best for core activation? Or maybe I have so weak legs that I collapse before the core even has a chance to do any work 😂

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Muscle burn and activation are kinda two different things And riding requires muscle endurance while we have that core activated so this simulates riding decently well. So you’re good- just keep that spine elongated

[@miyui9269]

are you saying pros carry their bike most of the time than they ride them? 👀😅

[@mountainbikeacademy]

I'm saying pros carry their bike plus yours when you're not looking Uphill both ways

[@StitchInTime5638]

I wonder if his dads name is david? David, Davids-son..lol

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Literally I’m a junior it’s not a joke

[@powskier]

But you don't look very buff. In fact, your legs look kind of chickenish which, as a mountain biker, should be the biggest muscles in your body.

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Cockadoodle doooooo

[@jeremyolsen2891]

Another waste if time video

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Thank you for wasting your time with me, next time you turn on KZbin remember to thank your mom for folding your laundry

[@Wabit01]

I guess he's more of a GMBN guy

[@mountainbikeacademy]

Could be worse- he could ride a-road bikes 🥹