Customer Reviews

Cycling Anatomy (Sports Anatomy)

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is an excellent reference for cyclists looking to add strength training to their routines. It is very well organized into sections showing the different sections of the body the exercises are for. Each exercise itself is documented to show you exactly what it will be working and how it helps your cycling form. It also shows you variations of each exercise which are often easier versions of the original exercise.

The one area that could possibly be improved on is that it does not have a section that really gives you a workout program and the author calls this out in the first chapter and that the goal of the book is to help show you proper exercises and how to do them. This is good, but I find that, for beginners it might be helpful to have a small section showing how to use all these exercises in a routine to get maximum benefit. It is important to note that I said "for beginners" in that last sentence since this book is really for more advanced cyclists and as such the missing prescribed workouts section is not something I really miss that much. Personally I am looking at using these in a hybrid/modified version of the P-90X program combined with the The Cyclist's Training Bible

Buy this if you are a cyclist looking on taking your training up a notch. Particularly if you are looking to add exercises you can do in a gym, off the road, out of the dark in a season like the winter.
Don't buy this if you are a beginner looking for a book to help you get started in cycling or to get started on training a bit more seriously since this book is aimed at more serious cyclists.

A must have for any cycling fan! Whether you're thinking about taking your first spin class at the gym or trying to move up in the GC in the next Tour stage, you'll want to read Cycling Anatomy. Dr. Sovndal lays out the necessary ground work for you to get the most out of your body no matter what your level of fitness. Even after 20 years of cycling, I couldn't believe how much I learned! Keep them coming!

I bought this book based on the reviews that stated the pictures were well drawn and showed what muscle groups were being used for specific exercises. Well, they were not lying. The pictures are large, colorful, and show exactly what muscles you are stretching for a warm up or exercise. The writers give very short (to the point), but detailed advice on how to perform each exercise correctly. Sometimes, they give you an alternative way of performing an exercise if the first suggestion is too difficult for a novice to perform.

The one thing I wish they had done was to write, in layman's terms, the names of each muscle group. This would make it easier for me to talk about each group of muscles to others. The terms they use are for professionals, and they are sometimes hard to pronounce. Otherwise, the pictures do the trick for showing one what muscle or muscle groups one is working.

I'm very pleased with my purchase, and highly recommend buying this book if you want to strengthen you muscles for riding.

Cycling Anatomy has been a great help in identifyig exercise to development the right muscle groups for cycling

This is a valuable book for the cyclist. It is divided up by muscle group.

Chapter 1. The Cyclist in Motion
Chapter 2. Arms
Chapter 3. Neck and Shoulders
Chapter 4. Chest
Chapter 5. Back
Chapter 6. Abdomen
Chapter 7. Legs: Muscle Isolation
Chapter 8. Legs: Complete Power
Chapter 9. Whole-Body Training for Cycling

It begins by describing the different types of workouts, such as low weight and high weight. But the heart of the material are the exercises. On the left hand page you'll find one exercise and an illustration of how it's done correctly. You'll also see the muscles that exercise works.

You'll be told how to execute the exercise and both the primary and secondary muscles involved.

Then, on the right-hand page you'll read the cycling focus --- how that particular exercise helps you in biking and why it's important. You're also given a variation.

I find this an excellent reference. If you bike, even just casually, you'll appreciate the benefits you'll get from following the workouts in this book.

Highly recommended.

-- Susanna K. Hutcheson

If you are looking for some good work-outs at home or gym with some weights a Swiss ball or just using your own body weight this is the book to go to. Great pictures and the exercises are very comprehensive, from single muscle groups to entire body work outs. The exercise description on each exercise and how it relates to cycling is a little overdone and repetitive.
These are exercises everybody should do or a modification of it and especially when one gets older. Its a win win situation. Good job Dr. Sovndal, I hope this book gets out in the general public and helps people to get stronger and gain better coordination and motor control.
Thanks.

As a massage therapist, I use this book daily, I actually have almost every book of the series. Because when you know exactly what muscles is used during certain activities, you can give more effective help during massage

This book is a must read for any serious cyclist. Dr. Sovndahl covers a plethora of exercises and explains why they are beneficial. I appreciate the holistic approach that is taken to the book, and it really puts the reader in a good mind set before developing a training plan.

I had neck surgery but also love cycling. This book helped understand measures to minimize impact on the neck and back. I've read up alot on strength training in other references, and some in this text is similar in concept. But it's a good reference for the physiology of the body when on a bike and how it impacts you.

I wanted to add a little balance to the otherwise glowing reviews of this book. I agree with most if not all of the positive comments made in the other reviews. The diagrams are clear and the instructions for each exercise concise and easy to follow. I also think the variations listed for each exercise to be a nice touch. The basic physiology discussion also seems to be clear and concise. So far so good......

Now for the criticism. This book is incomplete. There is absolutely no discussion about how to combine these exercises into a workable program. Which exercises should I choose? How many times a week should I work out? How many reps, sets of each exercise should be done. How should I modify the program over time? None of these topics is covered at all. You are left with a long list of possibilities and absolutely no guidance on how to combine them. The author mentions in early in chapter one that the discussion of constructing specific workout routines is "beyond the scope of this book". Well it shouldn't be. In fact in my opinion at least half of the book should be devoted to this topic with several example routines included.

Also while the presentation is quite clear, if you have ever lifted weights before there is very little in the way of new or unique exercises here. If you pick up any book on general fitness weight training you will see a very similar list of exercises. The idea that this book contains cycle specific training is a bit of a stretch. For example I am sure I use my biceps while riding but listing curls as a "cycle specific" exercise seems a bit much. Really this book is just a collection of exercises that (when combined somehow.....) give you a general conditioning program.

Include material on workout design and implementation and you have a 5 star book. Without it you are left with something that presents little new information beyond what you could find doing a couple of Google searches.