I started riding again 2 years ago after a about a six year break. Since starting back up I've rode fairly regularly, probably averaging 5 out of every 7 days for the last two years.I've learned a lot but my ability to ride hard or for long times has not redeveloped like it used to be. Currently I'm only riding about 30-45 minutes per day, and even then I find it difficult to focus intently on the same trick for very long because I feel fatigued quickly. I'm only practicing combos of 2-3 tricks, I don't have the stamina for longer.Maybe it's because I am older now (~39 years old) and this is normal, but I feel like I'm too sluggish most of the time and it's causing me to progress slow. Perhaps this is normal for me for my age, I don't know. I'll get a checkup at the doctor with blood work just to make sure nothing is wrong but I suspect I'm healthy.My question is: have you found any exercises helpful in strengthening stamina specific to flatland? I do some light weight lifting periodically but it hasn't helped much. I'm thinking of starting to jog/run on a regular basis. Like maybe 10-15 minutes several times a week.
Interesting idea Mambocowboy! The main thought with running for me is that the physical demand is total different. You can have a constant pulse rate for some time whereas when you ride flatland, it changes all the time. So this may give a balance to your overall stamina. But I am sure you are right, if you do too much it may exhaust you somehow. I have heard from Matthias Dandois in an interview that he runs around 13 km twice a week. But I think he is on another level in general.
Sorry for the delay in response, I seem to actually be experiencing some depression and so haven't felt the motivation to reply much. I think the cold weather + limited sunlight is really starting to affect me, thinking back I had much more energy, stamina and a better mood throughout the spring, summer and fall. But this depression is not the only problem, I do really feel like I need to work on my energy/stamina overall.I have implemented a work out system on top of my riding:Monday: 5 minute runTuesday: Push-ups (3 sets of 15)Wednesday: Sit-ups/crunchesThursday: Rest dayFriday 5 minute runSaturday: Push-upsSunday: Sit-ups/crunches This does seem to be helping. I have noticed an increase in my overall energy levels, riding my bike seems more easy and natural lately. Might also add some light weight lifting as well.I have also been working on the basics more. Been focusing on the back wheel most of 2020, I started out practicing peg wheelies in a straight line everyday down a long street. I forced myself to learn all four variations and now do them each day: regular, switch-foot, opposite and opposite switch foot.Then I started working on these same peg wheelies but in circles instead of a straight line..Been trying to get comfortable pumping each one and also turbine them as well. Still have a lot of work to do on my opposite and opposite switch foot but getting better every day. This also includes my standing leg being on the inside and outside of the circle, so there are many variations to work on. Plus also have started working on each position but rolling backwards instead.I really think focusing on these basics is helping me. I've noticed my leg muscles are getting stronger and my stamina is increasing. Plus my confidence on the bike has improved as now I feel more comfortable on either side or on either foot, and I can spend half the session on one leg and the other half on the other leg. Eventually I plan to start the same routine on the front wheel, already learned opposite hang 5s last year.
Mambocowboy, glad to hear you are back from getting covid. I've avoided it so far but I think it's mostly luck, for example my parents and a few siblings got it and I had visited them just before they knew. I also go to hospitals often for work and luckily haven't caught it (as far as I know). Glad you are feeling better!Daddycool, I need to review Scott Hagnas advice again, I'm sure I would benefit from it from what I remember. I'm sorry to hear about your back, back pain can be so awful and debilitating. I hope you recover and get back on your bike soon.I have been practicing the various peg wheelies almost daily now for quite some time. It's gotten to the point where I feel almost as comfortable on my weak leg as I do on my strong one (when going in a straight line). Took a lot of practice to get to that point though. But this hasn't translated to the front wheel unfortunately. For example, I can do opposite hang 5 but it still feels quite uncomfortable which is frustrating because I can balance the opposite peg wheelie no problem. The one that really is hard for me though is Karl kruiser on the opposite side, it just feels so awkward and alien, I think I may never dial it in properly.Whiplashes is still something I have yet to approach since coming back to flatland after my long break. I was able to do doubles and even a handful of triples as a teenager but I relied heavily on the brake. One of these days I want to start working on them brakeless.