mtbstrengthcoach

Thanks, glad the programs are working for you. But like I always say, I just provide the direction, it is your hard work that is getting you the results. Keep it up and ride strong!

@Eastbournemtber: I never said anything about "core training", I wrote about crawling. In fact, I even said in the article that "core training" isn't enough and I agree with your assessment that most core training is a worthless fad used to sell training. However, crawling is not the same thing and none of the stuff your referenced actually refers to crawling. The idea that sport training causes imbalances in the body is also not new, there is an old saying that "where good sport begins, good health ends". There is a difference between "fitness" and "health" and using training as a way to restore balance to the body is something good coaches have been doing for a long time. Even the ancient Greeks recognized the need for this - Socrates used to have his throwers practice with both hands as a way to keep balance in the body. This article is base on my own experience working with riders at every level of the game (how many WC pro riders have you trained?) and what I have learned from coaches like Dan John, Stuart McGill, Gray Cook, Mike Boyle and Tim Anderson to name a few. If you look into it you will see that crawling is being used by a lot of high level coaches and teams to help keep their athletes healthy and performing well. I could be wrong but it seems like you never read the article itself and instead saw the words "core training" and went off on your anti-core training talking points. Nothing you wrote has anything to do with what I wrote and so there is nothing for me to respond to other than to point out that you missed the entire point of the article. But, of course you won't admit this and will instead write another few hundred (thousand?) words missing the point and trying to put words in my mouth so it isn't really you I'm trying to convince but the people reading this who might be mislead by your multitude of words that mean nothing in reference to this article.

I think that they are better than nothing but they are not as specific for mountain bike grip strength and the Mace 360 or KB Swing. The reason is that grip strength is specific to how you build it and the type of reactionary grip strength you need on the bike is different than the constant grip strength you need for those devices. The hand position is different as well as the fact that you are moving your hand/ forearm to keep the ball going, none of which resembles the grips demands of mountain biking. Again, they are better than nothing than but unless you are adding them in because you are bored and have the time to kill I can think of a lot better use of your training time. You could also do some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or indoor rock climbing/ bouldering as a great way to build your grip strength endurance.