Gear Review: Any Cheap Chin-Up Bar
Yes those skinny things dangling like soggy spaghetti from my sleeves are actually my arms. Like many cyclists I have carnival freak proportions. The lower half is pretty fit for a fellow near fifty, but above that is a Steve Urkelesque physique. Several months ago, with my newly-knitted back-together knee in recovery, I decided to start lifting heavy things. Fortunately I am a heavy thing, so all I needed was a cheap Wally World chin-up bar. After several months of chin-upping I am able to do several sets of five throughout the day, and to my surprise and amusement, tiny lumps have appeared on my arms which may someday develop into real biceps (only time will tell).
If you’ve never done a chin-up chances are you can’t, so here’s a few tips to get you started:
• Don’t buy an expensive chin-up bar with a bunch of silly attachments. Just a simple inexpensive type that wedges on a door frame is all you need to develop that classic Velo Hobo Gladiator build.
• Don’t be stupid. Start slow so you don’t injure your shoulders. Start by standing on something or someone and just lower yourself down till you’re able to pull yourself up.
• Put your chin-up bar in a doorway that you pass by throughout the day. Do a few every time you pass by; they can be addictive.
• Reward yourself often. As an example, for every 25 chin-ups eat a piece of cake. The cake will add resistance to the exercise and make it more effective.
• And lastly, don’t give up. Unless you really want to, I don’t care, whatever.
Thanks for reading, The Velo Hobo!
~A consortium of cheap chin-up bar manufacturers paid me to write this review.
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"Hey Buffy, that looks like the Brooks saddle you ate last week" . . . happiness is in the journey . . .
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Unless you have something better to do
Got the bar, and do a few as a pass by, but I’m clearly doing it wrong. I haven’t been rewarding myself with cake! I believe that’ll make all the difference.
Ya, carbo loading will help. Beer works well too and it deadens the pain.
Look up reverse pullups or sometimes AKA jumping pullups. Good strength builder when the muscles involved aren’t up to speed for horsing up whatever bodyweight it is you’re toting around. I’d go into the technique, but I’m sure there are plenty of YouTube tutorials. I’m always glad to hear about someone on a bike who wants to have at least a modicum of upper body strength and size. I’m a rather unconventionally shapes cyclist myself.
Good tip. I think upper body strength is helpful on steep climbs out of the saddle and sprinting…not that I do either one. But you never know, I may need to sprint away from a dog, bear or whatever. Or make it back to the pub before last call.
Don’t forget you can do a lot of strength training with no equipment at all. Push-ups will make a man outta ya!
True, and you can do push-ups anywhere; even in the middle of the road.