Cross Training w/ Bicycle

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Cosmoline

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I've been expanding my usual bike-shoot-bike runs to the range with hiking this season. Discovering a whole new world of sore in the process, but it is proving great practice for shooting while fatigued. Not to mention the fitness benefits. I take a ride to the trailhead south of town, hike a few miles to an overlook and back, then bike up to the range, shoot, and continue home. If you're cycling you can use this hack to calculate mileage:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/

This is the rig I'm currently using to transport the rifle and ammo to the range. It's a BOB trailer with a rifle scabbard strapped to one side. Works great and protects the rifle from the elements:

BT1.jpg
 
Cosmoline,

That is an awesome setup you have there. I wish my range wasn't 20 miles away so I could do that... I loved bike riding in my younger days, and if I had a reason as good as THIS to get back into it, I probably would.

I am curious though- Do you "carry" whilst riding the bicycle? If so, where?
 
Thanks! I've tried all kinds of carrying methods over the past few years of doing this, from slung to mounted on the frame itself. The BOB scabbard option offers the most flexibility. You do want to make sure to put the open end to the front so the thick part of the rifle is there. Otherwise a sharp right turn could put the barrel though spokes on a very long rifle. Happened to me once with an extremely long flintlock.

Unless I'm carrying extra rifle ammo I usually carry my revolver and four speed loaders in a Maxpedition fatboy. I sewed the floating strap down so it won't slide back and forth while riding. After a few weeks of getting used to carrying it, I can comfortably hold the Speed Six, ammo and a bunch of other stuff in there. I keep water, food and extra ammo in a small day pack which also helps lock down the side bag.

I wish my range wasn't 20 miles away so I could do that
Click to expand...

Actually, forty round trip is doable if you have good routes. My long route is 30 miles round trip plus the hike, and I'm a fat old man ;-) If I can do it, anyone can. My secret is having learned the special speed on my bike. When things get too exhausting I shift to "putzing" speed and recover my strength.

I find the hiking exercises different muscles than cycling, so they complement each other nicely.
 
Do either of you guys carry concealed while mountain biking? I haven't figured out the best way to manage comfort and accessibility. My normal carry piece for that is a S&W .38 hammerless. Good piece, no doubt, but I prefer having a few more rounds.
 
In SA cyclists are being targeted more and more, specially mountain bikers like myself.

I carry alternative weapons like knives or batons when riding because the sheaths are easily fitted to the hydropack's shoulder straps.

But carrying my 9mm has become a must, since you are likely faced with a robber armed with a firearm...

I have a decent shoulder holster, but have never grown used to it. Shoulder hosters are uncmfortable imo. I too will have to at altenative ways to carry when riding. No point keeping it in your backpack...

Many bullet proof vests have velcro front and rear for velcro hosters, it might be worth looking into improvising a tight fitting "reflective" bib or vest fitted with some velcro for this use. ?

A SWAT type leg holster could work, but not if concealed carry is a must...

How about pocket carrying a smaller calibre... :)
 
I have a BOB trailer and it's very very handy. My fiancee also has one and we've found the max comfortable load to be about half of the rider's body weight. Beyond that it gets harder to control, especially downhill.

Biking and hiking combo are a great way to stay in shape. Also vital skills to have.
 
Cosmoline,

I too am an avid biker, both mountain and road. I use www.mapmyride.com its free and shows distance, elevation changes, grade % (so you can see how steep the hills are), min/ max elevation changes, and you can save and name your routes. Its really user friendly- check it out Oh yeah, It also has a calorie calculator, but I don't use it. I just use the one on my heart rate monitor as it is more accurate, but the one on the website is pretty close if I'm riding flat or rolling hills at a normal clip. If I am really working hard... well not so much.
 
Cosmoline,

What kind of terrain are you biking on? I can't imagine it's a single track. I used to be big into biking when I was a teen, those mountain bikes give you legs and lungs of steel if you keep at it. I have the same one sitting downstairs, needs a tune up and some new tires. You may have just convinced me to knock the cobwebbs off.
 
Cosmoline: I carry my 380 or my 1911 depending on which bike I take.

The range is too far out and I thought of riding there but the mosin strapped to the motobecane would look goofy.
 
So, are you shooting while your heart rate is elevated ala biatheletes or after some recovery time? There are some great breathing/stress reducing techniques borrowed from biathalon shooting that are transferrable to your exercises.

With the onset of decent weather I've taken to biking more often. Plus, being saddle-sore has led me to adopt a wider, more aggressive-looking stance.
 
By the time I'm at the line shooting I've caught my breath, but fatigue does play a role and learning to shoot even when tired is a nice skill. The biggest problem have been my eyes. After a morning of riding with day use contacts, they're dry and I have a hard time keeping focus. But learning how to compensate is a nice skill for the field.

What kind of terrain are you biking on? I can't imagine it's a single track.
Click to expand...

LOL, THAT would be exciting! No, it's just the streets of Anchorage. Some nice bike trails, some not so nice stretches dodging traffic.
 
I've taken a loaded BOB down singletrack many times. The design tracks really well behind the bike.
 
Just wanted to post an update on this. I've increased my pacing this season and am doing a range ride two out of three weekends, with more riding and hiking in between. If I can't get to the range I'll do a ride to the woods for hiking. My legs are almost constantly sore, and parts of me are numb for long stretches. But it's fun and addictive.

The best long gun for this method I've found so far is actually an AR-15 carbine with the pencil barrel. The upper fits nicely into a carbine scabbard and the lower collapses into the main part of a 511 backpack. 5.56 is so light I can pack a great deal of it before feeling weighed down. 100 rounds is nothing.
 
Remember that I haven't paid for a gallon of gasoline in years. I may still be crazy, of course. That thought occurs to me sometimes when I'm man-hauling my bike through -20 f. snow drifts in the black of a howling Alaska winter. But summer makes up for all of that.

Wait till I figure out how to rig a mountain howitzer back there.
 
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-looks at bike-
You have me thinking lightweight keltecs become godsends at this point. :eek:
 
It carries more than you might think. That's a utility bike setup, not your usual racing bike. With comfort I can do a range run with a full size rifle such as an M39 plus my handgun and ammo for each, or the handgun and two carbines. Yesterday I did a run with the magnum +100 rounds, the AR and about 200 rounds plus an 11 bore blunderbuss and possibles.
 
Hiking and Cycling are very complimentary to each other. I keep working out just so I can keep walking and biking. 3 years ago I was almost wheel chair bound at age 42 thanks to a bad auto accident. :fire::banghead:
 
That is a great idea! I could easily ride to the range. I've been thinking about a trialer for the kid for a while now anyway. I'll have to look into that.
 
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