Does anyone here Kayak?
Discussion
Not sure how well this will go down on a forum built from bits of V8 and Castrol Edge, but here goes...
I've been considering Kayaking. One of my friends does this and finds it an excellent way to pass the time either solo or with friends both sea and river. I used to row a while back and am a strong swimmer (ex-competition) but have never tried kayaking.
So, a few questions I guess.
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
I've been considering Kayaking. One of my friends does this and finds it an excellent way to pass the time either solo or with friends both sea and river. I used to row a while back and am a strong swimmer (ex-competition) but have never tried kayaking.
So, a few questions I guess.
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
I used to. Haven't done if for many years but I was very much into kayaking. River running, white water racing and marathon.
I woulnd't say it was excellent at building muscle but certainly is mostly upper body, (if done properly largely the back muscles). There is some leg work inside the boat but not worth noting really. Getting boats to and from the river does require a bit of legwork especially with a plastic boat.
The best way to attach a boat to the a car roof depends on the boat. A plastic boat will be fine on a standard roof rack using straps that can be boat in Halfords. J bars can belpful but really not necessary. If using marathon/sprint or white water racing boat then you need V Bars. Both V and J bars are excatly as they sound. Metal items shaped as either a V or a J.
As I mentioned I have not been kayaking for many years, (hence the beer gut), but I can't imagine things have changed that much.
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
I woulnd't say it was excellent at building muscle but certainly is mostly upper body, (if done properly largely the back muscles). There is some leg work inside the boat but not worth noting really. Getting boats to and from the river does require a bit of legwork especially with a plastic boat.
The best way to attach a boat to the a car roof depends on the boat. A plastic boat will be fine on a standard roof rack using straps that can be boat in Halfords. J bars can belpful but really not necessary. If using marathon/sprint or white water racing boat then you need V Bars. Both V and J bars are excatly as they sound. Metal items shaped as either a V or a J.
As I mentioned I have not been kayaking for many years, (hence the beer gut), but I can't imagine things have changed that much.
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
MKH9130 said:
Not sure how well this will go down on a forum built from bits of V8 and Castrol Edge, but here goes...
I've been considering Kayaking. One of my friends does this and finds it an excellent way to pass the time either solo or with friends both sea and river. I used to row a while back and am a strong swimmer (ex-competition) but have never tried kayaking.
So, a few questions I guess.
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
I've been considering Kayaking. One of my friends does this and finds it an excellent way to pass the time either solo or with friends both sea and river. I used to row a while back and am a strong swimmer (ex-competition) but have never tried kayaking.
So, a few questions I guess.
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
I've done plenty of sea kayaking but not too much in the last few years.
In answer to your Q's (all imho of course)
1. yep
2. not particularly. I found it used to work the back a bit but not as much of a workout like a surfski
3. I always found a standard roofrack was fine. Used v-bars a few times but wouldn't be too bothered if I didn't have them. For one summer I drove a fiat panda with twin sunroofs. no need for a rack then as you could tie the kayak/board directly to the car
There was this thread late last year which got me saying Id try kayaking.
Shamefully I havent yet except for a couple of hour long rentals when I was in Oz a couple months ago.
Call me a fair weather paddler
Now the weather is starting to improve I will get it sorted
Shamefully I havent yet except for a couple of hour long rentals when I was in Oz a couple months ago.
Call me a fair weather paddler
Now the weather is starting to improve I will get it sorted
MKH9130 said:
1. Does anyone here Kayak? Yes.
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc)Dunno, I'm still fat.
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car? Roofrack.
First port of call should be your local canoe club who will welcome you with open arms and offer you training and a choice boats to play with.
www.bcu.org.uk/bcu/bcu-standardtemplate1.aspx
I've got two Kayaks and a three man canadian. It's wonderful. As for upperbody strength and keeping trim and stuff... depends how seriously you're going to do it...
I would say you need to be looking at least 2 x 2hour bouts every week of serious distance work / surfing/ weir to be getting serious benefits.
Thule is the way to go in terms of mating your mota with your boat innit.
I would say you need to be looking at least 2 x 2hour bouts every week of serious distance work / surfing/ weir to be getting serious benefits.
Thule is the way to go in terms of mating your mota with your boat innit.
I used to do a fair bit when I was younger (was in the sea scouts) its great fun infact Im not sure why I dont do it anymore! I have a mate who did sprint kyaking for scotland and his upper body is like the side of a small house if thats what your after. (The fitness not muscley men 
)
)1. Yes, was one of the big reasons moving to the Lakes appealed so much.
2. I wouldn't say massive muscular build up, but to an extent. I think you can sometimes see by build who paddles or who cycles etc.(probably only when observing whos in the beer garden of my local though!) That said, I'm a little lass, and wouldn't say it was evident I'm a paddler who carries her boat for miles etc.
3. Thule roof systems is the future. I'm in the dark ages with my Mont Blanc stuff, but until it dies its being used!(Mont blanc is often fairly cheap and I've been using this particular set up for a good 2 years now with no signs of failure despite being used to haul kayaks, bikes, canoes and surfing kit all over the uk.)
Geordie
2. I wouldn't say massive muscular build up, but to an extent. I think you can sometimes see by build who paddles or who cycles etc.(probably only when observing whos in the beer garden of my local though!) That said, I'm a little lass, and wouldn't say it was evident I'm a paddler who carries her boat for miles etc.
3. Thule roof systems is the future. I'm in the dark ages with my Mont Blanc stuff, but until it dies its being used!(Mont blanc is often fairly cheap and I've been using this particular set up for a good 2 years now with no signs of failure despite being used to haul kayaks, bikes, canoes and surfing kit all over the uk.)
Geordie
Yeah, I do a lot, mainly sea kayaking but also play in the river. And the pool in winter!
Yes, it does build up some muscle, but not a huge amount as it's more a stamina type exercise than a power/strength exercise. That said it's a bit like swimming in that it uses lots of your back, shoulder, arm and stomach muscles, it's really good for "core" strength, building up the muscles that stabilise your spine and twist your body.
I have two sets of these for the roof. www.shop.edirectory.co.uk/autosave/225/mia/pid/2596829 Unless you're quite careful it's possibe to pull your kayak quite badly out of shape with ratchet straps, the J-bar type of rack will support the kayak in it's strongest orientation (on it's side) and reduce the amount of roof space it takes up.
If you want to be inspired, take a look at some of these photos: http://seakayakphoto.blogspot.com/sea
Im heading over to Lewis on Thursday for a long weekend in the kayak, can't wait!
As someone has said, go to a club and have a play, see how you like it!
Cheers,
Tom.
Yes, it does build up some muscle, but not a huge amount as it's more a stamina type exercise than a power/strength exercise. That said it's a bit like swimming in that it uses lots of your back, shoulder, arm and stomach muscles, it's really good for "core" strength, building up the muscles that stabilise your spine and twist your body.
I have two sets of these for the roof. www.shop.edirectory.co.uk/autosave/225/mia/pid/2596829 Unless you're quite careful it's possibe to pull your kayak quite badly out of shape with ratchet straps, the J-bar type of rack will support the kayak in it's strongest orientation (on it's side) and reduce the amount of roof space it takes up.
If you want to be inspired, take a look at some of these photos: http://seakayakphoto.blogspot.com/sea
Im heading over to Lewis on Thursday for a long weekend in the kayak, can't wait!
As someone has said, go to a club and have a play, see how you like it!
Cheers,
Tom.
bga said:
3. I always found a standard roofrack was fine. Used v-bars a few times but wouldn't be too bothered if I didn't have them. For one summer I drove a fiat panda with twin sunroofs. no need for a rack then as you could tie the kayak/board directly to the car
But make sure you empty the boat first. I've loaded up, opened the sunroof and set off only to receive a lap full of water when I braked
MKH9130 said:
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
1 - Yes, I have a 14 foot touring Kayak, mainly for going up and down the Nene, training etc.
2 - Depends on how fast you paddle, My paddle is pretty long and I really dig in when i'm paddling, it mainly does your back and forearms imo.
3 - I bought a side loading pod for mine, great quality and is very secure. Also after 4 hours Kayaking, lifting it above your head to tie it on is hard work so the easier it is to get on the better.
Dave!
MKH9130 said:
1. Does anyone here Kayak?
2. How effective is this at upper body muscle building? (With the right diet etc).
3. What is the best way to attach a Kayak to the roof of a car?
1. Yes
2. Not hugely effective. Works stamina more than power, and back / abs more than arms. Need to make sure you keep your shoulder muscles stabilised, especially for white water work.
3. Any old roof rack with a few tie down straps. Alternatively, if you've got a short surf type boat and an estate you might be able to get it inside; I've got a 2.3m long boat which fits into my Xantia easily
My cousin is an instructer but he rarely kayak's these days.
He learnt to hold his breath for a couple of minutes (I think) because he was often under water for so long. Most of the time it was in his squirt boat which is much much smaller than a kayak...and easier to perform tricks (if you are good enough to stay upright that is)
I had a go at kayaking at Hurley 3 or 4 years ago. I think only one gate was open and the smallest ripple capsised me ...and it was bloody cold 
I haven't done it since.
He learnt to hold his breath for a couple of minutes (I think) because he was often under water for so long. Most of the time it was in his squirt boat which is much much smaller than a kayak...and easier to perform tricks (if you are good enough to stay upright that is)
I had a go at kayaking at Hurley 3 or 4 years ago. I think only one gate was open and the smallest ripple capsised me
...and it was bloody cold I haven't done it since.Bit of thread-necrophilia going on here... 
I'm off to look at a sea kayak tomorrow. Last time I paddled I was 20 years younger and in a 4m boat in a flat calm lake. Ironically although they built a white water course 2 miles from my house it's taken me a decade to collect the enthusiam and funds to get back into it.
Needless to say I don't plan to take the sea boat down WW...
I've been racking up some miles several times a week on my push-iron which of course takes care of the legs, but I really needed something for the upper body/ stomach etc. and as I'm not into gyms, the next best option is a boat! With the local river now safe to fall into (after 300 years) there's about 15 miles of navigable water to play in.
Transport is going to be the major issue: a roofrack on the Transit is out as lifting a 50lb boat 8 feet in the air just might be a trial, especially once your arms are jelly.
Honda don't do a towbar for the ST1300 and anyway there's a limit on trailer size for bikes, so that's out
I have this notion that I can get a lightweight 4' x 3' trailer and modify it to take the boat, then all I need is a towbar on the TVR and away we go... !
But first things first; I'll see how this boat looks...
I'm off to look at a sea kayak tomorrow. Last time I paddled I was 20 years younger and in a 4m boat in a flat calm lake. Ironically although they built a white water course 2 miles from my house it's taken me a decade to collect the enthusiam and funds to get back into it.
Needless to say I don't plan to take the sea boat down WW...
I've been racking up some miles several times a week on my push-iron which of course takes care of the legs, but I really needed something for the upper body/ stomach etc. and as I'm not into gyms, the next best option is a boat! With the local river now safe to fall into (after 300 years) there's about 15 miles of navigable water to play in.
Transport is going to be the major issue: a roofrack on the Transit is out as lifting a 50lb boat 8 feet in the air just might be a trial, especially once your arms are jelly.
Honda don't do a towbar for the ST1300 and anyway there's a limit on trailer size for bikes, so that's out
I have this notion that I can get a lightweight 4' x 3' trailer and modify it to take the boat, then all I need is a towbar on the TVR and away we go... !
But first things first; I'll see how this boat looks...
I used to Kayak on Bala lake, the Berwyn, and on the Mersey when I couldn't be arsed to travel. Very good for upper body. No in a building muscle type way, rather it built stamina. I want to continue over here, but haven't gotten around to getting anything. I ant a huge, long, cruiser, and do the Erie canal system.
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