Weight training for better cycling

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Replies

  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Rubbish. Some conditionings fine but for endurance racing you have shown three cyclists who put far more faith in one Dr Ferrari than they ever did in Gym work. If you want to be a good cyclist it's been proved time and time again that 20 hours a week on your bike, plenty of fresh blood during the season and a regular clen/t3 cycle during the winter will see you through just fine.

    The argument I replied to was raising the question of whether or not grand tour riders use any form of gym work outside of their bike riding. It's nice to bring up the doping issues of a generation or two of pro tour cyclists, but it doesn't diminish the gym work that past, current, and future cyclists perform.

    Yes, they do.

    Year Round Work is being done by many types of cyclists as well.

    The benefits help.
  • BusyRaeNOTBusty
    BusyRaeNOTBusty Posts: 7,166 Member
    Grand tour riders don't usually go near a gym unless it's for a ramp test.

    Not true.

    Lance here.

    And Lance here.

    That being said, plenty of cycling coaches and cycling training plans include weights - squats, deadlifts, core work, etc... . Certainly during the off-season, and more for maintenance in season. You won't find a Grand Tour rider near a gym as they taper into the event and ride the grueling event.

    Lean and mean for the tours of course...

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    Can I just add, that this look is NOT attractive?

    *And yes, I know no one asked but men do it (comment on attractiveness of athletes) to women all the time.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I wonder if the OP is really trying to win the Grand Tour...or if he's just trying to improve his cycling and general fitness a bit...maybe do a couple of competitive but fun rides or something...

    I love how these things get all frackin' stupid...
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    I wonder if the OP is really trying to win the Grand Tour...or if he's just trying to improve his cycling and general fitness a bit...maybe do a couple of competitive but fun rides or something...

    I love how these things get all frackin' stupid...

    Correct. The issue always comes up of mixing cycling with weight lifting with all sorts of myths surrounding the mixing of the two. Responding to one of the myths above that certain levels of competitors do not use weights in some form is odd considering so many of them talk about using weights quite openly.

    The best reasoning I have read with regard to weight lifting for cycling has to do with fighting osteoporotic problems which are very common with cyclists. Fighting that makes it all worthwhile - in addition to other benefits.
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Can I just add, that this look is NOT attractive?

    *And yes, I know no one asked but men do it (comment on attractiveness of athletes) to women all the time.

    Agreed. Not to worry, there are other professional cyclists who are not the General Classification contenders who carry much more weight and muscle than the light climbers.

    Tom Boonen and Peter Sagan (both of whom do weight training) are physically more attractive than the skinny GC guys in terms of body composition. ;-]

  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    Tom Boonen and Peter Sagan (both of whom do weight training) are physically more attractive than the skinny GC guys in terms of body composition.

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  • Excellent, from my scientific analysis of several pictures off the internet it seems like... Track sprinters lots of gym, Puncheurs some gym, GT riders not so much. Enjoy your weights, I'm off for a ride.
  • chris_in_cal
    chris_in_cal Posts: 2,514 Member
    I thought I'd throw this out there. Consulting my personal trainer and the Chris Carmichael training book, I came up with a series of weight exercises that strengthen the leg motions of pedaling:
    Are you still cycling?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,956 Member
    I thought I'd throw this out there. Consulting my personal trainer and the Chris Carmichael training book, I came up with a series of weight exercises that strengthen the leg motions of pedaling:
    Are you still cycling?
    Zombie thread. This guy posted it back in 2014. Doubt he's even here anymore.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 40 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

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  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,825 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    Zombie thread. This guy posted it back in 2014. Doubt he's even here anymore.
    That user was active here yesterday btw.
  • Hobartlemagne
    Hobartlemagne Posts: 516 Member
    edited June 17
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    I thought I'd throw this out there. Consulting my personal trainer and the Chris Carmichael training book, I came up with a series of weight exercises that strengthen the leg motions of pedaling:
    Are you still cycling?
    Zombie thread. This guy posted it back in 2014. Doubt he's even here anymore.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 40 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

    9285851.png

    A ha! I'm still here. I returned in February
  • Hobartlemagne
    Hobartlemagne Posts: 516 Member
    I am still cycling, but I'm only approaching it as cardio.
    My weight training nowadays is purely for vanity purposes.