why reduce strength training as you get closer to the racing

AndyRubio
AndyRubio Posts: 880
edited January 2011 in Training, fitness and health
Hi,

I've read in a few places that it's best practice is to do loads of strength training in the Winter then start to ease off in the Spring.

My simple brain believes that more is more - so this best practice is counter-intuitive (to me). What's the theory behind this reduction of strength training?

Thanks,
Andy
My hour on the plinth
«134

Comments

  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    Strength training has little to no benefit to your endurance cyclist.

    So you don't do it when you actually want to go well.
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • AndyRubio
    AndyRubio Posts: 880
    But surely in a 10-mile TT where endurance is less of an issue than other types of event then strength is a desirable asset?
    My hour on the plinth
  • jibberjim
    jibberjim Posts: 2,810
    AndyRubio wrote:
    But surely in a 10-mile TT where endurance is less of an issue than other types of event then strength is a desirable asset?

    "Endurance" in cycling terms begins around the 3 minute mark (ie the individual pursuiters on the track are endurance riders although because of the single gear they will need more strength to get that harder gear started from the standing start...)

    Most people will do a 10mile TT with the highest force on the pedals lower than the force required for them to walk up a flight of stairs. The average force will likely be completely insignificant.
    Jibbering Sports Stuff: http://jibbering.com/sports/
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    are you on a bout weght training
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    Maybe it has something to do with strength training taking longer to recover from???

    Still, you don't really need that much strength to turn pedals, do you? Thought it was more about muscular endurance, than just strength, but maybe I've got it all wrong.
  • mattshrops
    mattshrops Posts: 1,134
    just quoting out of a book im reading(i do not have the personal experience)
    1) fast twitch muscle developed with weights/strength training is extra weight you dont need for endurance riding.
    2)time may be an issue - if youre in the gym youre using up good bike time, also recovery etc.
    Death or Glory- Just another Story
  • Hudster
    Hudster Posts: 142
    Don't confuse power with strength. The actual strength required to do a 10mile TT or even ride for 10 minutes is very little indeed.
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    the idea of usin the gym for strength trainin is you build the mus mass up during the winter ,and use when you start racing , i prefer to do mine on the bike turnin bigger gears up hills, thats what works 4 me
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    in a ten mile tt ,the most important thing is your position on the bike
  • AndyRubio
    AndyRubio Posts: 880
    But does continuing strength training actually hinder performance in a 10?
    My hour on the plinth
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    well i carry on through out the season doing it, i reduce it ,as i concentrate on intervals , anr recovery more, but it hasnt effected me
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    chalford wrote:
    in a ten mile tt ,the most important thing is your position on the bike

    Is it? I would've thought that positioning comes in more the longer the distance.
  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 79,667
    Interesting recent journal article on Strength training for endurance athletes here that supports claims that it helps...

    http://www.rappstar.com/pdf/StrengthTra ... hletes.pdf
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    no the opposite, over the longer distances you can make mistakes,and make it up, ,up to 25 miles its all about position ,i know a rider who is obviously talented ,his watts are quite low, but hes so aero his ten and 25 times are astonishing,also i do tubo rides at set wattage in big gears ,and certain rpm
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    chalford wrote:
    no the opposite, over the longer distances you can make mistakes,and make it up, ,up to 25 miles its all about position ,i know a rider who is obviously talented ,his watts are quite low, but hes so aero his ten and 25 times are astonishing,

    But surely the accumulated effect of being in the incorrect position gets worse the longer you're on the bike???
  • mattshrops
    mattshrops Posts: 1,134
    the conclusion IS interesting. is it just me i had a severe attack of glazing over trying to read the rest of it :oops:
    Death or Glory- Just another Story
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    mattshrops wrote:
    the conclusion IS interesting. is it just me i had a severe attack of glazing over trying to read the rest of it :oops:

    Don't know. I just went straight to the conclusion...
  • mattshrops
    mattshrops Posts: 1,134
    man you smarter than me 8)
    Death or Glory- Just another Story
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    who said anything about bein in incorrect position, everyones position is personel to them , 4 me it a trade off about bein aero and uncomfy, ive ridden the position up to 50 miles in a tt, and its fine,and thats the longest tt distance i race
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    chalford wrote:
    who said anything about bein in incorrect position, everyones position is personel to them , 4 me it a trade off about bein aero and uncomfy, ive ridden the position up to 50 miles in a tt, and its fine,and thats the longest tt distance i race

    Eh?? If you say that position is the most important thing, then I think it's safe to assume that you believe that everybody has an optimal position and therefore anything else is the incorrect position for them. Otherwise, why would position be the most important thing?
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    mattshrops wrote:
    man you smarter than me 8)

    Nah, just wiser :wink:
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    you twistin what im saying,position in tems of most gains you can make over .ie equipment,just as your not in the optimal position it does not mean its incorrect,ive changed my position round ,and im now more aero while producing the same watts
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    chalford wrote:
    you twistin what im saying,position in tems of most gains you can make over .ie equipment,just as your not in the optimal position it does not mean its incorrect,ive changed my position round ,and im now more aero while producing the same watts

    No, I'm trying to understand what you're saying as I'm interested in it, but, I must admit that I have failed in this.
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    the most gains you can get , are in position, people spend thousands on equipment , but in terms of drag , a bike comes to 5per cent,therefore the best thing to do is work on your position, get that right ,and thats where you can gain ,a lot of time in shorter events. does that make sense
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    Anyway, to answer the original question to the best of my knowledge - strength training won't directly make much difference to your 10 time either way, but lifting heavy weights tends to require a lot of recovery, and time you spend either doing heavy weights or recovering from them is time you could spend riding yer bike and recovering from that.
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    edited January 2011
    Yes, I understand that and I understand that correct (or optimal) position is important. I was just wandering why you thought it was the MOST important thing in a Ten specifically. I still don't know why you think that.
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    Garry H wrote:
    Yes, I understand that and I understand that correct (or optimal) position is important. I was just wandering why you thought it was the MOST important thing in a Ten specifically. I still don't know.

    Indeed. Off the top of my head, I can think of a number of things more important:

    1. Owning a bike
    2. Being aware that there are events known as Tens
    3. Entering a Ten
    4. Remembering to turn up to Ten you have entered
    5. Remembering to have packed your bike
    6. Signing on
    7. Knowing where the start is
    8. Knowing your start time
    9. Making it to the start on time

    The list goes on and on.
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    edited January 2011
    endurance and strength ,arnt the most important factors in distances up to 25 miles, , there not long enough , theres more gains to be made in positions, ,you can get away with a lot less training if your doing shorter events,a ten is over very very quick ,take a round about wrong , or get held up.game over, strength comes into play on longer distance, and obviously the speed you travel at in a ten ,is all out , so makin a smaller hole as you can in the air is vital, and so is position as losin a second is vital over the shorter distances
  • Garry H
    Garry H Posts: 6,639
    Right, I've got you.
  • chalford
    chalford Posts: 47
    :D

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