gym exercises for cycling

2

Comments

  • phil s
    phil s Posts: 1,128
    Jesus wept.
    -- Dirk Hofman Motorhomes --
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    Gym training to ensure space when boxed in on a final sprint
    v6np5.gif
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    JGSI wrote:
    Gym training to ensure space when boxed in on a final sprint
    v6np5.gif
    :lol:
  • Muffintop
    Muffintop Posts: 296
    cougie wrote:
    Spin classes are the best from the gym activities.


    1+ Especially for speed and getting your cadence up. I also do some pyramid (sp?) squats using weights to help strengthen my legs.

    Mx
    FCN: Brompton: 12, Tourer: 7, Racer: 4

    http://www.60milestonod.blogspot.com
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    Muffintop wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Spin classes are the best from the gym activities.


    1+ Especially for speed and getting your cadence up. I also do some pyramid (sp?) squats using weights to help strengthen my legs.

    Mx

    Although strengthening your legs won't help your cycling. I'm sure you knew that though.
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    I'm sure Boardman was interviewed and his legs were puny for weights - but it didn't hold him back much !

    I dont do weights at all for my legs in the gym - they gave me knee niggles anyway.
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,349
    In case anyone's forgotten...
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • velvetytoast
    velvetytoast Posts: 161
    Dunno - this guys not bad and he seems to do a bit of Gym work

    http://roadcyclinguk.com/blogs/weight-t ... -2012.html

    Obviously he's just not prepared to put the time in on the bike (as commented earlier) - or maybe you train to your goals - and not every one has the same goal, so the training will be different....just an alternative view..... :D
  • jgsi
    jgsi Posts: 5,062
    ah well... the rub is.. this part of the forum is
    ROAD cycling
  • velvetytoast
    velvetytoast Posts: 161
    JGSI wrote:
    ah well... the rub is.. this part of the forum is
    ROAD cycling

    Ah well....maybe I'll scrub the link to the track section just to the left of the training link :wink:
  • ShutUpLegs
    ShutUpLegs Posts: 3,522
    Davey C wrote:
    pinarello001 wrote:
    Having done heaps of gym work after hip replacement no.3. Gym work helped but really slowed my ability to spin the gear and pedal at a healthy 90rpm - one and a half turns per second. Weight exercises help build muscle quickly but it shortens the muscle at the same time.
    Lance Armstrong changed his pedalling style from a 'Rouler' to a 'Grimpeur' because the chemo changed his physiology and weakend him. In other words, he went from a one day rider (slower pedalling style) to a tour rider by spinning the gear. In fact, he revolutionised cycling in that blogs and mags were saying "get a triple chainset, if you are pedalling too slow".
    Look at Cadel Evans last year. He rode the final TT at 104 rpm!! Somegoing after all the miles he previously put in. So I concur with what has been said before. Don't do gym work that bulks you up and learn to pedal smooth and fast in a nice straight line keeping the body and bike as still as possible. You will gain much more from that.
    The gym can be a benefit if you stick to cardio-vascular activities and core stability (abs, lower back). Very high reps, low weight or circuits. So don't cancel the membership just yet.

    Oh my god.

    Father Christmas is real :?:
  • Muffintop
    Muffintop Posts: 296
    Davey C wrote:
    Muffintop wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Spin classes are the best from the gym activities.


    1+ Especially for speed and getting your cadence up. I also do some pyramid (sp?) squats using weights to help strengthen my legs.

    Mx

    Although strengthening your legs won't help your cycling. I'm sure you knew that though.

    It did though.
    FCN: Brompton: 12, Tourer: 7, Racer: 4

    http://www.60milestonod.blogspot.com
  • d87heaven
    d87heaven Posts: 348
    Training is about being specific.
    What are you aiming to do/achieve - and how are you going to achieve it.
    To be a better cyclist you need to train your body to cycle. So get out on the bike.
    If you are injured and cant get out on the bike then going to the gym is better than doing nothing as at least you won't be eating cakes.
    If you are injured and want to maintain fitness then by all means go swimming or do some rowing, it will likely help you with your cycling as in as much as youwill be doing something.
    If however you have a postural or muscular imabalance thats a problem then yes gym work may benefit your cycling as it would allow you to do more cycling to get better at cycling (a crude analogy but I'm sure you get the drift).
    I would say some flexability work would probably be a good alternative to spending on the gym if you don't want to cycle more. Or go see a physio/sports therapist who knows about cycling and get them to give you a once over. They can advise on flexability issues, posture, potential problems etc. Or alternatively have a sports massage/manual therapy session. It can help with flexability, posture, or just give you a bit of a mental boost. (is that the sound of p tucker and his pot noodle I hear coming?)
    Ok the pros do gym work, but they are looking for any miniscule gain they can, it gives them a bit of a break from routine and they may have specific reasons for doing it (muscle imbalances, injury etc)

    Remember be specific. What is you want to do? If you want to be good at cycling then cycle.
    Then when you get to the upper levels then you won't need to worry about what to as you will have a coach working that out for you. A bit like on here except they don't talk utter drivel.
    Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals! Except the weasel
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    Muffintop wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Muffintop wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Spin classes are the best from the gym activities.


    1+ Especially for speed and getting your cadence up. I also do some pyramid (sp?) squats using weights to help strengthen my legs.

    Mx

    Although strengthening your legs won't help your cycling. I'm sure you knew that though.

    It did though.
    *sigh* despite studies saying it doesn't?
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Davey C wrote:
    Muffintop wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Muffintop wrote:
    cougie wrote:
    Spin classes are the best from the gym activities.


    1+ Especially for speed and getting your cadence up. I also do some pyramid (sp?) squats using weights to help strengthen my legs.

    Mx

    Although strengthening your legs won't help your cycling. I'm sure you knew that though.

    It did though.
    *sigh* despite studies saying it doesn't?
    And plenty that do?
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    Davey C wrote:
    Serious reply. Everything you want to know about this subject, including detailed studies and research, is here:

    http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/fitness/ ... engthstern

    To sum up: Strength training (gym work) will make no difference to your cycling. If you want to improve your cycling, do more cycling.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Davey C wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Serious reply. Everything you want to know about this subject, including detailed studies and research, is here:

    http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/fitness/ ... engthstern

    To sum up: Strength training (gym work) will make no difference to your cycling. If you want to improve your cycling, do more cycling.
    Got anything wrote within the last decade?

    Got anything that doesn't immediately state
    This is a contentious issue, although many cycling coaches are in favour of doing weight training if time permits

    Clearly when some believe there is merit in strength training specifically for cycling then there must be some shred of information somewhere. Is Chris Hoy doing it all wrong? Should he be out turning centuries to train for sprinting instead of concentrating on leg pressing machine max??
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    edited May 2012
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Serious reply. Everything you want to know about this subject, including detailed studies and research, is here:

    http://autobus.cyclingnews.com/fitness/ ... engthstern

    To sum up: Strength training (gym work) will make no difference to your cycling. If you want to improve your cycling, do more cycling.
    Got anything wrote within the last decade?

    Got anything that doesn't immediately state
    This is a contentious issue, although many cycling coaches are in favour of doing weight training if time permits

    Clearly when some believe there is merit in strength training specifically for cycling then there must be some shred of information somewhere. Is Chris Hoy doing it all wrong? Should he be out turning centuries to train for sprinting instead of concentrating on leg pressing machine max??

    Burden of proof is on you to prove strength training works. Everyone accepts that cycling more works.

    Of course there are coaches who think strength training is a good idea. There are also coaches who think power meters are witchcraft.

    Unless and until you have an identified need (I imagine Chris Hoy has people to tell him what he needs) there is no need to do strength training.

    The Chris Hoy analogy is a bit of a stretch BTW, I don't think the OP was looking to improve his match sprinting or kilo efforts.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    You appear to be having a little trouble replying Davy C.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Davey C wrote:
    Burden of proof is on you to prove strength training works. Everyone accepts that cycling more works.
    If everyone accepted that cycling more works then why do studies equating to strength training helping cycling exist?

    You are adamant that it doesn't work because you've read a study or two and believe it doesn't. I believe there is merit when properly applied. It is very much opinion vs opinion,you are entitled to yours.
    Of course there are coaches who think strength training is a good idea. There are also coaches who think power meters are witchcraft.
    Does that make them wrong?
    Unless and until you have an identified need (I imagine Chris Hoy has people to tell him what he needs) there is no need to do strength training.
    You need to make up your mind. Either

    A:Strength training is helpful for cycling
    B:Strength training does nothing for cycling
    C: Strength training is useful when specifically applied.

    So far all you've done is state that it does nothing for cycling.
    To sum up: Strength training (gym work) will make no difference to your cycling. If you want to improve your cycling, do more cycling.
    So why have you gone from "No" to "well if it suits"??
    The Chris Hoy analogy is a bit of a stretch BTW, I don't think the OP was looking to improve his match sprinting or kilo efforts.
    The Chris Hoy analogy is 100% sound. You just can't argue that in his case(and that of many others) strength training is not only needed but crucial to success. The "ride more" thing really doesn't work there.
  • ric/rstsport
    ric/rstsport Posts: 681
    there is no *good* evidence to suggest that weight/strength training improves performance in well-trained endurance cyclists. There is evidence to show that it doesn't improve performance.

    Ric
    Coach to Michael Freiberg - Track World Champion (Omnium) 2011
    Coach to James Hayden - Transcontinental Race winner 2017, and 2018
    Coach to Jeff Jones - 2011 BBAR winner and 12-hour record
    Check out our new website https://www.cyclecoach.com
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Of course there are coaches who think strength training is a good idea. There are also coaches who think power meters are witchcraft.
    Does that make them wrong?

    I was going to type a reasoned reply until I saw this, which made me realise you're an idiot. Good luck with the squats.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Davey C wrote:
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Davey C wrote:
    Of course there are coaches who think strength training is a good idea. There are also coaches who think power meters are witchcraft.
    Does that make them wrong?

    I was going to type a reasoned reply until I saw this, which made me realise you're an idiot. Good luck with the squats.
    Ahh insults.
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Clearly when some believe there is merit in strength training specifically for cycling then there must be some shred of information somewhere.

    Good thinking. Because some people believe something, it must be true. Lets take santa as an example. Most children believe in santa. Some adults do not. According to your "logic", santa does and does not exist. Marvellous stuff.
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Is Chris Hoy doing it all wrong? Should he be out turning centuries to train for sprinting instead of concentrating on leg pressing machine max??

    Brilliant. Try to remember that this is the ROAD cycling section. What Chris Hoy does to prepare for riding 10 seconds has no bearing on what us lot need to do to help us ride for an hour or two. Also, as a point of order, I seriously doubt Hoy cares about his leg press max. There is a pretty poor correlation between max strength and sprinting speed amongst elite trackies, else some powerlifter who could lift with one leg what Hoy can with both would kick his ar$e.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    P_Tucker wrote:
    Good thinking. Because some people believe something, it must be true. Lets take santa as an example. Most children believe in santa. Some adults do not. According to your "logic", santa does and does not exist. Marvellous stuff.
    Amazing.
    Brilliant. Try to remember that this is the ROAD cycling section. What Chris Hoy does to prepare for riding 10 seconds has no bearing on what us lot need to do to help us ride for an hour or two. Also, as a point of order, I seriously doubt Hoy cares about his leg press max. There is a pretty poor correlation between max strength and sprinting speed amongst elite trackies, else some powerlifter who could lift with one leg what Hoy can with both would kick his ar$e.
    Then the correct statement would be " Strength training has no benefit to road endurance cyclists" Not "strength training makes no difference at all to cycling" Because we all know in certain disciplines,it does...

    Or this
    Davey C wrote:
    To sum up: Strength training (gym work) will make no difference to your cycling. If you want to improve your cycling, do more cycling.
    Which itself is balls
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    Just refute, with evidence, the article I posted. Repeating your mantra about strength training will not make it so.
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    Davey C wrote:
    Just refute, with evidence, the article I posted. Repeating your mantra about strength training will not make it so.
    Theres a refute right under your nose that you've ignored.
  • P_Tucker
    P_Tucker Posts: 1,878
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Then the correct statement would be " Strength training has no benefit to road endurance cyclists

    Excellent, I'm glad we finally got there.

    BTW, pointing out ambiguities in forum posts is a remarkably easy and pointless exercise. It was clear from context what was meant FFS.
  • Davey C
    Davey C Posts: 80
    P_Tucker wrote:
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Then the correct statement would be " Strength training has no benefit to road endurance cyclists

    Excellent, I'm glad we finally got there.

    BTW, pointing out ambiguities in forum posts is a remarkably easy and pointless exercise. It was clear from context what was meant FFS.
    Took him a while didn't it? You'd think with his obsession over Christ Hoy he'd spend more time on the track forum?
  • t.m.h.n.e.t
    t.m.h.n.e.t Posts: 2,265
    P_Tucker wrote:
    T.M.H.N.E.T wrote:
    Then the correct statement would be " Strength training has no benefit to road endurance cyclists

    Excellent, I'm glad we finally got there.
    Did we? You could at least quote the other important part of the post. The part in question perhaps.
    BTW, pointing out ambiguities in forum posts is a remarkably easy and pointless exercise. It was clear from context what was meant FFS.
    No it was clear that an incorrect blanket statement was used.
    Davey C wrote:
    Took him a while didn't it? You'd think with his obsession over Christ Hoy he'd spend more time on the track forum?
    I'm pretty sure I'm not the one making blanket statements because I found one article on the internet which agrees with what I think.

Categories