Originally Posted by Mikabike
557 to be exact. I guess you haven't seen my other posts.
Actually, I have. I just didn't put it together. Sorry!
Weight training is great. It will help you get more fit overall, and help you lose some weight. These are good things.
Here's my worthless advice for the day, stop me if you already know this: For higher average speeds and more climbing power, you need to ride for as long as you can at a level where you can still converse with other people. (Theoretically, you don't need to have a conversation while you're riding alone, people will look at you very funny)
Don't worry about speed. What you need to work on is riding longer. Riding longer distances at a moderate level achieves three things.
1) It improves your cardio ability safely.
B) It burns more fat than weight lifting. In fact, after 45 minutes to an hour, your body is most efficient at burning fat. So if you can ride 2 or 3 hours at moderate effort 4 or 5 times a week, the fat will be smoking off you.
7) You will be working on exactly the muscles you need to ride faster.
I really wouldn't get too hung up on speed. It will come.
Az