Long Distance Competition/Ultracycling, Randonneuring and Endurance Cycling - Body Type

I'm passionate about ultra cycling but wish for a better cycling body. I'm 5/10 and 185. I'll likely get down to 175 when in peak form next spring but I've got a pretty stocky build. I do quite a bit of weight training, at least in the off season. I'm beginning to wonder if I should change that part of my training to light weights and higher reps, at least for the upper body. I think I've got good fitness but I'd like to be carrying less weight, especially upper body. I dream of climbing next summer at something like 165. What do some of you do?

I'm passionate about ultra cycling but wish for a better cycling body. I'm 5/10 and 185. I'll likely get down to 175 when in peak form next spring but I've got a pretty stocky build. I do quite a bit of weight training, at least in the off season. I'm beginning to wonder if I should change that part of my training to light weights and higher reps, at least for the upper body. I think I've got good fitness but I'd like to be carrying less weight, especially upper body. I dream of climbing next summer at something like 165. What do some of you do?

That's exactly the thing to do. You may even want to find some aerobic activity that involves your upper body to add to it. It's said that you can't pick spots for losing fat, but I figure there's a chance "they" aren't 100% right. It certainly can't hurt. :D

As soon as Randonneuring season starts around the middle of April, and my cycling quantity increases dramatically, my weight drops off. Last April-May, I lost 18 lbs ... and that's not unusual. Some years I've dropped 25-30 lbs by the middle or end of June.

I'd personally rather keep the upper body strength and work on developing the leg muscles to push me up the mountain. Therefore, I'd maintain the upper body weight training in the off season, but start including more squats, leg presses, and calf raises.

I'm passionate about ultra cycling but wish for a better cycling body.Pretty simple, choose your exercise in a way so as to enhance your endurance. For the most part, any exercise that supports your ability to cycle for longer and longer periods without acute muscle failure will work. In other words, you want alternate workouts that keep you from having aches and pains while on very long rides.



I'm beginning to wonder if I should change that part of my training to light weights and higher reps, at least for the upper body.Part of my maintenance routine involves curling, pressing and squatting 50lbs at 100 reps or more. I doubt this is the type of exercise that will benefit you the most, but I thought you should know that some people do indeed use weights at very high rep counts. My experience suggests this type of weight lifting keeps me from having shoulder/neck pain, as well arm fatigue during long rides and hill climbing.