Road Bike Racing - Right calf stronger than left. Remidies?

Any one know the best way to remidy an uneven power situation? My thighs may be uneven too but less so. I am currently doing the "stand on step, push up on toes" drill for the left calf.

Single-sided pedaling drills.

Hey all I can say is keep it up. I have had 18" calves for years by doing a lot of toe rises and within the last 1 1/2 years my left calf has for no reason decided to shrink. I have started an intense "regeneration" program. Lots of toe rises. In the shower, while brushing teeth etc. you get the idea. I will tell you that you will get a hell of a work out if your remain in the up position for just one second on each repetition and then go down and repeat. Good luck.

+1 one legged pedal drills. Do an extra interval or two on the weak side. Good drill for your pedal stroke anyway.

Any one know the best way to remidy an uneven power situation? My thighs may be uneven too but less so. I am currently doing the "stand on step, push up on toes" drill for the left calf.

Your calf shouldn't be a significant part of power production. From what I know on the subject, the calf is more of a stabilizing muscle in cycling.

+1 one legged pedal drills. Do an extra interval or two on the weak side. Good drill for your pedal stroke anyway.

+2, They ain't fun but they are effective.

Righthanded? If so, then take up fencing. It really works the left leg a lot.

When you do one-legged pedaling drills on your trainer, hold the bars with one hand, the opposite one. Get your torso down low and work your core at the same time this way.

When you do one-legged pedaling drills on your trainer, hold the bars with one hand, the opposite one. Get your torso down low and work your core at the same time this way.

I'll have to try that one....

I'll have to try that one....

It works really nicely. You want to keep your upper body as quiet as possible, feeling your core and torso stabilize it, and concentrate on using your hips/glutes/hamstrings to promote even and smooth tension throughout the entire one-legged pedal stroke. No ragged chain movements!

After you get good and strong with one opposite hand on the tops and hoods, move to the drops for some real fun!

My left forearm is stronger than my right...

rofl. I don't know how I didn't see that one coming. :bday:

Any one know the best way to remidy an uneven power situation? My thighs may be uneven too but less so. I am currently doing the "stand on step, push up on toes" drill for the left calf.
I have this same issue. Ive only taken up cycling in the last 8 months. Previously I played football and ended up with a a fair bit of titanium in my left foot. I was non weight bearing for a longggggg time.

So I now have a big right calf and smaller left calf. I believe your question was how to build up your calf more so than your thigh?

One legged pedal drills is probably helpful but not specific enough to give you great results on your calf.

I focus on two areas. First is dymanic power movement (stand on left foot and jump forward and land on the left foot). Second is high repetition (body weight only) left leg calf raises. I generally do 2:1 ratio of sets (i.e 2 sets on leg leg for every 1 set on right leg).

I tend to alternate/rotate equally in each session between the sets power movement exercise and the raises.

The sports exercise physiologist I am working with in Melbourne also has stressed the importance of slight variations in technique (taking the heel of your foot below the step on which you are performing the raises in one instance and then doing higher intensity 'half' raises at the top end of the movement on other occasions).

Good luck.

My left forearm is stronger than my right...


Switch up. It will feel like your cheating.

One legged pedal drills is probably helpful but not specific enough to give you great results on your calf.


.

Depends on the goal. If its to ride the best you can, without the weak calf being a limiter, I think its extremely specific. If the goal is symmetrical calfs I think you're right.

Right calf stronger than left. Remidies?

have some muscle surgically removed from the right and you'll be balanced once again.

1 leg pedal drills and 1 leg squats, leg lifts, etc.

Switch up. It will feel like your cheating.
I see what you did there.

You guys are over-thinking this. Just add a few of these to balance them out:

http://www.technologyreview.com/files/8620/nanotube-yarn.gif

http://www.technologyreview.com/NanoTech/17872/


Plus, you get mucho OCP points.

it's normal. don't worry about it.