"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Interesting, I'm riding more but not losing weight (actually adding)

Normally, the more I ride the more weight I lose. At this point I have about 60 hours on the bike (15-20 of those on a trainer). Now, I know that is small fry for some people but normally by this time most years I've just barely began riding. So I've been mixing it up (rides to work, easy rides, hills, trying to hang with the hammerheads on saturday group ride etc etc). My average speed has gone up and hills that I used to hate I can just power over or spin (once again, this is relative to my performance in prior years). However, my weight has gone up from 175 lbs to 178lbs. What gives, could this be muscle added or should I look to start actively eating less? I have been down to 162lbs in the past (though even then I didn't feel as strong as I do now). For reference, I am 6 ft tall.

I have a race this Sunday and my aim is to hang with the group but the additional weight I am carrying makes me think the hills are going to hurt.

Eat less.

Normally, the more I ride the more weight I lose. At this point I have about 60 hours on the bike (15-20 of those on a trainer). Now, I know that is small fry for some people but normally by this time most years I've just barely began riding. So I've been mixing it up (rides to work, easy rides, hills, trying to hang with the hammerheads on saturday group ride etc etc). My average speed has gone up and hills that I used to hate I can just power over or spin (once again, this is relative to my performance in prior years). However, my weight has gone up from 175 lbs to 178lbs. What gives, could this be muscle added or should I look to start actively eating less? I have been down to 162lbs in the past (though even then I didn't feel as strong as I do now). For reference, I am 6 ft tall.

I have a race this Sunday and my aim is to hang with the group but the additional weight I am carrying makes me think the hills are going to hurt.

too late to be worrying about something you can't change.

Welcome to the hellish world of Pcad where you actually gain weight after 110 mile rides.

too late to be worrying about something you can't change.
I'm not asking with this specific situation in mind. I am resigned to a world of hurt on Sunday

There are two ways to tackle this. One was already mentioned, eat less. The other is finding the natural balance and dealing with it. I started seriously cycling at 150lbs and did nothing but add weight unless I starved myself. I leveled out around 160-163. I know my idea race weight is around 155 but I have no desire to starve myself to get there. Some are willing to make that sacrifice and I did when I was trying to drop from a 240lb tub-o-gu but not anymore.

I'm not asking with this specific situation in mind. I am resigned to a world of hurt on Sunday

http://geekologie.com/2007/01/24/wine-glass.jpg

Do what you can with what you have. I've put on some weight this year as well. I've been training and racing like a mo-fo. But, such is life. Now we must deal with it.

If you're going to eat less, cut the calories from your meals, not while you're riding.

Do a gut check (so to speak). You'll know if you are carrying around a bit more fat. If you are, then, well, you gained some non-essential weight.

If not, you're probably stronger. Have you been lifting, etc? The fastest 10 pounds I ever gained was when I did some pretty hard upper body lifting over a 2-3 month period. I went from barely benching 100 pounds to benching 185 or so (we lifted at work where we had a very nice gym, 3 of us lifted regularly). I gained a lot of upper body mass that actually never went away (I'd be extremely happy to be back at the +10 weight of 164 lbs).

If it makes you feel any better, I'm about your weight and I'm 5 inches shorter than you. Doesn't mean I can climb or anything but I can still ride a bike.

cdr

Your body may be different, but I don't think the actual race season is the time to be losing weight. Since your body goes through all sorts of hell during the season, in particular the repeated anaerobic/muscle tearing beatings, it's hard to get yourself into that aerobic weight loss mode with that required light diet.

For me, the time to lose weight is between December and March (between 'cross and road seasons) - though I think I'll be doing less 'cross now that I'm getting older and could use a longer off-season.

Do a gut check (so to speak). You'll know if you are carrying around a bit more fat. If you are, then, well, you gained some non-essential weight.

If not, you're probably stronger. Have you been lifting, etc? The fastest 10 pounds I ever gained was when I did some pretty hard upper body lifting over a 2-3 month period. I went from barely benching 100 pounds to benching 185 or so (we lifted at work where we had a very nice gym, 3 of us lifted regularly). I gained a lot of upper body mass that actually never went away (I'd be extremely happy to be back at the +10 weight of 164 lbs).

If it makes you feel any better, I'm about your weight and I'm 5 inches shorter than you. Doesn't mean I can climb or anything but I can still ride a bike.

cdr
Come to think of it, this year, after every ride, as part of my stretching I do a set of push ups, crunches and back exercises. I didn't do that in prior years.

I did a gut check and yes I do have one. I guess that tells me I can cut back a bit and not lose muscle.
So, will cut back a bit but not on the bike (thanks for that tip bdcheung)

And Botto, I will look at the glass as half-full

Welcome to the hellish world of Pcad where you actually gain weight after 110 mile rides.
Okay, now I don't feel so bad

Training will not generally help people lose weight, but dieting will. Nova did a show where they trained 12 sedentary people to complete the Boston Marathon, and the only one who lost her "obese" status was dieting aggressively.

You might also want to think about what you're eating after a workout. Rather then going for whatever is near and easy (chips, cookies, etc.) go for things that will aid in recovery and will serve as cleaning burning fuel for the next day. Food with high fat content and too much sugar may satisfy you now, but may also add some additional padding...

At this point I have about 60 hours on the bike (15-20 of those on a trainer).

a 60 hour week is a lot for anyone

Normally, the more I ride the more weight I lose. At this point I have about 60 hours on the bike (15-20 of those on a trainer). Now, I know that is small fry for some people but normally by this time most years I've just barely began riding. So I've been mixing it up (rides to work, easy rides, hills, trying to hang with the hammerheads on saturday group ride etc etc). My average speed has gone up and hills that I used to hate I can just power over or spin (once again, this is relative to my performance in prior years). However, my weight has gone up from 175 lbs to 178lbs. What gives, could this be muscle added or should I look to start actively eating less? I have been down to 162lbs in the past (though even then I didn't feel as strong as I do now). For reference, I am 6 ft tall.

I have a race this Sunday and my aim is to hang with the group but the additional weight I am carrying makes me think the hills are going to hurt.

http://a1468.g.akamai.net/f/1468/580/1d/pics.Drugstore.com/prodimg/74158/200.jpg

a 60 hour week is a lot for anyone
Whoah! No, I mean I have 60 hours for the year so far starting in February :roflmao::roflmao:

a 60 hour week is a lot for anyone

Maybe he meant for the year?

Maybe he meant for the year?

lol that's funny. I read it as a year too. 60 hours in a week?? lol. That's high even for a BF "boast".

I used to have 80 hours at about now, then add another 70 for the rest of the year. This year I did 150+ so far and now I don't know what to do with myself. 60 hours is not ideal but no season killer. Stick with tactical race courses - mainly crits with a small hill - and you'll be fine.

cdr

3 lbs? isn't that just a normal daily swing in weight? my weight is always moving around a couple pounds here and there.

Your body may be different, but I don't think the actual race season is the time to be losing weight.


This is true. But i've been doing it anyway. I had my biggest loss last week, 5 lbs. This week I cant push myself to ride any harder than a tempo pace. I literally dont have the gas to do it. I'm ok going hard with 1-2 lbs a weeks off. I still dont know how i managed 5lbs. Im not complaining mind you. However, I've pretty much have scratched all my interval workouts for the week and will just concentrating on time in the saddle to the training hours to the prescribed levels. (And lose more weight). I need about 10 more off before the end of the month for when the big crits come up. Doing flat crits is not a big deal for me at 195 lbs.

3 lbs? isn't that just a normal daily swing in weight? my weight is always moving around a couple pounds here and there.

+1
I dont know about you Paris, but I swing 3lbs on a daily basis. Thats just 2 lg. water bottles without urination.

^^
Isn't that exactly what everyone said in your thread would happen; try to lose 5lbs a week, and you won't be able to train hard enough.

I'd go back to the 1-2lbs a week, and concentrate on quality training.

I'd go back to the 1-2lbs a week, and concentrate on quality training.

What he said.

For some reason I usually don't begin to see the weight go down until it gets really hot and I'm sweating buckets all the time. No matter how much I ride in the cold, I maintain the same. Summer, it melts away. (and I'm properly hydrated.)

when do we consider the year starting? Training year or calendar year?

:eek I just totaled the calendar year and now I feel kind of obsessive compulsive. I may need to
quit the board.

OP

How old are you? You body changes, in terms of response, to training stresses as it ages. Responses to training and diet at 18, 28, 38 and...old are different.

You mentioned you feel stronger. That's good, non?

What you really need to figure out is if this strength (weight) helps you or hinders you.

I just posted this elsewhere but again;

The lightest I race was 166lbs. Climbing was good but I lacked top-end power. At 172 my climbing improved and I also had a some kick. At 176 I was a tad slower on the long climbs but my power climbing and jam on the flats was the best.

So what works for you? What kind of course do you ride? What is your natural strength? You weakness? How does the extra strength, and weight, factor into these?

Lighter, lighter, lighter is not always the answer. There is a tipping point.

Training will not generally help people lose weight, but dieting will. Nova did a show where they trained 12 sedentary people to complete the Boston Marathon, and the only one who lost her "obese" status was dieting aggressively.

Hmmmmn.... I disagree. I rode 13,000 miles in 2006 and lost 57 pounds. I ate like a horse too (had to to be able to do the volume and intensity I was doing). I lost 1 to 1.5 pounds a week steadily. I'm sure I still had a calorie deficit to lose the weight WITHOUT dieting. When I say I didn't diet, it means I wasn't counting calories or purposely cutting back. I did stop eating junk and ate better quality carbs. That's about it. :)

OP

How old are you? You body changes, in terms of response, to training stresses as it ages. Responses to training and diet at 18, 28, 38 and...old are different.

You mentioned you feel stronger. That's good, non?

What you really need to figure out is if this strength (weight) helps you or hinders you.

I just posted this elsewhere but again;

The lightest I race was 166lbs. Climbing was good but I lacked top-end power. At 172 my climbing improved and I also had a some kick. At 176 I was a tad slower on the long climbs but my power climbing and jam on the flats was the best.

So what works for you? What kind of course do you ride? What is your natural strength? You weakness? How does the extra strength, and weight, factor into these?

Lighter, lighter, lighter is not always the answer. There is a tipping point.

I'm 34, turning 35 this year. I think my natural strength is short bursts of power and sprinting. I used to be a 100 meter sprinter in high school. I would guess that the best course for me would be either flat or with rolling hills that I can power over. When I get to the real hills I tend to be in serious trouble (though I have been working on this weakness).

The lightest I've ever been while riding was 162 lbs and that was last year. I have big thighs and a fat *ss (muscle, but a friend told me drafting me is like drafting a winnebago). So there is probably a finite limit to the amount of weight I can lose without losing power.

Training will not generally help people lose weight, but dieting will. Nova did a show where they trained 12 sedentary people to complete the Boston Marathon, and the only one who lost her "obese" status was dieting aggressively.

Running a marathon at obese weights? Bet they lost their knees....

There is a vast, huge, immense difference between finishing a marathon and actually running a marathon.

I haven't run more than a mile in about 2 years. I could strap a pair of running shoes on my feet right now and finish Chicago in under 5hrs, but that wouldn't even be running it.