Training & Nutrition - Question about physique.

For as long as I can remember (I'm a guy BTW), my legs have always been kind of big-built (not really muscular, just big-built) in proportion to my upper-body. Would this sort of physique give me an advantage in cycling at all, especially in the training aspect where the improvement can happen?

If you look at the top road cyclists you will find that they have well developed legs and from the waist up they look like noodles. Normal to be underdeveloped up top in this sport.

Personally I do some weight training to keep some upper body meat on my bones. I don't like the sickly upper body look.

For as long as I can remember (I'm a guy BTW), my legs have always been kind of big-built (not really muscular, just big-built) in proportion to my upper-body. Would this sort of physique give me an advantage in cycling at all, especially in the training aspect where the improvement can happen?

T-Rex Syndrome.

I have a big head (and legs), and little arms....

An upper body just means you have more weight to carry around. I am awful at climbing because I was a pretty consistent weight lifter for 2 years before I started cycling. I'm only 5'8, but I weigh 160, with very little fat on my body. I've debated not lifting for my upper body, but would hate to lose the physique I spent so much time building.

OK. I've only just started training a week ago but I feel like I'm already improving, especially in short bursts of speed, where I thought maybe my big legs might be giving me a bit of extra power.

wilsonc.. i have the same issue... I hit the weights pretty hard..weigh about 163 and am 5-7 with little body fat. I'm contemplating whether or not to lower the intensity of my weight training for CX season or for next spring season for that matter.
What are other people's thoughts on muscle mass to performance?

When I frst got into cycling I migrated here from powerlifting. I was in the Army stationed in Europe where cycling was THE thing to do.

At 175 lbs I was squatting 550 pounds. For quite a while I could not ride well over any distance but as I trained my legs to spin better I eventually became "THE MAN" in our bike group. Once I had trained my already powerful legs to ride there were few who could keep pace with me.

I continued a weight program during winters for several years and always worked up into the 400 lb squate range each winter before the next cycling season. Due to knee issues I do not do a lot of squats anymore and my biking speed has definitely suffered.

You will have to go through a bit of a learning curve to balance the weights and cycling but the pair can produce amazing results.

If you look at the top road cyclists you will find that they have well developed legs and from the waist up they look like noodles. Normal to be underdeveloped up top in this sport.

Personally I do some weight training to keep some upper body meat on my bones. I don't like the sickly upper body look.

http://www.ulrichfluhme.com/skeletor.jpg

This also depends on the type of riding you do, e.g. mountain biking requires (and builds) a more balanced physique than road riding. My wife noticed this years ago the first time she came with me to a road race (all previous were mountain). She saw several roadies with their shirts off and said (half kidding) "Wow... I think I like the mountain bike races better".

http://www.ulrichfluhme.com/skeletor.jpg

Oh God, my eyes! :(

I'm not quite that bad. lol

^^^^^^ That's just redicurous... :lol:

^^ thats what doping does to ya ;)

i've been trying to cut down some too but i know i'll have to lose mostly muscle. right now i'm 6 ft 185lbs with 8% body fat. i have a bigger lower body. 24in thighs. i'm startng a steady cut and only eating a decent amount of food on days where i'm riding longer. trying to get down to 175 maybe even 170.

unless you are a pro rider who dedicates their entire life to riding a bike around the world i would in no circumstance recommend not lifting for your upper body. idk how someone can want to lose weight and look like a stick figure. cycling improves your cardio and overall health..weightlifting makes you look good...combine the two and your set!

This weekend, at the neighborhood workday (not cycling related) a friend fell out of a pick-up truck (shoveling mulch), rotated 180 degrees in the air and landed on his head and one shoulder - feet straight up in the air. We thought 911! He got up, shook it off and went back to work - he's 6' 180lbs. runs, plays rugby, lifts weights...

The point - his well-rounded physique (muscled shoulders, core, back, etc.) probably saved his neck, clavicle... Rasmusen would've crumbled like a saltine. Well, perhaps he weighs so little that he would've been okay. :)