Training & Nutrition - Bike and Build in summer 2010

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : Bike and Build in summer 2010

dash of chutmeg
10-18-10, 10:56 AM
I'm applying for a Bike and Build tour in the summer of 2010, which means I'm looking to prepare for a cross-country bike trip. I'm a 24 year old guy, 5'9" 145 lbs in decent shape, but I know it's going to take a regimen to get into "riding-3800-miles-in-three months" shape. I don't need to lose weight, obviously, but cardiovascularly, I'm not ready yet.

Some questions:

-Is weight training effective for biking? Squats, leg press, etc.? I've read that increasing one's strength for low-rep sets does very little for the long-distance cyclist because of how little force is used with each pedal stroke. Any thoughts? Any personal experience?

-Interval training: does it work?

-Recovery time after a 60-mile ride: how long is too short?

-Carb intake: how much is too much?

Thanks!

theschwinnman
10-18-10, 04:21 PM
Weight training- From what I've read, it is of no real benefit for cycling (unless your a sprinter), it is a decidedly anaerobic activity, whereas cycling is aerobic, and you use different muscle fibers for each.

Interval Training- I use it, I'm almost certain it works better than just riding.

Recovery Time after a 60 mile ride- During the summer I do that every other day during the summer, and the other days I do 40 miles, I take weekends off. So I don't really have any recovery time.

Carb Intake- I eat as much as I think I should (I'm not much of a help on this issue).

Good luck on your tour, I'd love to do something like that.