getFAST

After the consistent urging from my coach, I have added weightlifting to my training program? What do you guys think about weightlifting?

Sheik24

Any exercise that stresses your body differently than cycling is good exercise to make you better at cycling, oddly enough. Weight training is excellent. Yoga is good too.

Will Goes Boing

I've consistently lifted weights since I was in highschool. I'm 32 now and I haven't stopped yet even after I started road biking a few years ago. Does it help a bit? I think it does especially in terms of power for sprinting or short hills, but does it make a huge difference? I don't think it does. There are people I know who don't lift weights who are plenty fast. IMO throwing in some weight training with compound lifts a couple days a week can't hurt.

rpenmanparker 

I don't call it cross training but rather core and upper body maintenance. It is not exactly weight lifting, but more broadly work on strength and muscle tone.

RPK79

Same. I'm not looking to add bulk just maintain a strong core and upper body. I just want to improve my general health and it helps with fatigue when it comes to extended time in the saddle since your core and upper body have to hold themselves up for all that time.

Then I mix in some more intense leg work at the gym. Still nothing huge since I'm not looking to add bulk.

rms13

Squats, deadlifts and other full body movements as well as pull ups, plans, levers and other body weight

BigJeff

What? Exercise, increased range of motion and strength training makes you stronger? Whoa.

What about leg day? Oh don't skip it. Good advice, I'll write it down.

Makel

yes

Agent Cooper

I have a full American Ninja Warrior style obstacle course in my back yard, and I complete it 3-4 times per day. I scream at the top of my lungs the whole time, swinging from obstacle to obstacle completely naked.

topflightpro

Weight lifting also will strengthen your bones. Road cyclists are notorious for having weak, brittle bones - the act of road cycling provides so little impact, it results in your bones weakening. Running, mountain biking and weight lifting are all medically proven ways to help strengthen your bones.

As for getting faster, weight lifting may not help much - the research on that is still fairly mixed.

Leinster

My 6 Minute Abs workout every morning has definitely helped with overall fitness and upper body strength, and it keeps the weight down too.

jrossbeck

As long as part of your weekly routing involves something that helps flexibility/range of motion, anything is good. Personally I swim on my non-riding days, and occasionally run or lift weights.

I admit I'm biased - I have core issues due to long time in the chair and/or car due to work so I need to really stay on top of stretching. Weight lifting doesn't help me out that much.

merlinextraligh

What sort of weight training is your coach advocating? Resistance training is a good thing for your overall fitness and bone density.

But if you're not a track sprinter, its debatable whether it's going to help you be faster on the bike or win races, particularly if it comes at a cost of decreasing time spent on the bike or on the trainer.

Some light upper body, and core is a good idea.

Heavy lifting with your legs off seson may help, but its questionable.

Heavy lifting with your legs on season may well keep you from being able to do as much quality work on the bike, and that work is way more valuable with regard to making you faster.

HAMMER MAN

yes i believe it helps. I have been lifitng for 20 years and riding over 30.

Cactuskid

yeah lifted / ran for 20 years, now riding for 8+

Am older now and not losing weight (am at plateau)- I need to lift some at home for more muscle mass...dumbbell workouts work best at home

bruce19

And the drones don't trigger a terrorist alert?

Edonis13

i used to but havent for several months. i need to start back up again.

Kopsis

I lift 1-2 days a week, mostly compound barbell lifts (deadlift, back squat, bench press, overhead press). Not trying to get any cycling benefits from it -- I just enjoy lifting I do scale back the volume significantly during CX season to help squeeze in enough recovery.

gabedad

I started this off season. In the gym 3 nights a week Dumbell lifts and curls 3 sets each. Pull down machine/ bench press/ leg lifts and leg press plus some other stuff. usually about an hour. I ride my bike on a trainer 2-4 times a week as well

StanSeven

I've debated for years on serious lifting. When I did a lot of research and talked with experts, this is pretty much the conclusion I came to. So it do it just for fitness.

BoJaffa

I lift weights year round. Twice a week during the cycling season and 5 times per week during the off season. A lot of higher rep sets with a moderate amount of weight and not much rest between sets. I believe weight training is beneficial to your body in a lot of ways. Bone density, joint strength and muscle development. All good things.

Bah Humbug

This. Started when I threw out my back picking my girlfriend's bike off the rack 36 hours before my A-race.

italianstallion

I'm in the same boat. I was a golfer before a cyclist, and I lift weights to maintain muscle tone and do core work for the golf swing. If any of that happens to benefit cycling, great. If not, its not going to stop me. But I don't do anything that promotes bulking up.

OldsCOOL

Does powerlifting count?

sced

Who wants to have a cyclist's body! Go ahead, look like a dork.

I do core and upper body exercises and light weights. It makes me more flexible and stronger.