Tel me.. do you lift weights or not?
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 304
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Tel me.. do you lift weights or not?
Perhaps I've told you that I've started a weight lifting routine about 6 weeks ago and have finally settled on a number of exercises that work muscle groups in upper body and legs with some free weights (bars for squat & bench press & dumbbells triceps) , a few machines (seated leg curl) and some abdomen/back exercises (back extensions/ab crunch).
Totally unrelated to this, I'm doing 2-3 spinning lessons each week after which we stretch. Probably because of the stretching, I pulled a small muscle in the heel...
When I told about it to a guy who's a coach for young road racers.. he said that weight lifting was totally nonsense for women like me who are long-distance cyclists...
So, I would like to know whether YOU lift weights and also what kind of riding you do.. does it benefit your cycling as well or do you do it for general strength?
As for me, I do the leg exercises for strength in cycling, but the upper body exercises are done because I hope that more muscle will cause me to shed fat faster.. after all more muscle means more fat to burn..
Apparently he was thinking of the scrawny upper bodies of a typical cyclist.. i heard that Armstrong used to be TOO muscular up above.. only after his disease he was scrawny enough in his upper body to compete...
Ivana
Totally unrelated to this, I'm doing 2-3 spinning lessons each week after which we stretch. Probably because of the stretching, I pulled a small muscle in the heel...
When I told about it to a guy who's a coach for young road racers.. he said that weight lifting was totally nonsense for women like me who are long-distance cyclists...
So, I would like to know whether YOU lift weights and also what kind of riding you do.. does it benefit your cycling as well or do you do it for general strength?
As for me, I do the leg exercises for strength in cycling, but the upper body exercises are done because I hope that more muscle will cause me to shed fat faster.. after all more muscle means more fat to burn..
Apparently he was thinking of the scrawny upper bodies of a typical cyclist.. i heard that Armstrong used to be TOO muscular up above.. only after his disease he was scrawny enough in his upper body to compete...
Ivana
#2
human
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: living in the moment
Posts: 3,562
Bikes: 2005 Litespeed Teramo, 2000 Marinoni Leggero, 2001 Kona Major Jake (with Campy Centaur), 1997 Specialized S-Works M2, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Yep. I do a number of weight routines to strengthen my uppter body, particularly my back and shoulders. Where does it help? On climbs and sprints...
__________________
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
when walking, just walk. when sitting, just sit. when riding, just ride. above all, don't wobble.
The Irregular Cycling Club of Montreal
Cycling irregularly since 2002
#3
The Flying Scot
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: North Queensferry Scotland and London (and France)
Posts: 1,904
Bikes: Custom (Colin Laing) 531c fast tourer/audax, 1964 Flying Scot Continental, 1995 Cinelli Supercorsa, Holdsworth Mistral single speed, Dahon Speed 6 (folder), Micmo Sirocco and a few more
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I used to lift some weights but I'm a bit of a skinny b anyway (I've shown photo's of me in a kilt in another thread!) and it was really just a way to tone my chest and upperbody. I use the bike for leg and cardiovascular fitness.
__________________
plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens
1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
1995 Cinelli Supercorsa (Columbus SLX)
1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
2005 Dahon Speed 6 (folder)
(YES I LIKE STEEL)
2008 Viking Saratoga tandem
2008 Micmo Sirocco Hybrid (aluminium!)
2012 BTwin Rockrider 8.1
plus je vois les hommes, plus j'admire les chiens
1985 Sandy Gilchrist-Colin Laing built 531c Audax/fast tourer.
1964 Flying Scot Continental (531)
1995 Cinelli Supercorsa (Columbus SLX)
1980s Holdsworth Mistral fixed (531)
2005 Dahon Speed 6 (folder)
(YES I LIKE STEEL)
2008 Viking Saratoga tandem
2008 Micmo Sirocco Hybrid (aluminium!)
2012 BTwin Rockrider 8.1
#4
The Female Enduro
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Pennsylvania, United States of America
Posts: 1,183
Mentioned: 24 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I lift weights, & I'm a female road racer (track, too, but I concentrate on the endurance events there, also).
Leg exercises help me with sprinting & climbing where raw power is needed.
The upper body exercises have helped me a lot with being comfortable on the bike for long distances. This is especially important for women, because we're naturally weaker up top. Before I started lifting, I suffered from a sore back, shoulders, and arms. That discomfort has totally gone away now & I'm free to ride until my legs give out on me.
About Lance. I'm almost positive he does some kind of weight lifting during the off season if not during the season, too.
velo
(Hey, good choices on exercises! A lot like my program.)
Leg exercises help me with sprinting & climbing where raw power is needed.
The upper body exercises have helped me a lot with being comfortable on the bike for long distances. This is especially important for women, because we're naturally weaker up top. Before I started lifting, I suffered from a sore back, shoulders, and arms. That discomfort has totally gone away now & I'm free to ride until my legs give out on me.
About Lance. I'm almost positive he does some kind of weight lifting during the off season if not during the season, too.
velo
(Hey, good choices on exercises! A lot like my program.)
#5
Sumanitu taka owaci
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 8,945
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Originally posted by fietser_ivana
...scrawny upper bodies of a typical cyclist..
...scrawny upper bodies of a typical cyclist..
You don't have to be muscle-bound, but adding strength is smart.
__________________
No worries
No worries
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 74
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I started using Friel's Training Bible to plan my work outs this year, and weight training is part of the schedule. After about eight weeks, my riding partners say they see a difference in my riding. -- For women, Friel actually recommends weight training both in and off season (with different loads, reps, etc. at different periods of the year), so I'm going to give that a try this year. -- I would suggest that, if you're going to weight train, that you find a plan that is specific for cyclists.
#7
work-in-progress
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Where am I?
Posts: 21
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Also, weight training can help strengthen the core muscles of the torso that some tend to neglect in favor of arm and leg work.
Also also, I second the comment that weight training becomes more important as we get older, since the body, left to its own devices, tends to lose muscle as it ages. Weight training counteracts that tendency.
--JJ
Also also, I second the comment that weight training becomes more important as we get older, since the body, left to its own devices, tends to lose muscle as it ages. Weight training counteracts that tendency.
--JJ
#8
It's only a hill.
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Berlin
Posts: 236
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Every cycling training book worth its salt will tell you to supplement your cycling with 2-3 workouts per week doing weights. This is more so in the off-season when you can't get out and ride due to crappy weather. During the race season however, from April to September/October (depending on where you live), weight training is perhaps carried out only once a week at the most. The rest of the time you should be out riding .
Weight lifting is definitely not nonsense, it should be part of your training plan. Just don't get too regimented into a plan though, try to keep it flexible. If the weather is good - ride, if it is crap then do weights or spin, whether you do endurance or not. Cyclists are not trying to be Champion body-builders, they just strengthen what they have already got to make it more efficient.
So carry on what you are doing, especially with lower weights/higher reps during the off-season and gently increase the weights and lower the reps during the season.
Weight lifting is definitely not nonsense, it should be part of your training plan. Just don't get too regimented into a plan though, try to keep it flexible. If the weather is good - ride, if it is crap then do weights or spin, whether you do endurance or not. Cyclists are not trying to be Champion body-builders, they just strengthen what they have already got to make it more efficient.
So carry on what you are doing, especially with lower weights/higher reps during the off-season and gently increase the weights and lower the reps during the season.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Spokane WA
Posts: 1,148
Bikes: Seven Axiom Ti, Trek 620, Masi cylocross (steel). Masi Souleville 8spd, Fat Chance Mtn. (steel), Schwinn Triple Bar cruiser, Mazi Speciale Fix/single, Schwinn Typhoon
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Where did that guy learn to coach?
Lifting is VERY important for ANY serious cylcist, not only to improve performance but to PREVENT injuries that occur from muscle imbalance and other reasons. The most important areas to work to alleviate muscle imbalance are: hamstings, front of neck, abdomen and inside quad head.
I lift and should lift more than I do.
Ride Stronger
Pat
Lifting is VERY important for ANY serious cylcist, not only to improve performance but to PREVENT injuries that occur from muscle imbalance and other reasons. The most important areas to work to alleviate muscle imbalance are: hamstings, front of neck, abdomen and inside quad head.
I lift and should lift more than I do.
Ride Stronger
Pat
Last edited by pat5319; 03-05-02 at 02:02 AM.
#10
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 304
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Originally posted by pat5319
Where did that guy learn to coach?
Lifting is VERY important for ANY serious cylcist, not only to improve performance but to PREVENT injuries that occur from muscle imbalance and other reasons. I lift and should lift more than I do.
Ride Stronger
Pat
Where did that guy learn to coach?
Lifting is VERY important for ANY serious cylcist, not only to improve performance but to PREVENT injuries that occur from muscle imbalance and other reasons. I lift and should lift more than I do.
Ride Stronger
Pat
He wrote to me that they vehemently oppose to young people training with weights as there ligaments weren't up to it..
Since 11 days I have a severe foot pain because I tore (?) a ligament when I overstretched after a spinning class.
He says it wasn't the stretching, but the weight lifting.. I'm convinced it's the stretching that caused it..
However, after the initial muscle pain, I'm now experiencing joint/ligament pain.. it seems that my muscles are big enough, but I'm a small-framed person with very small hands/feet, who's quite obese as well!
My muscles can pull/push large weights (at least, compared to other women in the gym), but my ligaments now complain too much.. so much that it almost (i say almost not completely) scares me enough to stop the strength training..
At least, that's what I would do if I'd be listening to that coach!
My weight lifting buddies tell me that I'll just need to take it easy in order to adapt until I have stronger ligaments/joints..
Do you have joint/ligament pain as well, rather than muscle pain?
Ivana
#11
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Boise, Idaho
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I almost started lifting weights, but decided to do some power and lactate tests before hand. Mostly as a reference, to see how much work I needed. I did the same test Joe Friel recommends, which is a 30 second pull on a computrainer on a 3% grade. According to Friel's chart, any peak power above 950 is excellent, and avg power for the 30secs over 700 is excellent. I scorred 1043/770 respectively. So I decided to not lift weights, and instead put all my efforts into aerobic fitness (base, base, and more base). In 2 months I increased my aerobic fitness by 11%, lost 5 lbs (170 now, I'm 6'3"), and managed to keep my peak power close to what it was before 1014/730 respectively.
So I'm happy with the results, but I'm curisous if others think I'm foolish for not lifting.
So I'm happy with the results, but I'm curisous if others think I'm foolish for not lifting.
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: eastern pennsylvania
Posts: 73
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I do lift weights. I do it to help my riding... but I'm not all that scientific in my approach or reasoning.
I have seriously cycled and lifted since high school, and I am 41 now. During the late 70's I was told ( by Davis Phinney and Nelson Vales) that weight training should be a part of your training regimine. I only lift to strengthen my upper body, and let cycling work my legs... although I have been known to throw in a few sets of squats once in a while. I keep my weight workouts to about 30 min., 4 days a week, while I ride everyday, if I can.
Yes, I think lifting is a good idea... but not for any scientific reasoning, I just ride. It makes sense to me, that a stronger upper body will greatly assist the legs in cycling.
I have seriously cycled and lifted since high school, and I am 41 now. During the late 70's I was told ( by Davis Phinney and Nelson Vales) that weight training should be a part of your training regimine. I only lift to strengthen my upper body, and let cycling work my legs... although I have been known to throw in a few sets of squats once in a while. I keep my weight workouts to about 30 min., 4 days a week, while I ride everyday, if I can.
Yes, I think lifting is a good idea... but not for any scientific reasoning, I just ride. It makes sense to me, that a stronger upper body will greatly assist the legs in cycling.
#13
cycle-powered
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Munich Germany (formerly Portland OR, Texas)
Posts: 1,848
Bikes: '02 Specialized FSR, '03 RM Slayer, '99 Raleigh R700, '97 Norco hartail, '89 Stumpjumper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
When I told about it to a guy who's a coach for young road racers.. he said that weight lifting was totally nonsense for women like me who are long-distance cyclists...
yes, it's true that for Road Racing you don't want to add any upper body *bulk* b/c this creates extra wind resistance (wider shouders) and extra weight to push with your legs --- for MTB this is not true or very much less so since upper body strength is very important for bike handling
strength training for the legs is important for competitive cycling... i'm not an expert here, but the way i know it is train hard on the weights during the off season in the winter and then just do maintenance stuff maybe once a week when you're riding a lot -- weights break down the muscles and it takes about 2 days to build back up, so obviuosly you can't do heavy leg workouts 3 days a week AND ride too... you'll be continually tearing down the muscles and they'll never rebuild and grow
as someone also said, some basic strenght training for the upper body is a good idea to fight fatique on the bike and prevent back problems - strong muscles make it easy on joints
as far as Lance is concerned::: after his cancer where he lost so much weight from kemo treatment he rebuilt with much less *mass* (he started as a triathlete with lots of upper body strength) -- so after the cancer he rebuilt with a still strong but much smaller upper body so he has less weight to pull all those miles - imagine taking an extra 15 lbs off the weight of your bike!!! ---- if you're just doing some basic upper body stuff you shouldn't bulk up too much, especially as a female...
Probably because of the stretching, I pulled a small muscle in the heel...
the streching *after* spinning also sounds like a good thing
sounds to me like you're doing about the right things::
** do heavy leg workouts in the off season 2 times a week
** do lighter weight, higher rep leg workouts 1-2 times a week during the riding season
** do your allround/upper body workout all year, maybe once a week or twice a week if you have time
** also make sure you're doing interval training, sprints and hills rather than just lots of miles --- training intensity is very important
#14
feros ferio
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: www.ci.encinitas.ca.us
Posts: 21,809
Bikes: 1959 Capo Modell Campagnolo; 1960 Capo Sieger (2); 1962 Carlton Franco Suisse; 1970 Peugeot UO-8; 1982 Bianchi Campione d'Italia; 1988 Schwinn Project KOM-10;
Mentioned: 44 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1395 Post(s)
Liked 1,336 Times
in
842 Posts
I do weight training to fight osteoporosis, to decrease the chance of injury in a fall, and to build up, or at least preserve, what little upper body strength I have. I focus on arms, shoulders, and abs, plus the inner quads, for kneecap stabilization.
__________________
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
"Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." --Theodore Roosevelt
Capo: 1959 Modell Campagnolo, S/N 40324; 1960 Sieger (2), S/N 42624, 42597
Carlton: 1962 Franco Suisse, S/N K7911
Peugeot: 1970 UO-8, S/N 0010468
Bianchi: 1982 Campione d'Italia, S/N 1.M9914
Schwinn: 1988 Project KOM-10, S/N F804069
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Gillett PA, up in the Northeast corner
Posts: 53
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I lift moderately with free weights, mostly dumbells,
with 20lb weights I do a circuit set like this
30 upright flys which go straight into
30 tricep extensions which go straight into
30 curls and then rest and do the circuit again.
Lately I have taken to more heavy weights, 35lb dumbells but working on the curls more with that weight, sets of 18 and then a cool down with some 25lb weights and then the 20lbs to finish off.
While at work, when I'm waiting on a long report I run each morning, I bring two chairs at angles to each other and let my body sink between the two and do a set of 40 dips between the chairs, letting my legs lay behind me limp and not assisting the dips, really works the triceps and chest! I try to do two or three sets of those through out the day, get some strange looks from people walking by but I tell them, I can either stand there with a donut waiting on the printer or do this! I chose doing the dips, fast and gives a great workout. I don't have a gym close by so I make do with what I can.
In the mornings before getting out of bed, I do a set of 200 crunches and 50 leg raises, makes the wife smile but I don't really care, the bed makes it a little easier on my back to do the crunches.
G2
with 20lb weights I do a circuit set like this
30 upright flys which go straight into
30 tricep extensions which go straight into
30 curls and then rest and do the circuit again.
Lately I have taken to more heavy weights, 35lb dumbells but working on the curls more with that weight, sets of 18 and then a cool down with some 25lb weights and then the 20lbs to finish off.
While at work, when I'm waiting on a long report I run each morning, I bring two chairs at angles to each other and let my body sink between the two and do a set of 40 dips between the chairs, letting my legs lay behind me limp and not assisting the dips, really works the triceps and chest! I try to do two or three sets of those through out the day, get some strange looks from people walking by but I tell them, I can either stand there with a donut waiting on the printer or do this! I chose doing the dips, fast and gives a great workout. I don't have a gym close by so I make do with what I can.
In the mornings before getting out of bed, I do a set of 200 crunches and 50 leg raises, makes the wife smile but I don't really care, the bed makes it a little easier on my back to do the crunches.
G2
#16
cycle-powered
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Munich Germany (formerly Portland OR, Texas)
Posts: 1,848
Bikes: '02 Specialized FSR, '03 RM Slayer, '99 Raleigh R700, '97 Norco hartail, '89 Stumpjumper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
hey Gary,
i haven't flown much recently, but i developed a whole routine for dips and push-ups and such for AIRPORT workouts - when you have to wait 1-3 hours for a layover or delay - the people look at me like i'm a freak, but it's great training and also particularly good b/C sitting on a plane is so lethargic and hard for the back sitting still so long, etc...
never tried it in the office - but then when i'm not travelling i'm in the fitness studio 1-3 times per week so it's not so necessary
i haven't flown much recently, but i developed a whole routine for dips and push-ups and such for AIRPORT workouts - when you have to wait 1-3 hours for a layover or delay - the people look at me like i'm a freak, but it's great training and also particularly good b/C sitting on a plane is so lethargic and hard for the back sitting still so long, etc...
never tried it in the office - but then when i'm not travelling i'm in the fitness studio 1-3 times per week so it's not so necessary
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Gillett PA, up in the Northeast corner
Posts: 53
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Glad to hear I'm not alone in this!
Yes I get the strange looks but I hope it encourages them to take some initiative and get into shape, I know of a few people at work that are now trying to exercise some more.
Raining today, and COLD here, so I'll miss my lunch ride!
G2
Yes I get the strange looks but I hope it encourages them to take some initiative and get into shape, I know of a few people at work that are now trying to exercise some more.
Raining today, and COLD here, so I'll miss my lunch ride!
G2
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: I like tacos
Posts: 76
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I'm a weekend rider, and I lift weights during the week to supplement my riding. I do a four day split:
Day one: chest/triceps
Day two: legs (always giving a day rest after my weekend riding)
Day three: back/biceps
Day four: shoulders/traps
I also try to throw abs in there twice a week.
Day one: chest/triceps
Day two: legs (always giving a day rest after my weekend riding)
Day three: back/biceps
Day four: shoulders/traps
I also try to throw abs in there twice a week.