bluefoxicy

I'm trying to do the push-ups thing and finding that after days I should be recovering, I can do fewer push-ups instead of more.

Is riding my bike wearing down my arms somehow?

OldsCOOL

Depends on the bike fit. But I can say that today, even after a little 53miler my triceps are tired. I used to bench press year round and in those powerlifting days I couldnt deal with biking. My tri's just screamed at me the whole way.

PatW

Well, look at the top level cyclists. Most of those guys do not have any upper bodies. There is a reason for that. You don't use your upper body much in cycling and every pound is weight that you will need to lug up a mountain pass while trying to beat a guy who looks like an anorexic mountain goat.

So if you get rid out your excess weight and ride hard, your upper body will decline.

Now the vast majority of cyclists are not going to try or need to climb with a elite climber. So, if you want tone and some mass in your upper body, you can use some moderate weight lifting to keep that side up. Having some upper body may hurt your climbing some but it is nice to be able to lift a full milk jug.

Jaguarundi

If the reach on your bike is right for you there should be a very small percentage of your weight on your arms. If your arms are taking more of the load it could be that your saddle or handlebars aren't properly adjusted or that your frame doesn't fit.

beezaur

I lost a bunch of weight a while ago, and had a hard time keeping my muscle mass. Your body will break down muscle for consumption if you don't take in enough calories.

What I did was kept up my lifting and made sure I was taking in enough protein (at least 0.6 g per lb of body weight, more like 0.8 g/lb is better).

If that is what is happening to you, it isn't the bike riding that is wearing down your arms, it is burning too many calories.

dolanp

All roads of energy conversion lead to ATP for muscle contraction. If your glycogen stores are low from a bike ride then this will affect your ability to supply muscles with energy elsewhere to some degree.