Originally Posted by
Carbon Unit
I would start by cutting your works outs to 3 days per week and do a maintenance type of workout with higher reps and lower weight.
This is good advice, I definitely need to stay with higher reps. The problem is I have that "go heavy, get big" mentality and I end up lifting in the 5-8 rep range for a lot of exercises. So I need to break that mentality, which is the tough part.
Originally Posted by
joe_5700
...and you want to bike more?
Yep! That's the dilemma!
Originally Posted by
celticfrost
Ride a bunch and don't worry about it. Even at 6'5" and ~200, you'll still feel like a lard ass after watching some dudes built like Kate Moss fly by you on the climbs.
Don't worry, I'm used to that!
I did a hilly century with my brother-in-law last year and we are both in comparable shape. However, he was pretty easily outpacing me on the climbs. He is only 2" shorter than me but 45 lbs lighter. I do well when we mountain bike on short, steep, powerful climbs and moderate distance climbs, but long distance road climbs I really fall back on. I love climbing though, good or bad.
Originally Posted by
Lanterne Rogue
Two things:
1. If you don't want to race, then there's no reason to care much about your weight for cycling. Even if you dropped your weightlifting bulk, you'd still be 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds -- a monster compared to all the featherweights who'd crush you in a race anyway. So ride a bike for fun, or fitness, or both, but not for racing.
2. When I finally gave up on a big bench, I switched to kettlebells, which build endurance and explosive strength. Big pecs never helped me for much outside the weight room; wiry strength from kettlebells helps with just about every sport I try, including riding a bike.
Yep, I know I'll get crushed, so I have no hopes on racing and winning. I just want to get out on the bike more, get in better cycling shape and not worry about "oh, if I bike today I will have to skip my chest/arms workout" (sounds so dumb doesn't it?)
I have been looking into kettlebells. They seem like a good functional strength workout. I'll have to check out the kettlebell class at my gym and look at some videos online to get started.
Thanks for the advice so far everyone.