Originally Posted by
asgelle
How does what I do or whether I race or even ride have any bearing on how the body produces power to move a bicycle forward? Without a much more thorough understanding of the OP's situation, I would never make any recommendations. I will say that in almost every case I've seen, the inability to keep up in the final few hundred meters of a race is due to lack of aerobic power. How one goes about increasing aerobic power has been discussed at length, but generally comes down to riding so that the aerobic system is stressed to the point that adaptations occur resulting in increased aerobic capacity.
The only reason I ask is to see if your statements are based on experience or education.
Many people used tried and true methods that work for
them and may not necessarily be accepted by the masses as the norm. For example Mike Metzner's bodybuilding approach - not accepted by many but it worked for him.
Lifting works for me, always has, and my statements are based on my experience and successes. If my lifting allows me to hit that instantaneous 2000w that gives me the jump I need then all the hours spent in the gym in addition to my road riding and intervals is worth it. There is a reason that Chris Hoy spends as much time as he does in the gym - it works for him.