Originally Posted by Carbonfiberboy

I've kept up with that thread. There are a zillion different workouts on the web, some with heavies behind them, making various claims for them. What I don't see and would like to, is a long-term analysis of FTP watts/kg vs. lifting plan followed and vs. no weights. What really works? A few years ago, I got strong enough to drop all the usual suspects on long climbs, and I'm no climber. I was doing Friel workouts, 3 X 30, circuits. Anymore, I'm pooped after a 1 X 30 these days and just don't have the energy to go around again. These are weights chosen to be just below failure, same weights each round. Maybe I should ask this over there, but I'm intimidated. The only proof over there is the tweet about improving sprinting performance at the end of a road ride. Well, heck yes! No argument there.

You've probably seen me quote this study:
http://www.sportsci.org/jour/04/cdp.doc

I'm more of a sprinter, so I started doing weights after riding or spin class, on the theory of specificity and leaving nothing on the road. I think that worked. Then I came across this a while back:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21836044
so that's what I still do. I never fail to be amazed at being able to do the same weights after a 1-2 hour ride as if I hadn't been out and had just warmed up a little. Different energy systems is my explanation.