Originally Posted by countryrider
Strength training properly can help you develop lean muscle mass thus increasing power,
only increases in peak power output (i.e., 5-sec sprint efforts)
You just have to do things right. Strength training can also help you avoid injury.
i've been coaching professionally since 98, and from 90 voluntarily. i've yet to meet a cyclists who has such an injury that strength training would have prevented. the only injuries i see in cyclists are from crashes etc.
When used correctly in conjunction, weight training first then cardio, can help you burn more calories translating into more lost weight if you are following a meal plan.
alternatively, you'd expend way more energy by cycling for longer and replacing your weight training time with cycling.
Strength training doesn't always encompass gaining massive muscles the football player way. It encompasses weight lifting of all types including women's toning exercises.
if there's no increase in muscle cross sectional area then no transfer to other modalities take place, except in low-fitness groups, in which case *any* exercise is good exercise.
ric