Originally Posted by LifeIsSuffering

This should be filed under Pandora's box.

There will always be two opposing sides in this debate.

Always.

And the truth, as I see it, is both sides are right.

Some people respond better with weight work.

Others respond better without.

Personally, I'm in the former group. My preference is sprinting, so that has alot to do with it.

Some tips:

1) be careful on leg extensions; they place a great deal of shearing forces on the knee and the only movement they replicate is that of kicking

2) trainers are like people in any other profession: some are good, some not so good, and some should be castrated; do NOT be afraid to raise doubts and do some research on your own

3) old school can often be the best school; the push up, chin up, pull up, and dips are still some of the best type of training out there for strength to weight events; avoid the traditional sit up as it places an unholy amount of stress on your lower back (we get enough of that in the saddle)

4) ANY and I do mean ANY program is only effective UNTIL you adapt. This varies with each person. Generally speaking, you want to change some aspect of your routine every two to three weeks.

5) Most people who diss weights follow the bodybuilding protocol - which is rarely conducive to an athlete.

6) Most people who diss weights use a combination of too much weight/bad technique/wrong exercise selection for their particular needs

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I use weights for the following reasons:

1) to gain power - which, with correct neural-adaptive work, translates into faster speed; this transition stage is where most trainees AND trainers drop the ball (the endurance and power endurance work is done on the bike)

2) prehab to work on areas which have the potential for injury

3) isolation work to train around injuries or areas that are very close to that fine line (as a matter of fact, I'm going to hit the gym after this post to work my hamstrings, hip flexors, abductors/adductors, rectus femoris ALL IN SUCH A MANNER THAT MY PATELAR TENDON GETS A DAY OFF)

4) overall health and well being

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To the OP: there's nothing wrong with your question but it's simply too open-ended; how about you focus your line of questioning (ie certain exercises, rep scheme, etc)