Cross training for cyclists?
 

Just wondering how many of you cross train with running and how often. I am not interested in tri or anything, just want to see if you are seeing any benefits of doing that. At present, I run between 3-5 miles once a week or so, and pretty much ride 5-6 days per wee. Every time after I run, I feel my legs are dead, and I almost have to take the subsequent ride as recovery ride. So besides the conditioning benefit in general, I am not sure if running is really helping me as a cyclist.

BTW, I am not training to race or anything, just like to go faster and ride harder.

if you're looking for general fitness, cross train.

if you want to ride faster and harder train faster and harder.

Yes, yes and yes. Cross training in any other physical capacity will always increase your ability in another. They are all mutually beneficial. I'd also look into strength training for your core and legs, as well.

you must realize there are studies that disprove all of that, yes?

I am a runner. I honestly feel the cross training for tri's, particularly the cycling, has helped me with my running. I have posted faster running times with less training miles running, than before I started biking and swimming.

You know, rereading the OP's original question of if cross training benefits him exclusively as a cyclist, I will take my comment back. Although I do stand adamant that cross-training in multiple fitness realms adds value to the healthiness of an individual overall vs. strictly cycling.

Maybe your faster running times were because you were doing fewer but better focused running training miles and not because of the added swimming/cycling. Maybe you could have worked out a different running training plan (no swimming/cycling) and have even better running times than you have now.

I don't doubt that you are now a faster runner, but your single anecdotal results provide very little, if any, proof that cross-training made you a faster runner.

I do some leg plyometrics...which I think is beneficial for riding. Jumping, foot sprinting, running up stairs.

This.

If you are riding 5-6 days per week then running an additional day will not improve your cycling.

I would put emphasis on "in multiple fitness realms." Running and cycling are not multiple fitness realms. Cycling and strength training for your legs are, but there are many studies showing that trying to cross-train the same muscle group for strength and endurance at the same time is very tricky and potentially futile (there is a substantial risk of "interference" where different types of training inhibit each other).

The best and safest kind of cross training is endurance cycling and core & upper body strength training.

I cut grass, it doesn't make me any faster. :o

and there are no indications that having a stronger core makes you a faster cyclist. in fact in recent studies regarding weight lifting and cyclists (with the exception of track sprint specialists) indications are that at best it doesn't hurt (ones cycling) and at worst it actually makes one slower.

That's a question of priorities. Having a stronger core and upper body makes you a healthier person.

hahahahahaha

that's seems irrelevant to the question. the OP's question appears to be 'how to improve as a cyclist.'

Is it possible to improve as a cyclist without getting faster?

Yes. For some people improving means being able to ride further and couldn't care less about speed.

all of it goes back to my first post and ascertaining the OP's goals.

For me, I am mostly interested in improving my average speed over any given ride, regardless of distance. I started running a couple of years ago thinking the cross training may help (and it's also a lot easier when traveling). I mostly just jog at 8 min-mile pace for 3-5 miles but can certainly go further and run harder. So far, I haven't seen any improvement in my cycling performance, and in fact, the day after I run, some of my leg muscles are so tired that I feel like they are impeding my riding.

you are more patient than I. I got frustrated just reading the above posts.

gsteinb knows what he is talking about.

Here we go again - same old argument.

Ask any professional cycling coach (you know - people who have actually trained people to actually win huge races) - and they swear by core-strength training and cross-training.

For just one example - read this book:
http://www.coach-hughes.com/text/book.html

Add to that - my personal experience tells me that they are right.

yeah, umm no. They suggest it in the off season to help balance muscle groups in order to stave off injury and prevent boredom. Actual science suggests that in many applications, weight lifting, to take one example, actually makes you slower. Which in the winter tends not to matter to guys because they're building a fitness base.

Again, it depends on what one's goals and baseline fitness are. If you're looking to get faster during the cycling season weight lifting isn't going to do it. Running isn't going to do it. If you're looking for overall physical fitness any number of things will accomplish that.

Again, gsteinb is correct. He's the only person here that consistently is right and knows what he is talking about.

You are wrong! This is the internetz... Everyone is 100% right about everything!

I'm primarily a triathlete, but during the Fall and Winter I stopped nearly all my cross-training and started cycling hard exclusively. Guess what happened? My FTP jumped 50 watts and I started riding Cat 2s off my wheel in group rides. Now I'm back to tri training and getting my ass kicked by the 3s in the local hammerfest.

If you want to ride better, you need to ride more and skip all the extra crap.