Strength Training & Cycling

I hope this is the right place to post? I used to do strength training 5 days a week and little cardio. Then, I found the bike and I have been in love ever since. I stopped doing strength training and focused on learning to ride over this past summer. I know I shouldn't have stopped, but I just couldn't fit it into my routine and day. SO, with that said, do you strength train? If so, how often? Do you do certain body parts (I used to do chest, tri, shoulders on one day and the back, bi, abs on the next, legs on both days just different parts). How often do you ride when you are not training for an event? Before the cold, I rode about 4 days a week at 45 mins/day. I also should mention I have a 2.5 year old and I like to be with him when I can. This post is certainly rambling. Any info would be greatly appreciated! THANKS! Mistie

I do weight training as well, but I must admit that I do my training in periods, with more weight training in the autumn and winter and less in the spring and summer. I do all sorts of training, skiing, weights, running, swimming, cycling and triathlon and I enjoy mountaineering, so in order to manage them all I focus on different training every season. Spring is running, road cycling and telemark skiing, summer is triathlons, running, mountaineering/glaciering, cycling and open water swimming, autumn is mountain biking, running, some mountaineering and weights, winter is running, skiing (classic, skating, touring and back country) and spinning.

I have both tried a split like the one you mention, but right now I follow a full body workout. For me the most important part for progress is to be systematic and actually follow it up. The most striking effect of weights is that I tend to have fewer running injuries when I'm quite strong.

Good Morning,
I am also a tri girl. I stopped lifting two years ago when I was training really hard, and ended up with a running injury. Ten month and two rounds of PT later, I am lifting again and I now realize that it will be part of my training routine for life.

I am currently doing two full body workouts a week, with some shorter core workouts bewteen. I do them on the days I run. Monday is usually a particularly grueling circut day with bouts of very high intensity cardio between sets and then I finish at the end with a run to cool down.

If I would suggest, that you maybe cut your distance back twice a week and then fit in the lift, or lift in the am if possible and ride in the pm.

In the long run, I believe from the bottom of my ITB that you will be healthier and less injury prone if you keep it in the routine, especially because cycling does not work all the muscles inthe hips and glutes and can lead to weaknesses in those areas.

Good Luck,
Ruth