Weight Training Article

[Cassandra_Cain]

Current studies (one study, actually) indicate that this is only true if you are participating in maximum strength and/or power phases of resistance training at the same time as you're working on aerobic endurance. If an athlete is following a periodized resistance training plan, any detriment to aerobic endurance disappears once those two phases of training have been completed.

And I don't have time to find the ref for this, but my understanding is there is only one study that even indicates this might be true. Nothing is black and white, remember?

The only way to NOT be doing strength and endurance training at the same time is if you completely EXCLUDE one or the other. So yes, if the choice is to sit on the couch all winter or lift weights, then weights wins hands down. Then again, anything is better than being sedentary or if one is low fitness, I said that before.

If the choice is lift weights or ride, then I'm going to choose riding.

Many people here live in warm enough climates to ride year-round and even those that don't can have access to trainers. There is no reason you can't ride seriously 12 months/year. Whether they choose to or not, is their preorogative.

Whether you are a coach, athlete, or the fairy godmother, saying strength is important in endurance cycling again and again doesn't make it true. Strength requirements for an endurance cyclist are low, it is basic physics, I repeat, basic physics not magic, or some esoteric study I secretly conducted. Check your powertap files if that's what you need to be convinced. Show me forces are any higher than doing a basic step-up. I have many PT files, i've looked at them, i've studied them, I know the physics and that's how it works. Whether you chose to accept that or not, that's not my issue.

Riding at 300 watts requires no more strength than climbing stairs 2 at a time. So if you feel your core is weak for cycling, where forces are low, then, by that logic, you might as well start doing weights to strengthen your core to bring in the groceries from the car or carry your 2 your old around the mall.

Inducing hypertrophy in a gym means you have to haul that same muscle up any climb. While that extra muscle may improve your 5-second power (NM), that same muscle isn't going to to a darn thing for your FT, improve your vo2 max, or AWC. 5s power may win 200 meter sprints, but it sure as heck won't get you up a long climb.

If somebody rides for fun, to lose weight, for appearance, or for general fitness, raising money for charity, reducing pollution, than lift weights, do pilates, stretch do - whatever you like.

If somebody rides with a goal of being the best, fastest cyclist they can be and win races, then that goal is best realized by training on the bike.

Sorry but I come across more nonsense in this forum than any other when it comes to training methods. I give up, people can believe whatever they want, no matter how ridiculous it is.

[velogirl]

I think anger management might also improve your endurance cycling. Or at least the number of friends you make on a forum like this.

If this forum is full of nonsense, batgirl, why don't you hang out on the wattage forum. They debate the same thing "ad nauseum." Only difference is they have advanced degrees in exercise science an have been successfully training athletes for decades. Oh, and a few of them have written books, like Joe Friel, Andy Coggan, and Hunter Allen.

If I recall from your earlier posts, you started riding in July or August? This year? I'm sure you're a smart girl but I also know you've got a lot to learn. People skills should be at the top of that list.

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Everyone else, forgive me for being blunt, but I get tired of the holier-than-though attitude she imparts on others here.

[velogirl]

Just read the original article, which interestingly enough, was authored by Ric Stern. One of Ric's claims to fame in the cycling science world is that he feels strongly that doing any intensity whatsoever at all during a base period will negate the effects of base training. He semi-retracted that statement about a month ago stating that he felt the same way but that the reasons he stated were wrong.

Of course, the rest of the world has moved onto sweet spot training year round (even Friel now recommends keeping some intensity in your base training to keep your high end fresh).

Wish I could find the article, but I think it was in an email blast and I can't find it on Ric's site.

He's a smart one, but his views are definitely controversial.

[Cassandra_Cain]

Anger management? Instead of just engaging in a charming bit of ad hominem against me, why don't you address what I actually said?

Show me, and everyone else who is reading this, how cycling forces are high and how we therefore need to lift weights. Show us how hypertrophy in the gym is going to get us up a climb faster, boost your vo2 max, and increase your FT.

Friel and Allen are not sports physiologists, they are coaches, and there is a difference.

And since you mentioned Andy Coggan....why don't you ask him what he thinks of weight training in endurance cycling for anybody other than low fitness people.

I already know the answer since the topic has been discussed but please, do ask him and post the response here specifically to what I have shown in italic print.

You may say I engage in some holier than thou attitude, but your attitude here is that since you are a coach and I haven't been riding for 20 years, that my views are irrelevant.