Quote Originally Posted by bluebug32 View Post
I agree. Sometimes a break is what's needed most to keep your head clear and your mind strong for conquering the hills in the spring.

But, in the meantime, do you think squats and other leg exercises are a good primer for strength in the spring? I'm thinking of testing this theory this winter.
Absolutely. You can vary your stance for squats to hit different areas. Keep your feet closer together to hit the outer glutes & quads. Wide stance with toes out will hit the inner thighs (squeeze on the way up.) The lower you go the more you hit your glutes but be sure to keep a normal curve in your lower back. If you don't have a lot of flexibility, you might need to keep your squats shallow for awhile.

Low reps with weights build more strength (4-8 reps). Higher reps (12-20) will build endurance. Do both.

Lunges are good too. You can do stationary or walking. Steps ups are great for quads & glutes.