Muscle size vs aerobic: opinions?????

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Bob the Builder

Guys,

Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling?? I do quite a lot
of weight training but love aerobic too. I can bench press 120kg and squat
about 150kg for ten reps. I am quite lean too - 35-36 inch waist and 16
stone 10 at six feet three. However, despite my leg strength I am
absolutely f**king useless at climbing and seriously suffer on rides longer
than three hours - irrespective of what carb drinks I carry. Sure I can get
up the hills eventually, however the gains I can make whilst on the flat are
decimated on the climbs. I accept that I will never excel at climbing (and
if it means being a match stick like Pantani then I don't want to!!). Do
any other big guys have this muscle vs aerobic quandry? There is still part
of me from my rubgy playing days (I was a prop) that makes me want to hang
onto the muscle. Anyone think likewise about their shape?

My idea for the New Year is to rip up a bit and drop three stone - shed some
of the muscle size and most of the body fat. That should still leave me
with some muscularity but a bit trimmer with it. Hopefully that should
improve my endurance after a few hours and help my climbing. What do you
reckon?

Thanks,
Bob

Happy New Year to all of you.

MSeries

Bob the Builder wrote:
> Guys,
>
> Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling?? I do quite a lot
> of weight training but love aerobic too. I can bench press 120kg and squat
> about 150kg for ten reps. I am quite lean too - 35-36 inch waist and 16
> stone 10 at six feet three. However, despite my leg strength I am
> absolutely f**king useless at climbing and seriously suffer on rides longer
> than three hours - irrespective of what carb drinks I carry. Sure I can get
> up the hills eventually, however the gains I can make whilst on the flat are
> decimated on the climbs. I accept that I will never excel at climbing (and
> if it means being a match stick like Pantani then I don't want to!!). Do
> any other big guys have this muscle vs aerobic quandry? There is still part
> of me from my rubgy playing days (I was a prop) that makes me want to hang
> onto the muscle. Anyone think likewise about their shape?
>

> My idea for the New Year is to rip up a bit and drop three stone - shed some
> of the muscle size and most of the body fat. That should still leave me
> with some muscularity but a bit trimmer with it. Hopefully that should
> improve my endurance after a few hours and help my climbing. What do you
> reckon?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
>
> Happy New Year to all of you.
>
>

I am 6 feet 2 inches tall and weigh less than 11.5 stones, age 39. I am
not a climber but do pretty well, better than I used to before I lost
three stones. I can ride for ever in all terrain, not particularly fast
though, average audax speed, but I have not trained for speed.

Losing weight will almost certainly help you ride further, longer and
uphill faster. You need to build up to long rides though, learn what
and when you need to eat and drink. Just ride lots.

James Annan

Tony Raven

Bob the Builder wrote:
> Guys,
>
> Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling??

I refer the honourable gentleman to the answers given before:
http://tinyurl.com/4pymd

Tony

Bob the Builder

I have asked questions about "overweightness" and climbing though it's very
difficult to understand cycling requirements and pyhsique types to someone
less experienced at cycling like myself. I think I am starting to get the
message - leaness is king!

I am much more muscular than Mathew Pinsent - much more leg mass and a lot
more in the chest and arms - though I am sure that he would blow me away on
a bike as well!! . I would have thought the leg strength would gave
translated into cycling quite well; however, I now realise that it does
nothing of the sort. Thats why I seek the wisdom of the more experienced.

Happy New Year,
Bob

"James Annan" <still_the_same_me@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:33bi80F3snls9U1@individual.net...
> Bob the Builder wrote:
>
>> Guys,
>>
>> Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling?? I do quite a
>> lot of weight training but love aerobic too. I can bench press 120kg and
>> squat about 150kg for ten reps. I am quite lean too - 35-36 inch waist
>> and 16 stone 10 at six feet three.
>
> Lean? LEAN?!
>
> No doubt you think that Matt Pinsent is positively skinny, since he is a
> full stone lighter than you at the same height.
>
>> My idea for the New Year is to rip up a bit and drop three stone - shed
>> some of the muscle size and most of the body fat. That should still
>> leave me with some muscularity but a bit trimmer with it. Hopefully that
>> should improve my endurance after a few hours and help my climbing. What
>> do you reckon?
>
> Yes, losing 3 stone would be a good start. Haven't you posted this before?
>
> James
> --
> If I have seen further than others, it is
> by treading on the toes of giants.
> http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

Bob the Builder

Hmmm,
Frustration with my days performance can lead to my repetition. My
apologies. So just lose some muscle mass and weight.
I'll do so and report back.
Best regards and happy New Year.
Bob

"Tony Raven" <junk@raven-family.com> wrote in message
news:33biuhF3uc1b9U1@individual.net...
> Bob the Builder wrote:
>> Guys,
>>
>> Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling??
>
> I refer the honourable gentleman to the answers given before:
> http://tinyurl.com/4pymd
>
> Tony

James Annan

Bob the Builder wrote:

> I have asked questions about "overweightness" and climbing though it's very
> difficult to understand cycling requirements and pyhsique types to someone
> less experienced at cycling like myself. I think I am starting to get the
> message - leaness is king!
>
> I am much more muscular than Mathew Pinsent - much more leg mass and a lot
> more in the chest and arms - though I am sure that he would blow me away on
> a bike as well!! . I would have thought the leg strength would gave
> translated into cycling quite well; however, I now realise that it does
> nothing of the sort. Thats why I seek the wisdom of the more experienced.

Some strength is necessary, but (sustained NOT peak) power to weight
ratio is what really counts. If you are already quite fit, you will find
it hard to improve the numerator, so work on the demonimator!

Do you have any idea what is your VO2 max?

James
--
If I have seen further than others, it is
by treading on the toes of giants.
http://www.ne.jp/asahi/julesandjames/home/

Peter B

"Bob the Builder" <bob@bobson.com> wrote in message
news:33bhgoF3uqp35U1@individual.net...

> Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling??

Compare, if you will, the difference in build between Chris Hoy and Marco
Pantani. The former is built like a brick fecal depository and holds the 1km
time trial Olympic gold, the latter was subject to food donations from
starving Somalis and could climb after riding 100's and 1000's of miles.

Pete

Sniper8052(L96A1)

Bob the Builder wrote:
> Guys,
>
<Snip>
>
> My idea for the New Year is to rip up a bit and drop three stone - shed some
> of the muscle size and most of the body fat. That should still leave me
> with some muscularity but a bit trimmer with it. Hopefully that should
> improve my endurance after a few hours and help my climbing. What do you
> reckon?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
>
> Happy New Year to all of you.
>
>

I should have thought if you were truly into weights you would know that
the two systems are incompatible.
To build muscle in the manner you are describing you over stress the
muscle for a short period causing fatigue and hence promoting growth.
To ride long distance you would need to alter your program to a
'maintanance' routine I.E. more reps with less weight.
If you are proportionate to your size I think 'ripping' would not
benefit you in these circumstances I.E. as a lifestyle choice over a
long period, you are not competing I assume, and the body will need that
energy store to use during your rides otherwise you will start burning
the muscle you are preserving/training.
When I left 42RMC I was 15 stone and had far more muscle than I do now,
I look normal now. Whilst the type of muscle I had enabled me to
exercise for long periods the upper body muscle was of no use in
cycling, also the leg muscle was developed in the wrong places so I
could run for ages but cycling would make my legs hurt.
You have to make a choice between, serious cycling or serious
weights,*or* enjoying yourself and not worrying about the performance.
I still run every day, cycle every other day and do gym weights for fun
but I don't get hung up on it any more.
Sniper8052

MasonS@BP.com

I weighed myself last night and I've dropped below 12st to 11st 10 lbs
(6ft 2ins) . This has been solely due to the strong headwinds on my
commute home this week. I've not cut back on the beer, so I reckon it
was these winds, some of up to 50 mph that has done it.
--
Simon M.

Dave Kahn

Bob the Builder wrote:

> My idea for the New Year is to rip up a bit and drop three stone - shed some
> of the muscle size and most of the body fat. That should still leave me
> with some muscularity but a bit trimmer with it. Hopefully that should
> improve my endurance after a few hours and help my climbing. What do you
> reckon?

With your build you are always going to find climbing difficult but you
should be able to develop a powerful finishing sprint and possibly make
yourself into a useful time triallist. Do you live within striking
distance of a velodrome? You might find the shorter distance track
events, including sprinting, are more attractive to you. There's a huge
amount of craft to learn in sprinting which may make the proposition
even more appealing to you. The shorter distance events hurt like you
would not believe, but at least it's all over in a few minutes.

--
Dave...

Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the
future of the human race. - H. G. Wells

Paul Rudin

"Bob the Builder" <bob@bobson.com> writes:

> Guys,
>
> Am I the only big weight trainning guy who loves cycling?? I do quite a lot
> of weight training but love aerobic too. I can bench press 120kg and squat
> about 150kg for ten reps. I am quite lean too - 35-36 inch waist and 16
> stone 10 at six feet three. However, despite my leg strength I am
> absolutely f**king useless at climbing and seriously suffer on rides longer
> than three hours - irrespective of what carb drinks I carry. Sure I can get
> up the hills eventually, however the gains I can make whilst on the flat are
> decimated on the climbs. I accept that I will never excel at climbing (and
> if it means being a match stick like Pantani then I don't want to!!). Do
> any other big guys have this muscle vs aerobic quandry? There is still part
> of me from my rubgy playing days (I was a prop) that makes me want to hang
> onto the muscle. Anyone think likewise about their shape?
>
> My idea for the New Year is to rip up a bit and drop three stone - shed some
> of the muscle size and most of the body fat. That should still leave me
> with some muscularity but a bit trimmer with it. Hopefully that should
> improve my endurance after a few hours and help my climbing. What do you
> reckon?
>

If you enjoy cycling for recreation, then there's really no problem
being that kind of weight.

You're never going to kepp up with light, fit guys on the hills, but
unless you're planning to compete it kind of doesn't matter.

If you want to lose weight to do better on the hills (or for distance
running for example) then that will no doubt help. But if you lose
much muscle you might find you can't lift the kinds of weights you're
used to in the gym.

Of course if you are carrying a little more fat than is ideal then
it's a good idea to lose that.

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