Upper Body and Power

acoggan

No, it isn't perfectly clear - in fact, I am unaware of even a single study showing such an effect (yes, I have read the study by Hickson et al.).



Repeat after me:

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

Never copy the training program of a champion, because you don't know if they are a champion because of, or in spite of, their training program.

acoggan

BTW - does anybody else here find it ironic that a physician such as bozy who would presumably claim to practice evidence-based medicine apparently has lower standards when it comes to deciding what is/is not the best way to train?

Don Shipp

I doubt if I could follow the training program of a champion; far to arduous, but I would if I could. There is no way I can decide whether to mix in weights with road-work by listening to the experts, if they can't agree.
"Absorb what is good, discard what is useless and add what is essentially your own."

acoggan

What experts do you feel disagree with each other?

Don Shipp

...for a given value of expert...

I am logging off now. I will be on my bike in five minutes. Catch up with you all on Monday.
Ciao for now.

acoggan

What makes you believe that I've gone anywhere? For that matter, what apparently makes you believe that I don't lift weights?

acoggan

You seem to be . That wasn't a mantra at all - didn't you see the string of s at the end? I'm far too to ever get worked up over posts like yours.

As for avoiding hypertrophy, I don't try - in fact, inducing hypertrophy is one my major goals when lifting.

I don't know what you mean by "increased connections between muscle fibers and their stimulatory nerves". The size of the motor end plate can change, but a single muscle fiber is always innervated by one, and only one, motor nerve.

Laflore

After reading through all this, I must say I admire Andy's patience and rigour when dealing with those of questionable scientific inclination.

There is one thing I've been wondering about, myself naturally (unfortunately?) well-built in the upper body. Can additional non-working muscle mass help process lactate shuttled from the working muscles? Or does this effect take place only to a point, and is limited by the transport system? If a positive effect does exist, can it be targeted with specific exercises and trained without resulting in hypertrophy (say, intervals on a hand cycle)?

Here's to hoping all that mass isn't purely dead weight when it comes to cycling. Well, beyond a point when applying force to the bars. I have this nagging sense that us stocky types are doomed to a lower power-to-weight ceiling. I mean, crits are fun and all but I wanna climb with the goats dammit!
*wakes up* ahh well, there's always arm-wrestling.


On weight training.. although I don't believe it has any positive effect on endurance cycling, I do like to perform high-rep resistance training and core work in the off season. It feels good and rounds out my fitness, in addition to being a nice alternative to being out in the cold, dark night.. or on that torture device known as the stationary trainer.

RapDaddyo

I have read your descriptions of Anquetil's linear pedaling style in this and other threads and must confess that I don't fully understand it or why it is superior. Can you post a link to a complete description of the linear pedaling style, hopefully with some illustrations? Also, I gather that the benefits have not been lab-tested, but have you or anyone else done any biomechanical modeling of the style, for average or superior cyclists? If so, can you please post the results of such modeling?

n crowley

I don't believe biomechanical modeling of this style is possible because of the intricate use of so many muscles at the same time. As for why it is superior, engineers have spent years trying to invent equipment that could reduce the effects of the dead spot area, biopace, eliptical chainrings and the rotor crank is the latest attempt but all have failed. Linear pedaling can replace that area between 11 and 1 o'c with normal max pedal power and can do this with normal cranks. This can add 5+ mins. of extra pedaling time to a rider in an hour tt event such as the 1 hour record. The use of arm resistance in generating the power leads to greater pedal force for use with the higher gears. There is no sliding forward on the saddle and the more aerodynamic the position used, the greater the pedal power you can produce.
Of course medically it can do what experts have been tried in vain to do, demonstrate the root cause of cycling's back pain and instantly eliminate even the worst genuine cycling related back pain in addition to having a less straining effect on the knees.
It does appear now that the only way to get this message across is by a demonstration to a very limited number of researchers and some of the worst (cycling) lower back pain victims who have been forced out of the sport by the persistant pain during TT's etc. This pedaling action can be seen on the video of Anquetil's racing years, " The Mysterious Cycling Champion" .
PS. Spring loaded resistance training is useful when perfecting this technique especially when eliminating that dead spot area.