For the past few years cycling has been the focus of my training. As time goes on it gets increasingly difficult to increase my FTP and so to improve my power to weight ratio I got my body weight down pretty low. At 5'10" I weighed in at 150lbs mid season. When the cold and snow rolled in this fall I couldn't bear the thought of climbing on the trainer for another season of indoor riding. I was burned out. Besides my overall strength had been getting rather pathetic, and I wanted to add some size because I get cold easily, but I wanted to do it the right way. Pretty sure my testosterone levels were in the toilet as well. Don't ask me how I deduced that. So for the past 7 weeks I've been doing barbell training, w/the focus on squats and dead lifts - the big compound lifts. It's fun to see such quick returns on my work outs. As a cyclist I have a flat power curve. Very little anaerobic power. I've read many of the threads regarding lifting and cycling, and there is apparently little evidence that one benefits the other. But I am interested to see if I don't become a punchier rider. I have long contended that in a group the punchier riders have the easier time. Those anaerobic bursts are great for closing gaps and climbing the steep little kickers we have around here. I'm going to keep lifting but I'm also going to start indoor training again. Spring is only 3 months away! S/B interesting.