Just reading over the whole lifting and cycling thread- now closed.
In reply to Ric Stern, i think you have used correct facts to make an incorrect argument.
Precisely because force is inversely proportional to velocity and repetitions for any musce size, it takes a significant amount of strength to produce even a small amount of force at a reasonable speed and for long distances.
Put simply, if you can't lift 100 kg ten times there is no way you are going to be able to lift 50 kg 100 times, or 25 kg 500 times.
So lance up the Alps puts 25 kg of force down, but does in effect 1000's of reps. He can only do those thousands of reps cause they are so much under his maximum effort that there is little to no fatigue.
Whilst aerobic capacity is the primary determinant of sustainable power, resistance to muscualar fatique, which is partly determined by muscle mass plays a part also.
For example, riding at high cadences delays the onset of muscular fatigue but requires more energy and hence oxygen. A stronger rider who can push bigger gears can use a lower cadence and therefore get more power out of the same aerobic capacity.
Certainly, 350 watts or so at 75 rpm for 20 minutes up a hill makes my legs sore. Even if i can get my HR down again i will have trouble doing it again. If i had bigger legs i bet i could repeat the effort easily.
I have found I actually have to ride near 100 rpm to avoid muscle fatigue- which is too taxing on my heart and lungs. I have to slow down to not blow up.
Now this leaves open weather improving your 10,000 rep strength is best obtained by hill interval, sitting in the Gym doing hundreds of reps or doing smaller reps, but certainly increased muscle mass CAN play a beneficial role in cycling performance, particularily if muscular fatique seems to be a limiting factor.
If not, cyclists would not have larger than average leg muscles.
However, on the above question, I think it has been proven that even low reps can increase slow twitch muscle mass, posible quicker than low reps.
In reply to Ric Stern, i think you have used correct facts to make an incorrect argument.
Precisely because force is inversely proportional to velocity and repetitions for any musce size, it takes a significant amount of strength to produce even a small amount of force at a reasonable speed and for long distances.
Put simply, if you can't lift 100 kg ten times there is no way you are going to be able to lift 50 kg 100 times, or 25 kg 500 times.
So lance up the Alps puts 25 kg of force down, but does in effect 1000's of reps. He can only do those thousands of reps cause they are so much under his maximum effort that there is little to no fatigue.
Whilst aerobic capacity is the primary determinant of sustainable power, resistance to muscualar fatique, which is partly determined by muscle mass plays a part also.
For example, riding at high cadences delays the onset of muscular fatigue but requires more energy and hence oxygen. A stronger rider who can push bigger gears can use a lower cadence and therefore get more power out of the same aerobic capacity.
Certainly, 350 watts or so at 75 rpm for 20 minutes up a hill makes my legs sore. Even if i can get my HR down again i will have trouble doing it again. If i had bigger legs i bet i could repeat the effort easily.
I have found I actually have to ride near 100 rpm to avoid muscle fatigue- which is too taxing on my heart and lungs. I have to slow down to not blow up.
Now this leaves open weather improving your 10,000 rep strength is best obtained by hill interval, sitting in the Gym doing hundreds of reps or doing smaller reps, but certainly increased muscle mass CAN play a beneficial role in cycling performance, particularily if muscular fatique seems to be a limiting factor.
If not, cyclists would not have larger than average leg muscles.
However, on the above question, I think it has been proven that even low reps can increase slow twitch muscle mass, posible quicker than low reps.