Originally posted by Roadie_scum
Edd, I'm not confusing them. We seemed to have exhausted the possibilities for general strength training in endurance athletes - but perhaps there is a role for remedial weight training. The name of this thread is 'weight lifting and cycling', not 'general strength training for endurance performance'. What do you reckon? Is there a role for remedial weight training, how many people need to do it, and is there a role for doing it before you have a problem - preventative rather than remedial?
Valid point...
Having been a witness to weights room activity over the past 30 odd years I am going to suggest that there may be a role for some strength work, and really want to emphasize the word “MAY” here.
I would think that a cross training programme that may include some weights work in it, would be more appropriate and I also think this only need be a minimal activity, say 2 x 15 min a week max
I haven’t read anywhere on this site about anyone with shoulder problems but they are very prevalent in cycling ( I get to see them after the physio has done with them) usually crash victims.
I don’t believe you can train so you are strong enough to withstand the impact of a crash, the human body has its frailties, nothing we can do. If you are considering putting on some 30 kg of muscle maybe that may help, but that is certainly not practical.
Lower back pain and attempting to prevent it is a completely different kettle of fish and a very complex one at that. Without getting deeply into biomechanical gibberish I’ll simply say back pain is very very very rarely due to strength or so call strength imbalances. It is usually caused by a preexisting medical conditions, ie: scoliosis, bulging disc, old crash injury, etc.
Often the muscles that support the spine and prevent circumstances that lead to pressure/position/anomalies that cause lower back pain simply fatigue and the problems arise, I personally get very severe lower back pain after three and quarter hours on the road bike, like a Swiss movement, you can set your watch by it. I have a weights and flexibility routine to manage this. I'm effectively extending the time period. For me, it has nothing to with strength and everything to do with endurance.
I’m not sure I know how you would train to ensure some obscure core muscle contribution will not fatigue as a prevention exercise. Once it plays up we can identify what it is and work to rectify the problem.
If you are a road cyclist and you feel that you have extraordinarily inadequate muscle mass, you’re seriously under weight, Then you may want to do some strength routine in the off season. Your coach will probably tell you not to gain any weight as it will slow you down.
My best guess recommendation, I say “guess” because I’m not sure who’s going to read this and construe their own meaning. Is to have an active life off the bike as well as on it.
I can not think of a better cross training activity then a night on a dance floor followed by some more of the same night on the kitchen floor, hopefully not alone and hopefully sober, so you won’t regret it in the morning.
or a day at the beach in the surf, a game of squash or tennis ( not golf, I hate golf )
I like to spend 5 minutes with a skipping rope twice a week, mainly because you have to stand up straight to skip properly, shoulders down and back, their natural position, upper back straight. Also works the calf.
A morning a week on the river in a one man skull also appeals to me. The tension through the torso ( core ) is in almost an opposing direction then when you are on the bike, little bit of pelvic rock when you pull on the ores.
If you have an injury or a condition that requires strength training intervention, well that is entirely different.
Just my opinion.....