Losing energy in my legs, before losing my breath - what to do?

[Drago]

As a non-powerlifter-cum-cyclist I would not recommend any weight training!

Learn to spin an easier gear. (Oops - beaten to it by rowdin!)

He's right, a good technique and cadence can count for a helluva lot.

 

[cyberknight]

Another vote for looking at your cadence , i also find that if the saddle is to low my thighs burn .

 

[Rob500]

What was that saying my old granny used to dish out? No wait a minute. She wasn't a cyclist.

It was on here that I read it. (Went something like the following though I may have messed it up)

If your legs give in before your heart & lungs then just change down.
If your heart & lungs give in before your legs then just get fitter.

 

[Strathlubnaig]

and of course don't forget, it never gets easier, you just get faster.

 

[Drago]

Squats may indeed 'build your legs' - but the point is that 'building your legs' is almost certainly not necessary..

I do squats, peaking at 220kg. This give me phenomenal strength for starting the clean and jerk. This translates nicely into cycling - on the steepest of hills my legs don't get close to their capacity. Muscles ticking over will simply go on a lot longer than muscles working flat out to do the same job.

 

[Rob3rt]

I do squats, peaking at 220kg. This give me phenomenal strength for starting the clean and jerk. This translates nicely into cycling - on the steepest of hills my legs don't get close to their capacity. Muscles ticking over will simply go on a lot longer than muscles working flat out to do the same job.

I can only squat about half of your peak but I have yet to find any situation on a bike that approaches even that capacity. You are just lugging a load of extra weight around and all that additional mass is using up your precious oxygen!

Have a quick look at a hill climbing specialist's physique since you use a hill as an example.

 

[black'n'yellow]

I do squats, peaking at 220kg. This give me phenomenal strength for starting the clean and jerk. This translates nicely into cycling - on the steepest of hills my legs don't get close to their capacity. Muscles ticking over will simply go on a lot longer than muscles working flat out to do the same job.

congrats - you've just perfectly described an aerobic effort - which has sod all to do with lifting weights. I don't do weights at all - never have - but it's quite possible that I go up hills better than you do. Why might that be..?

 

[Drago]

But it's quite possible you can't.

In any case, we're discussing muscular endurance, not performance.

You're right Rob, my physique isn't ideal for cycling. I'm lugging around about 30kg of muscle mass I never used to have before I started 'lifting, but liftings the other sport I'm into so I got a live with it. The tightened hamstrings from cycling can be a problem for the lifting, so some of the pluses can be a bit of a downside in the other sport. If I were looking at weights purely to help my cycling it'd be a much different and lighter regime.

But 'ell, I'm 'ard as nails like

 

[srw]

None of which is much use to the OP, who's simply new and needs to give himself a break.

 

[black'n'yellow]

But it's quite possible you can't.

what level do you ride at Drago? Please tell me you're a 1st cat. I'm not exactly Wiggo, but if you can climb better than me and the other fellas I race with (none of whom spend any time in the gym as far as I'm aware - well, not to improve their cycling anyway), then I will go out and buy a multigym tomorrow.

In any case, we're discussing muscular endurance, not performance.

Performance comes from endurance - we are talking about endurance cycling, after all...

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

I do squats, peaking at 220kg. This give me phenomenal strength for starting the clean and jerk. This translates nicely into cycling - on the steepest of hills my legs don't get close to their capacity. Muscles ticking over will simply go on a lot longer than muscles working flat out to do the same job.

Typical ignorant bodybuilder stance really. Your muscle mass and squat ability have zero relevance to cycling.

 

[Rob3rt]

what level do you ride at Drago? Please tell me you're a 1st cat. I'm not exactly Wiggo, but if you can climb better than me and the other fellas I race with (none of whom spend any time in the gym as far as I'm aware - well, not to improve their cycling anyway), then I will go out and buy a multigym tomorrow.

Performance comes from endurance - we are talking about endurance cycling, after all...

I am more interested in what level he compete's in power lifting at. Just curious, as my girlfriends younger brother is a powerlifter.

 

[ThaiGuy]

Rest. You might not be getting enough sleep for muscles to repair.

 

[ayceejay]

IF and I mean if the problem is lactic acid build up this can often be temporarily fixed by a short spell out of the saddle. Cycling is not a whole body exercise and standing up may ease the problem by moving the blood around. Aerobic training (LSD) will improve your body's capacity to transport oxygen via your blood so that you can ride for longer.

 

[Lee_M]

If your legs give in before your heart & lungs then just change down.
If your heart & lungs give in before your legs then just get fitter.

What do you do when you run out of gears?

Serious question btw