Starting cycling / Should I start doing weights?

[scaryant]

Upper body strength could also help you muscle your way through the pack with a few hands and forearms in faces and rib cages. Without it, you'd just have to go around!

 

[Dan B]

Looking at the sprinters in the TdF it seems pretty clear that they need arm muscles slightly in advance of wet string to hold the bike steady underneath them as they pedal, otherwise it's just going to flop from side to side.

In many cases they seemed to be actually pushing/pulling on the bars to lean the bike in the opposite direction to the side they were standing on, but I don't know if that's good form or just a sign of maximal exertion. Seems to make sense in terms of recruiting as many muscle groups as possible, though

 

[scaryant]

Take a look at Chris Hoy's guns > http://cyclinginfo.co.uk/cyclists/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/chris_hoy_main_18-04-06.jpg

You reckon he got them from pulling on the bars

 

[I am Spartacus]

But benchpressing DOES make you a faster cyclist. At a roadside puncture repair, with good pecs and triceps as well as a strong forearm, the tyre goes on the rim in diddly squat instead of struggling for minutes on end with tiny muscles to push the tyre.

Yes sir, it does..
I cant be arsed anymore to say it..

but I will

Cycling is pure cardiovascular

suck on it but
you cant alter the fact

 

[scaryant]

....and there's nothing better than walking down the street in your lyrca with massive pulsating quads and teeny weeny bone warrior arms and chest.

 

[Young Un]

You reckon he got them from pulling on the bars

Actually I know have really big neck/shoulder muscles aswell as big arm muscles from doing exactly this I don't work out, but since starting cycling and taking up track racing I find I am pulling a lot on my bars and so my arms have buled up a lot. So much so that I got told I was 'packing' when we were at a pool party the other day

 

[scaryant]

Actually I read somewhere that he does do gym work - as you'd expect for almost any athlete at Olympic level. But I imagine it's largely squats and leg extension/curls to build those ridiculously huge quads of steel.

 

[simon_brooke]

Hi, I'm starting road cycling and want to seriously get into competitive racing. I'm fairly skinny, even though I eat alot, I have a high metabolism I guess. I'm just wondering should I start doing weights aswell? I have alot of gym equiptment in my house due to my brother, so that wont be a hassle.

If you want to climb hills (on or off road), don't do weights. If you want to specialise as a sprinter, do do weights.

Extra upper body strength doesn't do you much good on a bike, but the extra weight still has to be lugged up every hill - which is why grimpeurs are mainly stick thin. However, if all you want to do is go as fast as possible for a short distance on the flat, any extra strength is good.

 

[mr-marty-martin]

i wouldnt bother, if you light and skinny then you sound like a good climber...stay that way i say

my legs are realy toned and powerfull just of riding and racing ( big head i no lol ) i'd keep going that way

 

[aJohnson]

i wouldnt bother, if you light and skinny then you sound like a good climber...stay that way i say

my legs are realy toned and powerfull just of riding and racing ( big head i no lol ) i'd keep going that way

Well I'm only 8.3 stone and I am around 6 foot.

 

[mr-marty-martin]

you'll be a good climber keep it that way, i'd just let things take there natural cause in terms of muscle, as cycling will develop the muscles you need because your using them, no point in building ones you dont need, well just my opinion

 

[jimboalee]

When you get to be a professional cyclist, the team will have a man who puts new tyres on rims for you.
The statements about reducing bodyweight for hills is very true, but all a professional cyclist needs to do with his arms is hang on to the bars and lift a water bottle to his mouth.

Non pro cyclists will get enough upperbody training from the everyday labours of his dayjob and house cleaning. This is a false statement because as has been talked about earlier this year, many newbies have difficulty getting a new tyre on a rim.

To do the riding around on the road, increased arm strength is not required. It is the mechanical work which requires some arm power.

NB. There is nothing worse than at the end of a 200 Rando, not being able to lift your bike onto the roofrack and asking a sensible guy with some arm muscle to do it for you.

So as a conclusion. No need for weights. Pressups and some chins will suffice.

 

[scaryant]

Who's this?

 

[SimonC]

Well I'm only 8.3 stone and I am around 6 foot.

Dont they sell chips where you live??

 

[jimboalee]

Who's this?

That's a cunning photo.

That exercise could be a dumbell twist exercise where the bell is rotated around the body parallel to the floor.

Someone did mention 'core stability', which I prefer to call 'Abs'. This exercise trains the abdominal obliques and Erector Spinae group.
It also gives the Anterior deltoid a good thrashing.
The Anterior deltoid holds the arm in an outstretched position ( holding handlebars ) and occasionally lifts the arm forward to get a water bottle from cage to mouth.

It could also be a dumbell swing from between legs to horizontal and the photographer has caught Lance at the apex of the swing.

This is more likely, on second thoughts, as this exercise isolates the Erector spinae ( lumbar vertebrae - lower back ). It is a dynamic exercise rather than 'The plank' which is a static exercise.