Crosstraining?

[BikeMax]

 

1. Stronger core gives you better stability on the bike' date=' less swaying when you pedal = more power.

2. Stronger core will stabilize your pelvis = More support for your prime movers = more power.

 

3. Weak core creates inbalance of prime movers = quicker fatigue.

 

4. A strong gives you a stronger centre of gravity = more controll over your bike.

[/quote']

 

NO - power is not limited by muscular strength in endurance cycling..

 

Show me one study indicating improved power output as a direct result of core strength training ?

 

--just because they haven't proved it doesn't mean it isnt true. If there is one thing I have learnt in science this is it.

So now someone has to do the science.

 

Sure - but it's a good place to start if you are trying to back up what to date has been supposition ?

 

Science can prove that better CV capacity will = better performance on a bike.

 

[GoLefty!!]

Sorry Bruce and Bikemax but you talking out of your arses again.

 

Core training does improve on the bike power and many pro cyclist use cross training to keep their core in shape.

 

Cycling does NOT use all the muscle groups.

 

A mate of mine wrote up a nice brief  on this t the MTB mailing list where a similar debate raged. Here it is attached.

 

I gotta say this?..  Cross training helps without a doubt in many aspects of cycling, running is possibly the best way to strengthen your quads, as you are forced to deal with the weight instead of hiding behind a granny gear, run up a steep 1km hill and tell me different. Running trims your gut possibly faster than any other exercise I know of, besides building your stomach muscles, it eases pain in your lower back aswell as improves your power to weight ratio.  Its incorrect in saying that endurance exercise does not build muscle, it does, just a slower rate,  any form of muscle strain causes micro tears, when your body rebuilds the tissue, it super compensates by building extra, in a nutshell

muscle growth, needless to say the harder you push your muscles the more they tear and the more they repair, the idea being, at your highest level of super compensation is the best time to train hard again. As for swimming, this is a sport which will give you the edge on your bike, the strength you gain on upper body will help with climbing, sprinting and controlling your bike easily through single track and downhill, without having tried cross training and arguing whether it works or not, is premature.

I started cross training early this year, namely running and swimming, I run about 10km twice a week and swim 2km twice a week, I don?t really swim all that fast, rather methodically, it works wonders for mtb`ing

Another added bonus from running is its possibly one of the easiest ways to do threshold training if you run out of time to get on your bike!

If running bores you, try AR racing or trail running, its much like single track riding, difference being you will running through the places you cant go your bike, weaving through trees, climbing rocks, rock hopping through streams, sometimes running down or up stream, it can be a lot of fun!!! I try really hard to avoid road running as that is really boring!

 PS if you are at the stage of training hard and are trying to strengthen your muscles, make sure you nourish yourself properly and have a good base fitness.  I recommend Biogen whey protein, and Glutamine powder.  The protein rebuilds torn muscles quickly, but without sufficient, amino acids (Glutamin) its useless, the amino acids facilitate the whole process of repair, its also a good idea to keep your vitamin C and vitamin E levels up as they help combat the free radicals floating around your body caused from hard training ( bear in mind free radicals are what cause cell division to go wrong, a mutation of cell division can cause cancer). Also Calcuim and magnesium go hand in hand, one without the other is useless , but both very necessary minerals for exercise and general well being, blood pressure etc etc etc

 

A lot of this information will be useless or dismissed by most?. But there are options of making exercise easier and more enjoyable?.  You can swim up stream and inevitably get tired, or swim with the flow??..

 

[Mudsimus]

BM - Will you be satisfied if I change 'power' to 'strenght' ?

Yes..as long as you don;t then try and advocate that more strength = better power output

 

 My mistake! Or rather the language barriers! In Afrikaans ken ons net krag! No power and strenght!

[GoLefty!!]

The worstthing of only training on the bike is that your upper body muscles become smaller and lighter. Great if you're a TdF rider and but rather shyte for anything else.

 

I've been lacing some gym work and swimming into my routine and I can see the numbers are improved.

 

Sure if you want to achieve SPECIFIC training goals then riding the bike is the only way to go.

But neglecting the other muscle groups is a common cyclist faux par which seems to be reinforced by the Specialised cycling training coaches.

 

Funny then that Kaschi Leuchs swears by Cross training, so does Sauser and that american fellow, you know the one that everyones loves to hate.

[bruce]

 

Sorry Bruce and Bikemax but you talking out of your arses again.

 

 

Nice one, great way to have a debate.

 

Okay, how about you reference some medical journal publications, sports science journals etc that prove your point.

 

And not an article posted by a mate which is in effect his personal opinion.

 

[SwissVan]

 

Funny then that Kaschi Leuchs swears by Cross training' date=' so does Sauser and that american fellow, you know the one that everyones loves to hate.

[/quote']

 

You mean the ex triathlete roadie who among other races won 7 TDF's?

 

Isn't this Ivan Basso riding his other training device

http://www.thepaceline.com/images/homefeature/image.jpg194515672

 

[Windbreaker]

Sorry Bruce and Bikemax but you talking out of your arses again.

 

Yep, talking out of your arses again! I love it. Bikemax, go back and redo your CV!

[bruce]

 

The worstthing of only training on the bike is that your upper body muscles become smaller and lighter. Great if you're a TdF rider and but rather shyte for anything else.

 

I've been lacing some gym work and swimming into my routine and I can see the numbers are improved.

 

Sure if you want to achieve SPECIFIC training goals then riding the bike is the only way to go.

But neglecting the other muscle groups is a common cyclist faux par which seems to be reinforced by the Specialised cycling training coaches.

 

Funny then that Kaschi Leuchs swears by Cross training' date=' so does Sauser and that american fellow, you know the one that everyones loves to hate.

[/quote']

 

Actually you are reinforcing my argument.  All round training is good for all round conditioning - I have said that a number of times.

 

SPECIFIC training for cycling is riding the bike - again this is my point!

 

[SARA]

this is a very academic..erm...discussion.

point a) only cycling makes a more POWERFUL, effective cyclist.

point b) crosstraining is a good idea for all- round healthy and functional for the rest of your life.

 

the muddy unscientifically proven bit is whether these are linked? 

[Mudsimus]

SPECIFIC training for cycling is riding the bike - again this is my point!

 

Ok Bruce..you win. 

 

Now if all you smart people will excuse me, I must get on the bike!

[SARA]

ditto....

[TheLegend]

 

this is a very academic..erm...discussion.

point a) only cycling makes a more POWERFUL' date=' effective cyclist.

point b) crosstraining is a good idea for all- round healthy and functional for the rest of your life.

 

the muddy unscientifically proven bit is whether these are linked? 

[/quote']

 

science woman

 

[bruce]

 

this is a very academic..erm...discussion.

point a) only cycling makes a more POWERFUL' date=' effective cyclist.

point b) crosstraining is a good idea for all- round healthy and functional for the rest of your life.

 

the muddy unscientifically proven bit is whether these are linked? 

[/quote']

 

Very good application of fuzzy logic!

 

[Windbreaker]

SPECIFIC training for cycling is riding the bike - again this is my point!

 

Ok Bruce..you win. 

 

Now if all you smart people will excuse me' date=' I must get on the bike!

[/quote']

No, go to the gym!

[ZippIt]

if cardiovascular efficiency is the only limiting factor in cycling and not muscle strength, why is a pro woman that is of equal size to a pro man (ie same size lungs and heart) def not equal in cycling ability..

[Windbreaker]

if cardiovascular efficiency is the only limiting factor in cycling and not muscle strength' date=' why is a women that is of equal size to a man (ie same size lungs and heart) def not equal in cycling ability.. [/quote']

 

'cause they are just lazy ...