What comment are you replying to?
I don’t see a reference to “horrible” for any connection.
What’s an absolute bare minimum strength training routine that I can implement with near zero time commitment?
One example of what I’m currently doing is hex bar deadlifts at 75% bodyweight, which is equivalent to a warm up set. But instead of a warmup set of say, 1x12, I just do 1x30+ and call it a day. Takes barely over a minute.
I know despite every good intention, I won’t make it to the gym for a strength session. I also prefer to spend my time biking/running when I workout (because I enjoy it more) so I’d like to get a strength session that is quick and simple focusing on making me a better cyclist/runner.
Could you recommend a simple ~15min program I can do ~every other day with a handful of bodyweight type exercises I can do at home? (Ie 3x10 pushups, 3x10 bodyweight squats, 3x60 sec plank, etc.)
Great time to bring this up, hopefully I can incorporate it for winter base season.
I think the long form version of GTorio’s question is: “Why is strength training horrible?” In reference to the OP, I assume.
OK, I get it if that’s the intent but I think it’s ambiguous as-is.
Muscle groups
Broadly, identify primary and secondary muscle groups that can benefit from strength training for each discipline.
Mind-body connection: using strength training to better activate and train specific muscle groups, e.g., using squats to learn how to activate the glutes for the bike.
Time devoted to primary muscle groups vs core, neck, etc. If little time, which is more important?
What exercises should time-restricted cyclists avoid because they’re less functional? E.g., bicep curls.
Speed
Lifting speed: super slow to explosive, what are the cycling benefits of various speeds?
Load type
Static vs. progressive load: pros and cons of traditional weights and body weight compared to heavy bands (not tubes but X3 Bar style) for cycling.
Range of motion being trained may be a sub-point to address.
Kinetics: pros and cons for cyclist for concentric, eccentric and static strength work.
Long-term Time
Seasons: ideal time for build, maintain, or even rest from strength.
Expected progression timeframe: should cyclists new to strength training go easier in their first year and look to build on it over a longer, multi-year period of time?
What are some of the best exercises to be able to ride sustainably (and with just as much power) in a lower position?
And it’s just wrong. Strength training is super-fun!
Great questions, y’all! Recording tomorrow and will go live in two weeks.
correct, we should be able to allocate lifting days and have the plans adapt around them, especially in base/ build periods, instead of winging it.
Dang, I missed the suggestion window, gonna put it out there anyway: “dead butt” syndrome. Go.
I had the same issue. A few months of back squat and hip abduction workouts sorted it.
How do I find motivation to do a strength workout when I could be on the bike instead? I really struggle with this.
My motivation has been less injuries (I’m a triathlete and running injuries have sidelined me too much until I started taking weight lifting seriously) and I’m getting older (43) and needed to start more consistent strength training for general health. In the past I have said I would rather be running, biking or swimming. Recently, I have been enjoying the strength gains I have been seeing in my lifting and balance training.
I think the evidence is there that strength training is helpful for everyone. But I think everyone needs to find their own motivation and amount/type of strength training that is needed/helpful for their goals.
The finding of why (as @bfrostieone said above) is the hardest thing to do. Adding anything in to an already existing hobby takes time away from your original why and can be seen as an inconvenience at best.
I also found that the ageing process meant that I took up lifting. For me the general feeling of being stronger is now a far greater pull than any of the associated performance gains, though I do feel them as I am not training a lot at the moment but when I do my enjoyment is far greater than when I was “fitter” but not as strong.
I have been going for around 2 years now and these days I would be hard pressed to actually replace my S&C workouts with any sort of extra aerobic workout. Recently, I was even thinking about replacing more sessions for a sort of mini off-season because I am enyoying it so much.
I’m looking forward to this podcast episode!
@Jonathan Is there any possibility that Plan Builder might ever give us an option to add strength training to our plans? It would be amazing if strength workouts (preferably with options based on equipment types) that made sense based on our current phase of training were included as part of the TrainerRoad plans!
Because I’m working on looking like Michelangelo’s David:
when our tour group visited in 2019, I looked at my wife and the woman standing slack jawed at the marbled awesomeness and said “I have new life goals”
Not the TR podcast, but enjoyed this one (also makes it pretty clear who the strength training podcast will feature…)
I started Dialed Health in December 2022 after several years of intermittent, sometimes incapacitating back problems. It has been an absolute blessing for me. My back problems are down to a 1 out of 10, I feel more able and agile and durable, and my cycling performance has stayed about the same despite having to decrease some riding time in favor of the strength workouts. I highly, highly recommend giving it a try.
I’ll give a little more detailed review another time, but that’s the headline!
Nearly all of these questions are at the 10 minute Dylan Johnson video level, some are answerable with a 2 minute google. If you’re doing an hour’s deep dive, it needs to focus on the marginal stuff - not the easy basic stuff - everyone should already know that bodyweight exercises are a waste of your time (unless say, rehabilitating from injury).
Agreed on the 'marginal benefit against extra training" question.
How to periodise lifing once you hit build and race.
Minimalist training principles and their implications for endurance athletes.
Adaptation blunting and any new evidence about mtor Vs ampk and session timing (when time crunched). How can you use nutrition to manage eh the ‘hard days hard’ (eg vo2 and lifting same day) approach?
Incorporating and periodising volume Vs strength Vs power.
Strength during recovery weeks - volume? Intensity?
Managing volume - total sets Vs intensity Vs total reps - where is peak marginal gains? Lots of people on strength threads on here seem to be strength athletes who dabble in cycling, rather than cyclists using strength to make them faster.
Basically it’d be great to try and avoid the ‘give it a try and see what works for you’ conclusion.