Three Reasons to Weightlift for Better Biking

Reasons to go Biking

When you think about cyclists, you probably don’t think about the Mr. Universe contest. Even while famous cyclists like Lance Armstrong have impressive physiques, they burn so many calories that they can’t help but skinny. When you add it all up, it might seem that weight training is not necessarily a good way to become a better cyclists. But you may be wrong. Cycling requires a lot of leg and arm movement, and if you want to build endurance and thrust yourself forward with stronger force, you’ll have to get stronger yourself.

Reason #1: Improved endurance. It can be difficult to estimate the impact that cross-training has on your biking skills, but there is evidence out there that suggests weight lifting can improve muscle performance related to bicycling. When your muscles are stronger and more efficient, they can get by on the same amount of energy but have an increased output, making your body more efficient at handling all of the stress and effort that goes into a solid biking run.

Don’t expect lifting weights to automatically make you a great cyclist; expect it to optimize your performance over the competition.

Reason #2: A more balanced body. Let’s face it: cycling is great, but if it’s the only exercise you’re getting, you might want to rethink your workout routine. If you want to put together a strong, agile, flexible body, cycling is just one of the exercises you can embrace. Strength training through weightlifting is another.

What does a “balanced” body mean? It means that you don’t take one aspect of your fitness too seriously, just as you wouldn’t work on building muscles that pop from here to Los Angeles.

Reason #3: Be ready for what’s out there. If you’re a true cycling enthusiast, you might find yourself heading off-road or in some unusual paths. This is to be expected, which means it’s something you should be preparing for. Improving your muscle strength through weightlifting can help you navigate some tough situations you might not have been able to navigate before.

Remember to incorporate weight training into your training regimen, but not to make it the sole focus of your workout routine. Whether you want a more fit body or a truly honed cycling skill, you can find a way to introduce weight training to your regimen.

Photo Credits: Sara. Nel

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Originally posted 2009-10-22 03:34:49.

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