Question: I recently purchased a set of free weights in hopes of improving cycling power and speed. But muscle soreness from squats prevented me from riding more than 12 mph for about 4 days — exactly the opposite of my goal. What did I do wrong? — Kevin N.
Question: I’m overweight (6-foot, 230 pounds) and I’m slow. How can I lose weight and get fast enough to hold my own on fast group rides? — Davis K. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: You would see a big improvement in your speed, especially on climbs, if you were lighter. This is assuming that your extra weight…
Question: I started doing leg work in the gym twice a week to complement twice-weekly interval sessions, but now my legs are dead when I get on the bike. I want to keep riding this winter. Should I ride and lift on the same day, or lift on days I’m off the bike? — Patrick…
Question: I’m 37 and have been riding for 18 years. I race on Sundays and do intervals or other hard on-bike training on Wednesdays. I intend to do leg weights this winter and want to continue doing them once a week next season. Given my schedule, what’s the best weekday for the leg work? Coach…
Question: I’ve been doing twice-weekly leg exercises in the gym since last season and have made significant progress. At the beginning of March, I cut back to one session per week. Experienced racers say that a weight program should be discontinued during the season, but some coaches claim that if you stop lifting, all the…
