Question: I’m 6 feet, 195 pounds with thick muscles from playing college football. I’ve been riding 5,000 miles a year for several years but haven’t gotten lighter. How can I eliminate my bulky muscle and get down to optimal riding weight? — Boo W. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: I was in your situation, too, Boo. I…
Question: I’m a 26-year-old former college basketball player and track athlete who has an excellent vertical jump. I started riding last fall and want to begin racing, but I’m having trouble staying with the local training group, especially on hills, although I dust everyone in the sprints. They say I have too many fast-twitch muscle…
Question: I’m surprised that you say calves contribute nothing to cycling performance. I’ve had skinny bird legs my whole life — even when I was lifting weights — until I began riding last summer. I didn’t take before/after measurements, but my calves have gotten markedly more muscular. They’re larger and more defined, and a “new”…
Question: You’ve said studies show that calves don’t contribute much to the pedal stroke. They’re merely a “cable” that connects muscles in the quads and glutes with the lever arm of the foot. While that may be true, wouldn’t a cyclist want that cable to be taut so it could provide a firm, stable platform through the…
By Alan Bragman, D.C. It was a warm, picture perfect day in early October and a group of us were going to do hill intervals on Pebblebrook Road. This road has about 350-400 feet of steady elevation gain over 2 miles, and is about 10 miles from my home. As I rode to meet the…
