• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Become a Premium Member
  • About

Road Bike Rider Cycling Site

Expert road cycling advice, since 2001

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook
  • Bikes & Gear
  • Training & Health
  • Reviews
  • Cycling Ebooks
    • Ebooks Training
    • Ebooks Skills
    • E-Articles Training
    • E-Articles Nutrition
  • Member Area
  • Newsletter

Is it OK to Lift Weights and Ride a Bike on the Same Day?

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 D.

Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Good question — but there doesn’t seem to be expert consensus on an answer.

One approach is to lift twice a week on the same days you ride hard on the road or trainer. The idea is to shock the muscles two days a week, leaving five days for rest and easy recovery riding.

The other approach is to lift two days and ride hard two other days, spreading out the workload.

You’ll have to try it both ways to learn what works best for you.

That said, why are you doing intervals in winter? Now’s the time to build a strength base in the weight room and maintain endurance with steady riding or aerobic crosstraining. There’ll be plenty of time for intervals in the spring.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • Newsletter Issue No. 1053
  • Can you use Shimano rotors with SRAM brakes? (Or vice versa?)
  • 16 Tips for Increasing Your Annual Cycling Mileage
  • Intense Exercisers Have More Plaques but Fewer Heart Attacks

Recent Newsletters

Newsletter Issue No. 1053

Newsletter Issue No. 1052

Newsletter Issue No. 1051

Newsletter Issue No. 1050

Newsletter Issue No. 1049

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

Our cycling expert editors and writers choose every product we review. We may earn an affiliate commission if you buy from one of our product links, at no extra cost to you. This income supports our site.

Follow Us

  • Pinterest
  • Facebook

Privacy Policy

Still Haven’t Found What You’re Looking For?

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...