• 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

Should I Stop Leg Weight Training in Season?

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 gains will be lost. What should I do? — Erik M.

Coach Fred Matheny Replies: This is a controversial issue. In the past, some pros were still doing leg presses in April even though they started racing in January.

They felt that strength is the basis for power and speed and wanted to peak for one or more of the Grand Tours. So they planned to lift through mid-May or later even though they knew it might be hurting their early-season racing.

Most riders will do better by reducing leg work in the gym to once per week during the season. The workout should be done on the same day you do sprints. Don’t do weights on your off-bike day because it will stress the quads when you should be letting them recover.

Some riders with lots of natural strength can discontinue weights during the season. But if leg strength is a limiting factor in events you ride, or if you’re over 40, an in-season, once-weekly maintenance program is recommended.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.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

Primary Sidebar

Search

Recent Articles

  • ‘Connect’ to Diet-Reverses-Diabetes Study: Even If You Don’t Have the Disease
  • My New Bike: Trek Checkpoint SL 5
  • Weak Muscles Predict Accelerated Aging, Disability and Death
  • Rolflex Muscle Recovery Tool Quick Review

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