Strength training is practically a forbidden phrase among some cyclists. Mention the gym around your club-mates and you may be exposing yourself to a bombardment of criticism. Some two-wheel purists believe that lifting weights is only for the Instagram-obsessed fitness buffs more interested in abs than aero. In the past, even the professionals have been divided on their views on strength training for cyclists, but among the modern peloton, more and more elite riders are hitting the gym to boost their performance on the bike. Should all of us be following suit?
The pivotal question for time-crunched amateur riders is whether it’s worth investing hours that could otherwise be spent on our bikes. If you’re only able to ride two or three times a week, does sacrificing bike time to lift weights really pay off? In pursuit of answers, I decided to get stuck in with a cycling specific strength training programme. My mission: to undertake a six-week schedule to test if it was possible to boost cycling performance with just one short workout, on top of my cycling, per week.
