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What is good strength training for a regular cyclist?

3 min read

Asked by: Yolanda Wright

Planks with variation: core strength helps maximize efficiency on the bike. Lunges: fire up the main muscle movers in cycling, including your glutes, quads, calves and hamstrings. Leglifts: Target your hip flexors and abdominal stabilizer muscles for a smoother pedal stroke. Burpees: require full-body explosive power.

How often should a cyclist do strength training?

two to three times a week

Spending two to three times a week of strength training is plenty for most cyclists in the offseason. If you want to increase muscle mass, this is a good time to do it.

Does strength training make you a faster cyclist?

Combining endurance training with either explosive or heavy strength training can improve running performance, while there is most compelling evidence of an additive effect on cycling performance when heavy strength training is used.

How should I lift weights for cycling?

With just the bar. Then get into your main heavy lifts the squat. And the deadlift. And finish with some lighter lifts like lunges. Box steps or box jumps.

Do squats make you a stronger cyclist?

Doing squats is beneficial for cyclists because it helps to keep the hamstrings balanced by working them in a different way to the pedalling action. As a cyclist, you should aim to squat down fairly low, so that your thighs are roughly parallel with the ground – an angle your legs will be used to through pedalling.

Is weightlifting good for cyclists?

And while some say strength training for cyclists is not required, it can be a beneficial component of a cycling training program. Cycling requires leg strength. Stronger cyclists who can continuously crank out more power must also put out more force per pedal stroke.

Should cyclists do push ups?

Despite what you may think, the upper body plays an important role in your overall cycling performance. “Your upper body, especially your core, works in tandem with your legs to drive you forward,” explains Gerren Liles, certified personal trainer, master instructor at Equinox and founding trainer of The Mirror.

Are leg curls good for cyclists?

Stability Ball Hamstring Curls



While cycling is one of the best low-impact cardio workouts you can do, the best way to build up your leg muscles is with bodyweight moves. Lie on the ground with your feet on a ball. Keep your head and shoulders on the floor, and send your hips up, squeezing your glutes and inner thighs.

How often should cyclists train legs?

For you, I would suggest limiting your leg training to once a week during periods of high-frequency cycling. Focus on maintaining the weights you are lifting instead of increasing them. Aim for two to three sets of 12 reps of a minimum of three different leg exercises.

Do leg weights help cycling?

Cycling. Theoretically, wearing ankle weights during a bike ride can help increase the benefit of the exercise, and provided the weights don’t negatively impact your mechanics, you should be able to exercise without injury.

Do Tour de France riders lift weights?

We ride, lift weights and work on our core strength with specific exercises like planks, one legged squats, and leg raises. The racing begins in late January, and this will be our routine until then. We build up a solid base of strength and endurance.

How can I increase my leg power for cycling?

→ Get Bicycling All Access for more muscle-building, PR-setting workouts!

  1. 1 Squat. Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding dumbbells at shoulders, with abs tight. …
  2. 2 Kettlebell Swing. …
  3. 3 Single-Leg Deadlift. …
  4. 4 Side Lunge. …
  5. 5 Box Jump. …
  6. 6 Leg Press. …
  7. 7 Step-Up With Kick Back. …
  8. 8 Curtsy Lunge.