Sprinting and going fast

[Andywinds]

Hi, if you wanted to be able to go faster and be able to sprint would you aim to train on the bike? This sounds like an obvious question but I'm asking because there are more and more YouTube vids that indicate gym work should also be incorporated. Or is gym work for the top track cyclists?
My ability to sprint for more than 30 seconds on a bike is terrible but I've only been riding on a road bike for just over a month, I've done MTB'ing for three years now.

 

[helston90]

I've only been riding on a road bike for just over a month

Come back in a year and ask again.

Gym work can feature in building strength- although you'll need to ensure you target the right muscle set in the right way.
Nothing will beat getting out on the bike- start integrating some intervals into your training and just keep riding.

 

[Hacienda71]

Train on the bike. Get a good training plan to give you some structure to your training. You need to identify what you want to achieve so the training plan can be tailored to suit. A tt specific rider is unlikely to use the same type of training as a crit rider.

 

[Citius]

Hi, if you wanted to be able to go faster and be able to sprint would you aim to train on the bike? This sounds like an obvious question but I'm asking because there are more and more YouTube vids that indicate gym work should also be incorporated. Or is gym work for the top track cyclists?
My ability to sprint for more than 30 seconds on a bike is terrible but I've only been riding on a road bike for just over a month, I've done MTB'ing for three years now.

Start with an honest appreciation of where you are now and what you want to do. Also - sprinting and 'going faster' are not necessarily the same thing and would probably involve training different aspects of your fitness. A sprint is a short duration maximal effort, whereas 'going faster'...well.......

 

[zizou]

A proper sprint cant be maintained for more than 30 seconds (even 30 seconds is pushing it for most) so no matter how hard you train, you are not going to be able to maintain it for a minute or whatever it is you are wanting to improve it too.

 

[Andywinds]

Thanks for the response all. I was just a question to find how many use weights to supplement their road ridding, but I do appreciate that this does depend on what type if riding you do.

 

[uclown2002]

 

[Andywinds]

What is that supposed to mean?

View attachment 102487

 

[Hacienda71]

Do a forum search for weight training and you will see there have been some rather heated exchanges on the merits or lack of.

 

[Andywinds]

Will do thanks.

Do a forum search for weight training and you will see there have been some rather heated exchanges on the merits or lack of.

 

[Joshua Plumtree]

Andywinds - similar question asked on a TT forum where they seem to take no prisoners.

The first two replies were ( and I paraphrase slightly):

1. Sign up to a gym and get really massive!

2. I bet you £10000 you already have enough strength to win the Tour De France.

General consensus is that if you want to improve your cycling than cycle more.

 

[fossyant]

Ride, ride and ride more. Dead simple.

Oh you do have to try though.

 

[Andywinds]

Yes I've been around forums for over 20 years now so I should be used to that. It was a pretty dump point to raise to be fair!
I just need to ride, ride and then ride really.

Andywinds - similar question asked on a TT forum where they seem to take no prisoners.

The first two replies were ( and I paraphrase slightly):

1. Sign up to a gym and get really massive!

2. I bet you £10000 you already have enough strength to win the Tour De France.

General consensus is that if you want to improve your cycling than cycle more.

 

[Andywinds]

I've taken your advice.

Ride, ride and ride more. Dead simple.

Oh you do have to try though.

 

[ayceejay]

I think your original question referred to training on the bike and this in my opinion requires a bit more thought than Ride, ride and ride more.
So: train for what? might be an appropriate question Andy