Cycling training (Running)

Sevenrider said:

Is there a cross over benefit that helps your cycling if a person trains for running? I like to run in the winter and would like to think I'm getting somethine out of it.

Well that depends.

What's your actual level as a cyclist, and what are your goals?

And what's your actual level as a runner?

How many hours would you devote to training? From this amount, how many hours would you spend running?

The aerobic capacity improvement will obviously benefit cycling. However, they do use somewhat different leg muscles, so the legs will hurt again if you've been off the bike for some time.

SolarEnergy said:

Well that depends.

What's your actual level as a cyclist, and what are your goals?

And what's your actual level as a runner?

How many hours would you devote to training? From this amount, how many hours would you spend running?

I would say I'm a fair cyclist 4000 mi more or less a year.
One of my goals is to become a better climber,hang on a little longer on the fast club rides,weight loss and over all fitness.
Indoor winter training is about 1.5 to 2 hrs 5-days a week .I do some wt trainning,some spinning,and I jog 3mi (5K) somewhere around 28 to 30 min.
On avg12 to 15 mi a week but only in the winter so I have to work up to that level and that takes some time.
I would be interested in learning some trainning methods to improve my running Thanks Mark

if you live in an area that limits your time on the bike dramatically then of course running will help. Something is better than nothing at this stage, just remember that this running will only be "limiting your losses" from your break not necessarily improving your cycling.

Tried XC ski-ing, XC Cycling or MTB riding? Any indoor velodromes?
Apparently XC ski-ing is "the [censored]" as far as cardio workourts go because your using every single muscle in your body. The vo2max of XC ski-ers annialates even pro cyclists/ marathon runner...Even XC will only be limiting your losses on the bike however.

Fitness level doesn't matter too much because nearly all Pro's still do some kind of X-training at this time of year whether they live in the northern or southern hemisphere.

I am running a lot right now. It is a great break from 16 years of being a roadie purist. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone trying to gain pro status, but for the average Joe, running is a great counter balance to all that cycling. just start with short jogs and up the mileage as comfortable. Always jogging for the first couple months though. Most cyclists decide they are going top do some running as cross training in the winter and end up sore as hell after every run, 'cause they want to workout. That is the wrong approach. Running takes patience as you build.

Have fun

dm69 said:

The vo2max of XC ski-ers annialates even pro cyclists/ marathon runner

There is no significant difference in the VO2max of elite XC skiers, cyclists, and middle distance runners when differences in body size are appropriately taken into account. (Marathon runners, OTOH, tend to have slightly lower VO2max values than those specializing at significantly shorter distances.)

Sevenrider said:

I would say I'm a fair cyclist 4000 mi more or less a year.
One of my goals is to become a better climber,hang on a little longer on the fast club rides,weight loss and over all fitness.
Indoor winter training is about 1.5 to 2 hrs 5-days a week .I do some wt trainning,some spinning,and I jog 3mi (5K) somewhere around 28 to 30 min.
On avg12 to 15 mi a week but only in the winter so I have to work up to that level and that takes some time.
I would be interested in learning some trainning methods to improve my running Thanks Mark

You're committed to a special type of training. Very diversified.

You describe yourself as being a fair cyclist, 4000mi a year. You often participate in challenging club rides and would like to get better uphill (which implies that you improve your watt/weight ratio).

On the other hand, you spend 7.5-10hrs/week doing *out of focus* activities, a third of which is dedicated to low intensity running.

You're asking if this can lead to cycling improvement.

I'd say that during this (cross training) *phase*, if it does, it will be by accident.

You're not committing yourself in this type of cross training (without any particular focus to your main sport), to improve your main sport. You're doing this because after all, it's off season. And you want to spend some time doing other activities that you like and make you feel good. If running doesn't make you feel good, or if you don't like it, then don't persist.

All that work might prepare you very well to the subsequent phase which should be more specific to cycling. In other words, by working on a wide spectrum of your fitness, you may facilitate improvement on the bike when you decide to put enough focus to it.

You may want to allow 3 good months of focussed cycling training before you need to be fit on the bike. With a 3-5 month long summer season. That's 6-8 months of dedicated cycling. That leaves you with 4-6 months of winter, diversified training.

I hope my post isn't too confusing..

acoggan said:

There is no significant difference in the VO2max of elite XC skiers, cyclists, and middle distance runners when differences in body size are appropriately taken into account. (Marathon runners, OTOH, tend to have slightly lower VO2max values than those specializing at significantly shorter distances.)

The highest VO2 max recorded was from a XC skier. Relatively speaking, of course. I can tell you my VO2 max would be higher running, because the more bent over at the waist I am the less power I can put out. It's too bad air drag doesn't decrease the more you sit up. Damn.

-bikeguy

bikeguy said:

The highest VO2 max recorded was from a XC skier. Relatively speaking, of course.

Why did you have to qualify that statement? VO2 max is an absolute value, where's the relativity part? 😕

sogood said:

Why did you have to qualify that statement? VO2 max is an absolute value, where's the relativity part? 😕

ml/kg/minute. The maximum consumption of O2 in mililiters per minute, divided by the mass of the athlete. 75-80 ml/kg/minute is what most good endurance athletes are around.

-bikeguy

SolarEnergy said:

You're committed to a special type of training. Very diversified.

You describe yourself as being a fair cyclist, 4000mi a year. You often participate in challenging club rides and would like to get better uphill (which implies that you improve your watt/weight ratio).

On the other hand, you spend 7.5-10hrs/week doing *out of focus* activities, a third of which is dedicated to low intensity running.

You're asking if this can lead to cycling improvement.

I'd say that during this (cross training) *phase*, if it does, it will be by accident.

You're not committing yourself in this type of cross training (without any particular focus to your main sport), to improve your main sport. You're doing this because after all, it's off season. And you want to spend some time doing other activities that you like and make you feel good. If running doesn't make you feel good, or if you don't like it, then don't persist.

All that work might prepare you very well to the subsequent phase which should be more specific to cycling. In other words, by working on a wide spectrum of your fitness, you may facilitate improvement on the bike when you decide to put enough focus to it.

You may want to allow 3 good months of focussed cycling training before you need to be fit on the bike. With a 3-5 month long summer season. That's 6-8 months of dedicated cycling. That leaves you with 4-6 months of winter, diversified training.

I hope my post isn't too confusing..

My goal is to become a better cyclist,I'm not sure what "focussed cycling training " is.I'm willing to learn though

Sevenrider said:

My goal is to become a better cyclist

But... do you like to run?

SolarEnergy said:

But... do you like to run?

Just do it to stay tuned up

Sevenrider said:

Just do it to stay tuned up

Not arguing here... but why not stay tuned up on the bike? Again, just a question to better know who you are, and what your beliefs are.

SolarEnergy said:

Not arguing here... but why not stay tuned up on the bike? Again, just a question to better know who you are, and what your beliefs are.

Well it gets cold here in the winter,limited day light and worse of all they salt the hell out of the roads!

Sevenrider said:

Well it gets cold here in the winter,limited day light and worse of all they salt the hell out of the roads!

Ever thought about buying a trainer?

Sevenrider said:

Well it gets cold here in the winter,limited day light and worse of all they salt the hell out of the roads!

Suddenly realized the need for A and Z bikes for some keen riders. 🙄