Body Fat Precentage

from what i remember in health classes top atheletes in highly aerobic sports (cycling, running, triatholons, etc) are generally around 7% i THINK

with cycling it would make sense to have a low %BF because you gotta carry around all that weight and if it ain't helpin ya, it's hurtin ya, you need some fat but not too much, this is all just from what i remember from 4 years ago

the higher your power output / weight ratio is, the faster a rider you'll be

I don't think it really matters; however, it would appear that elite cyclists and other long-distance athletes typically have a low body fat as a result of all the calories they burn.

weight is the enemy of speed. less fat=less weight=more speed. I currently sit at 8% body fat and I feel great. Ive heard if you dip much below 5% you start to feel like [censored] all the time because your body wasn't designed to run with that little fat.

i'm at 13% after i was 8% for a long time. When i was at 8 i was always getting ill and feeling tired, now i'm at 13 i feel way stronger, dont get ill and am a bit quicker!

I have 5,5% fat (measured in fitness club) but I still think I have more (on some parts of the body) and too much for a cyclist! I don`t know where others have all fat, or they have less than 5%!😕

darthkeys said:

I was wondering; What are the highs and lows for body fat for most of the elite and norvice cyclist?. Or does it matter. Any ideas.

Remember that if your bodyfat percentage is too high it wil la... dee ...dah...deeh..dah. Actually, unless you feel you have (and really have) a weight problem - body fat won't matter that much when you train enough - the fat will dissapear soon enough.
I am not an expert, but I know for a fact that if the percentage drops too much your immune system drop too and that opens you up for all sorts of excuses to stop training - flu, colds, allergies and the likes. If you feel good, train well and recover fast (listen to your body) you are doing it right (especially the recovery)

drean

According to this site, male cycling athletes usually fall in the 5% to 15% range and female cycling athletes in the 15% to 20% range. I'm sure the elites in either group would be in the lower end of their respective spectrum.

jamisbiker91 said:

weight is the enemy of speed. less fat=less weight=more speed. .

On hills only.