Quoted post said:Originally Posted by fergie [IMG]/img/forum/go_quote.gif[/IMG]
I coach several Downhill cyclists where crashing is a part of the game. There is nothing one can do in the weights room to prepare them for the crashes they sustain. It is time that would be better spent developing skill, if well skilled roadies should teach others and everyone should practice safe cycling when out on the roads.
Disagree. There's indeed a benefit to having overall strength and balance throughout the kinetic chain. Everyone, regardless of whether they're cyclists or not, should be working to maintain functional strength and correcting muscle imbalances and postural abnormalities.
Another factor that's relevant to cyclists, particularly cyclists who are likely to crash, is what weight bearing strength exercises do to bone density. Many cyclists who have been riding for years begin to lose bone density, particularly in the upper body. This makes them more likely to break that collarbone when they go down....or suffer back issues from weakening vertebrae. A strong back and core can help a downhiller with his initial jump to gain speed, and upper body muscle density, tendon strength and strong bone development can help prevent injury when he inevitably goes down.
I understand specificity to one's sport, but there almost seems to be a dogmatic phobia of anything that hints at weight training.
