An Easier Ride With Weight Training and Cycling Performance

Bicycling is a fantastic pastime, a fun way to stay in shape that doesn't place too much pressure on joints, making it less tiring than other forms of exercise. Beyond being a source of exercise, bicycling is a popular recreational activity on a pretty day and a preferred method of travel in many areas around the world. To increase your cycling performance, you can use other exercises in a complementary manner. Weight training and cycling performance go hand in hand.

Building Up Your Muscles

For difficult stretches of road or path, such as going up a steep incline, you need not only to be aerobically fit, but your muscles need to be strong enough to propel you upwards. Here, weight training and cycling performance are especially important. If your muscles aren't large enough, you may find it too difficult to go up a steep incline, and you may be stuck walking your bike up the path. However, weight training and cycling performance also affects the overall enjoyability of any biking experience, no matter how easy or difficult. Having stronger muscles will make any biking trip easier, and you can enjoy the outdoors much more readily.

So how does one go about combining weight training and cycling performance? The first muscles that come to mind are in the legs, such as your quadriceps and calves. The weight training equipment usually costs thousands of dollars, so you may find it in your best interest to simply pick up a low cost monthly gym membership in your area for access to all the weight lifting equipment you'll ever need. If you don't want to go to just a gym such as Gold's, you can check out the gym at your local YMCA for a more laid back atmosphere and get access to other activities such as swimming and basketball as well.

However, there is more to weight training and cycling performance than just your legs. A stronger back will make a long cycling trip more enjoyable because your back might get tired otherwise in that position. Arm, stomach, and shoulder muscles can also get tired, so you will want to work out all the muscles. Even if you don't plan on losing any weight, weight lifting can tone and build muscle and make you feel better about yourself. In fact, regular exercise is a recommended deterrent to depression, so there really isn't any reason why you shouldn't get to the gym three times or so a week. To make your cycling experience more enjoyable, try out weight lifting and cycling performance.