Science question...kinda

[benverner]

Last summer I got into cycling (bike riding, not steroids) because it is very beneficial to my back for some reason. I basically went from laying down as much as possible to being able to lift again. My back is starting to crap out again and I need to get back on the bike or at least I think it will help and I can keep on the iron, either that or the other solution is a fusion which will put me in bed for 2-3 months. I bulked up nicely this winter and am starting to power lift competitively this summer. I'm at 230 @5'11" now and around 15% BF and will compete @ 220. So there is the background.

My question is this, what effect will the "long distance" (basically SS cardio for 1-2 hours)cycling have on my strength and how do I keep my body comp where it is now or better while doing that. During this time I will still be lifting heavy 4-5 days a week.

My concern is that on those long rides I will catabolize muscle and if I am over feeding to compensate for the cycling I will store those calories as fat because of the type of stress I am putting on my body. The ol' case of the sprinter vs the marathon runner.

Would I be better to hit a 5 mile "sprint" ride in the morning and then again after lifting or will it even matter, am I just doomed to waste away to nothing if I have to ride.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Cut the distance and add some stability work. I certainly wouldn't do much over 20 minutes of cycling and probably would avoid it. Without knowing the nature of your injury I don't want to give you specific exercises to do. I would honestly see a PT about it, they can hook you up.

 

[benverner]

Well I have a Spondylolysis and a grade II Spondylolisthesis which basically means my vertebrea is broken where the joints are and it is slipping into my stomach...not good by any stretch. I've been through it all man, PT's, massage, accupuncture, for some reason the way my muscles move on the bike really helps. This is #1 proirity obviously, just wondering if there is a way to limit all the bad stuff that comes from it like catabolism etc. I worked my ass off to put on a really solid 30 lbs this winter and I'd hate to see it burned away.

 

[Dale Mabry]

Aside from eating, which won't help too much, I don't think much will help. I guess if you did the high volume cycling with lower volume resistance training for a while and then dropping the bike and going to to higher volume training every so often would be the best bet for you.

 

[benverner]

yeah I was thinking of treating it like mini bulk and cut cycles. For 2 weeks I can hit the bike 3-4 times a week while keeping my diet in line, then transition to 2 weeks where I do maybe one longish ride but hitting the iron as hard as I can and eat clean but for size during that period. Maybe the transitions will cause me to be more suseptible to my caloric intake and training and I can put on some size those two weeks and then take some blubber off the riding 2 weeks. Of course if I can't go a week in between rides without getting screwed up it will all be for nothing and I'll look like a concentration camp victim.