# Strength Training Versus Core Exercises for the Optimization of Road Cycling **URL:** \ **Category:** Training\ **Created:** [December 29, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424 "2023-12-29T01:34:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Cog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@The\_Cog](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/The_Cog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 1:34am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/1 "2023-12-29T01:34:22Z")
Speaking of resistance training, this preprint is typical of the questionable research in this area. Is it really that surprising that adding intense training sessions of _any_ type can improve performance over doing nothing but low/moderate intensity cycling? The real question is what happens when you are pushing the limits…is it better to do an interval workout on the bike, or spend that “adaptive energy” (Hans Selye’s term) in the gym? (Obviously that’s a rhetorical question, as it would of course depend on who you are, your goals, the time of season, etc) Unfortunately, I am not aware of any studies that have addressed that question. [https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202312.2177/v1/download](https://www.preprints.org/manuscript/202312.2177/v1/download) (Note for those unfamiliar with preprints: this article has yet to undergo peer review, and so may change before actual acceptance and publication…or may never be formally published at all. So for now, take it with a grain of salt.) ---
**Author:** ![KWcycling](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/kwcycling/32/72152_2.png) [@KWcycling](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/KWcycling)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 3:49am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/2 "2023-12-29T03:49:22Z")
No descriptive stats tables of the participants within each group. Seems a bit odd but maybe that’s normal for the discipline? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Cog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@The\_Cog](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/The_Cog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 11:52am UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/3 "2023-12-29T11:52:49Z")
You mean beyond what’s shown in Table 1? They did compare other baseline characteristics (e.g., VO2max) statistically, but yeah, including the actual values would improve the manuscript. Parallel-arm studies like this are far less common in exercise physiology/sports science than other study designs, so hard to say what’s the norm. ---
**Author:** ![hubba](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/hubba/32/92153_2.png) [@hubba](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/hubba)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 12:24pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/4 "2023-12-29T12:24:22Z")
I’m a bit confused, first you keep telling us strength training does not improve cycling performance and now you post a study that shows the opposite? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Cog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@The\_Cog](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/The_Cog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 1:31pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/5 "2023-12-29T13:31:22Z")
Did you not read my post/the study? ---
**Author:** ![hubba](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/hubba/32/92153_2.png) [@hubba](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/hubba)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 1:48pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/6 "2023-12-29T13:48:29Z")
I did, maybe I missed something. So you’re now saying if you’re not at the limit of training load you can handle strength training might help? Or the strength training only helped because they did no high intensity on the bike? That’s still quite a big leap from strength training is useless. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Cog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de053/32.png) [@The\_Cog](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/The_Cog)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 2:34pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/7 "2023-12-29T14:34:57Z")
According to _ **this** _ (unpublished) study, weight training may help if you’re not doing anything _ **but** _ low/moderate intensity cycling 4 d/wk. According to a number of other (published) studies, it does nothing. AFAIK, no one has compared doing resistance training versus more intensity on the bike (which is the real question). IOW, I shared the preprint because 1) it was timely, and 2) it illustrates the limitations of the research in this area, not as an endorsement of resistance training. ---
**Author:** ![WindWarrior](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/trainerroad/forum/user_avatar/www.trainerroad.com/windwarrior/32/84679_2.png) [@WindWarrior](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/u/WindWarrior)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2023, 5:01pm UTC](https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/strength-training-versus-core-exercises-for-the-optimization-of-road-cycling/89424/8 "2023-12-29T17:01:12Z")
Ok, this is tongue in cheek, but if my body needs to get stronger to consistently train on the bike, isn’t that a form of optimization? 😜🤜🤛 No answer requested or required.