View Poll Results: Does losing body weight help cycling performance?
Yes
98
98.99%
No
1
1.01%
Voters: 99. You may not vote on this poll
Does losing weight help your cycling performance?
04-12-11, 09:10 AM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Does losing weight help your cycling performance?
Assuming that you are doing the same amount of riding before weight loss.
Is it the same argument as losing bike weight compared to body weight? In other words, is losing 5 lbs of body weight same as making your bike 5 lbs lighter?
Is it the same argument as losing bike weight compared to body weight? In other words, is losing 5 lbs of body weight same as making your bike 5 lbs lighter?
04-12-11, 09:17 AM
#3
Descends like a rock
Of course. Fat is not only weight, but more tissue to keep oxygenated and bloodflow to. Now, if you are already lean and you lose muscle, maybe not so great.
04-12-11, 09:20 AM
#5
ride lots be safe
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It's better (generally) to lose body weight instead of bike weight. Sure, 5 lbs is 5 lbs, but 5 lbs off of an already light road bike, means a lot of $ and some durability compromises. But 5 lbs off of the old belly flab just means better fitness and you look better at the beach.
04-12-11, 09:26 AM
#6
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So, if all else equals, and I lose body fat %, then I should see performance on the bike.
04-12-11, 09:26 AM
#7
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04-12-11, 09:32 AM
#8
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What do you think? IF you see a 300lbs pound runner, would you venture to guess that his performance would increase if he lost 20-30 pounds? ofcourse! He'd be lighter, have to carry less weight, put less stress in his joints, not have to oxygenate all that extra fat,etc.
Common sense would tell you that a cyclist would see similar benefits.
04-12-11, 09:33 AM
#9
Full Member
04-12-11, 09:39 AM
#10
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04-12-11, 09:41 AM
#11
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Yes, losing weight helps. I started this bike riding thing at 312lbs back in Feb/2011. I am down to 296lbs as of today, 4/12/2011.
I can tell a difference.
I can tell a difference.
04-12-11, 09:44 AM
#12
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04-12-11, 09:48 AM
#13
Bulldozer
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Depends. In general, yes, but not always, and there's a point where getting too light can hurt you. I lost a lot of weight when I started riding. I got a whole lot stronger. Then I got really really light and got a whole lot weaker.
Now I'm pretty light and pretty strong. I could still use a lot more of both, though.
I have one teammate who is VERY light and VERY lean. She is a monster on the hills but she really suffers in a lot of races because she just can't put out enough power. I have another teammate who looks really really big. She's heavy. But, she puts out so much power that she just rides away from everyone, even on the hills. It comes down to w/kg, and the w part can be just as important as the kg.
Now I'm pretty light and pretty strong. I could still use a lot more of both, though.
I have one teammate who is VERY light and VERY lean. She is a monster on the hills but she really suffers in a lot of races because she just can't put out enough power. I have another teammate who looks really really big. She's heavy. But, she puts out so much power that she just rides away from everyone, even on the hills. It comes down to w/kg, and the w part can be just as important as the kg.
04-12-11, 09:54 AM
#14
Senior Member
Wow, just wow!
I don't know!! How about getting a backpack and putting 30lbs in it and try riding with it.
Then try riding with out the 30lbs and you tell me.
Where is umd when you need him?
I don't know!! How about getting a backpack and putting 30lbs in it and try riding with it.
Then try riding with out the 30lbs and you tell me.
Where is umd when you need him?
04-12-11, 09:56 AM
#15
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Don't know, but cycling sure helps my weight loss performance... 
-Bert
-Bert
04-12-11, 10:12 AM
#16
Senior Member
duh
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"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
04-12-11, 10:24 AM
#17
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If you only race in flat crits or TTs, or on the track, it probably doesn't matter. Once the road points up, it matters much.
04-12-11, 10:27 AM
#19
grilled cheesus
least amount of weight without losing power = yes.
and i vote duh.
later.
and i vote duh.
later.
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04-12-11, 10:40 AM
#21
These Guys Eat Oreos
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Anytime you are making it easier on gravity, you are making it easier on yourself. It will almost always help your performance.
Now, if you look like a concentration camp person, then gaining weight may help, but for 99% of people losing weight will help in some way.
Now, if you look like a concentration camp person, then gaining weight may help, but for 99% of people losing weight will help in some way.
04-12-11, 10:47 AM
#22
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I think I'm currently the poster boy for the opposite: "does gaining weight hurt your cycling performance?" I'm 10lbs heavier than the end of last season. I didn't have a PM then but based on my speed on the flats, I'm pretty sure I've gained power. But climbing right now is terrible, just terrible.
04-12-11, 11:20 AM
#25
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