Bicycling and lifting?

[lyorn]

This year, I bicycle to work most days, for a daily total of at least 38 km (about 24 miles). It's easy going, level, good roads, not much wind, and good for my mood. Still it's two hours of exercise, and my legs are tired at the end of the day, despite 2300 km (1400somthing miles) of practise this year so far.

I haven't lifted much during the summer, and now really need to go back to the gym. But I don't feel like doing sqauts, lunges and deadlifts after a day's bicycling.

What to do? Commute by car one or two days a week and go to the gym on those days? Or just stop at the gym on the way home, and hope the muscles will sort themselves out? If the latter: Better reduce the weight on the leg exercises, or reduce repetitions?

Comments

[faesdeynia]

I think the easiest thing, until you know how weight lifting is going to affect your bicycling, would be to commute by car on lifting days. I find it's easiest to reduce reps but increase weight.

If you get to a point where you feel like you have sufficient energy after a workout, then try adding bicycling too. If you haven't been lifting in a while, DOMS may make it hard for you to bike the next day, too.

Or, if you have a backup (ie, someone who can pick you up if you completely run out of juice) you could try biking and lifting together.

[lyorn]

Fortunately, I live only 2 km from the gym, so even in the complete worst case I could call a taxi and walk back to pick up my bike the next day. But I'm more worried about dropping a bar bell!

As the gym opens only at 10 am, going there before work is not an option. Also, I'm not very "together" in the morning.

[faesdeynia]

Ooh, well that changes things! I'd say just try it out and see how it goes.

[oracne]

I would go with fewer reps, more weight - that seems to have more positive benefit for me, at least, and it takes less time! Maybe so far as the biking/driving goes, you could try it both ways on different weeks, and see how you feel.

[lyorn]

it takes less time

Good point!