Ride Stronger, Faster, and Longer
Hello, and thank you for visiting Fit Masters!
My goal is to provide cyclists with the knowledge, tools, and support necessary to enhance their performance and overall fitness. By offering customized online training programs, and practical home gym solutions, I want to help cyclists reach their full potential and also continue cycling at a high level for many years ahead.
Below are the key benefits you’ll gain by investing in a customized strength training program from Fit Masters.
Ride Stronger - No matter how many miles you’re riding, if you’re not regularly strength training, you’re getting weaker. In fact muscles start to deteriorate by age 30. By age 40, it’s common to lose 8-10% of muscle mass every decade, which accelerates even faster after age 60.
Ride Faster – Strength training builds Type II muscle fibers which are the body’s power delivery engine that enables cyclists to sprint faster and use that larger gear when tackling difficult climbs.
Ride Longer – During challenging rides I often hear other riders yell “shut up legs!”. I never hear them yell “shut up lungs!”. That’s because typically leg muscles will fatigue before the lungs during long rides. What limits most cyclists from getting to the next level is lack of muscular power, not aerobic conditioning.
Fix Strength Imbalances – The repetitive cycling motion magnifies strength imbalances leading to reduced performance and eventually injuries. Completing exercises unilaterally helps identify and correct strength imbalances and additionally builds a stronger core.
Injury-Proof Your Body - The hunched over position cycling requires can lead to long term injuries, and time off the bike. Strength training improves muscle tone, increases joint mobility and range of motion, and improves posture, helping cyclists ride injury free.
Build Stronger Bones - If you’re over 40 and your training is limited to non-impact activities like cycling and swimming, you likely have osteoporosis. Strength training is a load-bearing activity that cues the body to build and strengthen the skeleton.
Improve Body Composition - Cyclists often focus on being lean, but a certain amount of muscle mass is crucial for performance. Strength training builds lean muscle mass, leading to increased power-to-weight ratio. Strength training also increases metabolism, aiding in fat loss, enabling cyclists to achieve a stronger and more efficient physique.
Save Time - Strength training delivers a larger dose of muscular stress than cycling, enabling you to gain significant time by replacing 2-3 hour rides each week with 1 hour strength training sessions.
I’m in my 60s and have consistently been strength training for several decades, reaping the benefits of improved fitness and overall well-being throughout this journey. I hope you find the information on this site helpful, and feel free to reach out to me at dave@fit-masters.com with any questions.