Strength / Weight Training

You want pretty then these

Bowflex http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/817Sl-L8vXS._SL1500_.jpg

But apparently the best are the powerblocks... Plus they have expansion packs!

Yes I've heard mixed reports on the Bowflex select tech , if you go this option I would pick between the powerblocks or Ironmaster although shipping / availability in the U.K. might be a problem .

http://www.ironmaster.com/Quick-Lock-Dumbbells/#.UoU5Ft18MzJ

To be fair, variable systems will never be as solid as welded iron.

Have to accept that. And they'll also be stupid expensive and rare.

But apparently the best are the powerblocks... Plus they have expansion packs!

What's wrong with plate dumbbells ?

I had those.

They're actually a serious pain in the ass to change. Also leaves plates lying around.

Cheap tho.

I'm just uber lazy.

Oh and they had an annoying wobble... the plates sit on thread they aren't stable.

I had those.

They're actually a serious pain in the ass to change. Also leaves plates lying around.

Cheap tho.

I'm just uber lazy.

True but it does mean you can use your standard 1" thread weights on your dumbbells too

You can get 1" dumb bell bars which take spring collars. I have some and they are just as good if not better than pro gym dumb bells. If you get long bars you can get a fuckload of weight on there, plus the plates are still free to spin, making it easier to get them into pressing position.

These I find aesthetically the most pleasing.

Hi folks there is two threads on the track forum but wanted something more general with less metrics.

Just wondered has anyone supplemented their riding with squats as someone that has suffered with patellar chondromalacia I've noticed that squats and dead lifts have aided my recovery back onto the bike.

Would be interested in others sharing their stories of any noticable change they had

"patellar chondromalacia"

Is typically absurd bullshit medical jargon. It does not really mean anything other than pain at the front of the knee.

I also have a buggered right knee and hip, the squats make the knee better but the hip worse. Deadlifts are kind of neutral. Its hard to generalise with this sort of thing though. I have had trauma to my knee ligaments and also have FAI and a labrum tear in the hip. The loading of joints and muscles in things like the squat will vary enormously with body proportions and technique. Squatting one way could make things a lot better, squatting another way could make things a lot worse. A combo of good and bad is quite typical. If you are lifting hard enough to achieve anything you are also lifting hard enough to get wear and tear and risk further injury,

My love of lifting is bad for my cycling as I'm too much of a heffer to stand a chance on climbs.

Deep squats are good for the knees if you do it properly. Builds up the muscles that protect the joint. Partial squats, apart from being wussy, actually put much more strain on the knees because you have to use that part of the leg to stop the descent and push back, rather than bouncing out of the squat.

I've found that leg presses and squats have done wonders for my knees. I still get some swelling, but no pain, and the swelling is much reduced. I'd had real pain, swelling etc in my knees for years from skiing and football.

Playing 5s twice a week as well and not currently having any real pain at all. Definitely work the squats and leg presses IMO.

Deep squats are good for the knees if you do it properly. Builds up the muscles that protect the joint. Partial squats, apart from being wussy, actually put much more strain on the knees because you have to use that part of the leg to stop the descent and push back, rather than bouncing out of the squat.

Bouncing is cheating though ;-)

But yeah, you're right - bad form will wreck your knees but good form should protect them.

You know what I mean ;) Glutes and hams should be doing the work, not knees taking the strain.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Pumping Iron, I'm Cumming, The Pump - YouTube

To Chris Hoy, Do you even lift bro?

His reply?

IMG 0795 - YouTube

I deadlifted 200kg (with hitching and wobbling meaning no lift really).

Feel free to laugh at me looking like a fool.

I am still crap on a bike.

^That's you done for the day. Good effort!

Nice. The beard and aggression makes it look like there is another 100 on the bar though lol.

^That's you done for the day. Good effort!

It really was, and the day after.

Nice. The beard and aggression makes it look like there is another 100 on the bar though lol.

Ha, got to start somewhere. Was my first time deadlifting in about two months. Only really go to the gym to squat to rehabilitate my knee (broke kneecap July last year) and my deadlift has been going up with my squat so I just test it now and then. As you can see though, I now probably need to do dedicated DL training to unfuck the top half of the lift. Rack pulls or something.

200 is great, just saying your beard makes you look even stronger. Like Eddy Hall!

I also have had a habit of looking demented/like dying/sparta when lifting, people used to always run and spot me or ask if I was ok because I used to mash out ugly overly heavy lifts with my eyeballs bulging.

I can only pull about 160 right now, but I have to be extremely strict on technique as my spine cant take it anymore. So I do them more like a clean pull. I find that lifting within self imposed restrictions of extremely good technique (therefore lower intensity) allows for both a greater training effect and faster recovery, you can train more often and get moar gainz.

I can show you a dead easy method of getting that maximal hitched 200 to be a perfect form 5 reps in just a few weeks. But the key will be lower intensity, shit loads of volume but holding well back from maximal intensity or failure.

If I knuckle down and do the same thing, I could probably get 5x200 but more like by the end of the year, with consistent work, problem is my training is not at all consistent right now!

Do you even shave bro?