Cycling-Related Strength & Conditioning

It's not a lot, is it. Less than an inch. Would it really cause any serious longterm problems to carry on as you have been doing, letting your body do it's much-practised minor compensation thing?

I think I have to try mechanical compensation to see if it makes a difference.

22mm is quite a lot for bike positions, put one of your hoods 22mm further away and see if it's weird.

Seeing as people use blocks and shims to make up leg discrepancies, it seems logical to do the same for arms? especially if you look at the physical dynamics of a standing start.

Maybe it doesn't matter, I guess I have to try something to find out.

I seem to have a minor arm length discrepancy - left hand always naturally rests a little further back than the right - 10mm maybe? I experimented with offset stem/moving hood aft - didn't really help.

You'd probably best not look at my cleat position discrepancy ;)

Apologies for just "wading" in here...
I'm not sure if you've considered that arm length discrepancies can often occur because of tension within the upper fibres of the trapezius. Won't go in to too much detail - but this is very common - and presents with slight elevation of either scapulae...

Yes, but he's saying he's measured bone lengths in arms. A way to make sure of this, though of course it's not an exact length, is to measure from the notch that the tendon of the long head of the biceps brachii goes through.

Find the end of your clavicle and move down slightly. You'll feel a thing that kind of feels like linguine - this is the tendon. rotate your arm at the shoulder, only about a centimetre or so, and you'll feel the slight rise on either side. that is, if your deltoids aren't so massively masculine that you can' feel past them.

[QUOTE=jayloo;1736039]Yes, but he's saying he's measured bone lengths in arms./QUOTE]

Ah.
Sorry!

My view on this (and its just a view as I have no real knowledge in this area) is should there be a difference its best to let your body continue doing what it has for the last 30 plus years and coping with it.

I discovered yesterday (and not before time) that my right arm is significantly longer than my left, about 20mm.
When deadlifting in front of a mirror I could see my left shoulder was dropped right down with the bar level. It immediately felt better once I squared up my shoulders by dropping the bar on the right side to take up the difference. Also the wrist/forearm pain from the left arm I was having disappeared.

Obviously there are going to be implications for things involving the barbell here, should I block up one side of the bar by 20mm so when I lift off the floor I am working evenly? Or simply adjust grip width until bar and shoulders are level?

There are also bike fitting connotations here, do I try to mod my handlebars to keep my body square on when hands are evenly holding the drops?

Lifting wise,

Have you tried to use your shorter* longer arm reversed grip for the deadlifts? (*edited typo)

I have no idea if this works on other people, but I personally cannot deadlift very well at all with a mixed grip as it drops the shoulder of the reversed side significantly, more than the flexibility of my hamstrings/glutes will allow, leaving me with a very wonky looking deadlift.

So I always use hook grip. But for you, this effect may help?

My view on this (and its just a view as I have no real knowledge in this area) is should there be a difference its best to let your body continue doing what it has for the last 30 plus years and coping with it.

If one arm is longer it is very likely that he may bend the arm while lifting because there is "slack" to take up, something begging for a bicep tear.

I've noticed while I am riding my road bike that I bend the right arm whilst the left arm is straight as a sort of natural compensation. Not sure if that's good or bad.

DFP, I haven't tried reverse grip ever, thanks for the idea.

Update:

I've been taking the train in the mornings, riding to clients' homes, and riding home. I started to eat "power porridge", as my friend calls it, with yogurt, chopped cashews, dark chocolate (no cacao nibs in Tesco Express), dried fruit. It's a) awesome, and b) keeping me fuller, longer.

I'm doing my maintenance weights once per week (squats and presses). Although they have some knock-on benefit for cycling, they're done more to maintain muscle mass (masters age), and to help me avoid injury when I'm i) lugging crates/piles of books around all afternoon, and ii) doing stuff like giving my 15kg son a piggyback for a few miles at a time :)

The trouble with once a week (particularly if I miss a week due to illness or something), is the associated DOMS. I'm doing these immediately after getting in from a short commute – so I'm cardiovascularly warmed up – and I complete some warm-up reps too (bar-only, and 50% weight). Plus this is usually followed by stretching.

It's not too bad, TBH. And things are greatly improved by doing a bike-based session the following evening – if I miss that, the DOMS persist for an extra 24hrs.

I'm just wondering whether I should chuck in 1 set of squats a few days later (on a scheduled active recovery day) to help maintain the 'neuromuscular memory' a little more, and therefore lessen the weekly DOMS…?

@jayloo - glad your new regime is working out :)

Update:

I've been taking the train in the mornings, riding to clients' homes, and riding home. I started to eat "power porridge", as my friend calls it, with yogurt, chopped cashews, dark chocolate (no cacao nibs in Tesco Express), dried fruit. It's a) awesome, and b) keeping me fuller, longer.

You want the "Train-in this Winter" thread...

"JC, JC, JC is on fire
JC, JC, JC is on fire
JC, JC, JC is on fire
We don't need no water let the motherfucker burn
Burn motherfucker burn"

BMMF - I am totally relating to the DOMS thing.
I am currently having to lower myself onto the toilet/office chair in an awfully bizarre way, after squats and step ups on wednesday...
winces
(Not sure you needed the toilet info.... hey ho, we're all friends here. Right? Right?)

Step-ups / lunges are the worst for DOMS, init. Hope you feel better by the end of the weekend, and stop scaring people in the toilets at work with your strange noises from the cubicle.

Brilliant....... that statement says to me that you too have made those noises.
wipes a tear from laughing

any of you super heros got to turbo trainer or spinning classes during the winter ?

I have nothing against spinning classes, but the ones near me use frickin disco lights in a darkened room, spinning to a soundtrack of german uber-techno. I didn't know whether to exercise, or rave my tits off.

I have nothing against spinning classes, but the ones near me use frickin disco lights in a darkened room, spinning to a soundtrack of german uber-techno. I didn't know whether to exercise, or rave my tits off.
cool where do I sign up Euro techno is the best
i hate the turbo at home its so boring and thought about trying spinning

You want the "Train-in this Winter" thread...

Ah, I would, 'cept I've been discussing strength-related issues on this thread, which began to touch on food needs, etc.

^surely you've not missed JC's scintillating play on words?

Step-ups / lunges are the worst for DOMS, init.

And full squats.

Glutes and adductor magnus and all that shit blud. Giving you right hassle isn't it?

You'll always get DOMS (if you are prone to them) when having done a session after a lay off, or not getting enough food in after a work out.

I don't find that a recovery ride or bike based session the next day makes any difference if I am getting them, then I'm getting them.

Been sore since Tuesday's gym session (reason 1) but am too ill to train now so I'll have another lay off before getting back on it.
Firstly I need to stop having dizzy spells and stop feeling like I'm on a cross channel ferry all day and stop being knackered and nauseas all the time, might be nice not to have the headaches too.

Reckon then I might start training again.

And sumo deadlifts.

I didn't get them when weights were a 2 or 3 times a week deal. Weekly seems to be okay, but I'm still considering an anti-DOMS set on a Friday (after Monday weights) in case Monday doesn't happen for one reason or another.

Sorry to hear you're ill. Just coming out the other side of something. My immune system was compromised by the TNRC all-nighter in shit conditions, and the global germpool at UCL got the upper hand.

I've got labyrinthitis, it's fuckin horrible.