Bicycling Maximum Overload for Cyclists: A Radical Strength-Based Program for Improved Speed and Endurance in Half the Time

by Roy M. Wallack, Jacques DeVore

Bicycling Maximum Overload for Cyclists is a radical strength-based training program aimed at increasing cycling speed, athletic longevity, and overall health in half the training time. Rather than improving endurance by riding longer distances, you’ll learn how to do it by reducing your riding time and adding heavy strength and power training. Traditionally cyclists and endurance athletes have avoided strength and power training, believing that the extra muscle weight will slow them down, but authors Jacques DeVore and Roy M. Wallack show that exactly the opposite is true.The Maximum Overload program uses weightlifting to create sustainable power and improved speed while drastically reducing training time and eliminating the dreaded deterioration that often occurs during the second half of a ride. A 40-minute Maximum Overload workout, done once or twice a week, can replace a long day in the saddle and lead to even better results.This comprehensive program includes unique takes on diet, interval training, hard and easy training, and sustainable power. Backed by the most trusted authority in the sport, Bicycling Maximum Overload for Cyclists is a book that no cyclist should be without.

Genres: Cycling, Health, Nonfiction, Fitness

237 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 13, 2017

Reviews

[Drew · Rating 2 out of 5]

Helpful gym routine that intuitively makes sense for cyclists (once you spend the time piecing it all together through the terrible organized book). BUT it’s presented horribly, written in constant reference to someone else’s ideas, a bunch of unsubstantiated nutrition advice, and lots of fluff in between. The core comes down to a helpful routine for cyclists that could have been clearly written in a short pamphlet.

[Dave Palmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting training concept - one that I will try - but it is not presented as cleanly as it could have been. The hard information about the exercises and workouts is buried in rabid sales pitches and testimonial-style anecdotes, which get rather tiring. But if you have the patience to filter out that stuff, the core ideas will be of interest to cyclists looking to improve their performance.

[Eric Moon · Rating 1 out of 5]

The conclusions throughout this book are entirely specious. The premise is that most cyclists need to lift weights, but the regimen is nothing new for anyone (except maybe the cyclists who have never touched a barbell). It's a questionable regimen which could be summed up as the following:

You go from pedaling fast to not pedaling at all, but can't stop for very long because then you would
stop. In order to compensate for this, you're going to lift weights; since you don't want to actually
get bigger, instead you can build strength by taking regular sets, splitting them into small sets at
high weights, and taking small breaks.

Cyclists need to exert power on the pedals, but also need to stay light, so their focus tends to be on building strength; this still means building muscle at some point. The reasonable answer is to learn how to do squats and zero in on leg day, but instead we're going to do full body exercises at high weights with short reps (again, basic powerlifting plan) but we're also going to take short breaks instead of taking enough time to adequately rest.

The real value is in doing squats, rows, deadlifts, core exercises, leg press, hip extensions, and the seated leg machines at your local gym. Unfortunately, this is a spoiler because the book has more content devoted to selling you on the premise than how to actually do the things mentioned by the authors.

[Garrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explains why and how to develop a strength program for improving speed and endurance on a road bike.

There were some interesting ideas in here, and I will certainly be using some of them for my own training. But, I did not agree with everything they taught or the conclusions they drew. I did find it strange that they included some diet info in here, especially since they advocate for a program that has not been tested in the long term and is mainly just fad.

I would recommend other books over this one for those who are bike training, such as the ones from Joe Friel, but there are some parts of this book that might prove useful after getting a strong base in science-backed work.

[Martin Jones · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starting with the premise that it's OK for cyclists to lift weights, the authors present a hodgepodge of cross-fit, paleo, and mobility exercises topped off with some new acronyms to justify the price of the book. Not to say that there are not valid ideas - I just needed to sift through a bunch of motivational talk and anecdotes to find them.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent ideas.

The book is difficult to read. The main ideas are interspersed throughout several chapters, and there's no summary of "here's what to do." That would have been most helpful for a book outlining a training program of this complexity.

Weak on supporting data. The plural of anecdote is not data.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good primer on how to lift weights for a cyclist (like me) who doesn't know a thing about that. While somewhat repetitive about the reasoning for the recommended exercises (the title basically says it all), the book explained the methodology and science behind it well. I can't really offer a testimonial, yet, but I'm excited to work out some mobility issues and start hitting the weights.

[Gwendolyn Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well Researched and Good Examples

The concept is well explained, if a bit repetitive. Backed by solid science, the book motivates a rider to give Max Overload a try for all the right reasons. I’d like to see a chart or graphic showing the plan outline.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to follow. Left with more questions than answers

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful and helpful book for the cyclist.

[Joyce Brehm · Rating 2 out of 5]

The factual matter and principles are sound but the book is very poorly edited. The organization of material could be much better.

[Rich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and compelling concept around strength training. However, the book has an incredible amount of useless fluff. The point could have been made in a 3000-word blog article.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of great info: strength training, diet, real life examples, training suggestions

[Meg]

Weights for the cyclists! build your bones before you become a hunch-back old person. Also stay stronger through your races.