Cardio question

[Nihility]

in two months, im going to be starting my first "cut"

i started working out in november, so i havent had the time to incorporate my obsession with mountain biking into my workouts, and ill be cutting right when i graduate, aka when i start biking again over the summer.


i bike 1-2 hours a day during the summer, and i dont want to lose much muscle mass - will i even really NEED to do cardio?
its pretty intense, 5-10 miles per day (lots of up/down kill stuff, nothing really flat, usually have to pump in a reallllly low gear as hard as possible to get up a hill)
im usually out there 1-2 hours, depending on the trail per day doing this during the summer (im thinkign this is why i was 5'9 135 lbs before i started lifting) i know people say to take it slow and not overdo the cardio to avoid losing muscle mass, so should i just eat a lot cleaner, reduce some of my carbs (aka dont take weight gainer shakes), and keep lifting.

this 1-2 hours of pretty intense mountain biking 5-6 days a week is good cardio for a cut?

[MassMan]

in two months, im going to be starting my first "cut"

i started working out in november, so i havent had the time to incorporate my obsession with mountain biking into my workouts, and ill be cutting right when i graduate, aka when i start biking again over the summer.


i bike 1-2 hours a day during the summer, and i dont want to lose much muscle mass - will i even really NEED to do cardio?
its pretty intense, 5-10 miles per day (lots of up/down kill stuff, nothing really flat, usually have to pump in a reallllly low gear as hard as possible to get up a hill)
im usually out there 1-2 hours, depending on the trail per day doing this during the summer (im thinkign this is why i was 5'9 135 lbs before i started lifting) i know people say to take it slow and not overdo the cardio to avoid losing muscle mass, so should i just eat a lot cleaner, reduce some of my carbs (aka dont take weight gainer shakes), and keep lifting.

this 1-2 hours of pretty intense mountain biking 5-6 days a week is good cardio for a cut?

I wouldn't recommend biking everyday at that level of intensity.... seems like you would be "overtraining" your legs.... try walking on a treadmill @ the steepest incline for 30 minutes 4 days for the 1st week, 35 minutes 2nd week, and so on... I don't bike THAT much on a cut, just enough to get a sweat storm going for me... but if that works, more power to ya.

[sanga]

Everyday is a lot however if that waht you want to do then do it mate, get extra calories down to be sure you don`t start losing mass, you may want to cut back a touch on your gym sessions, or condense bodyparts at least, plenty of rest at other times.


I see no reason why you would need to do extra cardio, you could see how it goes and add some if need be, more likely you will need to be eating much more.

Holding your mass will depend on your diet.

[Nihility]

ya, now that i think of it, ill be lifting 3 days a week still most likely, so ill be biking on the days i dont lift, therefore it'd only be like 3 days a week.

ya, its a hobby, its something i do for fun/the love of it, i never really looked at it as "cardio" but im kinda realizing it, with the right diet, would work very well along with lifting 3 days a week for a cut.
basically, ill be working out mon, wed, fri, prolly go easy on the legs weights wise, and bike whenever i want (prolly 3 days a week considering lifting 3 days a week also) so ill bike tues, thurs, and one day on the weekend depending when i work.


also - ive never cut before, so what should i do lifting wise? just keep lifting the same i am now, and keep the weight the same?

[Enforcer]

in two months, im going to be starting my first "cut"

i started working out in november, so i havent had the time to incorporate my obsession with mountain biking into my workouts, and ill be cutting right when i graduate, aka when i start biking again over the summer.


i bike 1-2 hours a day during the summer, and i dont want to lose much muscle mass - will i even really NEED to do cardio?
its pretty intense, 5-10 miles per day (lots of up/down kill stuff, nothing really flat, usually have to pump in a reallllly low gear as hard as possible to get up a hill)
im usually out there 1-2 hours, depending on the trail per day doing this during the summer (im thinkign this is why i was 5'9 135 lbs before i started lifting) i know people say to take it slow and not overdo the cardio to avoid losing muscle mass, so should i just eat a lot cleaner, reduce some of my carbs (aka dont take weight gainer shakes), and keep lifting.

this 1-2 hours of pretty intense mountain biking 5-6 days a week is good cardio for a cut?

Thats way too much bro. Ur def gonna start loosing some muscle if you keep that shit up. I would do that type of intense cardio training 2-3 days a week at the most. Otherwise your gonna start looking like Steve Prefontane (look it up if u don't know who he is) and not a bodybuilder. As for the other days of cardio I would either hit the treadmill or the stepper at the gym. Your gonna burn off a shit load of cals during your workouts as well don't forget that. Best of luck bro

[Enforcer]

ya, now that i think of it, ill be lifting 3 days a week still most likely, so ill be biking on the days i dont lift, therefore it'd only be like 3 days a week.

ya, its a hobby, its something i do for fun/the love of it, i never really looked at it as "cardio" but im kinda realizing it, with the right diet, would work very well along with lifting 3 days a week for a cut.
basically, ill be working out mon, wed, fri, prolly go easy on the legs weights wise, and bike whenever i want (prolly 3 days a week considering lifting 3 days a week also) so ill bike tues, thurs, and one day on the weekend depending when i work.


also - ive never cut before, so what should i do lifting wise? just keep lifting the same i am now, and keep the weight the same?

Keep your reps in the higher range meaning 10-12 reps. I advise throwing some heavy days in there doing some execises for 6-8 reps to help keep up ur strength during a cut down. You don't need to over train to help get ripped. Your diet is what is going to decide that. Keep your sets in the 12-16 set range for Chest, Back, and Shoulders, 16-22 set range for legs, and 6-8 set range for Arms and Calves. Keep your intensity high and keep your rest time between sets anywhere from 30 to 45 seconds. Best of luck bro

[sanga]

ya, now that i think of it, ill be lifting 3 days a week still most likely, so ill be biking on the days i dont lift, therefore it'd only be like 3 days a week.

ya, its a hobby, its something i do for fun/the love of it, i never really looked at it as "cardio" but im kinda realizing it, with the right diet, would work very well along with lifting 3 days a week for a cut.
basically, ill be working out mon, wed, fri, prolly go easy on the legs weights wise, and bike whenever i want (prolly 3 days a week considering lifting 3 days a week also) so ill bike tues, thurs, and one day on the weekend depending when i work.


also - ive never cut before, so what should i do lifting wise? just keep lifting the same i am now, and keep the weight the same?


Lifting wise should be the same, 3 times a week isn`t that bad then, diet will keep the mass on, make sure you get your diet right, I wouldn`t cut calories, leave as the same for a week, see how you go then if you are dropping too quickly add food, if too slowly drop a little carbs.

[Nihility]

well i'd have to cut a little cause im taking in about 5K a day at this point, so i'd prolly replace my weight gainers with normal protein to cut out a lot of the extra calories, but keep a good solid food diet going.

i should aim for about 3,500 - 4K calories then? (guess here, someone fix it if its wrong) im about 172 lbs right now, ill be around 180 (at the rate im going ill be 185, so im being generous here) when i start the cut, im about 13% bodyfat also.

right now im working the rippetoe 3X5 style bulk with basic compunds, weighted dips, ab work, and 2-3 "isolation" workouts depending on the day (curls, calves, lat pull) so ill increase those to 8-10 reps basically, but what should i do for my legs considering the amount of biking ill do? i dont want to beat the crap outta my legs and then go bike the next day. any ideas?

[HWRNHN]

good luck keeping your mass. drink a sports drink-maybe even the one with protein while you are on the bike. also, snack while you ride-thats essential for you to keep from wasting your muscle. dont forget postworkout nutrition.

i dont think youll be in the gym the same days that you are on the bike. i tried biking for legs and gym for arms, i got a little stronger but no mass-upstairs or downstairs. i agree it takes some tough legs to bike but not the kind of tough that is big.

Lastly-you may not be huge this summer-but youll be in the best shape of your life, enjoy it!!

[Nihility]

well im not aiming to get massive in a year, i know its gonna take a while to get where i want :D

but ya, i was planning on bringing foods (prolly protein bars) and gatoraid etc. while biking