Gym: The Strength Paradox of Climbing

Afternoon Ride

Nichols 🥵 (last day of offseason training block)

Montrose 🥵

Pedal Mafia Ride (sweet spot work)

Got in a solid session focused on high-intensity Type II (fast-twitch) fiber work.

It’s wild how strength can decline the more you focus on climbing on the bike. You can be setting PRs uphill, improving power-to-weight and aerobic efficiency—then step into the gym and realize your absolute strength has dropped.

That’s the paradox of adaptation. The body gets very good at exactly what you ask it to do. Climbing trains endurance, fatigue resistance, and force over time—not maximal force.

The human body is incredibly specific and incredibly complex. There’s no single “right” way to train unless your goal is to become one-dimensional. Balance is where durability and long-term performance live.

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Anthony Coach-Freeman

Gym: The Strength Paradox of Climbing

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Gym: The Strength Paradox of Climbing

Afternoon Ride

Nichols 🥵 (last day of offseason training block)

Montrose 🥵

Pedal Mafia Ride (sweet spot work)

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