T Nation

Cycling across America

Bodybuilding
#1

Next April i am cycling across America. So i have to do a lot of cardio so that i am readY. However since i have started at the gym in order to get fitter i have also been commited to a total body workout 3 days a week for 2 months. I have gained about 4 kg and weigh 71 kg at 6ft.
Anyway i want to grow bigger, muscle wise but seeing as i have to do cardio i can’t go on a bulking diet so the article ‘The Truth About Bulking:
Is bulking up to gain muscle a good idea?
by Christian Thibaudeau’ really really interested me. According to him i would need to eat about 3100 cals a day to increase musle mass but stay at 10% body fat. As i am doing lots of cardio how many calories do i actually need to eat to do this?
Thanks in advance for your help,

Dave

#2

I know a kid who rode his bike across the country. He was an incredible athlete in track as well as cycling.

I dont know what your situation is, but IMO a bulk now would only be useless since the extra weight will hamper your ‘performance’ to ride across the country. Not only that, but 2 months of long cardio everyday will most likely diminish all of the gains you make.

That aside, if I were you, I’d concentrate on your aerobic capacity and muscle endurance.

Good luck.

PS… what kind of bike are you going to be doing it on?

#3

Might as well bulk up now and ignore the cardio if you want any mass when you are done with your trip.

Probably really does not matter what you do.

#4

[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
I know a kid who rode his bike across the country. He was an incredible athlete in track as well as cycling.

I dont know what your situation is, but IMO a bulk now would only be useless since the extra weight will hamper your ‘performance’ to ride across the country. Not only that, but 2 months of long cardio everyday will most likely diminish all of the gains you make.

That aside, if I were you, I’d concentrate on your aerobic capacity and muscle endurance.

Good luck.

PS… what kind of bike are you going to be doing it on?[/quote]

I’m doing it on a touring bike a Thorn (best touring bikes in the world made in England)
the reason i want to bulk up now is because i will lose about 2 stone (that’s with a daily calorie intake of about 8000)doing it and i’m not going to gain that much wait before then. The max i would be able to put on would be about 2kg. To do this how many calories would i need to do- considering that i would use up about 500 in a session and do it 4- 5 days a week. Would i need to eat 3100 + 500 every day.

#5

[quote]rrjc5488 wrote:
I know a kid who rode his bike across the country. He was an incredible athlete in track as well as cycling.

I dont know what your situation is, but IMO a bulk now would only be useless since the extra weight will hamper your ‘performance’ to ride across the country. Not only that, but 2 months of long cardio everyday will most likely diminish all of the gains you make.

That aside, if I were you, I’d concentrate on your aerobic capacity and muscle endurance.

Good luck.

PS… what kind of bike are you going to be doing it on?[/quote]

A touring bike, a Thorn bike- the best touring bikes in the world made in England.
The thing is by the time i get back i will have lost about 2 stone (i will eat about 8000 cals per day) so i want to put on some weight now (not in fat) According to the article i should eat 3100 cals per day so seeing as i cycle 4 days a week currently, using up about 500 cals each time should i eat 3600 cals per day in order to stick to his program? Would this work

#6

I knew this guy that one day got on his bike and rode across canada for no reason (Ont to BC). He just woke up and started riding. He took a tent, some clothes, some food and some money. Along the way he would do odd jobs for food/money. He ended up in BC and got a job in a bike shop.So Forest Gump style.

#7

I apologise for posting a similar post twice. Anyway does anybody have any answers?