Cycling For Bending

[Lyle]

I often read about "and have tried". cycling weights I'm wondering if anyone has tried it with bending "injuries aside"?

I'm asking becuase I was bending a G5 every bending session, lately they seem harder.

do y'all think this is like peaking with normal weight training?

[gamidon]

Lyle,

I think that changing up the routine is very important. I change mine up by doing some of the following:

Train a few weeks increasing the difficulty of the bar moving toward a new PR for stock size difficulty (example one week high volume g5s, next week high volume g8s, next week max volume reds ... )

Train a few weeks increasing the difficulty of the bar moving toward a new PR for stock length difficulty (example g8 cutting it shorter and shorter each week. Do 20 G8s at 6", next week do max number at 5.5, ect ect...)

Train a few weeks for volume. Just keep busting your butt trying for a new volume record at a bar.

I am interested in others opinions I like to switch up my focus every few weeks and really push myself to get some PRs at the end of each cycle.

Greg

Edited March 25, 2005 by gamidon

[Lyle]

Thanks Gregg, I appreciate your detailed reply, contrary to what I should have been doing, I basically have been going for a PR every session, most times peaking at 1 G5.

My total bends for a session were never more than 5 "including 2-3 warmup bends.

Tonite I bent a G8, it was sloppy, I had to kink it by bracing a hand on my knee and pulling back with the top hand "hard on the Thumb joint" but after 5 minutes of sweating and cursing I got it to 1 3/4".

after tonights session and your post Gregg, I realize I must do Volume.

and a Big Thanks to Mmainlands for making the G8 a reality for me.

[Mikael Siversson]

Lyle,

I think that changing up the routine is very important.  I change mine up by doing some of the following:

Train a few weeks increasing the difficulty of the bar moving toward a new PR for stock size difficulty (example one week high volume g5s, next week high volume g8s, next week max volume reds ... )

Train a few weeks increasing the difficulty of the bar moving toward a new PR for stock length difficulty (example g8 cutting it shorter and shorter each week.  Do 20 G8s at 6", next week do max number at 5.5, ect ect...)

Train a few weeks for volume.  Just keep busting your butt trying for a new volume record at a bar.

I am interested in others opinions I like to switch up my focus every few weeks and really push myself to get some PRs at the end of each cycle.

Greg

←

My main problem with high volume bending is to convince my wife about the necessity of buying and them deforming steel in large quantities on a regular basis.

[Lyle]

I guess I'm not alone then, although when I'm bending or lifting I'm out of her hair so she sees it as a good investment.

[MikeP]

I cycle my bending, not scientifically, just hit it hard for a few weeks, back off a few and only hit a session every week or 2. I'll go for PRs after like 4 hard sessions in a row, then back down and do dozens of 60d's for volume, and maybe work in a few G5s or something. Then go back to the hard stuff, basically when I'm fired up for bending I go hard and when not I just work volume to get stronger/better.

Hell, basically I'm just lazy and really busy so I cycle from hell bent to just maintaining. Thats closest to the truth But, I have been bending around a year or so and have got to the red in that time with really no injuries to speak of. I'll call that a success.

[Lyle]

Yup, that's success in my book Mike.