About Harvey Newton’s Experience in Cycling

"Harvey –

I enjoyed speaking with you on Saturday about weight training for cyclists. That night I watched your DVD and then I completely read your book on my flight back to Nashville. I wish it had been you giving that last presentation on Saturday!

Your DVD and book offer the guidance I have been seeking. You have given me the confidence to put together a program based upon your philosophies and knowledge. It excites me to think about the possible results.

I will keep you posted on my progress and I will probably be in touch with questions. Thanks for your dedication to improving the performance of all athletes!"

Tim Hall
Cumberland University

"Hi Harvey,

Thanks for the manual and DVD. Finally, a qualified professional has offered common sense guidance and debunked exercises that I found questionable and hurtful. I'll let you know what the 2009 race results are."

Go Fast...
JIM

"Even way ‘Down Under’ Harvey Newton’s authoritative advice on weight training for cyclists stood right out. His DVD, manual and superb little booklet have been a great help to me and helped the effectiveness of my winter gym training.

As someone who is prone to over-doing things, coach Newton personally helped me stay on track. His prompt email responses were always well received by a novice who craved guidance from someone who really knew his stuff. I owe him a debt of gratitude. I only wish he was Down Under so l could be coached by him in person.

I was amused to read in his manual on page 9 that he has been evaluated as an “old-school dinosaur, out of contact with modern ways of strength training.” I can simply say that this is just not true. Harvey’s prescriptions work and are highly effective. What more could you want from a coach? No BS is just perfect for me. :-)"

Cycling and Harvey Newton

HarveyNewton-MA-CSCS

Transitioning from 17 years of competitive weightlifting, Harvey Newton decided it was time to try his hand at endurance sports. His first attempt was running, but despite a good effort, this proved unrewarding. Then it was cycling and Newton was hooked. While working full-time as a drug rehabilitation counselor, he learned the ropes of his new sport, racing mostly Florida’s flat criterium circuit.

At the same time he was regularly assigned to coach USA international weightlifting teams. By 1981 Newton was selected as the first official national weightlifting coach, stationed at the US Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs.

In 1982 he was chosen to also serve as USA Weightlifting’s executive director and now held down two demanding jobs. He thrived on 60-hour work weeks, literally running across the grass field between his executive office in the National Sports Building and Building #23, a cold, dumpy, poor excuse for a training hall, for thrice-daily team workouts.

From 1981 to 1992 Harvey Newton was the USA Cycling’s strength and conditioning advisor, conducting winter training camps for national teams each year. He also assisted the national coaching staff with the development of numerous coaches’ educational materials.

In 1992 the federation sought Coach Newton’s assistance in creating the Strength Training for Cyclists videotape series (now DVD).

By 1994 Newton had joined the National Strength and Conditioning Association as the Editor-in-Chief of Strength & Conditioning Journal and the Director of Program Development. In 1995 he donned a third hat, that of the Executive Director. Throughout, Coach Newton continued racing, mostly at the local velodrome until 1999, when he returned to Florida to expand the influence of Newton Sports with new educational products and programs.

Harvey Newton has authored or co-authored, with the late Edmond Burke, PhD, numerous articles and books related to strength training for cyclists. Over the past 15 years, Harvey has presented dozens of national and regional programs, including the 2004 and 2006 USA Cycling Summits. Coach Newton is the instructor for Performance Cycling Conditioning (www.PerformanceCondition.com) workshops around the country and serves as the strength and conditioning advisor for Cadence Cycling and Multisport Centers.

Author of the popular Human Kinetics book/DVD, Explosive Lifting for Sports (over 20,000 sold), Harvey remains active as a rider, coach, and clinician through his business, Newton Sports (www.Newton-Sports.com), which is located in Ormond Beach, Florida.

A USA Cycling Level 2 Coach, Harvey is also a senior international weightlifting coach and a certified strength and conditioning specialist. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Psychology) from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Arts (Sociology, coaches’ education emphasis) from the University of Colorado.

Check out Harvey Newton's STFC DVD video introduction.

"Harvey Newton has done it again!

My first exposure to Harvey Newton’s strength training began years ago when I was an aspiring CAT II road racer and Harvey was strength coach for the USCF. I incorporated his methods by going to the gym during the off season and got results above and beyond my colleagues who did not use strength training to augment their cycling specific muscle training.

Though I hung up my road racing cleats and moved on, I remain an avid rider. My professional career as a physician trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation has evolved into a practice with an emphasis on musculoskeletal medicine and interventional spine care. During a recent American Association of Orthopedic Medicine meeting I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Harvey and being presented with his latest version of Strength Training for Cyclists.

This version contains manuals, videos, diaries and the scientific evidence to support Dr. (sic) Newton’s program. He delves into the biggest mistakes cyclist make when they think they’re strength training but really aren’t. He highlights the seven deadly sins that cyclists make when heading to the gym. Not surprisingly, I have fallen victim to some of those sins over the years.

I’ve been incorporating Harvey Newton’s methods into my weekly training regime for the past six months and have gotten huge results, but not huge muscles. How can I tell? My early season riding is 6-8 weeks ahead of schedule with respect to speed and distance. My average spring speed is up 1-2 mph and my weekend rides are 10-20miles further in distance with less post-ride muscle fatigue. Also, my gearing is higher on the low end. I can now start the season riding the Pittsburgh hills in a 34 x 25, whereas in the past I used a 29 x 34. My friends now accuse me of using steroids because they’re having difficulty keeping up.

It’s no secret that Strength Training for Cyclists is where it’s at! For this 55 year old who rides 3-4K a year it makes abundant sense to employ these methods year round. They work! They’re easy, time efficient, scientifically proven and they’ll get results for you no matter whether you’re a weekend warrior or a professional cyclist. Here’s to Harvey Newton for enabling me to beat up on my cycling buddies. You too will be able to kick some serious butt with this program."

With abundant thanks and appreciation,
Paul S. Lieber, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

2009 S&P Notes Archive

Strength and Power Notes from 2009 by Harvey Newton

"Harvey,

It was very nice to meet you again and your wife. I am sorry that we didn't get a chance to sit down and talk about cycling and lifting.

It is great to see that the RoadBikeRider.com website has put your program in the limelight. I think cyclists are mistaken if they don't realize that lifting will improve their cycling as well as their lives. I remain an advocate for strength training for all individuals and continue to train the older adult. Most of my clients are in their 70's and 80's. What a wonderful population.

I am trying to incorporate squats back into my personal lifting routine. I am using a 40# weight vest and free weights due to the lack of a squat rack.

Take care and good cycling to you."

Sincerely,
Howard Radin

Cycling and Harvey Newton

Strength & Power Notes

2009 S&P Notes Archive