From Bodybuilding to Triathlon????

None of your cited statistics matter anymore. "Pain Control, Effort, Focus, Nutrition, Overload and Rest" are ancillary details. Tell us how far and how fast you can swim, bike and run.

Cycling, for example, is not about strength, but about power/weight ratio. Not about lifting XX for X reps, but generating YY watts per pound of body weight, over an extended period of time.

And that size you wish to maintain will probably be a disadvantage.

How long it will take to train depends on where you are with respect to the three disciplines, and will also depend on your goals. I would imagine you could get out there and finish a short sprint tomorrow. To be competitive, maybe longer.

While I was far from a bodybuilder, I was an avid weight lifter/trainer for 4 years before starting tri's.  I thought I was in pretty good shape, stong lifts, kept my weight under control, etc.

My first spin class, the 50 yr old ladies were out riding me.   Talk about a dish of humble pie.  The dedication attitude may help you, and it is nice to have some strength, but endurance sports are a totally different game.

One word of warning, this stuff is really addicting.

How's your swimming?

Oh...and since my friends aren't making with the pleasentries...welcome to BT!

This guy made the transition from powerlifter to ultra-athlete.  He's David Goggins, Navy SEAL, 6'1" 195lbs.  Just placed 2nd at the Ultraman contest (his first attempt too).  So, it definitely can be done.

Hey, welcome to BT. 

1. It will not be much of a stretch for you to to switch from an anaerobic sport to an aerobic one.

2. The key elements you claim to possess, pain control, effort, focus, nutrition, overload and rest sound like they will allow you to train with some amount ofsuccess in the sport.  

3. Your leg power is neither an advantage nor a disadvantage, just a good base to begin cycling and running.

4. Endurance is what is most required in this sport.  If you can run for an hour, I would say that you are at least 1/3 of the way to becoming a triathlete.

5. Judging by your physical capacity, your core strength is already way up there. 

6. If you are going to swim, run and bike, your weight distribution will undoubtedly shift.  Although, if you keep up your present weightlifting regimen, that may not happen. 

7. You are probably ready to do a sprint tri right now.  Just try one on your own, swim 500 meters at your local pool, cycle 20kms then run 5kms.  Do not worry about the time of transition  yet, just do what you can.

8. Your upper body strength will be a definite asset in swimming.  However, it is the most technically demanding of the three sports so you might consider taking swim lessons.

9. Do you have a bike?  You don't need a top of the line tri bike at this point.  Any bike that you might have on hand, that is tuned and fitted to you, will do.  A road bike would be best but if you have a mountain bike you can put slicks on it to reduce drag.

10. For the running portion make sure that you get some good running shoes.  Don't skimp on this.  Running is demanding on your feet so get the best possible protection you can by buying the best shoes for you.  

11. Keep reading BT, ask lots of questions and enjoy yourself.

Bear, you like to be blunt in your posts, so I'll return the favor: this is stupid. Yes, it's true that power/weight ratio is key, but power is a function of strength. As a general rule, the stronger athlete will generate more power. Lifting X weight for Y reps will ultimately result in Y increase in watts. Nothing that you, JohnnyKay, or any of the other folks who don't believe in strength training can say will ever change this fact.

Not going to argue with you, there's plenty of research out there, let the more technical people argue the specifics. But with your extensive weightlifting background, how fast can you go on the bike?

Not very fast at all, but that's because I have a sh&tty power to weight ratio - I currently weigh 225 and it's mostly fat. Now, if I got down to 185, but maintained, perhaps even increased, my strength, how fast would I be? That's my point.

Specificity rules in all sports, so you can't put a weightlifter or bodybuilder on a bike and expect him or her to go fast on their first ride. But given the proper cycling training, who would be the faster rider: the one with a solid base of strength or the one with mediocre strength levels? Hard to say, but my money is on the stronger athlete.

Here's a guy who, according to this source, weighed 175, and he was a pretty fair cyclist. I would consider 175 to be on the somewhat heavy side for an endurance athlete, especially at a height of 5' 10". He also trained with weights. Granted, this particular guy was a genetic freak, and rumors have it that he had "pharmaceutical assistance," but still, he was a good 20-40 lbs. heavier than some of his teammates who were not as successful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lance_Armstrong