Best ways to increase leg strength?

Here's one of my training aids for leg strength:

It's a nice way to travel when camping with the dogs.  It's better than driving everywhere.  And when riding bike trails, climbing hills and having fun it's also a great workout!

See Bear's post. 

I also like doing one legged drills. 

While "riding lots" will benefit your endurance and one legged cycling will perfect your cycling stroke, riding hills will go a long way to building power.  You could also do some leg specific weight training but be careful that you do not overdo it.  You do not want to build up your leg muscles too much.  Huge leg muscles are great for track cyclists and sprinters but not really desirable for triathletes. 

Take a look at a training book such as "Training Techniques for Cyclists" by Ed Pavelka. This book is available for $2.24 at the following address:

http://www.bookcloseouts.com/default.asp?R=9781579541682B

Actually, speed squats are an advanced technique used to build power. Notice the term "advanced technique." If someone has no previous squatting background, don't do them.

Coach Troy of Spinervals fame has his victims trainees do stuff like wall sits (assume a squatting position with your back against the wall) for one minute at a time and squat jumps (IMO, a better way to build power than speed squats with weight) for 10, 15, all the way up to 20 reps. I've seen power-endurance programs for hockey players that recommended sets of 30 squat jumps. For the skinny guys, 30 squat jumps may be a piece of cake. If you're a Clydesdale, that's a serious workout.

"Increasing leg strength" is generally not a great concern for most triathletes.  Increasing endurance is. 

So for (most) cycling purposes, bear's initial advice is pretty spot-on.

Power starts are great fun!

Hill rides too...I used to somewhat avoid hills, now I design my rides trying to find the hardest steepest hills and make a circuit of hills...guess what I get hills better now...no real surprise. I just put together my hilly ride on the BT route tracker for tomorrow (it says 4544 feet in 20.63 miles which seems like more than it really is) ..should be tough but good for getting stronger. 

I'm 5'9", currently at the top end of my 185-195 lb. range, closer to 20% body fat and, oh yeah, 52 years old. You're not limited by anything but your desire.

You are my twin brother separated at birth. I've taken part in similar discussions regarding strength training with people who have "crappy genetics" for building strength and size - essentially people who are built the exact opposite of us. After a couple years of traiing hard and proper nutrition, their genetics get a lot better.

The body is extremely adaptable. Obviously, certain things we cannot change, but as a general rule, if you train like an endurance athlete you will become one. And if some arrogant endurance athlete tells me I don't "belong" in endurance sports, I simple lift off the ground and commence doing overhead presses with him - for reps.

Provided you could catch him first!

Good one!