The bike is helping Conor McGregor prepare for Floyd Mayweather fight
Conor McGregor is preparing for perhaps the biggest pay-per-view TV event in history with cycling and other endurance sports.
— By Philippe Tremblay
UFC star Conor McGregor has vowed to defeat undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a high publicity fight Saturday night in Las Vegas. It will be the Irishman’s first ever bout in the boxing ring and part of his training regime to prepare has included cycling. McGregor is reigning UFC lightweight champion and former UFC featherweight champion, titles which he historically held at the same time. In 24 mixed martial arts fights, the 28-year-old has 21 wins while Mayweather has won all 49 of his boxing fights.
McGregor frequently uses the bike as preparation in the weeks leading up to fights in order to gain fitness. As someone who is so dedicated to achieving such a high level of physical strength, it’s one of the activities he uses as endurance training. It’s especially valuable, he says, because it is low-impact cardio work that can also help recover from other high intensity workouts.
“We do 50 minutes at a specific heart rate at a specific wattage. For endurance it’s good because you’re not pounding the roads,” McGregor, who has suffered knee injuries in the past, said of cycling in an interview last year. “If I was to run, it’s not as good for the body.”
McGregor does sprints on the treadmill and on the rowing machine, and then endurance is done on the bike. “If I was to run; you’re pounding the roads and it’s not good for the body,” he added of the shortfalls of higher impact forms of exercise.
UFC star Conor McGregor has vowed to defeat undefeated boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, Jr. in a high publicity fight Saturday night in Las Vegas. It will be the Irishman’s first ever bout in the boxing ring and part of his training regime to prepare has included cycling. McGregor is reigning UFC lightweight champion and former UFC featherweight champion, titles which he historically held at the same time. In 24 mixed martial arts fights, the 28-year-old has 21 wins while Mayweather has won all 49 of his boxing fights.
McGregor frequently uses the bike as preparation in the weeks leading up to fights in order to gain fitness. As someone who is so dedicated to achieving such a high level of physical strength, it’s one of the activities he uses as endurance training. It’s especially valuable, he says, because it is low-impact cardio work that can also help recover from other high intensity workouts.
“We do 50 minutes at a specific heart rate at a specific wattage. For endurance it’s good because you’re not pounding the roads,” McGregor, who has suffered knee injuries in the past, said of cycling in an interview last year. “If I was to run, it’s not as good for the body.”
McGregor does sprints on the treadmill and on the rowing machine, and then endurance is done on the bike. “If I was to run; you’re pounding the roads and it’s not good for the body,” he added of the shortfalls of higher impact forms of exercise.
Green zone on the @mcgregorsfast conditioning program. Taking place in the Las Vegas desert!
This climate takes no prisoners. Just like me. pic.twitter.com/3nDNvjMy5S— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) July 31, 2017
McGregor’s last social media post showing him riding a bike was on Aug. 9. We’ll see how he fairs on Saturday against one of histories best boxers. One thing is for sure, McGregor will have to throw some better punches than what we have seen professional cyclists are capable of.
