Leg Press

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Since a lot of people are starting to hit the weights about now I was curious as to what kind of leg press numbers you guys are going to be putting up. Actually I just need something to shoot for :D

I can leg press the moon.

Have you tried one leg squats?

I can leg press the moon.

Have you tried one leg squats?

Which moon?

Knees won't let me squat...yet. They are getting better though and I am able to leg press now hence the question. ;)

I did the house onceI can leg press the moon.

Have you tried one leg squats?

I did the house once

How many sq ft?

really depends on the type of press, esp. the angle of the sled, the shallower the angle, the more weight is supported by the sled and less on the legs...

some are ridiculous, if you can squat with six plates you may use 800 on a leg press, both for reps.

with this in mind, doing the squats first, as a pre-exhuast measure, then the press will bring the needed press weight down, as will doing sets of 20+!


Since a lot of people are starting to hit the weights about now I was curious as to what kind of leg press numbers you guys are going to be putting up. Actually I just need something to shoot for :D

I was thinking the 45 degree knees to chest variety for this question. Thanks.

Ok it was a dog house....for a poodleHow many sq ft?

What are the prblem with the knees?I was thinking the 45 degree knees to chest variety for this question. Thanks.

Since a lot of people are starting to hit the weights about now I was curious as to what kind of leg press numbers you guys are going to be putting up. Actually I just need something to shoot for :D
Weight season is upon us....
Just be careful guys. I learned my lesson about the gym. .About 15 years ago I had a long winter season in the gym and I was really happy with the results the following spring. The leg press was my favorite because I was made for it.....
So after I was on the bike for awhile and was building my base I got foolish. There was this day when I had all day to play. I went riding and put a long ride in and pushed myself hard for the 1st time that season.... Then in the late afternoon I went to the gym and got caught up in a "ego contest" on the leg press.... Superman .
A few hours later , I was at a movie and my back exploded..... I ended up not being able to ride for over 9 months and was really uncomfortable for weeks.... I had a problem with a sciatic nerve condition. So ease into the weights and remember some common sense when the ego starts to inflate.

I am more of a weightlifter learning to be a cyclist. I really only leg press to warm up for squats. the leg press never meant much to me because it wasnt a comp lift. My old coach used to call it a hip sled. Assistance for the deadlift.I use it now to loosen the hips. Feet narrow ,toes pointed out, i bring the knees very deep, out past the ribcage. That movement limits the weight used and focuses on glutes/hams and stretching. The wieght is 5-6 plates each side, 20 reps(whatever that is with the sled...5-600??) Then I squat and deadlift or cleans
Weight season is upon us.
Just be careful guys. I learned my lesson about the gym. .About 15 years ago I had a long winter season in the gym and I was really happy with the results the following spring. The leg press was my favorite because I was made for it.....
So after I was on the bike for awhile and was building my base I got foolish. There was this day when I had all day to play. I went riding and put a long ride in and pushed myself hard for the 1st time that season.... Then in the late afternoon I went to the gym and got caught up in a "ego contest" on the leg press.... Superman .
A few hours later , I was at a movie and my back exploded..... I ended up not being able to ride for over 9 months and was really uncomfortable for weeks.... I had a problem with a sciatic nerve condition. So ease into the weights and remember some common sense when the ego starts to inflate.

What are the prblem with the knees?

Not tracking correctly and a grinding sand sound with an occasional loud pop :o

MRI's were negative :rolleyes:

Lost insurance in the mean time but this sounds close --Patello-femoral problems

I have had several knee scopes . One for that problem. A guy wrote in on another thread about a similar prob. He got lots of good advice. Some from me, but some good stuff that I overlooked or didnt know about. 5-6 good resposes of things you might not have tried. Hope you feel better BPNot tracking correctly and a grinding sand sound with an occasional loud pop :o

MRI's were negative :rolleyes:

Lost insurance in the mean time but this sounds close --Patello-femoral problems

I have had several knee scopes . One for that problem. A guy wrote in on another thread about a similar prob. He got lots of good advice. Some from me, but some good stuff that I overlooked or didnt know about. 5-6 good resposes of things you might not have tried. Hope you feel better BP

Got a link? My search skills are lacking today...

A couple years ago when I was 17 an stupid, I did 30reps on the 45degree leg press with 430lbs. I popped or did something in the back of my head because I was straining so hard at the end. Luckily it wasn't anything serious, and it didn't bother me after a month.

I got up to mid 700s for a max effort on the leg press. It's more of an ego inflater, the leg press. I can only squat mid 200s. (I only squat now, it just seems you get more bang(growth) for the buck.

I would be very cautious about over-doing it on the leg press. It can be a useful adjunct to your overall strength development, providing overload when required, but it really won't do your knees or back any favours (I work in a Physiotherapy clinic, & have seen more back injuries originate from the leg press than any other piece of equipment). The problem is, you can build really strong legs, but without the stability that the bigger freeweight lifts provide. It is like have a 500hp engine sitting in a chassis built for 90!! Something has to give & it usually is your back & stability on the bike.

I would recommend that while you are doing the leg press, focus on single legs, & do a few sessions light to ensure that you can get your kneecap to track properly. Do some standing single leg squats where you drive your knee over your second & third toes while keeping your hips stable. Maybe venture over to some box step ups. All the time getting the tracking right. Throw in some Romanian Deadlifts or Olympic Deadlifts as good core strength & hip strength exercises.

Long term you will get more benefit from taking a season out, not concerning yourself with how much you should be leg pressing compared to others & getting your knees right enough to handle a squat. I reckon someone who can squat 150kg & RDL 100kg is a lot stronger overall on the bike than someone who can leg press 500kg!

I would be very cautious about over-doing it on the leg press. It can be a useful adjunct to your overall strength development, providing overload when required, but it really won't do your knees or back any favours (I work in a Physiotherapy clinic, & have seen more back injuries originate from the leg press than any other piece of equipment). The problem is, you can build really strong legs, but without the stability that the bigger freeweight lifts provide. It is like have a 500hp engine sitting in a chassis built for 90!! Something has to give & it usually is your back & stability on the bike.

I would recommend that while you are doing the leg press, focus on single legs, & do a few sessions light to ensure that you can get your kneecap to track properly. Do some standing single leg squats where you drive your knee over your second & third toes while keeping your hips stable. Maybe venture over to some box step ups. All the time getting the tracking right. Throw in some Romanian Deadlifts or Olympic Deadlifts as good core strength & hip strength exercises.

Long term you will get more benefit from taking a season out, not concerning yourself with how much you should be leg pressing compared to others & getting your knees right enough to handle a squat. I reckon someone who can squat 150kg & RDL 100kg is a lot stronger overall on the bike than someone who can leg press 500kg!

I do the others too. :)
I usually start with a deadlift and go up to usually 160-200kgs. Then single leg legpresses with 0kg (Just sled weight), 40kg, 80kg, 120kg, 160kg, 200kg and recently did a single at 260kg. I also tend to keep my feet high up on the platform so at no point is my knee ahead of my foot. :)
It's time to start shedding a few kgs of bodyweight anyway and work on getting the legs to FIRE quickly, but I am happy with my progress since this is just the result of several months of training having had a bad knee injury several years ago and been able to do nothing in the weight room until last summer. Next winter I plan to get crazy strong!!! But for now just FAST :D
10's here I come....

Oh, forgot to add that I did try to cautiously do some squats the other day. Did a 60kg warm up, then 80 then 100. Stopped at 100 since I hadn't done them since '98 or something. Felt really light though felt like I would have been good for quite a bit more. Next morning my knees were super loud and cracking again like they were about 9 months ago! Probably won't try again until fall.

The problem is, you can build really strong legs, but without the stability that the bigger freeweight lifts provide. It is like have a 500hp engine sitting in a chassis built for 90!! Something has to give & it usually is your back & stability on the bike.



Good analogy! :D

Not only do squats strengthen stability muscles (core strength) there is more range of motion in doing free bar squats as opposed to leg press.

I have used leg press thoughout my lifting career, but squats are my mainstay and fortunately I originated out of a hardcore powerlifting gym where if you didn't do a legal squat (point on the hip dips below the knee joint (http://media.crossfit.com/cf-video/air2boxsquat.wmv)) you would be ridiculed. Thank goodness for those guys for teaching me the proper way to squat. My legs became fully developed even down to the medalis where a lot of guys have a weakness because the use a limited range of motion by doing quarter squats or only use the leg press.

Leg press can still be an essential machine to incorporate into a program, but squats are the king - IMO.

It's just getting harder to do free bar squats at my age. :)