Training in the Sweet Spot power zone is one of the most effective ways an athlete can improve their aerobic capabilities. Due to Sweet Spot training’s repeatability at such a particular balance of intensity and volume it achieves more positive physiological adaptations. Sweet Spot training is used to consolidate, or solidify, all the mixed types…
The infamous fitness plateau is a state no athlete wishes to face. We’re going to make sure you never find yourself there. Throughout this discussion, we will introduce two foundational theories to understand what happens to our bodies when we train. By doing so, we aim to illuminate why certain practices yield results, while others achieve…
Working hard will only get you so far. There comes a point when you need to strategically plan how to best use your hard work to maximize fitness gains — that’s what training smarter is all about. By exploring our training plan process, we aim to clarify the purpose of each training block you’ll work…
There are a ton of equipment combos you can use to get started training with power. While some setups are more popular than others (check out the three most popular indoor training setups among TrainerRoad users), more often than not the equipment you already have, or are looking to invest in, is exactly what you…
When it comes to base training, Head Coach Chad Timmerman usually recommends Sweet Spot Base. Sweet Spot Base is more intense than a Traditional Base training approach. Everything from neuromuscular bursts to VO2 max intervals and Sweet Spot work is included to get you generally fit in a hurry. When an athlete who’s — physiologically —…
With VirtualPower®, you don’t need a power meter to get the benefits of structured indoor power-based training. It’s unanimous, the primary metric to train with today is power. But power meters are pricey, and not everyone is ready to invest in one. The good news is you no longer need one! VirtualPower allows you to…
“Why does that guy have a beard and long hair? That’s gotta make him less aero…” In episode 53 of the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast, we sat down with Clif Bar Team Rider Pete Morris and received the question above. For all you long-haired bearded riders out there, let’s get to the bottom of…
Answer: Divide the amount of kJs by 4.184 then divide by .25. Calories burned cycling are dependent on your Gross Metabolic Efficiency, but for most people, it’s between 20-25%. That means for every Calorie you burn produces around 1.045 kilojoules. For practical reasons, most cyclists approximate 1 kJ is equal to 1 Calorie. In…
Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re not seeing improvements within your season as an aging athlete, adjustments must be made. This is keeping in mind that training, and thereby training adaptation, is cyclical in nature. So the magnitude of improvements will be largely dependent on what level of athlete you already are. Nonetheless, there…
We want results and we want them fast. So how do we get them? In sports science theory, empirical research now backed with scientific evidence identifies a way our bodies achieve the desired metabolic and muscular response of increased aerobic capabilities and strength. The methodology and actual training adaptation that gets you there is supercompensation.…