Coach Chad is back! This week we dig into how VO2max affects FTP, why heart rate may be lower or higher for different people at different times, and discussions about positioning in aggressive groups, heat, crashing and more inspired by Tulsa Tough.
Training Without a Power Meter, Low Heart Rate, Effective Sweet Spot Training and More – Ask a Cycling Coach 284
How to get faster without a power meter, what a low heart rate actually means, a practical guide to Sweetspot training and more in Episode 284 of the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast!
Yearly Planning, Power vs. Heart Rate, Indoor Training Gear & More – Ask a Cycling Coach 134
A complete guide to planning your training for the year, power vs. heart rate and indoor training tips and gear we’re loving right now. All of this and more in Episode 134 of the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast! Topics covered in this episode TrainerRoad CX Nationals Athlete Panel Event We’re hiring three software…
Can I Skip Base Training?
It may seem counterintuitive to revert to base training every year after reaching new heights of performance, but this strategy pays dividends come race season. What is Base Fitness? Base fitness is synonymous with aerobic-base fitness, and this type of fitness is achieved via specific training that spurs particular physiological adaptations. Much like the name…
Is Alcohol the Reason You’re Not Getting Faster?
Alcohol is intimately related to cycling and racing in general. Post-ride trail brews, podium champagne and “recovery beers” are all a regular part of our cycling vernacular and culture, but if you’re trying to take your training seriously, should they be? The effects of alcohol on performance can be narrowed down to two things: how…
What Your Cycling Racing Category Says About You
If you’re brand new to racing, it’s pretty straightforward to know which racing category you should start out in. But what if you’re coming back to racing? What category should you race and, more interestingly, what does it say about you as a racer? These are just a couple questions I’m about to dig into. Cycling…
How to Recognize Burnout and What to Do About It
Burnout is a common problem with serious cyclists, but recognizing burnout and differentiating it from common fatigue is necessary if your goal is to get faster. Here’s our guide to burnout — how to recognize it and what to do about it. What Is Burnout? Training hard makes you faster, but only when it’s structured appropriately. Every time…
How to Prioritize Your Races and Build a Seasonal Race Plan
Prioritizing your races throughout the year is a necessary part of building an annual training plan. By strategically planning your events, you can build fitness, confidence and experience that will give you the best chance at success for your big race day. Why Prioritize Your Events? Cyclists and triathletes tend to be very competitive people who…