Power meters are amazing. If you want specifics check out another blog post I wrote on why you should buy one. If you’re strapped for time I’ll cut to the chase. Riding with a power meter makes cycling more fun. Road races, crits, fondo’s, group rides, training rides, Strava, Training Peaks, whatever. Talk to anybody that rides with power and they’ll tell you they’re never going back.
If you’re interested in giving cycling a try you might be battling some apprehension. As a sport, cycling has a bit of a split-personality; both welcoming and intimidating. These personality traits can make it difficult to know exactly how to get started.
My goal is to get you off the fence and onto a bike. From a fat-burning spin class to a competitive road race, life is better when you’re riding. Once you’ve made a commitment to ride I think you’ll agree. Here are a few guidelines to help get you started.
Read More “Getting Started On The Bike: A Guide For Beginners”
I hate stretching. I’ve never been close to “flexible”. Sit-and-reach in grade school? Off the charts terrible. Stretching before high school basketball games? Not gonna happen.
With each inflexibility benchmark, guilt mounted. Stretching was suppose to be good for me right? Improve my performance, reduce my risk of injury…something like that.
“Stop pedaling in squares, pull up at the bottom, and strive for more balance between your right and left leg”. Advice on how to improve your pedaling is one of the first nuggets of wisdom given to beginning cyclists.
In the field of exercise science, research into pedaling efficiency goes back nearly 100 years [1]. Pedaling seems simple, science makes it sound complicated, and uncertainty lingers over its relative importance.
In this article we’ll take a closer look at some of the current research examining the pedal stroke, followed by a few suggestions on how to utilize science and data to make the most of your pedaling prowess.
Read More “Does A Smoother Pedaling Stroke Make You Faster On The Bike?”
**Check out our new seven-part series on strength training at this link.
As the cycling season shifts to off-season mode, the topic of strength training moves front and center. While few cyclists enjoy walking into a weight room bustling with grunting and texting meatheads, most would endure the punishment if it spelled more speed on the bike.
Before we answer the cycling performance question, it’s important to highlight the general health benefits of strength training.
Read More “Does Strength Training Make You Faster On The Bike?”
There’s nothing quite like celebrating ‘Merica, pounding hot dogs, and enjoying three weeks of the Tour de France. July is the real “most wonderful time of the year” during which the greatest bike racers on the planet battle over the most storied tarmac in our sport. For nearly 100 years the discussion over cycling cadence has been a component of this battle [1].
From Lance Armstrong’s high cadence during the 2000’s, to Chris Froome’s 120RPM death spirals up Mt. Ventoux, RPM’s have taken center stage during the most decisive moments of the Tour.
Read More “‘Merica, The Tour de France, and Optimal Cadence”
In cycling, accurate data can maximize your training efficiency, help you plot out specific race strategy, or give you something to mull over during a slow day at work. Heart rate, normalized power, left-right balance, gear selection; the list of real-time data streams expands every year. Data is here to stay, but how much is too much?
You’re riding along in a group when some all-star at the front launches a blistering attack forcing the group to surge in response. Your buddy next to you pants in disgust, something about how dumb it is that guys are riding so hard, so early.
Read More “How Hard Should You Ride During The “Off-Season”?”
November is a great time to begin sketching out a master plan. We’re a few months removed from the intensity of the road season but quickly approaching the New Year. Whether your goals include competing at nationals or surviving your first century, now’s the time to take an objective look at the calendar and create a road map for the upcoming season.
In the last post we focused on the concepts of overtraining and overreaching. It might be helpful to give that post a quick read before digging into the tips below, where I discuss five specific strategies to prevent overtraining and burnout next season.
