Welcome to the Tailwind Coaching podcast archives. You’ll find all the back editions of the Tailwind Coaching Podcast along with show notes and any downloads that accompany them. Feel free to peruse the archives and share the episodes with your friends. You can also subscribe to the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes, and if you do, leave a review and tell me what you think.
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Interbike this season has confirmed what I have long advocated: that riding on dirt and gravel is not insane, and can actually be fun! Events like the Dirty Kanza and D2R2 have been exponentially growing in popularity for several years now, and bike manufacturers are starting to build dedicated gravel bikes by the truckload. From the BMC GranFondo GF01 disc to the Giant Revolt, companies are jumping into the newest market segment with both feet.
But do you really need to go out and buy a gravel specific machine just to have fun on your local “road less traveled” or can you have plenty of fun with what you've got in your garage right now? In today's podcast, I'll discuss the differences between road, cyclocross and gravel bikes, what pros and cons each offers, the “ultimate solution to riding on dirt” and some of the tips, tricks and skills necessary to make your gravel grinds safe and fun.
As always, don't forget to rate the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes, and shoot on over to the Tailwind Coaching Facebook Page to ask any questions you may have.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:38 — 43.6MB)
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Have you said “wow, that's crazy!” as you looked at an entry fee for a race or event? I'm 100% sure you're not the only one to do so. In this episode of the Tailwind Coaching Podcast, Coach Rob and his guest co-host for the evening talk about the concept of value for your dollar when it comes to racing, riding fondos and participating in charity events. They'll discuss the concept of value for your dollar, and draw from real world experience of trundling through various organized events, races and fondos. They'll opine on free water bottles, finishers medals and entry fees as they speculate where the entry fee money goes, how much goes to charity and ways organizers can make their events more appealing (and affordable) to the average rider.
As always, don't forget to rate the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes, and get the discussion from this week's show going on the Tailwind Coaching Facebook Page.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:59 — 50.3MB)
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Sit back for a moment and ask yourself the following question: “When is racing actually racing?” Sure, it's a bit of a strange question, but really take a moment to think about it. Is racing all about winning? Is it about sitting in the pack until the last 150 meters before contesting a sprint? Is it about patrolling the front of the peloton and covering moves, making breaks and closing down gaps before taking a flyer with a lap to go? Is it about having the confidence in your fitness and race reading skills to take a pull or two and recover in time to make a winning move? Or, on the other hand, is racing about hard work and riding cleanly (not chopping others in corners, for example) while putting up the best results possible? Is racing about getting out there and getting your team's colors seen, even if you don't win?
Got your answer? Good.
Keep that answer in your head as you listen to today's podcast where I discuss the concept of racing solely to win, racing to get your team colors out there, and what's inherently wrong with racing (in the beginner categories) these days. I'll cover the concept of racing just to win (and what is and isn't wrong with that), the idea that each race is a new experience in tactics and skills, the concept of the “I'll let someone else do the work” mentality and why you should just stay home if you're willing to race for second place. Finally, I'll touch on ways to make you a better bike racer: why you SHOULD take risks and try different things, especially at the beginner levels of the sport. You have to spend some time becoming a better bike racer somewhere, and this is the place to try them.
Racing is different things to different people, so keeping that in mind, when is racing actually racing? And when is racing NOT racing? (Spoiler: I think people are not racing when the sole focus becomes winning, as opposed to everything else that a race encompasses: tactical sense, risk and of course, failure.)
“Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday.” ~ Wilma Rudolph
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me or post on the Tailwind Coaching Facebook page. Don't forget to rate the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 45:38 — 41.8MB)
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Climbing is often the albatross that follows us around on our two-wheeled adventures. Long climbs. Short power climbs. Varying pitch. Everyone has a weakness when it comes to climbing. I've spent the past two episodes of the Tailwind Coaching Podcast defining what “makes” a climber and the importance of leg speed skills in your climbing, hoping to give you the confidence to go out and hit the hills like a pro. This time, I'm going to put the last pieces of the puzzle in place. You'll hear about breathing and rhythm, reading the road, breaking a climb into parts, and finally the discussion will turn to how to tackle a variety of climbs that you may encounter, including:
As I promise in this podcast, I'm including a couple of links to previous posts that I've published:
Breathing (part 1) – Physiology
Breathing (part 2) – Putting Skills into Practice
As always, if you're on iTunes, please leave a rating: it helps the show move up the rankings and allows me to bring this information to more and more people. And if you have any questions, feel free to contact me with questions.
Check out the previous episodes of the “Climb Like A Pro” series:
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:12 — 51.5MB)
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In the last podcast, Climb Like A Pro – Part 1, I covered some of the basics of climbing physiology and what makes a good climber. In part two, it's time to tackle some of the more technical aspects of your bike and your technique: namely gearing and leg speed. Along with fitness, perhaps the most important choice you can make in terms of climbing strongly is your gearing choice. Are you on a standard when you should be on a compact? Do you use an 11-23 tooth cassette when a 12-27 is more appropriate? And how does your leg speed, or ability to control that leg speed, factor into those decisions? I'll cover the following in part 2 of the “Climb Like a Pro” series:
As noted in this podcast, here are links to some in depth information on choosing proper gearing:
Be More Efficient: Pedaling Efficiency
As always, take a moment to rate the Tailwind Coaching podcast on iTunes and help me reach more and more people. And if you have any questions, you can either email me or post them to the Tailwind Coaching Facebook Page.
If you want to check out the rest of the “Climb Like A Pro” series, check here:
I'll see you next time: I'm going out for a climb or two…
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:18 — 36.9MB)
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