Uncategorized Archives - Tailwind Coaching

I Want Your Feedback!

It's that time of year again when I start asking what you want to see from me in the coming months. Are you looking for more advice about your training? Do you have specific questions that I can answer for you? Are you looking to hear something specific on the Tailwind Coaching Podcast?

Now's your chance for your voice to be heard, and I'll give you a nice incentive to speak up and provide your feedback. All you have to do is fill out a short, less than 5 minute survey about what you want to see from Tailwind Coaching in the next year. As a thank you for filling out that survey, I'll give you 25% off anything in my downloadable training plan store just for sharing your opinion.

So do me a favor and click that link, help me out and get your discount today!

2015 Battenkill Training Plan Now Available!

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[dc]I[/dc]t's no secret to anyone who is familiar with this blog and with my podcast that I have an eternally romantic view of the Spring Classics. The Belgian Holy Week of de Ronde and Paris Roubaix is one of the most captivating weeks on the calendar for me, and here in the northeast US, the Tour of the Battenkill is no exception. It's also no secret that I have a love/hate relationship with America's Queen of the Classics, as evidenced by the ridiculous cramps I suffered in 2011 and the awful back spasms that knocked me from the race in 2013. That doesn't mean I don't still love it, though.

As of today, 11/15/14, registration is finally open for the Tour of the Battenkill 2015 Pro/Am Race and the Tour of the Battenkill 2015 Open Race/Gran Fondo. As I do every year, I've analyzed the route, pored over the details of the climbing and descending, and I've put together my 2015 Battenkill Training Plan. For those of you who want a little extra edge, remember that you can always add Training Plan Support for a “semi-custom” training experience. Keep in mind that this 20 week monster plan is power meter compatible, heart rate monitor compatible and even suitable for those training just on perceived exertion. You can add it to your cart below, or you can visit the Tailwind Coaching Battenkill Training Store for a few other suggestions to help you on your quest for the famed chocolate milk.

2015 Battenkill Training Plan

America's Queen of the Classics returns for it's 10th year! Featuring a new start/finish at the Washington County Fairgrounds and a new course clocking in at 68 miles in length, featuring 8 dirt road sections totaling 15 mile of unpaved punishment and throwing 4029 vertical feet of climbing with a maximum gradient of 17% at you, the 2015 edition of Battenkill is sure to be a monster.

Be prepared to lead the pack with this 20 week training plan. Used to increase threshold power a massive 21% (on average) and power racers to several top 10 finishes and podiums in last year's race, this year I've revised the plan to further suit the changes in this year's race course, especially the dirt road uphill kick to the line!

I've also added a bonus strength training workout to help you get on top of the muscular fitness necessary to succeed in a race of this magnitude (requires a kettlebell, purchased separately, or access to a gym.)

Specialized, (Cafe) Roubaix,and Lawsuits

Unless you've been under a rock, you'll probably know that this past weekend has been a bad one for Specialized. Earlier this year, Specialized issued an ultimatum to the owner of a small Cochran (Alberta, Canada) bicycle shop by the name of Cafe Roubaix. Their letter stated that his shop is infringing on their trademark on the name "Roubaix." The claim is that common passers by would associate the name on the sign with Specialized and more specifically, the Roubaix model.

After this news broke, and with Specialized's history of playing the legal bully, the community sprang into action. Particularly the online community, who have been pointing out (in no uncertain terms) that they are disgusted with Specialized's legal tactics. But what is the story behind the Roubaix trademark and why is this making such a dramatic news story?

Click through for further discussion of why this may be the last straw for Specialized.

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Tags: facepalm, internet|

Module Based Training (podcast)

[dc]I[/dc]f you're looking to improve your cycling, there are plenty of ways to go about it. You can hire a coach to help you work through your weaknesses. If you're the self-motivated type or you just aren't ready for a coach, you can always look for a training plan to help structure your workouts.

My new modular training plan may be the solution for those who want structure without being held accountable. Working with the packed schedules and limited training time most people have nowadays, minimizing junk miles and maximizing returns, I designed these modules to focus your training efforts into a concise plan. Gone are the days of trying to figure out where to place workouts and how long and hard to ride. With all the workouts based on TSS and with room left for you to hit the weekly group ride or Tuesday Night Worlds, my modular system is designed to be effective and ultimately flexible.

Since this week's podcast coincides with the "official" release of my modular system, I'll discuss the specific modules themselves along with topics such as:

Battenkill plan updates (people gained HOW MUCH?)
Questions from customers/listeners about group rides and training hours
Training module descriptions
Building a plan using modules
Listening to your body and avoiding over training
The importance of rest days and weeks

As always, leave your feedback and questions either here or on Facebook and I'll do my best to answer them.

UCI Confirms Lance Armstrong Ban

As of 7:05 this morning, Lance Armstrong is officially done with cycling.

According to Pat McQuaid: “We will not appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport and will recognise the sanction that USADA gave. The UCI will ban Lance Armstrong from cycling and strip him of his 7 Tour de France titles. Lance Armstrong has no place in cycling.”

[Updated 1t 7:05 a.m. ET] The International Cycling Union has stripped Lance Armstrong of his seven Tour de France titles. “This is not the first time cycling has reached a crossroads and has had to begin anew. … It will do so again with vigor,” International Cycling Union President Pat McQuaid says.

His reputation already in tatters after a lifetime ban by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, Lance Armstrong finds out Monday whether he will be scrubbed from the record books for the seven feats that made him a cycling legend.

So an era of cycling has been wiped clean from the stain that has persisted upon it for so long.

While I'd like to write a book on this today, I just can't. I need to digest everything and I'll return with my opinion on the whole charade in the coming week (since quite a few of you have been asking my opinion on the matter.)

Tags: facepalm|