podcast Archives - Page 14 of 19

Upgrading Your Bike (Podcast #29)

Black Friday is here, which means the official kick-off of the holiday shopping season. There's no doubt many of you have bike parts, clothing and other upgrades on your holiday wish list. But really, which of those upgrades are going to give you the most performance for your dollar? Which one of those upgrades will actually help increase YOUR performance?

In today's podcast I'll explore all of the above and more, including:

Reasons to upgrade parts
What are most noticeable upgrades you can make
Which upgrades make a difference to your performance
Considerations for upgrading wheels, tires and components
How maintenance “upgrades” can be the biggest bang for the buck available

I'd also like to take a moment to welcome aboard two new sponsors of the Tailwind Coaching Podcast: RoadID and Competitive Cyclist. I've long been a user of RoadID and a proponent of carrying sufficient ID and contact information with you while riding or training. My partnership with RoadID will allow me to further advocate for the peace of mind that carrying ID allows for. Meanwhile, Competitive Cyclist is a leader in the high end online bike retail industry. While I'm always an advocate of shopping locally at your LBS, sometimes shopping online is necessary in order to get exactly what you need or to stretch your dollar further (an important concept in these tough economic times.) Check both links on my pages (off to the right hand side, underneath my contact/”follow Coach Rob” pane) periodically for great deals on all kinds of equipment and help support the Tailwind Coaching Podcast. (Proceeds from affiliate sales go to web hosting space and bandwidth.)

If you like what you hear, go over to the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes and rate it 5 stars. Don't forget to post any questions to the Tailwind Coaching Facebook page.

And don't forget: Tour of the Battenkill race and fondo are on April 5th and 6th. You can get my new, revised and improved 20 week Battenkill Training Plan in my online store, and be well on your way to the podium. Remember to save 20% with the coupon code in this week's podcast through MONDAY 12/2 ONLY!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:20 — 42.4MB)

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Tags: Coaching, components, podcast, wrenching|

Coaching Q&A (Podcast #28)

Have you ever heard of the phrase “if you have a question, ask it. Someone else probably has the same question but is afraid to ask it?” Over my time in practice and coaching athletes, I've found this to be true time and time again. Cyclists both young and old, new and seasoned, racer and group rider come to me with many of the same questions, each one looking for an answer as to why they are having trouble with something and how they can advance their fitness. In most cases, it's simple changes to their program that can produce stellar results.

In today's podcast, I'll go over a couple of questions and concepts that I've been seeing a lot lately. These are all things that you average cyclist needs to know in order to become a faster, stronger rider. I'll shed some light on:

Do you need a power meter to train effectively?
Who benefits from training with power?
How many “A” races are too many?
What pitfalls are there in planning a season?
Why do my legs “get heavy and lose their ability to push?”
What can I address to take my fitness to the next level?

If you like what you hear, go over to the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes and rate it 5 stars. Don't forget to post any questions to the Tailwind Coaching Facebook page.

And don't forget: BATTENKILL registration is November 15th at 7PM. You can get my new, revised and improved 20 week Battenkill Training Plan in my store, and be well on your way to the podium. Remember to save 10% with the coupon code in this week's podcast.

Tags: battenkill, Coaching, planning, podcast, power, training|

The (Not So) Off Season (Podcast #27)

For years, magazines and forum denizens have discussed and advocated the concept of the “off season” for competitive cyclists. While the idea of sitting around and drinking beer on the sofa is appealing, it really doesn't do much for your hopes and dreams of competing next season, finishing that century or stomping on your friends during the Saturday shop ride. In fact, it may do just the opposite. You may find yourself digging into a hole you can't train out of next year.

Why is this the case?

The biggest culprit is the fact that amateur cyclists have always seemed to have taken their training cues from the professionals that they idolize. Unfortunately, the difference between pro and amateur is not at all inconsequential. Pros train 40 hours per week and race 90 days per year. Amateurs train 10 hours per week and race 12 days per year. Could there be a maybe be a slight difference between amateurs and pros?

Everyone should be nodding their head right now. Everyone.

Knowing that, should you, an amateur, be following a pro's training plans and take an off season like they do?

Now everyone should be shaking their heads. In today's podcast, I discuss why a pro's offseason will destroy an amateur's hard won fitness gains and how your fitness for next season starts NOW. I'll also talk about a few ways to keep your mental outlook fresh while maintaining some of the fitness you built this season, such as gravel rides, exploration rides, coffee shop rides, skill work indoors, cross training, and more.

As always, questions and comments are welcome. Head on over to the Tailwind Coaching Facebook page and post away, and don't forget to rate the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:57 — 37.5MB)

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Tags: Coaching, off season, podcast|

Gravel Grinding (Podcast #26)

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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Tags: classics, podcast|

Cycling Events: Bang For Your Buck? (Podcast #25)

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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Tags: Motivation, podcast, racing|