skills Archives - Page 3 of 3 - Tailwind Coaching

Climb Like A Pro – Part 1 (Podcast #21)

If you're like most cyclists, you have one part of your ride that you just hate. Some people hate flat roads, some hate headwinds, some even hate group riding. More than any other part of cycling, far and away the most hated thing out there is climbing. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people grumble about climbing or say “I'll see you at the top” at the mere sight of the road rising in front of them. While climbing isn't fun for most of us (and those of us who find it fun are probably brain damaged) everyone out there can learn to be a better climber. Whether the goal is to turn the screws on your local group ride, win your next race or simply suffer less, you can go uphill faster and be fresher at the top, and I'll tell you how.

In the first part podcast (this topic is far too large for just one podcast) we'll discuss:

Some of the things that “make a good climber”
What physiological skills make you faster and stronger in hills
The idea of “switching off” muscle groups and energy systems
Mental aspects of climbing strongly
Different body and hand positions and the pros and cons of each
Standing vs. Sitting
Breathing and why it's important

Additionally, you can find more information on climbing in the following posts:

Climbing – Positioning Yourself For Success

Climbing – Revisiting Position and Physiology

Climbing – Suffer In Silence (psychology of climbing)

Breathing Techniques – Part 1

Breathing Techniques – Part 2

As always, feel free to rate the Tailwind Coaching Podcast on iTunes, and check out the rest of the podcast series here:

Climb Like A Pro – Part 2

Climb Like A Pro – Part 3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:16 — 49.7MB)

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Tags: climbing, Coaching, podcast, skills|

Smoothing Your Pedal Stroke

Have you ever watched a pro cycling event like the Tour de France and marveled at how man and machine are almost one being? Isn't it remarkable how smoothly and efficiently each rider can propel their machine forward at speeds that make us mere mortals raise our eyebrows in amazement? Have you then compared them to some of the folks on your local group rides and seen the night and day difference? Maybe you are one of those riders who resembles a semi truck as opposed to a Ferrari, and you want to change that.

You're probably worried that "I can't change that, those guys are gifted." Well, yes, that is true to some extent. Those guys spend their entire lives training and racing, and the vast majority of them are genetically gifted with high VO2 max and incredible natural ability. But you can still improve your pedaling technique, which will put you on the path to being more efficient and stronger on the road. And it won't cost your entire training week to accomplish, either.

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Tags: Coaching, skills, training|

Cycling Skills: Riding Winter Roads

A week ago, the northeast was the victim of a brutal snowstorm that buried parts of New England under up to 21" of snow. Heavy, wet, tree snapping, power killing snow. Now, not only did this put all but the most dedicated hard men inside due to precipitation and frigid temperatures, it's raised the spectre of "winter roads." You see, now that winter has reared it's ugly head, we're left with roads covered in salt, cinders, leaves, branches and other debris. Staying safe on "winter roads" can be fraught with proverbial potholes, so here's a few tips to make the ride smoother (and safer.)

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Tags: Coaching, skills|

Cycling Skills: Riding Dirt Roads

Ahh fall…the time of year when a young cyclist's fancy turns to thoughts of wind vests, leg warmers, and dirt roads. No, I'm not talking about giving up your skinny tires for the thick tired, mosquito-infested world of mountain bikes. I'm talking about throwing out your inhibitions and take the left turn down the road that you've passed by a hundred times before. I'm talking about riding across that asphalt/dirt demarcation with confidence and a smile. I'm talking about not being afraid to bring your bike home looking like it's more a ‘cross bike than a road bike. But like riding in the rain, a few simple precautions can make the ride easier and (dare I say) more fun.

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Tags: Coaching, skills|