training Archives - Page 27 of 27

Coaching: Base Building Endurance

The importance of base building is often overlooked by many cyclists, especially those who have ignored or ill defined their season goals. Your aerobic base is the foundation for all future interval workouts, and without it, the risk of injury and/or burnout is distinctly higher than in a cyclist with a proper aerobic base. More importantly, poor endurance will ensure you falter before the end of your chosen events, so while it may be boring and redundant, it is one of the most important parts of your training.

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Tags: bike, cycling, planning, road, training|

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 in the Rain

With the arrival of Hurrican Irene to the east coast, it comes to mind that perhaps a post on rain riding skills is necessary. Although it's unlikely that you'll be out in anything even remotely resembling a hurricane, rain can still present a hefty challenge, especially if you're not prepared for it.

Think Ahead and Prepare

This should be a no brainer, but check your forecast before you ride. If there's a threat of rain in the forecast, you should consider preparing yourself for a (possible) wet excursion. This means simple things like packing a rain jacket and letting a few PSI out of your tires. It also means changing riding style to be a little more cautious and take fewer risks. Essentially, each one of the following tips is designed to get you home safely and more comfortably.

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Tags: Coaching, training|

Cycling Skills: Reading the Road

There's an old saying that goes something like this: "the smartest rider wins the race, not the strongest." Part of being a smart rider is being able to read the road and adjust your efforts accordingly. I've talked a lot on this blog about climbing position and climbing efficiency, but all the technique and efficiency in the world won't do you any good if you don't use it properly. So, that being said, let's take a look at how to read the road.

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Tags: climbing, Coaching, road, training|

Climbing: Equipment, Suffering and Psychology
Climbing: Equipment, Suffering and Psychology

Skills and techniques, Training discussion

Climbing: Equipment, Suffering and Psychology

A few posts back we talked about different positions to make your climbing more effective. This time around, we're going to talk about the intangible side of going uphill: the psychological and physiological side of things.

Climbing is tough, there's no question about it. But what makes a great climber? Ask that question on an internet forum and you'll get all manner of answers from “high power to weight ratio” to “they like to suffer” to “some people just are.” All are good, legitimate answers, but it doesn't help you if your goal is to not get dropped on the Saturday group ride or to set a personal best going uphill. Fortunately, just like any other aspect of cycling, you can practice and improve your climbing, which will make your days in the saddle that much more fun.

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Tags: climbing, Coaching, training|