Tailwind Coaching

Getting Back On The Bike For Spring

With the arrival of daylight savings time, sunshine and warmth comes the itch to get on the bike and get outside again. You see, many cyclists spend the winter taking a break from their bikes; snowshoeing, hiking, skiing, and the dreaded gym often take up many dreary winter hours, keeping us fit and strong, ready to ride again in the spring.

But not so fast, and especially not if you're only a beginner (someone who's only been riding for 3 years or less.) There are a few things you'll want to keep in mind as you begin to dust off your bike and head back out on the open road (or trail, if that's the case.) After the jump, you'll learn just what you should be doing to get yourself moving safely and effectively after a winter layoff.

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Tags: beginner, Coaching, Motivation|

VeloInk Decals – Review

On this blog, I've made it a habit to discuss those companies that have gone the extra mile in producing a quality product and/or support that product above and beyond with exceptional customer service.

VeloInk is definitely one of these companies.

My experience with VeloInk started way back in December with a quick question on designing a custom label using my coaching company logo as well as my name because 1) it's "pro" to have your name on the top tube (yeah, right…) and 2) there's no better free advertising than plaster your logo onto the bike and then thrash people with it. My initial inquiry was quickly dealt with by Chris, who became my contact throughout the process. Unfortunately, the holidays and various work commitments kept putting the decals on the back burner, but every time I emailed Chris to kickstart the process, he was eager to work with me.

Those of you who are regular readers know that I'm pretty particular about details, and Chris compliments this perfectly: his attention to every detail of my (extremely small, in hindsight) order gave me the "warm and fuzzy" feeling we so often search for when dealing with vendors. I honestly felt that Chris really cared about each and every facet of my order, and I've heard the same from everyone else that I've dealt with.

The quality of the decals I ordered was top notch, the price was fantastic and the service was second to none.

I'd highly recommend Chris and VeloInk to anyone looking to personalize their machine with their name or company logo.

Tags: internet, reviews|

Taking Your Training Plan Outside! (Podcast #8)

I've heard a lot of discussion and received a number of emails lately, all with basically the same question: the weather is nice and I want to get outside again, but I'm following this training plan. How do I convert these intervals to my outdoor rides?

It's really not as hard as you would think, but there are a few concepts that you need to keep in mind when you're converting those neatly designed intervals into outdoor rides. In today's podcast we'll discuss:

How training plans are written/developed for indoor use
What you've been working on for the past two training cycles (hint: FUNDAMENTALS!)
How to use/apply those fundamentals outside
Breaking up your intervals, but still getting the right amount of work done
Using terrain, wind and groups to help you accomplish your interval goals
Learning when to apply those fundamental principles out on the road in order to see the most benefit
Understanding that it's perfectly ok to crack or fail once in a while

Enjoy, and as always, feel free to post any questions, comments or tips of your own in the comments.

BONUS: Included in today's podcast is a coupon code for 20% off my pre-built training plans and HIT workouts. Don't give up your fitness for Lent (give up the Doritos instead!) Take advantage of this offer and get stronger and faster in March!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:58 — 14.6MB)

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Tags: Coaching, podcast, training|

Michelin Pro 4 Race Service Course Final Thoughts

[dc]T[/dc]ires are a very personal thing, and changing them can represent a significant investment in the unknown. That being said, last year I published my first impressions on the Michelin Pro Race 4 SC tires that I picked up at Velofest. I was hesitant at the time: I was replacing an extremely durable, nice riding set of Vittoria Rubino Pro IIIs and had poor luck with Michelins in the past. Specifically, the Pro Race 3s that I used had an extremely short lifespan and were somewhat puncture prone. I was hoping that the Pro4s had rectified this problem. Much to my surprise, the Pro 4s gave a very favorable first impression, and were extremely solid during the first 250 miles that comprised my first impression.

Having spent the rest of the season on them it's time for my final thoughts on their performance, their value and make my recommendation.

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Tags: components, reviews, wrenching|

Strava, Challenges and Training (Podcast #7)

Unless you've been living under a rock recently, you've heard of Strava. But just in case you HAVE been one of those sub-rock-dwellers, let's review:

Strava ia a social media based site in which cyclists can upload their GPS recorded rides. Not only are they able to see their rides along with other “friends” (much like Facebook in this regard) but they are also able to compete for King Of the Mountain (KOM) segments on various stretches of road. Usually hill climbs, but there are certain downhills and sprints that are contested as well.

In any case, Strava has been hard at work trying to increase the interactivity and utility of their site. They've added tools to allow you to analyze power meter numbers (premium subscription, of course) and they've ramped up the number of challenges they're offering lately.

Now, I understand that a “challenge” shouldn't be something easy. But in many cases, I've seen athletes want to take on these challenges and end up wrecking their training plans because of it. So without further ado, let's talk about Strava, challenges and training…

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (3.9KB)