-
Cycling Into The Future: How Apple’s WatchOS 10 Elevates Gravel Cycling Experiences
Big news from tech giant Apple. Their latest iteration of the operating system, WatchOS 10, has the potential to revolutionize how gravel cyclists monitor their rides. If you’re an Apple Watch user and an avid cyclist, prepare to ride into a more data-driven future. From modest beginnings as a Bluetooth-enabled heart rate monitor, the Apple…
-
Heart Rate Variability (HRV): what is it and how it can be used to guide training
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a fairly new metric that has gained popularity in recent years as a way to monitor overall health and wellbeing, in addition to measuring heart rate during exercise. HRV is simply a measure of the variation in time between each heartbeat. The fluctuation in heart rate, or variance in time…
-
TrainerRoad Uses Machine Learning to Offer Adaptive Training Plans
Trainer Road has announced a new, machine learning based training system to help riders tailor their workout plan to their strengths, weaknesses – and goals. Press release and info on how to signup information below: What is Adaptive Training? Adaptive Training is TrainerRoad’s revolutionary new system designed to help you train more effectively than ever…
-
2020 Zwift Academy Road Begins: All the Details on Workouts, Group Rides, Segments and Races
The 2020 iteration of Zwift Academy Road for men and women is live. Here are all the detials on the workouts, group rides, segments and races. Zwift Academy Graduation Requirements First thing first, here are boxes do you need to check to graduate the Zwift Academy Road program: Finish all eight Workouts on your own…
-
How to Build a Pacing Plan for Your Next Gravel Cycling Event
Pacing is essential in longer cycling events. When you’re out on gravel roads for long hours you need a plan so you don’t blow up and cross the finish line as fast as your fitness allows. Why you Need a Pacing Plan When you boil down endurance sports to their base essence, they’re all about…
-
Intro to Zwift Racing: Integrating Zwift Racing into Training, How to Win and Everything Else You Need to Know
Races and group rides on Zwift have grown like crazy over the past year. You can jump on and find a race with 30-50 participants per classification at just about any hour. Racing on Zwift allows for year-round competition. It’s safe. And from a training standpoint, it’s hard to argue with the mental effect of taking…
-
Sufferfest Unveils the ‘future of indoor fitness tests’
Indoor virtual cycling training app The Sufferfest, Wahoo’s fitness and training software wing, is currently testing a new fitness test dubbed the Half Monty. It’s their take on the ramp test many of us use to measure functional threshold power (FTP). The ramp test is a popular alternative to the conventional 20-minute FTP test. According…
-
How to Estimate your Gravel Racing Pace and Build a Plan for Race Day
Bike racing is like a checking account. You’ve built your balance up with training, rest, nutrition and planning, on race day it’s time to spend it down. If you write a big check too early in the race, you won’t have money left to open a race winning gap. The goal is to pace yourself…
-
In training terms, what are ‘junk miles’ on the bike?
Let’s kick off the new year with plenty of controversy! Everyone’s writing up their training plans and registering for the year’s events. A lot of cyclists will also be setting a yearly mileage goal. Shooting simply for miles, though, isn’t a great choice. You might just be setting yourself up for a lot of junk…
-
Why Cyclists Should Make Sleep a Priority in Their Daily Training
In April, I lost my job. I gained a nice severance payment, a reduction in stress, and a lot of free time. One of the first things I did was prioritize getting a full nights sleep. The payoff for going from 5-6 hours of sleep per night to 8-plus was huge. After nearly a year…
-
How Not to Ride a Breakaway
This is a great video on race tactics. Nate Pearson of TrainerRoad clearly has a big motor, but power only gives you the opportunity to win, tactics and some luck seal the deal. I hope to see many more videos from TrainerRoad like this, it’s a great format for learning tactics. Cal Aggie Criterium…
-
New FTP Testing Protocols
I was catching up on some reading when I came across an interesting article by Kolie Moore of Training Peaks about FTP testing and training, you can read the full article here. It’s fairly heavy reading for your every day, amateur cyclist as it is directed toward coaches, but there is some really excellent info…
-
Sufferfest Gets a Major Redesign
If you are stuck riding inside, one of the better options available to make the most of your time training is Sufferfest, and it just got a little better. The new Sufferfest Training System app was just released for iOS, mac OS & Windows desktop. The updated version has a slick new interface, a few…
-
How to Write a Cycling Training Plan for the Coming Year
The start of a new year means new resolutions. However, without a well laid out plan, most won’t make it further than a month or two. Having a goal (or a few) for the year is a good start, but without a plan to get there you’re just dreaming. Developing a solid plan for the…
-
ZwiftQuest Turns Virtual Training Into Adventures in Orienteering
Zwift is a godsend, combined with a smart-trainer it turned one of the worst things in the world — indoor cycling — into something I truly enjoy. Mindlessly spinning circles in front of the TV has become an engaging and much more effective form of training. Gamification works, my late-winter FTP is all the proof…
