Coach's Corner
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What kind of Burner are you?
Whether you generate lactate ease or have the ultra athlete fat burning profile, we recommend getting your individual lactate curve assessed. 2 mmol or not 2 mmol? Should you train at the this magical number or not? The test takes about 1 hour to complete including a 30 min warm-up. Take the guesswork out of determining your best aerobic training zone this off-season. -
Baseline Testing, What Should You Do?
Some of you simply need a refresher on your FTP power as it's been a few years since we did a proper assessment.  Some of you want to know your LT1 which is the best zone for fat burning and aerobic training. If you have these numbers already, what about your metabolism? The Resting Metabolic Rate has had a resurgence with individuals looking to improve their digestion and metabolism. -
Nothing but Tailwinds, Blue Skies and other Scottish Fibs
We were fully self-guided which meant that we had to come together as a group, figured out route planning, daily logistics, and road support. There were times we were a well-oiled machine and there were times we were a total mess, but a team is more than the sum of its parts and by the end we had all contributed to the success of the trip. -
Maurten and Gruppo Sports Drink Review
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of consuming a drink mix or gel containing CHO with sodium alginate and pectin on performance, oxygen consumption, rate of perceived exertion, blood glucose and lactate concentration, and respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and GI distress during a cycling or walking/running 60-minute steady state test followed by a ramp incremental test.
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Tales from Track Center Montage
Of all these stories, experiences, and lessons, I developed “race craft” as a skill. By this I mean I learned everything there is to know about running a race as a team. How many staff you need, where and when. What they need to do where and when. What mechanics do, where and when. What parts we need, what the riders need. What to do when X happens, or Y or Z, or ZZZ, an entire profession I learned. Leaving this racing world and heading back to life in retail and the bike shop was a wake-up call. Sure, I can bleed a brake upside down and backwards in pitch black in a French parking lot, or grab the middle bike from the roof rack in 5 seconds, or change a rear track wheel in less that 45 seconds on the apron. But, forecasting the number of chains we need to book with Shimano to not run out by June. Uh yah, I have some learning to do! -
The Sleeping VO2, How to get your Metabolic Rate on Track
At rest, a healthy metabolism should be burning at least 3/4 fat and 1/4 carbohydrate -
Changing your Metabolism by Zone 2 - LT1 Training
In order to train smarter, you need to know what is going on with your metabolism. Are you a good fat burner? Do you rely too much on glucose? Do you have an aerobic base? Getting fit does not have to include a weekly torture session! Training should be prescribed on an individual basis with the goal of longevity. -
Chasing Numbers. The ups and downs of your FTP
The invention of power meters has changed the game in cycling, most of it good! We finally have a metric to gauge our effort precisely. No more old school of going by feel.  Training with power has revolutionized coaching and training.  -
Tales from Track Center. Part One
Many things in my life lead up to becoming a team mechanic. Too many pieces fell into place to really make a point with my skill as a writer. A more succinct explanation is to give you context into how it became possible. The biggest and most important thing in my mind is the addition of A women’s team endurance event to the track cycling program at the Olympics. Everything that came after, at least for me, was a result of this. -
From the Blues to Sunshine
You’re committing your time, body, mind and spirit to reaching this height. You have drive and clarity of vision. Hours, days, months and sometimes years of hard work and dedication. Then, all of a sudden, it’s all gone. Vanished into thin air. -
Getting over the Post Race Blues
You have just completed a major goal, but what comes next? All that planning, work and dedication has seen you accomplish something you can be proud of, but where do you go from here? -
N+1 is the proper number of bikes for every rider
N+1 is the proper number of bikes for every rider, and that is true for bike companies as well. In the last 10 years we have seen the addition of the Gravel Bike and now the “All Road Bike”.
