Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad

How to upgrade categories faster, getting rid of saddle discomfort, and how giving blood affects fitness. All of this and more in this episode of the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TOPICS COVERED IN THIS EPISODE • TrainerRoad Party at Cyclocross National Championships! • We're hiring soft...

Is a higher cadence actually better, how is crank length affecting your power output, and cornering drills that make you faster. All of this and more in this episode of the Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast! Topics Covered in this episode: • How Cyclists Can Avoid Losing Fitness While Traveling • Is a higher cadence actually better? • Cadence myths busted • How to adjust your training as a parent • How...

Ryan Cooper is the founder of Best Bike Split, Chief Scientist at Training Peaks, and an expert on all things aerodynamics and pacing. We met up with Ryan in Kona to discuss how to achieve perfect pacing, aerodynamic advantages in time trialing, and triathlon tactics. Topics covered in this episode: • How Ryan Cooper became an expert in TT pacing • Should you go hard or easy on climbs? • How to pr...

The hosts of the Ask a Cycling Coach podcast worked with one of the best MTB skills coaches in the world, Lee McCormack of Lee Likes Bikes, to make you a faster mountain biker. Head over to blog.trainerroad.com to check out the video of this skills clinic. Topics covered in this episode: - How to avoid sketchy moments on the bike - How your knee position on a bike can change everything - How to st...

Nate returns from India with new insight on how to get power data from a gym bike while traveling, Jonathan gives you a complete guide to Cyclocross National Championships, and Chad goes deep into strength training and staying hydrated during late night workouts. Topics covered in this episode: • Live podcast recording w/Matt Fitzgerald November 4 at Rapha San • Francisco, with group ride thereaft...

The podcast hosts are back from Kona and share everything you need to know before climbing Mauna Kea. As Nate gets ready for another long trip overseas, we share the best on-the-go training setups, tips for how to keep your training on track while traveling, and 5 strength training exercises for cyclists. Topics covered in this episode: • Live podcast recording w/Matt Fitzgerald November 4 at Raph...

Professional triathlete and IRONMAN commentator, Matt Lieto, and your podcast hosts recorded a special episode to chop up Grinduro, one of the most interesting races on the calendar that you need to know about, and their preparation for one of the toughest climbs on earth, Mauna Kea. Topics covered: • Triathlon and gravel racing • A triathlete’s take on The Downieville Classic • What makes Downiev...

Andrew Talansky is one of the most successful American cyclists in history with a win at The Criterium du Dauphine, top ten Grand Tour finishes, domestic tour wins and national championship titles to his name. At 28 years old, some would say he has his whole road racing career ahead of him, but he's changing gears – the most successful American pro cyclist in recent times is moving sports to triat...

We sat down with Emmet Kelley, a triathlete from Ireland, to learn every detail about how he trained and qualified for IRONMAN World Championships in Kona. Topics covered in this episode: • How qualifying for Kona works • Which events should you pick to maximize your chances of qualifying • What type of swim, bike and run splits would you need to qualify for Kona • How to optimize your bike equipm...

• TrainerRoad's Product Manager mixing it up with the pros! • TrainerRoad athlete Liz Lyles' IM Chattanooga win • IRONMAN World Championships TrainerRoad plans • The podcast hosts are going to climb Mauna Kea! • Levi's Gran Fondo recap • How to train for Levi's Gran Fondo • What to know about the Levi's Gran Fondo course • How to recon a remote course • How to pace a long day in the saddle • What...

In this special episode we spoke with the God Father of triathlon innovation, Dan Empfield, at Interbike in Las Vegas, NV. Topics covered in this episode: • How triathlon wetsuits came to exist • What caused TT bikes to be designed as they are • The two most important bike fit measurements • How gravel racing could affect triathlon • How to know if a TT bike fits you before you buy it • How to avo...

• How to race with a bent derailleur hanger • The one thing you shouldn’t do right before a race • Why your disc brakes may be rubbing • How much aggression is okay in cx? • How to get a good start, even from the back of the pack • How to know when to make passes and when to wait • How to know if you should ride or run stairs? • How to not clip your pedals on stairs • How to remount smoothly in a...

Keegan Swenson (Cannondale 3Rox),  #2  ranked pro XC racer in the USA, joins us for his take on cyclocross and a preview of Cross Vegas. Topics covered in this episode: • What makes pro athletes different from the rest of us • Keegan Swenson's power data • Pre-race warmups for cyclocross • Pre-race "leg openers" for the pros • Tire choice and bike setup for grass cyclocross courses • Pedal setup f...

• Join us and author Matt Fitzgerald in person for a live podcast recording! Saturday, November 4, 2017, at Rapha Cycle Club in San Francisco, CA! • XC MTB suspension setup guide • What motivates you to race? • How to use your off-season wisely • How long does fitness last? • Should you use a full suspension MTB on the trainer? • Which pedals should you get? • How to win a crit for first-time ride...

• How more carbohydrate actually improves performance • Updated mobile apps! • Depleted glycogen stores vs. skipping breakfast • What it takes to win Park City Point 2 Point (beat the best XC racers in the country) • Can CX training replace Base training? • Is cold training as important/beneficial as heat training? • Gear and strategies for cold weather riding • What is muscle "activation"? • Is s...

- Join us and author Matt Fitzgerald in person for a live podcast recording! Saturday, November 4, 2017, @ Rapha Cycle Club in San Francisco, CA - Nate's new MTB - "Park City Point 2 Point" MTB race - New cyclocross plans! - How to fix shifting problems on a smart trainer - Is precision during rest intervals important? - Can you do too many or too few races in a season? - Cyclocross in the Crossfi...

• Live podcast recording at Rapha Cycle Club in San Francisco Nov. 4! • Why Breck Epic is one of the hardest races in the world • Nate's new approach to nutrition • Should you have different FTPs for different circumstances? • How focus and motivation can improve your performance • Is visualization damaging or enabling? • How to know if your helmet is ruined • How bike fits work and how to pick th...

• How to transition to cyclocross season • The effects of humidity on heat training? • Could the Trek Domane be a gravel bike? • Should you maintain your smart trainer? • Can you skip base training if you are fat adapted? • Can you shortcut to peak fitness if a race schedule changes? • Tips for endurance mountain bike racing • Can you use ERG mode during an FTP test? • How to make yourself a sprin...

The dust has settled and Coach Chad, Jonathan and Nate share their final thoughts on Singletrack 6. Topics covered in this episode: - How to travel to a race on a budget - The effects of a concussion - How to recover from a concussion - Ideal bike setups for cross country racing - What is the best bike for technical XC racing - How to decide between a hardtail or full suspension MTB - What your pa...

Stage 5 of Singletrack 6 took an unexpected turn. Tune into this super quick episode to see what we learned. Topics covered in this episode: – Maintaining focus even when the trail is easy – Why you should never feel ashamed of walking a technical section

The Queen Stage is in the books! Only two stages left of Singletrack 6, but does Jonathan have two stages left in him? Topics covered in this episode: • Using a power meter for mountain bike racing • How to deal with blisters on your hands from mountain biking • Why you are getting flat tires • Using the experience of smart trainer on the trail • The aggressive demands of an XC Stage race • How to...

Stage 3 was the highest stage yet and nearly 100% singletrack, and Coach Chad is back! Topics covered in this episode: • Big pre-race breakfast or constant snacking: which is best? • Pacing in a fast group • How to adjust your race strategy for a bad start position • Things to consider when receiving info about a course • How to manage fear in a race • Avoiding flat tires in rocky terrain • How to...

Stage 2 started hard and remained technical throughout with plenty of riders being caught out by rugged terrain and technical climbs. Topics covered in this episode: • How to manage a hard start in a race • Dealing with dusty conditions • Regrouping after a mid-race setback • How to carry momentum in technical terrain • How to pass and get passed on singletrack • A trick to help you gain time on c...

Stage 1 is done & dusted, and it left its mark with some serious shake-ups moving forward. Topics covered in this episode: • How not to start a race • Is pushing hard for position early in a race really worth it? • Making steep climbs manageable • Things to remember in technical descents • How did Nate's tire choice end up? • How to tackle steep and loose descents • How to change your mental state...

• Upcoming daily podcasts! • How training for a technical MTB race is different • How to overcome fear on a mountain bike • Different ways to taper for a race • The best way to fly with your bicycle • How to plan transportation for your stage races • How to recon a foreign route from afar • What tires should you pick for Singletrack 6 or a technical MTB race • How to know if you should carry a hyd...