Training Babble: Off-Road Insights for Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary Dave and Matty break down durability, the fitness quality that actually determines whether you finish strong or fall apart late in a long race. If you've ever wondered why your FTP keeps climbing but your race results don't, this episode is for you. What we cover: Why durability matters more than FTP for gravel and ultra-enduran...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and guest Martin Kumm discuss why cyclists get hurt and what to do about it. Martin, a sports chiropractor for Team EF Pro Cycling, breaks down the mechanics behind knee and back pain, explains why bike fit is only part of the equation, and introduces a framework for underst...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode Dave and Matti break down everything you need to know in the final two weeks before Unbound Gravel. Whether this is your first 200 or your fifth, the same mistakes show up every year. This episode is about not making them. What we cover: Why Unbound is still an adventure race, not a controlled event, and why that distincti...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary A new review of 300+ studies claims athletes only need 10 grams of carbohydrates per hour during exercise. Dave and Uri dig into that claim, the history of carb recommendations, and the more important question underneath all of it: how do you figure out what's right for you? Key Takeaways The research saying 10g/hr is enough is almos...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text!   Summary In this episode of Training Babble Dave is joined by Matti from Gravel God Cycling to take a hard look at sweet spot training, where it came from, why it became so popular, and whether it actually delivers on its promises. They cover the origin story behind the zone, why it appeals to the lizard brain in all of us, how inflated FTP numb...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode, Coach Dave Schell discusses the over-reliance on data and technology in training, emphasizing the importance of listening to your body and developing intuitive training skills. He shares personal experiences and practical tips for balancing technology use with body awareness to improve athletic performance.  Sound  Bites...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode, Marinus Petersen shares his insights on training load, lactate thresholds, and effective training strategies for endurance athletes. Discover how to optimize your training by understanding physiological markers like LT1 and LT2, and learn practical tips for measuring and applying these concepts to improve performance. Key...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Bible podcast, host Dave Schell interviews world-class triathlon coach Joel Filliol. They discuss Filliol's coaching philosophy, the importance of periodization, managing mental load in athletes, and the balance between technology and traditional coaching methods. Filliol emphasizes the significance of...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell and nutrition expert Alex Larson discuss the evolution of fueling strategies for endurance athletes, particularly in the context of transitioning from triathlon to gravel racing. They emphasize the importance of proper nutrition for performance, body composition, and overall...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this conversation, Adria from HDrop discusses the origins and development of their innovative hydration monitoring device. The discussion covers the accuracy of the device, its market position against competitors, and how athletes can utilize the data for effective hydration strategies. Adria also shares insights on the impact of diet...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, Coach Dave Schell speaks with Jen Kates, a strength and cycling coach, about the importance of strength training for cyclists. They discuss how to simplify strength training, key movement patterns, the significance of core strength, and effective strategies for training. Jen shares her backg...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell interviews Hunter Allen, a leading expert in the field of athletic performance and nutrition. They discuss the evolution of training tools from power meters to Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and how these devices can provide athletes with critical insights into their glu...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell talks to sports dietician, Uri Carlson from Inner Wild Nutrition. The conversation discusses how to navigate the holidays, healthy weight loss for endurance athletes, and how to fuel before, during and after your workouts.  Uri dives into the ingrained belief that eating les...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell interviews John Karrasch, a bike fitter and coach who has ventured into tire rolling resistance testing. They discuss John's journey into bike fitting, the importance of real-world testing versus lab testing, and the complexities of rolling resistance and tire performan...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell speaks with coach Simon Kessler about the complexities of the off-season for cyclists. They discuss the importance of mental resets, the need for tailored off-season plans based on individual athlete needs, and the significance of setting both process and outcome goals. Kess...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, Dave Schell interviews Arnar Larusson, the founder and CEO of Tymeware, about their innovative wearable breathing sensor, the Vital Pro. The discussion covers the technology behind the device, its applications in training, and the importance of understanding breathing and heart rate for optimizing a...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode, Coach Dave Schell provides a detailed recap of his experience at the Leadville 100, discussing the challenges faced during the event, including traffic, tire choices, and nutrition strategies. He emphasizes the importance of preparation and learning from experiences. Additionally, he explores how athletes can transition t...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary  In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast you get to be a fly on the wall and listen in on our team meeting in prep for the Leadville 100. This conversation provides an in-depth overview of strategies and considerations for the LT100 focusing on course details, climbing and descent techniques, weather and nutrition, aid station usag...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode, Dave Schell and Dr. Phil Batterson discuss the concept of hyperoptimization in training, exploring its implications and dangers. They emphasize the importance of consistency, practicality, and focusing on fundamental training principles rather than chasing quick fixes or trendy methods. The conversation highlights the psy...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and guest Matti Rowe dig into the complexities of cycling, racing, and coaching. They discuss Matti's recent experience at Unbound, the importance of supporting athletes, the chaotic nature of racing, and the misconceptions surrounding training metrics like CTL. The conversatio...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and guest Leah Davison discuss the challenges and sacrifices involved in pursuing athletic excellence, particularly in the context of Olympic dreams. Leah shares her journey from being a professional athlete to navigating the complexities of motherhood and retirement, emphas...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, hosts Dave Schell and Matti discuss the said principle of training, emphasizing the importance of specificity in fitness as athletes transition from general fitness to race-specific training. They explore various aspects of training, including building work capacity, the significance of nutr...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, hosts Dave Schell and Matti Rowe delve into the complexities of athlete mindset, focusing on time orientation, the burden of past performance, the impact of aging, and the role of metrics in training. They discuss how anxiety and depression relate to future and past thinking, respectively, a...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! Summary In this episode, Dave Schell and Matti Rowe dive into the intricacies of the coach-athlete relationship, emphasizing the importance of alignment between a coach's methodology and an athlete's goals. They discuss common misconceptions about coaching, the necessity of commitment from athletes, and the reality of athletic progress,...

Interested in working with a coach? Send us a text! In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, hosts Dave Schell and Matti Rowe dive into the complexities of training metrics, particularly focusing on Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and its relevance in endurance sports. They discuss the evolving definitions of endurance, durability, and the importance of volume in training. The conversation...