 As we reach mid-February, some athletes have been in their non-competitive, non-event, or “shoulder” season for several months. Others who raced a full ‘cross calendar may feel like they have just shut it down. Wherever you fall in the spectrum, hopefully you’ve taken some time to dial it back, get off the bike a bit, enjoy other outdoor activities, and then start getting ready for next season. During this time, many coaches and athletes will include strategically placed higher intensity workouts on the schedule. Strategic and deliberate with purpose. Over the past five or six years, there’s been a new way to include intensity all year round. Like it or not, Virtual Racing, or E-Racing is here, and quite likely here to stay. There’s even National Championships, Professional Zwift Racing Teams, and some real money behind the competitions. Virtual races can really be a lot of fun. I’ve participated in a good handful, and may recommend a race to some of my clients. They’re a great way to really push yourself and mix things up when forced to train indoors. I’ve even had clients use E-Fondos to qualify for the National Fondo Championships. This is great as it makes the event much more attainable for the individual who doesn’t have the luxury of traveling to several far away events a year. But unless you’re sandbagging or e-doping (lying about your weight and/or height), they are usually quite intense. Often too intense. Some group rides wouldfall into this category, too. They can make for a really fun workout or provide that extra motivation during the cold winter months, but we must be careful with their placement on the calendar and how frequently we’re participating.
On the virtual platforms like TrainingPeaks Virtual and Zwift, at some times of the day you can find a race starting nearly every 15 minutes. You can certainly find races every single day. Other platforms might not have the same saturation as these two, but they’re there. Even in the height of “in season”, athletes can easily overdo it with virtual racing and intense group rides. It’s important to respect the intensity of these events and be mindful of where they fall on your calendar. They’re fun and some folks report that they can be addictive. And they’re certainly an easy answer to the question, “what should I do on the trainer today?” Our brain’s pleasure center gets all fired up with the hard efforts and, assuming things don’t go terribly wrong, we can leave the event on a pretty good high. If you’re still three or even four months away from the start of your season, I would suggest no more than 1 or 2 virtual races a month. Oh the blasphemy. One or two per month? For sure. I’m not suggesting zero intensity. Not at all. I’m a proponent of programming “intense” workouts with a specific objective that is targeted to help you reach goal. These workouts will often be progressive in duration of the intervals and/or the intensity of the intervals. Unfortunately e-racing doesn’t always afford this same kind of progression. As mentioned, virtual races are often super intense and take a significant amount of time to properly recover. Additionally, most indoor setups, regardless of the number of fans, create very warm environments especially during the intense sessions like a race. Despite our best attempts, we’ll often end up in a dehydrated state. Along those lines, it’s not uncommon to under fuel for our indoor workouts. They’re indoors. How hard can they be? Very. I came across this quite technical article on the recovery from a Zwift Race: Zwift Recovery https://www.endureiq.com/blog/recovery-from-a-zwift-race The science is cool, and the summary is: “So, next time you are thinking about jumping into a Zwift race, it might be worth first considering the time-course of physiological recovery from a high-intensity effort like this, and what training you had planned in the subsequent 24-48 hours. In the case of the athlete described here, I’d say that refraining from the Friday night racing in an effort to maximize their outputs in their subsequent planned weekend of training might be the best approach. Thursday may have been a better night for racing, such that enough time was allowed for recovery prior to those planned intervals!” With the extended recovery period, our subsequent workouts may be of lower quality. Or worse, we can quickly approach a non-functioning over-reaching state, which can have even longer negative implications. And while true over-training is not actually as common as folks would suggest, it’s definitely possible. All of these things can impact your progress as an athlete, but more importantly, the quality of your life as a healthy human being. If the racing doesn’t put is in a bad place, maybe it’s still not the best course of action. Every choice in life has an opportunity cost, and by choosing a race it is keeping us from a workout that may be more beneficial to reaching our goals. That other workout might be more targeted intervals, a steady Zone 2 ride, strength training, or maybe REST is what would be best. It’s also very easy to remain at a fitness plateau all year long we don’t respect the seasonality of our sport. Virtual platforms and indoor cycling has all but eliminated that seasonality. I remember on one of the FastTalk Podcasts Coach Connor talking about Florida as the “land of the eighty percenters.” He elaborated noting that with weather that allows for outdoor riding, group rides, and races all year long, there’s no “off season.” I’ve adopted the term “non-competitive” (or non-events/group rides) season, since we’re usually not “off” from exercise from long at all. But the idea is that if you’re doing the same thing all year long year after year, you might be at 80% of your potential, but never really rise above that. A final thought on this to think about your season and when you really want to be fit and fast. We used to joke about the “Valentine’s Day Champs” or the “Saint Patrick’s Day Champs” well before Zwift. These were the folks that absolutely killed it during the winter, and maybe hit a warm training camp or two. Then, come mid-February to mid-March, they would be ripping. Sounds cool, right? They downside was, best case scenario was that they hit their peak and then dropped off the scene. Maybe they could get it back together for a second peak, but I rarely saw that. Worse cases were burnout, getting discouraged and disengaged from our awesome sport, or the worst—injury. We’re seeing the same thing with the virtual winter racers now. If you’ve never raced on a virtual platform, check it out when you’re well rested and don’t have an intense or long workout for a couple of days. If you are a virtual racer, take a moment to think about how these fit into the big plan and are they really helping you progress, or are the just fun. Fun is good, but make sure it’s truly the fun you’re looking for. Here’s another article talking about the importance of managing your effort: https://www.stickybottle.com/coaching/zwift-burn-why-workload-balance-is-crucial-with-indoor-trainers/ And if you’re interested in learning more about Virtual racing, check this out: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/zwift-racing/ Or hit me up and we can chat and do a TPV or Zwift ride or race together. Aside from racing, if you're looking to make the most of your indoor riding, check out: https://www.bikereg.com (search for BJL to see the most recent sessions) Keep mixing it up and get outside whenever you can. But when you’re forced to be on your trainer or rollers, plan your rides with purpose. If you are looking for more information about indoor training and meaningful workouts for indoors or out, give me a shout. I create workouts that can be downloaded to all major online platforms and head units and are easily followed on the screen. Thoughts, questions, or comments on virtual racing? I’d love to hear! Post up below. Cheers, Coach Brian
0 Comments
 The Godfather of endurance coaching and author of the Training Bibles, Joe Friel, recently wrote a whole book, called Ride Inside, on indoor training. Indoor training has become increasingly popular, and with the interactive platforms such as Zwift and RGT, and the more "realistic" equipment available, riders are logging more hours indoors. Some athletes are actually dedicated and sponsored indoor racers! Being forced inside during 2020 certainly added fuel to this fire.
Riding indoors has it's own set of challenges. Cardiovascular Drift, which is not uncommon during indoor training due to increasing body temperature and dehydration. There are steps you can take to help avoid this as well as more considerations about your setup. Here's a great article by Joe Friel that was posted on the TrainingPeaks Blog about setting up your indoor training area: Making Your Indoor Cycling Setup Work for You https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/making-your-indoor-cycling-setup-work-for-you/ If you don't have a dedicated smart bike, if you have a second bike that you can leave on your trainer, I find this eliminates one of the barriers that often exists for athletes. Little things like that can really help to make sure you get on your bike for your workout. It doesn't need to be fancy, but with a little thought, a couple of box fans, a little entertainment, and plenty of fluids, you can have a much more enjoyable time. To sign up for my remote indoor training classes, click here: Remote Indoor Training Classes Go HERE for a Free Trial Week! If you want to get more out of your indoor AND outdoor training, I offer customized training programs that will upload to all popular training platforms and head units. If you're interested in setting yourself up for your best year ever, drop me a line. Email Coach Brian Coach BrianThe Godfather of endurance coaching and author of the Training Bibles, Joe Friel, recently wrote a whole book, called Ride Inside, on indoor training. Indoor training has become increasingly popular, and with the interactive platforms such as Zwift and RGT, and the more "realistic" equipment available, riders are logging more hours indoors. Some athletes are actually dedicated and sponsored indoor racers! Being forced inside during 2020 certainly added fuel to this fire. Riding indoors has it's own set of challenges. Cardiovascular Drift, which is not uncommon during indoor training due to increasing body temperature and dehydration. There are steps you can take to help avoid this as well as more considerations about your setup. Here's a great article by Joe Friel that was posted on the TrainingPeaks Blog about setting up your indoor training area: Making Your Indoor Cycling Setup Work for You https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/making-your-indoor-cycling-setup-work-for-you/ If you don't have a dedicated smart bike, if you have a second bike that you can leave on your trainer, I find this eliminates one of the barriers that often exists for athletes. Little things like that can really help to make sure you get on your bike for your workout. It doesn't need to be fancy, but with a little thought, a couple of box fans, a little entertainment, and plenty of fluids, you can have a much more enjoyable time. To sign up for my remote indoor training classes, click here: Remote Indoor Training Classes Go HERE for a Free Trial Week! If you want to get more out of your indoor AND outdoor training, I offer customized training programs that will upload to all popular training platforms and head units. If you're interested in setting yourself up for your best year ever, drop me a line. Email Coach Brian Coach BrianThe Godfather of endurance coaching and author of the Training Bibles, Joe Friel, recently wrote a whole book, called Ride Inside, on indoor training. Indoor training has become increasingly popular, and with the interactive platforms such as Zwift and RGT, and the more "realistic" equipment available, riders are logging more hours indoors. Some athletes are actually dedicated and sponsored indoor racers! Being forced inside during 2020 certainly added fuel to this fire. Riding indoors has it's own set of challenges. Cardiovascular Drift, which is not uncommon during indoor training due to increasing body temperature and dehydration. There are steps you can take to help avoid this as well as more considerations about your setup. Here's a great article by Joe Friel that was posted on the TrainingPeaks Blog about setting up your indoor training area: Making Your Indoor Cycling Setup Work for You https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/making-your-indoor-cycling-setup-work-for-you/ If you don't have a dedicated smart bike, if you have a second bike that you can leave on your trainer, I find this eliminates one of the barriers that often exists for athletes. Little things like that can really help to make sure you get on your bike for your workout. It doesn't need to be fancy, but with a little thought, a couple of box fans, a little entertainment, and plenty of fluids, you can have a much more enjoyable time. To sign up for my remote indoor training classes, click here: Remote Indoor Training Classes Go HERE for a Free Trial Week! If you want to get more out of your indoor AND outdoor training, I offer customized training programs that will upload to all popular training platforms and head units. If you're interested in setting yourself up for your best year ever, drop me a line. Email Coach Brian Coach Brian  Over the past 7-8 years, more and more athletes that I work use a smart trainer for their indoor cycling, and some of the new athletes that sign on to work with me only have experience with a smart trainer and ERG mode on for indoor workouts. So is this a good thing or bad thing or is it neutral? Like most things, this is not a binary decision of “good” or “bad”, but a continuum. My initial thought was that there’s more bad than good, but I wanted to find out more. Since power (measured in watts) = torque x cadence, as long as the product of those two variables is 200, it doesn’t matter if the cadence is 20 revolutions per minute (rpms) or 120 rpms, as long as the torque changes as well. And what happens with a smart trainer is the rider will HAVE TO change the torque, or the pedals won’t move. Torque is calculated by multiplying the force applied to the pedals, by the crank length (lever arm). This is a very simplified view of the physics involved without going full nerd on you all, but the basic gist is there. What I typically see with ERG ONLY athletes is that they have a difficult time producing a steady power output outside, especially on the flats. They also often don't learn the skill of what xxx watts "feels" like in their feet and legs. This “feel” is very useful when in a group ride or race situation where staring at your power meter is not a good idea. Or if your devices have an issue such as dead battery or bad calibration. For more intense intervals, I have also seen their form really fall apart, in the way of just mashing on the pedals with a very low cadence just to hit the number. I can imagine it might not have been what we would call souplesse, or smooth pedaling like we see with the pro riders. This is not a knock on anyone. It would make sense that “if I’m hitting xxx watts and that’s the goal, then I must be getting a good workout.” Unfortunately, that’s not a binary decision, either. Imagine a personal trainer prescribed squats at yyy pounds for an athlete. The instructions were to complete 8 reps at that weight, at all costs. Form didn’t matter at all, as long as the barbell came down and then back up. If this amount of weight is just beyond the athlete’s safe capabilities, chances are their form would go out the window and they could really injure themselves. But coach…I did the reps? Aren’t I going to get stronger now? Not if you’re laid up hurt. First off, what is ERG mode? ERG is short for ergometer, which, incidentally is not quite how we actually use in the term ERG in respect to a smart trainer. By definition, an ergometer is, according to Merriam-Webster: Ergometer: an apparatus for measuring the work performed (as by a person exercising) So the smart trainer’s ability to measure watts (work), as well as a power meter, would satisfy the definition. When we speak of ERG mode as it relates to a smart trainer, we are usually talking about the smart trainer’s ability to set a predetermined intensity, measured in watts. For example, if the trainer is set to ERG mode ON and the intensity (power) is 200 watts, the rider would need to produce 200 watts. Period. It’s either 200 watts or you’re not going.  ERG Mode on for an interval workout. Perfectly executed? An analogy would be a running/walking treadmill. If the treadmill is set for 10 minute miles, a.k.a. 6 miles per hour, an individual on the treadmill would need to move their legs to correspond to this rate. If they ran too slowly, they’d fall off the back. If they ran too quickly, they’d run into the grab bar and controls. The number of steps per minute does matter, but only in the sense that the stride length would need to change correspondingly. Bottom line is, they would need to cover 8.8 feet per second which is 6 miles per hour. OK…enough of the physics and definitions. I had researched the topic of ERG mode when smart trainers started becoming popular and found many similar thoughts such as the article I link to below. There’s been plenty of additional support since I first looked into the topic. I have also experienced that, with the athletes that I coach, as I help them transition them off of ERG mode that they're able to translate that power better to the "real" world. For harder efforts, I believe it's VERY important to have ERG off. The benefit of ERG forcing one to do the wattage and stay steady could be beneficial for lower (Zone 2/Zone 3) workouts, but once we get to Zone 4 and above, the athlete should really listen to their body and hit the "range." ERG may force us to go much harder than would be appropriate for the day, the rep, the set, etc. Additionally, for the really hard efforts above LT2 (commonly referred to as VO2 Max Intervals or Anaerobic Capacity Intervals for example), like many coaches, I prescribe a range. The training platforms such as Zwift or Garmin will target the middle of that range, which could quite possibly be completely inappropriate if not unattainable for the athlete. Better to push the power that hits somewhere in the range and is repeatable for effective training. Likewise, for any drill where there are quick cadence changes such as spin ups, fast pedaling drills, or sprints, the trainer can't always keep up. As important, it forces a specific power, which is often not the goal of the drill. High cadence is the goal and the power may be quite variable. While a high power number is usually an indicator of a strong sprint, true sprint efforts are so short that the power could fluctuate a fair amount from sprint to sprint. In my opinion and anecdotal experience, ideally ERG mode would never be on, with perhaps one exception. What’s the exception? If an athlete has a hard time NOT going hard or needs to chase down everyone that passes them on Zwift, having ERG mode on to keep that rider at a lower intensity could be beneficial. I’ve also had more than one client tell me that they put ERG on so they can “just shut off their brain and pedal.” I can understand and relate to this, but I also think that it’s important to “be there” when you’re training and think about your form, the goal of the workout, your breathing, etc. But if ERG mode on helps folks get through a lower intensity workout, then it could be worth it. Check out this article that is not in support of ERG mode:: https://www.360velo.com/why-dont-use-erg-mode/ And here’s an alternative viewpoint: https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/fitness-and-training/erg-mode/ Hope this sheds some light as to why I recommend not using ERG except for very specific conditions. If you haven’t tried doing workouts outside of ERG, give it a try. What's your take? Have you ever used ERG Mode ON? Are you a die hard ERG Mode fan? Post a comment or question below. Cheers, B.L. ERG mode is evil :D Hi Coach -been awhile but i still follow you and thanks for including me in your emails !  I’ve been riding indoors for almost 30 years now and most of those years were spent staring at some kind of movie, video, show, webinar, etc. Sometimes it was less than exciting, but it was effective and got me through the cold, dark months of winter.
Around 2014, I started hearing about this thing called Zwift, back when it beta and was just the island. I was intrigued and listened intently as it was described by some of my friends who got on the beta release, but it seemed unnecessary to me and just added a layer of complication that I didn’t want. After it moved out of the beta version and started gaining some momentum and membership, I felt even stronger that this wasn’t something that I needed and always got... a good workout on my trainer with no problem. Admittedly, I was also concerned that I would indeed develop a dependence and not be able to ride indoors without the gamification of Zwift. Quite possibly it was a bit of grump old guy not interested in the new-fangled gizmo. As a TrainingPeaks Coach, several years ago I was given the tools to create workouts that are downloadable to all the major online platforms, and I learned everything I could about them and the “new” smart trainers that were quickly becoming ubiquitous. But I still felt this wasn’t for me. To add to this mentality, I heard more than one story of connectivity issues, frozen screens, deleted workouts and the like. Again, all aggravation that I wasn’t looking at add. Fast forward to 2019 and I’m still off Zwift, despite the thousands and thousands of users, many of them my friends and racing colleagues. Everyone seems to be raving about it. Then, late fall of that year, another virtual platform called RGT reached out to the top level TrainingPeaks Coaches and asked if we would pilot their software. It sounded like a good opportunity to me and with it came a lifetime free membership to their premier service. So I downloaded the app, created a profile, and I was off. It was a cool experience for sure, and it was fun providing feedback and seeing what changes they could or would make to the platform. The graphics were great, the courses were fun, and it has a super cool feature where you can upload a GPX file and it would recreated the course for you. Now, it was in this magical land where the roads were kind of clear and there wasn’t much terrain, but it’s a cool tool to practice a real life course like a road race or a TT course. If nothing else for the elevation profile which would be recreated accurately. The greatest downside with RGT was a fairly “small” membership base. I did a few events and often there were less than 20 people registered. Meanwhile, I’m hearing of Zwift events with hundreds of participants. I would drift on and off of the RGT platform and had no problem just “riding” and doing my workout without logging in. OK, so a cool experience but I wasn’t hooked. Then we all know what happened in March of 2020 and as a result more and more people started training indoors, or training more indoors. The pandemic cycling explosion had happened. Well, I also rode inside a bit more but spent plenty of hours riding out of doors as usual as outdoor riding was permitted in my area. I wasn’t going to hop on the Zwift train…yet. Late summer in 2020, one of my clients asked if he could hire me to do some Zwift rides with him. At that point it seemed like a no brainer, so I got an account as I was off. I had some fun with my client and my original plan of only being on for a short while quickly went out the window. As a child of the 70s and having lived through the birth of video games, I was having fun earning the different badges and learning more about the platform. Group rides were kind of cool, and I tried a race to see what that was all about. Zwift does a great job of peppering in those dopamine hits very frequently and you really crank through the levels in the beginning. As you ride more, you start earning new frames, helmets, glasses, shoes, socks, etc. I certainly felt like I could still ride indoors without Zwift, but now, why would I? It’s been a full two years since I signed up for Zwift, and I have to admit it’s added to my enjoyment level when training indoors. On days when I’m a little low on motivation, I’ll scour the group rides to find one that meets my target intensity goal of the day, but I’m also fine getting spit out the back if it’s harder than what I’m looking for. It’s fun just doing a workout on an open world and getting some PR’s, KOM’s, Green Jerseys, or Course Leader Jersey’s when your intervals line up with the sections. I also create meetups and will get together with clients, friends, teammates, and so on. It’s weird that that becomes even more motivating, but it does. Just cruising around some Zwift world in the winter, texting back and forth, rubber band is on (no one can get dropped), and getting in time spinning our legs. Finally, I have strategically put in a handful of races when they fit my training goals. I can tell you that they can be very, very HARD if you want them to be. I’ve set some 5, 10, 20, and 30 minute power records chasing some avatar on the screen which is just downright silly. But they’re “free,” there’s many to choose from if you get dropped, and results just don’t matter. For the most part at least. Indoor training is not what it used it be. Interactive online platforms and smart trainers have changed the game for the most part for the better. But unless you’re a sponsored e-sports cyclist, I do hope you use the indoor trainer as a tool to enhance your outside riding, not as a substitute to your outside riding. Just this past weekend it was in the low 30’s with wind in the teens, and I considered staying indoors and banging out a few hours on the trainer. It’s convenient, a great workout, very focused, efficient, and effective. And makes for a lot less laundry. After a quick gut check and mental head slap, I suited up with my five layers and burly gloves and got outside for two great rides. Maybe I’ll see you on the roads of Wattopia, but I hope to see you out on the roads and trails IRL! If you’re interested in listening to an in depth discussion about the future of online racing, check out: https://www.fasttalklabs.com/fast-talk/is-virtual-racing-the-future-with-ben-delaney/ What’s your take on indoor training? What’s your favorite online training platform or are you “old school?” Leave a comment, question, or answer below. Thanks for reading! Coach Brian Do you ride inside? This video hits some great points for why it seems so "hard."
https://www.trainingpeaks.com/blog/gtn-presents-why-is-indoor-cycling-so-hard/ Stretching...who has time?
We ALL do! And yes, I say we because I could use to stretch more, too. As cyclists we have notoriously tight areas in our bodies which can develop into poor posture and range of motion. We pride ourselves on our quiet upper bodies with no wasted energy, and this is particularly true of the time trialists and triathletes out there. And then as result we stay locked into these unnatural positions for hours on end with the result being greater cycling fitness but also chronic tightness. As I type this post during the 14th hour of my day, how can I say that we all have time to stretch? Realistically, if you were to end your rides 5-10 minutes early a couple of times a week you would have time to stretch. And this is the key time to perform the exercises: when your muscles are warm and loose. Recent studies have shown that over stretching can be damaging and even lead to injury due to joints being loose, One article about this here. But most cyclists I know would have to change their behavior quite significantly to become an over-stretcher. So, take a look at this great article from TrainingPeaks and make these easy exercises a part of your weekly routine! TrainingPeaks: Best Stretches for Time Crunched Cyclists As always, if you have questions you should consult a certified trainer for help. Stay loose! Coach Brian There is no doubt that winter is here in the Northeast. In NJ, we recently had 14 consecutive days where the temps did not break 32 degrees F. Rough.
But riding through the winter doesn't need to be miserable! By putting in time over the winter, you can set yourself up for a really great season. I switched to riding year 'round when I upgrade to Expert (Cat 1) on the mountain bike race course, knowing it would be the only way I could be competitive. It was a learning process with some uncomfortable rides, but I adapted quickly and never would have though I would be venturing out in single digits some twenty years late. Here's an article post on the TrainingPeaks Blog that gives some great tips: 8 Tips for Better Winter Riding Tip number one, dress properly, is so important. With this said, an initial investment in good quality winter clothing will pay off in huge dividends. I remember my first pair of booties lasted almost 8 years, and my heave gloves were awesome for many seasons, with lobsters to back me up on the super cold days. I'm also a huge fan of layers, with an easy zip on the outer layer for temperature control. Staying warm is obviously the goal. On the coldest days, I'll do a short trainer ride inside to get completely warmed up, then towel off if necessary and get immediately into my winter clothing, all staged and ready to go. Then right out the door and into my ride. I find it cuts down, if not eliminates, that often painful first 15-20 minutes. Although the weathermen often get the forecast less than perfect, the current wind speed and direction is usually dead on. Take a quick look at this and plan your ride accordingly. You'll thank yourself, and so will your riding partners. But beware.: if you look at the weather on your phone or computer, don't get sucked into social media or e-mails. And yes, having a planned group ride or even a riding partner is great. I always say, riding partners makes it just that much warmer. Trainer Session Info If you're local, come down to our trainer sessions for a great workout and an additional meaningful two hours of riding during the week. Combine that with some off the bike training and solid weekend rides, and you'll be styling when the warm weather rolls around. Until then, stay warm and ride on! Coach Brian
BJL Coaching and Cycle Craft teamed up again this winter for our seventh annual Winter Trainer Sessions. The block of ten classes is now complete and was a success. Congratulations to all who attended and chose to get in a solid mid-week workout on the dark and dreary winter nights. And a special shout out to the folks who were able to attend and complete all ten classes:
Chip (been there all 7 years) Andrew Geoff Scott Kevin Cathy Tony Well done, ladies and gentlemen! Our final class was extra special this year, as we had a guest speaker, Lisa Fleming, who presented on Nutrition for Endurance Athletes after the class was complete. Lisa is a personal trainer, nutritionist, and health coach. In addition to numerous certifications and specialties Lisa has a BA in Sports Medicine and an MS in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Currently Lisa is the tier 4 manager at Equinox Summit where she leads small a team of elite personal trainers and nutritionists who focus on optimizing performance. Lisa gave us a super presentation, and was kind enough to share the slides (see below). If you are interested in learning more about this very crucial component of endurance athletes and how it can integrated into your own training, give me a shout ([email protected]), and I'll put you in touch with Lisa. Happy riding! Coach B.L. Lately, there's been more and more online and computer based training tools specifically geared towards your indoor cycling workouts. Several decades ago, Computrainers ruled this domain on a NES like system. Despite the blocky graphics, the data provided was very scientific and helpful when analyzed by a trained professional. Today, there are many online and computer based options. Some are helpful for passing the time and motivation, others are for data collection only, and some are a mix of the two. Currently, a very popular choice among cyclists is Zwift. Zwift was launched in the Fall of 2014, and has continued to grow as a rapid rate since then. What is it? Here's what Zwift has to say about Zwift:
CYCLING IS SOCIAL.Here at Zwift we believe that the best parts about cycling are the places you go and the people you go there with. Outdoor cycling is great. But weather, traffic, time constraints and distance from other cyclists can take the fun out of it. That’s why we’ve created a new destination that places you and your bike into immersive, detailed, 3D landscapes with other cyclists from around the world. Now you can ride with anyone at anytime. Packed with real-time stats, stunning lifelike graphics, and the latest in massive multiplayer online gaming, Zwift has kicked up the indoor cycling experience. We think it’s the greatest innovation in cycling since the bicycle. Source: www.Zwift.com Kevin E., a BJL Coaching Athlete and Cycle Craft Employee, wrote a super blog post about Zwift. Check it out here: Kevin's Zwift Review Maybe it's the "old school" mentaility of someone who's been riding indoors while staring at the TV screen on those super cold days and dark nights since 1995, but I haven't ventured to Zwift Island yet. I imagine next winter I'll be checking it out and enjoying myself and looking for you on Zwift! Until then, get OUTSIDE and ride your bike! Cheers, Coach B.L.
Thanks to Chip Q. from our Trainer Sessions for sharing this. Certainly keeps our high cadence drills in perspective!
|
AuthorCoach B.L. is the head coach at BJL Coaching and an avid racer and cycling enthusiast himself. Categories
All
Archives
February 2025
|
RSS Feed
Proudly powered by Weebly