Empirical Cycling Podcast Ten Minute Tips #65: Why Training Or Racing Experience Shouldn't Determine Training Volume
Oct 22, 2025
Rory Porteus, an Empirical Cycling coach with a wealth of practical coaching experience, dives into the paradox of training volume in cycling. He discusses why less-experienced cyclists can sometimes outperform seasoned racers and how survivor and selection biases distort our perceptions of training norms. The conversation also covers the diminishing returns of excessive training hours, the importance of balancing volume with intensity, and how consistent, optimized training can lead to significant performance gains despite genetic factors. Great insights await!
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Parking-Lot Doubt Turned Lesson
- Gediminas recalled a racer in the parking lot questioning why he trained as much as podium riders but wasn't as fast.
- He used that moment to recognize survivor bias instead of letting it crush his confidence.
Diminishing Returns With More Volume
- Cole explains training gains follow a log-linear curve: big initial returns then diminishing gains.
- Doubling weekly hours rarely yields proportional FTP increases; benefits taper with volume.
Three Months In Spain Experiment
- Gediminas rode 20-hour weeks for three months in Spain to test high-volume effects.
- He had fun but saw only modest FTP gains, finding volume alone underwhelming for threshold increases.
