FASTER Cycling

Instead of picking a training methodology like threshold training or a polarized approach, what if you created a training that was adaptive? Wouldn't this be a better solution for you as an athlete in the long run? Today, on FASTER we are joined by Jim Van Der Berg who is the creator of JOIN Cycling, an ex-semi pro cyclist the the current coach of many pro cyclists. Jim also has a degree in exercise physiology and sports psychology. Jim has taken in extensive background in cyclint and created a training app that delivers workouts in an adaptive way. Instead of a training plan JOIN is a training tool. We discuss training at a high-level and uncover the magic behind how JOIN works. Listen to this episode to learn how adaptive training and make you FASTER. Watt Points: 3030 Day Free Trial of JOIN

If you've ever ridden on a virtual cycling platform you may immediately notice that it's not representative of real-world cycling. When you come out of a corner on the road you have to add watts to the pedals to speed back up. Most virtual training platforms end up acting more like a spin class. George Gilbert set out to correct this process and founded IndieVelo in 2022. A short two years later his company was acquired by TrainingPeaks and the product has been renamed TrainingPeaks Virtual. Listen to this episode to learn how adding real-world physics to your training platform can make you a FASTER cyclist when you get back on the road. 

We welcome back the legendary Scott Tindal to discuss electrolytes for cyclists. Today, electrolytes have become common for daily use even amongst non-endurance athletes. Many of the electrolyte products contain ingredients that are not needed. In this episode of FASTER we break down what electrolytes are, what electrolytes you need, how electrolytes help cyclists, and how to optimize your electrolyte intake so you can become FASTER.

RAAM or Race Across America is a legendary race with cyclists racing across the country. Traditionally a solo race, it has expanded to include 2, 4, and 8-person teams. When you think of riding across the country you may think it would take 30 days. However, the fastest solo time is now less than 8 days. Today on FASTER we are joined by Rick Boethling who manages the day-to-day operations at RAAM and has crewed the race for his father many times. Rick shares his secrets for conquering the race and performing at your best. Listen to this episode to learn how to pick the perfect support crew and optimize your race plan so you can be FASTER racing across America.

On this episode of FASTER Cycling we talk with Dr. Sharon Byun and Dr. Lawrence Yeung about hormones for men and women. We discuss hormone replacement therapy, signs and myths around hormone imbalances, how to optimize hormones for cyclists, and much more. Finally we discuss new work in hormones around menopause and Dr. Mary Claire Haver's work. Listen to this episode to optimize your hormones so you can be FASTER.

We've had several episodes discussing fueling during training and racing but today we cover fueling before and after training and racing. Sam Shepherd from Precision Hydration covers pre-training and pre-race strategies, including carb loading, carb sources, tips for fasted athletes and why fueling post activity is best looked at as part of you training session not a separate event. Listen to this episode to lock in your nutrition around training and racing so you can become FASTER.

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In this episode of FASTER we have Dr. Jim Martin back to discuss cadence for cyclists. We also discuss the main differences between 2x and 1x drive trains and why 2x is likely faster for most athletes. We cover a wide range of topics including metabolic cost, cost of unloaded cycling, weave frequency, picking the right cassette and much more. Listen to this episode to learn how to optimize your cadence so you can become FASTER.Watt Points: 25

In this conversation with Alex Larson, a registered dietitian specializing in endurance athlete nutrition, listeners dive deep into body composition for cyclists and triathletes. Alex emphasizes the importance of healthy weight management and the distinction between weight loss and fat loss. They discuss personalized nutrition strategies and the significance of carbohydrate intake for optimal performance. The chat also touches on the unique challenges female athletes face, especially during motherhood and menopause, and the hormones' impact on performance.

Many world class athletes can be seen with their eyes closed before a major event. I often wondered what they were doing and I've learned that most are visualizing. Visualization is a sports psychology technique that is proven to improve sports performance. In this episode of FASTER we discuss confidence and trust which are the building blocks of visualization and then discuss everything about visualization. Listen to this episode to learn how to use visualization to make you a FASTER athlete.