

EVOQ.BIKE Cycling Podcast
EVOQ.BIKE
We are here to share our cycling training & racing experiences. Let's combine data analytics, IRL experience, physical and mental training, and see what happens! 🚀⚡️🥇
Check out our site: https://www.evoq.bike/
and the blog at www.evoq.bike/blog for a TON of free information to make you STRONGER and FASTER
YouTube channel has a lot of videos also! https://linktr.ee/EVOQBIKE
Check out our site: https://www.evoq.bike/
and the blog at www.evoq.bike/blog for a TON of free information to make you STRONGER and FASTER
YouTube channel has a lot of videos also! https://linktr.ee/EVOQBIKE
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 24, 2024 • 1h 14min
Amateur Training Tips to World Tour Racing - Kevin Vermaerke Interview
Kevin Vermaerke, a professional cyclist who raced in the Giro and Tour de France, shares his journey from mountain biking to the World Tour. He discusses the mental and physical challenges of elite racing and the importance of a solid training regimen. Kevin emphasizes the value of recovery, nutrition strategies, and the evolution of his training as a pro. He also highlights the significance of mentorship, the cultural shift of racing in Europe, and offers advice for aspiring cyclists, making this a must-listen for cycling enthusiasts.

Jun 17, 2024 • 1h 10min
World Tour Adventurer—Svein Tuft Interview
Svein Tuft, a former professional cyclist, shares his journey from being a mountain climber to becoming a successful bike racer. He talks about his experiences living in Andorra and the Kootenays, and the differences between the two locations. Tuft also discusses the challenges of riding in remote areas and the importance of having a satellite receiver for emergencies. He reflects on his racing career, including his time with Symmetrics and Garmin, and the lessons he learned along the way. Svein Tuft shares his cycling journey, from joining GreenEdge to retiring and being convinced to ride another year. He emphasizes the importance of team culture and unity in achieving success. Tuft reflects on the evolution of the sport and the peak of human physiology in cycling. He discusses his training approach, focusing on building a strong base and experimenting with different methods. Tuft also highlights the need for personalized coaching and the dangers of following a one-size-fits-all approach. He concludes by discussing the importance of strength training for long-term health. Svein Tuft discusses the importance of functional strength and maintaining a healthy body after retirement from professional cycling. He emphasizes the balance between weightlifting and endurance training, as well as the need to preserve VO2 max as we age. Tuft shares his personal experience of transitioning from a professional cycling career to finding his niche in life, highlighting the challenges and the constant search for purpose. He also reflects on the significance of living in the present moment and appreciating the unique experiences that life offers.Thanks, Svein! You can find him on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/svein.tuft/Chapters: 00:00 Welcome00:49 Introduction and Living in the Kootenays02:36 Exploring Remote Areas and the Importance of a Satellite Receiver09:29 From Mountain Climbing to Bike Racing12:39 Lessons Learned from a Successful Racing Career23:46 Retirement and the Decision to Ride Another Year29:30 The Love for Adventure and Exploration in Cycling31:20 The Evolution of Cycling and Human Physiology39:19 Training Approaches and Personalized Coaching in Cycling49:00 The Importance of Strength Training for Long-Term Health49:03 Functional Strength and Health55:03 Balancing Weightlifting and Endurance Training59:06 Transitioning from a Professional Cycling Career01:08:21 Living in the Present Moment👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below. 🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURNFull Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blogSubscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4nFollow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGWBest Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code BrendanCordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62 Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQDonate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

Jun 10, 2024 • 55min
Cycling Power Testing and Athlete Management, Dylan Lindsey - Pinnacle Performance
Dylan Lindsey, founder of Pinnacle Performance, discusses the coach-athlete relationship, testing, and load monitoring in this conversation with Brendan Housler. They emphasize the importance of open communication, trust, and rapport between coaches and athletes. They also highlight the need for athletes to understand that they are in the driver's seat and the coach is there to provide guidance and support. In terms of testing, Lindsey explains the limitations of the traditional 20-minute FTP test and the benefits of a more comprehensive test battery that includes lactate and VO2 max testing. They also discuss the importance of setting realistic expectations and embracing the journey of improvement.
In this conversation, Dylan Lindsey, a cycling coach, discusses various topics related to coaching and training in cycling. He talks about the software and tools he uses for remote coaching, such as Insight and WKO. They also discuss load monitoring and the challenges of using metrics in training. Dylan shares insights from coaching Sarah G, a professional cyclist, and highlights the importance of focusing on the process rather than just the results. They also touch on the use of RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) in training and the key sessions for time trial preparation. The conversation concludes with a discussion on women's professional cycling and upcoming races.
Thanks, Dylan! You can find him and Pinnacle on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/pinnacleperformancecc/
https://www.instagram.com/dlindsey4815/
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome
01:28 Introduction and Background
04:19 Building a Strong Coach-Athlete Relationship
11:02 The Limitations of the 20-Minute FTP Test
21:07 Lactate Testing and Variance in Threshold
23:14 MLSS and 20-Minute Test Comparison
25:27 Embracing the Journey of Improvement
26:51 Remote Coaching and Software Tools
29:12 The Importance of Max One-Minute Efforts
30:16 Exploring Golden Cheetah and Other Software Tools
33:55 Understanding Load Monitoring and the Psychological Aspect
43:59 Insights from Coaching Sarah G
47:23 Training Approaches for Time Trials
50:58 Women's Professional Cycling and Upcoming Races
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

Jun 6, 2024 • 23min
5w/kg at 3000kj - Enough For Victory at Roan Groan Carter County P/1/2 Race!?
What does it take to win an 80 mile road race that ends on a 7 mile climb with a KOM time around 32 minutes? Is 5w/kg enough? And damn, that's pretty late in the day for amateurs and domestic pros....
In this video we look at what it took to ride the breakaway all day, as well as the efforts on the climb. MOST IMPORTANTLY, what can you do in your training to improve if your numbers are not in these ranges yet?
Hopefully you find this valuable in order to get stronger and faster.
Good luck with your training, and check out our other resources below, like our new TrainingPlans page that we put over 3 months into creating.
https://www.evoq.bike/training-plans
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

Jun 5, 2024 • 6min
Don't Stop Cycling Intervals When It Gets Hard
Full Episode here: https://youtu.be/z5Vj3J1bM1g
In the video, the speaker discusses essential training strategies for athletes, emphasizing the balance between consistency and intensity. They caution against falling into the trap of only moderate efforts without allowing full recovery, advocating for a mix of high-intensity sessions followed by adequate rest. They reference Seth Godin's concept from "The Dip," highlighting the importance of pushing through difficult phases to achieve significant gains. Practical advice includes having a coaching buddy for support and understanding the purpose behind each workout to maintain motivation. The speaker shares personal experiences, noting that adaptation and flexibility in training are crucial, especially when schedules are unpredictable. They highlight the art of coaching as adapting plans to fit an athlete's life, rather than rigidly sticking to a prescribed routine.
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

Jun 3, 2024 • 1h
Can A World Tour Pro Conquer Gravel?
In this conversation, Brendan Housler interviews Logan Owen, a professional cyclist, about his career and transition to gravel racing. They discuss topics such as Owen's background in BMX and cyclocross, his move to road racing, and his current focus on gravel racing. Owen shares his favorite discipline (cyclocross), his decision to focus on road racing, and his experiences in the World Tour. He also talks about his training methods, including threshold efforts and over-unders, and his preparation for upcoming gravel races. Owen reflects on the challenges of finding sponsorship in the gravel racing scene and the financial aspects of being a professional cyclist.
In this conversation, Logan Owen discusses the challenges of sponsorship in professional cycling, the decline of the sport in the US, and the dangers of road racing. He also shares his thoughts on gravel racing, bike tech, and nutrition for long races. Logan emphasizes the importance of not taking things for granted and enjoying the present moment. He also mentions his uncertainty about his future career after cycling.
Thanks, Logan! You can find him on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/logansowen/
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome
00:57 Introduction and Background
02:18 From Cyclocross to Road Racing
23:32 Preparing for Upcoming Gravel Races
28:32 Challenges of Sponsorship in Gravel Racing
30:28 Transitioning from the World Tour to Gravel Racing
31:32 The Challenges of Sponsorship in Professional Cycling
32:23 The Decline of Cycling in the US
37:41 The Rise of Gravel Racing
40:55 The Dangers of Road Racing
45:27 Appreciating the Present Moment
46:20 The Importance of Tire Choice and Equipment in Gravel Racing
51:52 Nutrition for Long Races
57:02 Uncertainty about the Future Career
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

May 30, 2024 • 25min
Tour of North Georgia Road Race and Criterium Recap, TONGA 2024
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below, especially
our new Training Plans page! https://www.evoq.bike/training-plans
In this video I recap the Tour of North Georgia: how base training helped with big finishing moves, our overall tactics, especially for GC, and lessons learned. Some extra notes are below.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:12 Comeback from Injury and Building Fitness
04:40 Goals for Tour of North Georgia
06:35 Road Race 1 & Habersham Hills Climb
11:35 Importance of Intervals & Going Hard at Right Times
14:15 Road Race 2 & Finishing Move
17:50 Time Trial Pacing
20:55 Crit Strategy & Andrew/Craig's Battle
25:18 Power Numbers from Crit
26:10 Shoutouts & Intro to Training Plans
Habersham Hills 10m in
1. Don’t focus on just KOM times and power….look at how hard the race is overall, and the efforts that come directly after other efforts. 514 for 3.5minutes isn’t crazy, but midway during the race after going over KOM climb and then hitting it….different vibe. It’s WHEN you go, not always HOW you go.
2. teammate vibes- countering each other
3. go hard and still ride at threshold…the DRAG race up some climbs (lactate clearance work)
Rock Church:
Practice your finishing move!!Practice conserving watts!How does the body feel?
Road Race , Finishing move: 3m at 550W NP at hour 3, about 3000kj in….literally minutes after doing 7m @ 373NP
373Np for last hour
last 11min @ 445WNP
Time Trial: PACING: threshold +Go hard on the hills - 3rd fastest time of the day
Just 2 minutes below threshold! Turn around and corner and downhill recovery
last 4minutes at 465W, threshold is about 400 right now “last 4 minute image”
Crit: we actually won GC! Count the points diligently, our error not to!
Shout out Mark Tucker for honesty on the start line
Tactic: Get one of us up the road without Tucker and win all sprints
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

May 29, 2024 • 6min
4 x 5m MAX, No Power!?
Full Episode here: https://youtu.be/2Hj8DcLEc9g
Colby Pearce shares an unpopular opinion regarding training methodology, advocating against strict zone-based training and instead emphasizing perceived exertion (RPE). Using a four-by-five workout as an example, they explain the importance of tailoring workouts to individual capabilities and preferences rather than rigidly prescribing metrics like cadence and power output. They discuss the nuances of recovery intervals and how they vary depending on an athlete's fitness level. By allowing athletes to interpret and adapt their workouts based on RPE, the speaker believes they gain insight into their mentality and weaknesses. They advocate for a flexible approach that encourages athletes to intuitively navigate their training while providing guidance when needed.
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

May 27, 2024 • 49min
Training For RAAM!!! Top Buttons Amazing Cause
Race Across America is a fundraising event to support the programs of Top Buttons. But the event and the cause absolutely connect! The young women we serve are facing hardships on their life journey much of which is out of their control. They need a system of support to help them believe in their abilities and to help them achieve their goals. Just like the young women Top Buttons serves, our team couldn’t achieve success Racing Across the country in 8 days without a support crew! We all need individuals who believe we can succeed and those who are willing to help up achieve our goals. We at Top Buttons are a SUPPORT CREW for the women we serve.
Our RAAM TEAM is riding to see #herjourneytransformed
To Follow our journey and support:
1. Life stream updates June 15-24th daily at 8:00 am and 8:00 pm on @topbuttons IG and FB
2. Go to TB RAAM Team Page for info and to donate
https://www.topbuttons.org/raam-2024
3. RAAM Tracking site to follow us on the road
https://www.raamrace.org/live-tracking
4. Follow @gearsforgood for more cycling specific team updates and join us at our local Gears for Good event hosted at Legoland Beach Retreat in Winter Haven, FL on November 2nd.
5. Purchase the Top Buttons Race Across America inspired kit design on the Mumu Team Store.
Sarah Powers, the founder and CEO of Top Buttons, and Owen Shott, a cycling coach, discuss their involvement in the Race Across America (RAM) and their passion for endurance sports. They talk about the mission of Top Buttons, which provides confidence-building and life skills education to young women in need, and how they decided to use RAM as a fundraising and awareness event for the organization. They also discuss the logistics of RAM, including the team structure and the rotating schedule of riding. Overall, they share their excitement for the challenge and the opportunity to make a positive impact.
Sarah Powers and Owen Shott discuss their preparation for the Race Across America (RAM) cycling event and the fundraising efforts for the nonprofit organization Top Buttons. They talk about the logistics of the race, the training involved, and the challenges they anticipate. They emphasize the importance of communication between coach and athlete, as well as the need for proper rest and recovery. They also highlight the impact of the work done by Top Buttons in empowering young women and the importance of fundraising for their programs.
Thanks, Sarah and Owen! You can find Top Buttons on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/topbuttons
Chapters:
00:00 Welcome!
01:18 Introduction and Catching Up
04:06 Introducing Top Buttons and the RAM Fundraising Journey
14:21 The Logistics of RAM: Team Structure and Rotating Schedule
16:30 Different Ways to Approach RAM
18:40 Preparing for the Race Across America: Logistics and Training
31:10 Fundraising for Top Buttons: Empowering Young Women
41:20 What's Next After RAM?
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC

May 22, 2024 • 4min
More Than Just Watts?
Full Episode here: https://youtu.be/z5Vj3J1bM1g
In this video, Daniel discusses his coaching philosophy, which emphasizes the importance of "soft skills" over relying solely on data like watts and VO2 max. He suggests that while data is helpful, there's more to success in activities like bike racing, mountain biking, and gravel racing. Daniel highlights the significance of mindset, strategy, repeatability, and finding the fastest line. He shares examples from his own experiences, demonstrating how focusing on skills, sensations, and mindset can lead to better outcomes than simply relying on numbers. Daniel also touches on the role of coaching in building relationships and guiding athletes through the mental aspects of training and competition. Overall, he emphasizes the holistic approach to coaching that goes beyond just data-driven training.
👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below.
🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store
💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://tinyurl.com/DeltaGKetones CODE Brendan for 15% off
😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN
Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog
Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n
Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889
EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs
Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW
Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan
Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62
Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/
Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ
Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC