The Roadman Cycling Podcast

Joe Friel, a pioneering endurance coach, shares his deep expertise in cycling training, emphasizing the art of periodization. He discusses misconceptions athletes have about training season planning and the significance of easy rides for long-term performance. Friel unveils smart strategies for time-crunched cyclists and highlights the benefits of heat training and proper hydration. He tackles the balance of intensity in workouts and explores how data obsession can affect coaching. If you're looking to optimize your cycling training, Friel's insights are invaluable.

Heat training might be the secret weapon for cyclists aiming to boost their performance. Discover how it can increase your FTP by up to 30 watts and enhance key metrics like VO₂ max. Learn from pros like Pogačar and Vingegaard who optimize their training with innovative techniques. The episode also offers practical protocols, including simple methods like hot baths, to safely incorporate heat adaptation into your routine. Elevate your cycling game with this scientifically-backed approach!

Join Anthony and Sarah as they unpack their thrilling cycling adventure in Iceland. Sarah shares her impressive age group win, alongside gear choices and insight into tire selections. The discussion doesn’t shy away from the race's challenges, including river crossings and unpredictable weather. They highlight essential nutritional strategies and the importance of preparation for both safety and peak performance. Get ready for entertaining anecdotes and valuable tips perfect for any cyclist planning their big ride!

Professional cycling faces a surprising challenge: motorbikes! These vehicles create powerful slipstreams that significantly alter race outcomes, raising questions about fairness. Historical incidents, like those during the Tour de France and the Ghent Velgum, reveal how teams exploit these advantages. Riders express concerns about current regulations and the effectiveness of penalties for drafting. As technology evolves, the sport grapples with maintaining integrity while exploring innovative solutions to level the playing field.

Discover the surprising benefits of slow cycling for enhancing performance. Experts discuss the physiological gains that come from easy rides, challenging the myth that speed is the only way to improve. Learn how to master the balance between low-intensity and high-intensity workouts with key principles like the 80-20 rule. The crucial role of slow rides is emphasized, comparing them to overlooked ingredients in a recipe for success. It's all about embracing longer, easier sessions to boost your cycling game!

In this episode Anthony talks about the ways in which newbie cyclists (& more experienced riders) fail to improve and what you can do about it. NOMIO is clinically proven to:Lower lactate levels, Reduce oxidative stress, Improve training adaptations And deliver a noticeable boost from the very first dose. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.drinknomio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out this game changing supplement. 4iiiiReady to elevate your cycling game? Trust the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ Powermeter—precision, performance, and peace of mind, all in one.Learn more by visiting http://www.4iiii.comBIKMO Whether it’s theft, damage, crashes, racing or travel, Bikmo’s got your back. Their in-house claims team makes the process fast and painless, and here’s the kicker — with 50% off multi-bike cover, you can protect all your bikes, and even your family’s or mates’ bikes, under one simple policy.Make sure you’re covered - check the details in your policy docs. T&Cs apply.Head over to https://bikmo.com/uk/ and use the code ROADMAN to get covered & save money.REAPCustom Carbon Composition Bikes made in the UK. REAP's gravel bike is set to redefine gravel riding with 50mm+ tyre clearance https://reapbikes.com/

Why do cyclists shave their legs? For decades, we’ve been told it’s for speed — Specialized even claimed it saves 79 seconds over 40km. But what if that science is flawed? In this video, we dig into the real reasons behind cycling’s most iconic (and weirdest) ritual — from old-school tradition to group ride psychology. With insights from wind tunnel studies, Olympic bike designers, and pro riders like Alex Howes and Primož Roglič, we uncover why smooth legs became the ultimate badge of belonging in the peloton. It’s about more than watts — it’s about identity, trust, and culture. If you’ve ever wondered whether you should shave, this is the deep dive you didn’t know you needed.Surfshark - Online security starts with a VPN and I trust Surfshark. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://surfshark.com/roadman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code roadman at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN.NOMIO is clinically proven to:Lower lactate levels, Reduce oxidative stress, Improve training adaptations And deliver a noticeable boost from the very first dose. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.drinknomio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out this game changing supplement. 4iiiiReady to elevate your cycling game? Trust the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ Powermeter—precision, performance, and peace of mind, all in one.Learn more by visiting http://www.4iiii.comBIKMO Whether it’s theft, damage, crashes, racing or travel, Bikmo’s got your back. Their in-house claims team makes the process fast and painless, and here’s the kicker — with 50% off multi-bike cover, you can protect all your bikes, and even your family’s or mates’ bikes, under one simple policy.Make sure you’re covered - check the details in your policy docs. T&Cs apply.Head over to https://bikmo.com/uk/ and use the code ROADMAN to get covered & save money.REAPCustom Carbon Composition Bikes made in the UK. REAP's gravel bike is set to redefine gravel riding with 50mm+ tyre clearance https://reapbikes.com/

What does it take to drop world-class riders like Van der Poel, Simmons, and Yates on a Tour de France mountain stage? For Ben Healy, it wasn’t just power or tactics — it was fueling. Healy consumed nearly 140g of carbohydrates per hour on his way to a dominant solo win on Stage 6, and today we’re breaking down exactly how he did it. With insights from WorldTour nutritionist Dr. Sam Impey, this video explores why fueling has become the new performance frontier — and what amateur cyclists can learn from it. We cover gut training, carb strategies, and why most cyclists are under-fueled, not under-trained. Surfshark - Online security starts with a VPN and I trust Surfshark. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://surfshark.com/roadman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code roadman at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN.NOMIO is clinically proven to:Lower lactate levels, Reduce oxidative stress, Improve training adaptations And deliver a noticeable boost from the very first dose. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.drinknomio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out this game changing supplement. 4iiiiReady to elevate your cycling game? Trust the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ Powermeter—precision, performance, and peace of mind, all in one.Learn more by visiting http://www.4iiii.comBIKMO Whether it’s theft, damage, crashes, racing or travel, Bikmo’s got your back. Their in-house claims team makes the process fast and painless, and here’s the kicker — with 50% off multi-bike cover, you can protect all your bikes, and even your family’s or mates’ bikes, under one simple policy.Make sure you’re covered - check the details in your policy docs. T&Cs apply.Head over to https://bikmo.com/uk/ and use the code ROADMAN to get covered & save money.REAPCustom Carbon Composition Bikes made in the UK. REAP's gravel bike is set to redefine gravel riding with 50mm+ tyre clearance https://reapbikes.com/

Cycling used to be about skill — race craft, resilience, knowing when to attack. Now? It's about looking good. Style has overtaken substance, and nowhere is that clearer than with Pas Normal Studios. In this episode, we dive into how the Copenhagen-based brand transformed high-end kit into a status symbol. It’s not just clothing — it’s a cultural signal. €300 bibs, curated café stops, matching socks and frame paint… Pas Normal didn’t just sell apparel, they redefined what it means to “look like a cyclist.” But at what cost? We explore whether this shift elevated the sport — or hollowed it out. If you’ve ever felt underdressed at a group ride, this one’s going to hit home.Surfshark - Online security starts with a VPN and I trust Surfshark. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://surfshark.com/roadman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code roadman at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN.NOMIO is clinically proven to:Lower lactate levels, Reduce oxidative stress, Improve training adaptations And deliver a noticeable boost from the very first dose. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.drinknomio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out this game changing supplement. 4iiiiReady to elevate your cycling game? Trust the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ Powermeter—precision, performance, and peace of mind, all in one.Learn more by visiting http://www.4iiii.comBIKMO Whether it’s theft, damage, crashes, racing or travel, Bikmo’s got your back. Their in-house claims team makes the process fast and painless, and here’s the kicker — with 50% off multi-bike cover, you can protect all your bikes, and even your family’s or mates’ bikes, under one simple policy.Make sure you’re covered - check the details in your policy docs. T&Cs apply.Head over to https://bikmo.com/uk/ and use the code ROADMAN to get covered & save money.REAPCustom Carbon Composition Bikes made in the UK. REAP's gravel bike is set to redefine gravel riding with 50mm+ tyre clearance https://reapbikes.com/

What happens when a lifelong Cat 1 racer cuts training volume in half? For 12 years, I trained 12–15 hours weekly. Then life changed — and I dropped to 6. This episode breaks down exactly what happened: the watts lost, the kilos gained, and the reality behind the numbers. Using 3 years of TrainingPeaks data, I compare my fitness at both ends — and reflect on the science (Seiler, Rønnestad, Mujika) that predicted it all. This isn't about shortcuts. It's about understanding the trade-offs: performance vs sustainability, volume vs life. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can get fast on 6 hours a week — this is the honest, data-backed answer. Surfshark - Online security starts with a VPN and I trust Surfshark. Go to⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://surfshark.com/roadman⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code roadman at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN.NOMIO is clinically proven to:Lower lactate levels, Reduce oxidative stress, Improve training adaptations And deliver a noticeable boost from the very first dose. Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.drinknomio.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and check out this game changing supplement. 4iiiiReady to elevate your cycling game? Trust the 4iiii PRECISION 3+ Powermeter—precision, performance, and peace of mind, all in one.Learn more by visiting http://www.4iiii.comBIKMO Whether it’s theft, damage, crashes, racing or travel, Bikmo’s got your back. Their in-house claims team makes the process fast and painless, and here’s the kicker — with 50% off multi-bike cover, you can protect all your bikes, and even your family’s or mates’ bikes, under one simple policy.Make sure you’re covered - check the details in your policy docs. T&Cs apply.Head over to https://bikmo.com/uk/ and use the code ROADMAN to get covered & save money.REAPCustom Carbon Composition Bikes made in the UK. REAP's gravel bike is set to redefine gravel riding with 50mm+ tyre clearance https://reapbikes.com/