Words by Marco Merati Here in Northern Italy, it is so cold outside! The average temperature of my last several rides was very low and I’m tired of seeing -7 °C on my ELEMNT BOLT. I am feeling pretty fit so I thought… “Why not give Virtual Everesting a try?” Let me explain: Virtual Everesting is like outdoor Everesting. “…..Pick any hill,...
Ask the Experts: Understanding Calories
Words by Taylor Thomas at Thomas Endurance Coaching When it comes to sports nutrition there are a million different formulas being presented to athletes. Whether it’s specific diets, “must have” supplements, or the next performance enhancer, there’s plenty of options for athletes to choose from. While ultimately an athlete’s diet is a personal decision when...
Understand the Cycling Metrics that Matter
In today’s world of endurance sport, there are probably more metrics than one can keep count of! Technology is advancing daily and with that comes increased amounts of data that can be implemented and applied to your own training regimen. The question is, what cycling metrics really matter? Do different power metrics matter to...
Ask the Experts: The Best Ways to Improve Cycling Indoors
As the years go by, and technology improves, we have begun to see a shift in training from outdoor to indoor specific riding. With trainer technology allowing you to connect Bluetooth to riders around the world, or syncing specific efforts to your smart trainer, it is hard to argue against the benefits that indoor...
Heather Jackson’s “Championship Rounds” Workout
Words by Heather Jackson I don’t know why I count this workout among my “favorites.” It’s possible my head is still foggy from lactic acid buildup, oxygen deprivation, and delayed onset muscle soreness. This session is HARD, but it will leave you satisfied, knowing you’ve pushed your physical and mental fitness to new heights....
Heather Jacksons “Ladder of Death” Workout
Words by: Joe Gambles Joe Gambles, professional triathlete, is also Heather Jackson’s coach, guiding her to numerous Ironman and 70.3 victories and Kona podiums. He lifts the curtain, below, on a workout, he prescribes Heather a few times a year to put the finishing touches on her specific race preparations. Firstly, I have to...
Late Season Gains: Top Training Tips for Maximizing Fitness
The “race season” hits at different times for many athletes, but regardless of the time of year, this is the time when training, racing, and fitness are at their peak. Typically during this time athletes are highly motivated and excited to tackle upcoming racing. However, as is the case with most things in life,...
What Causes Cramps and How Do You Stop Them?
Many of us have experienced the all too common cramp that causes us to cease exercise immediately and try to walk it off. If you have not experienced it for yourself, you can probably view this occurrence around mile 20 of any marathon. Athletes moving along fine and then all of the sudden being...
Ask the Experts: Beating the Heat
Extreme heat can be an athlete’s worst enemy when it comes to maintaining optimized performance. No matter your discipline or focus, heat makes both exertion and recovery more challenging. Understanding why the body struggles more in the heat can be a valuable tool for helping to cope with higher temperatures. Knowing how to properly...
Ask the Experts: Intelligent Sprinting
If you spend enough time around cyclists, inevitably a story about how someone “lost it in the sprint” will come up. The sprint is a win or lose scenario for many and something that most wish they were better at. Whether you’re a seasoned road racer or trying to push it at your local...
By the Numbers: Distance & Elevation
No matter your focus as a cyclist, odds are you’ll inevitably encounter some big climbing days in the saddle. Whether it’s a self-inflicted Sufferfest in the mountains or an event that touts massive amounts of elevation gain, you’re bound to have to go uphill. Since there’s no escaping it, what can you do to...
The Definitive Guide to Cross-Training for Cyclists
Surely all of the miles and hours you have accumulated on the saddle are enough to make you good at cycling?! The short answer is no. As a cyclist, you are trying to become a multifaceted athlete which includes building systems other than cardiovascular endurance. In order to bring the best out of yourself,...