Bicycling Blogger

Riding Across Hawaii - At Home!

2009-07-30T16:00:00.001-06:00

After my little cardiac episode, my cardiologist told me I should initially return to stationary cycling. He felt it best for me to stay in a safe environment should anything strange happen to me again. But who wants to ride indoors during the summer? Anyway, I used my predicament as an opportunity to review Global Ride's "Hawaii Rides" DVD set. Read on and you'll find some reasons why you may

How CPR Saved My Life

2009-07-08T10:11:00.001-06:00

Okay. So I haven't posted for a while. Not because I've got nothing to say. Far from it. I just don't know quite where to begin...My 2009 race season hasn't really gone as planned. Pre-season training was good and very consistent right through from October '08 to April '09. I capped off the pre-season by logging a massive week of hours and miles at the ABA Spring Bike Camp in Penticton, BC.I

TT Position Testing With Lance Armstrong And Tom Danielson

2009-05-18T12:00:00.001-06:00

In late 2008, Lance Armstrong returned to the wind tunnel to test his Time Trial (TT) position. You can see a short video excerpt here.The audio quality is a bit flaky, so I've made a summary of his comments for you.What Armstrong TestedSteve Hed had Lance try 3 hand positions:Fully out on the ends of the TT bar extensionsChoked up half-wayChoked up all the way back on the extensions, close to

Masters Cyclists Stick With Your Programs

2009-05-11T16:00:00.000-06:00

Are you a cyclist for the long haul? Are you already a "Master" (30+ years old), but think it's too late to start riding? Not according to a recent study published in the British Medical Journal1.The study looked at the activity levels and mortality rates of men over 50 years old. Low physical activity levels were defined by sedentary activities. Medium activity levels were those who walked or

ABA Spring Camp 2009

2009-03-25T10:30:00.001-06:00

The roads in Alberta are still a slushy mess. But this time of year, Alberta cyclists can find some great spring riding in the Okanagan area of BC. From March 27 to April 5, 2009, the Alberta Bicycle Association is taking an enthusiastic group of ABA member cyclists to Penticton for a week of riding adventures, taking in some climbs unlike any found in Alberta.Because this Bicycling Blogger

Pro Cycling Classics On Steephill TV

2009-03-19T08:00:00.000-06:00

As a huge cycling fan, I'm always frustrated by the lack of media coverage our sport gets in North America. Newspapers barely even whisper race results, let alone any race coverage. Versus TV in the US has been a little better over the past few years thanks in large part to the "Lance Armstrong" effect. But OLN in Canada (a sort-of partner to Versus) has dismal coverage at best. Professional

The Bike Needs To Look Like The Rider - Andy Pruitt

2009-02-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

Dr. Andy Pruitt is the Director of the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine. He has more than 35 years of experience as a specialist in Sports Medicine. He's also one of the world's experts in bike fit.I can attest to getting a proper bike set-up. For years, on my old Cannondale I would develop low back pain after as little as 1.5 hours of riding. When I bought my Cervelo Carbon Soloist, I

Are You Scrubbing Your Arteries Until They're Raw And Inflamed?

2009-02-14T08:00:00.001-07:00

I've read a few descriptions about the ultimate chaos that high blood sugar levels can cause. But none have really said it as well as the following article.The message is so important for everyone to know - us athletes and our families as well.What does it mean specifically for us? Certainly you can be liberal with the carbs immediately before and during your workouts. Just as important, take

FFAST Riding For Endurance Results

2009-02-12T16:00:00.003-07:00

Can you get four hours of riding done in one hour?You can if you time things right. Let me show you how...A basic endurance ride usually lasts three to four hours. But really, it's only during the last hour that your body gets metabolically challenged to make training adaptations. You spend the first couple of hours getting your body into a glycogen-depleted state. At that point, your body is

Svein Tuft - Canada's Most Under-rated Athlete

2009-02-10T16:00:00.001-07:00

And maybe that's the way he wants it. Read the linked New York Times article down below, and I think you'll agree.He's won the silver medal in the Time Trial at the 2008 World Cycling Championships. 7th in the 2008 Olympic Time Trial. Four-time Canadian National Time Trial Champion. 1st overall in the 2007 UCI America Tour as well as the top podium position at the US Open Cycling Championships

Time Efficient Totally Effective Cycling Training Program

2009-01-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

If you put the lives of us modern athletes on the time-line of humanity's existence, we are but an evolutionary blip. Could we have really changed physiologically in the last 1% of our collective existence? There's no rational need to fight evolution.This is the theory behind Paleo Diet For Athletes: A Nutritional Formula for Peak Athletic Performance by Loren Cordain, PhD and Joe Friel, MS. It's

Uggh - I'm Sick!

2009-01-11T16:00:00.002-07:00

Okay, not me, but one of my coaching clients sent me that message. He had one of those heavy, achy, sore throat things happening. As hard-working athletes, we always have our immune systems running on red alert, simply because our training taxes our body systems so much.And if you have young children, and they are experiencing their first year in daycare - BE PREPARED. The first year I had my

Merry Christmas From Your Bicycling Blogger!

2008-12-25T14:00:00.002-07:00

As we finish off 2008, during this festive season, I want to thank all of you, my readers, for staying tuned-in to BicyclingBlogger. You're the reason I'm doing this.I know you've got a choice about whether you read this blog or not. Your continued reading shows you find value here at BicyclingBlogger. So I thank you again for reading. If you really like a post, make sure you bookmark it and let

Tis The Season For Overeating - NOT

2008-12-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

I enjoy the Christmas season. The pace of work slows a bit. Maybe you can take a few quiet days between Christmas and New Year's to finally clean out those Inboxes at work - both the physical box and the e-mail one.I also enjoy all the foods around at this time of year. There's so many tasty morsels everywhere you go. At the office someone is bound to bring in a box of baked goodies - and you

High Intensity Exercise Training For Weight Loss

2008-12-17T16:00:00.000-07:00

As I try to stay warm in our Edmonton winter this year (-16°C right now, mid-day, and dropping) I'm perusing the Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise article database. I know, sounds geeky, but it's what I do to bring you some valuable information you might not otherwise discover.I have found a new report published just this week that supports my approach to training: High Intensity

Open Track

2008-12-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Note the tag for this post. It's "Open Track".If you've ever been to a track meet at a velodrome, you'll have an idea what it means. During a meet there will usually be some periods of time between events when the track is open for everyone to ride. Time to spin, do some sprint starts, cruise at pursuit speed. Anything, so long as you mind the others sharing the track.Warning: Open Track Might

Your Resistance Training Program Only Needs 5 Exercises

2008-12-02T10:00:00.001-07:00

All cyclists will benefit from adding a resistance training program to their overall training plans. But you don't need to spend much more than an hour in the gym for each session. And there are certain exercises that as cyclists, you can avoid - they simply waste your time (like leg extensions, hamstring curls, and calf raises to name just a few).A High Five For Multi-Joint SuccessYou need to

Monaco 2009: Time Trial Royale

2008-11-17T19:30:00.003-07:00

I recently had a choice opportunity to explore the Principality of Monaco. It's famous for an annual Formula 1 Grand Prix in May, the grand opera house-styled Monte-Carlo Casino, and an overall exotic toasty location on the French Riviera that attracts many wealthy tourists. All of which contribute to its tax haven status - there are no personal income taxes because casino and tourist revenue

To Athletes Who Want To Manage Their Weight

2008-11-01T08:00:00.004-06:00

“You’re About To Learn The 'Secrets' That Most Athletes Will Never Know About How To ReallyManage Their Weight...”"Try DietPower Free for 15 days and you'll be on your way to WEIGHT MANAGEMENT SUCCESS "- Kevin Rokosh, BicyclingBloggerStart a healthy relationship with the food you eat. Pay attention to what you put in your mouth. Enjoy the foods you eat. And stop overeating now.When you start

Rewind, Review, Reveal: A Simple Guide To Analyze Your Season

2008-10-29T10:00:00.007-06:00

As we move through to the end of October, now is the time to look back at your cycling season that has been, look forward to next year, and begin to make a plan to get there.Rewind, review, reveal. Here's a guide to work through this.1. Don't Take Yourself So SeriouslyDid you ride with a smile on your face? Why not? Okay, I know punching out that 4 minute interval was hard. But at least don't

Let Alex Stieda Make You Sweat This Winter

2008-10-24T12:00:00.002-06:00

Imagine it's January. You know you should ride your trainer. But man, it's tough. It's cold outside. And if you're like most of us working 9 to 5, when you have the time to train it'll be dark too. You'll stare at your bike on the trainer and say, "Damn I hate you!"Well, this winter don't let that happen to you. Find a supportive group to share your indoor training with. The group experience will

Carbo Drinks Nearly Cost Me My Teeth

2008-09-18T16:00:00.000-06:00

I've gone through my 40+ years on this planet without a cavity. None. But a couple of years back, my dentist started to notice heavy signs of wear on my teeth and some gum disease issues. It had me puzzled. I was the perfect model of dental hygiene - not only brushing at least twice a day, but flossing nightly. So what was going wrong in my mouth?Acid WashMy on-bike energy drinks were the likely

Knock Over Some Spinning Plates With Your Big Rocks

2008-09-12T16:00:00.008-06:00

Huh? What's that title mean? It really does have something to do with bicycling. Let me explain.It's almost autumn. The road season is winding down. If you've been serious about your training and racing, you've got a log book to look back at. Now is the time to do some post-season analysis. Check to see if you've met your expectations for the season. Did you place as well as you wanted? Did you

High-Protein Could Be Key To Your Short Term Weight Maintenance

2008-09-06T11:00:00.002-06:00

As I discussed in an earlier post, us athletes should periodize our eating to match our training. Of particular concern, during those times of reduced volume training (like now, as we enter autumn and what is a Transition period for most of us), we need to be mindful that we don't pack on some extra pounds. They could be doubly difficult to lose when we get back to training (again, see the

2 Reasons To Put Park Tools In Your Bicycling Toolbox

2008-09-03T18:00:00.003-06:00

In any cycling discipline, tire pressure is a critical component to a fast bike set up. Generally, the rougher the surface, the lower the pressure. The smoother, the higher.Now I've had many floor pumps over the years. An accurate pressure gauge is an important feature. Thankfully they're pretty much standard on models from all companies these days. What isn't standard is pump longevity.I've