Cycling Blog

Tour de France Stage 9 — Tactical, or Boring?

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:23:31 +0000

Submitted by Total Cycling Performance Blog Today’s race coverage was 4 1/2 hours long, with the expectations high of an exciting day of racing. The Tour went over 2 major climbs today, most noticeably the Col du Tourmalet. Contador is a mere 6 seconds back and Lance only 8 seconds back. Many of the major contenders are within striking distance, [...]

The pump

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:22:13 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog This morning I pumped my tyres. “So what?” you might think. It might not be a big deal for you but I hate pumping my tyres and since I’ve got the threaded valves (why doesn’t anybody produce tyres with short smooth valves?) it’s an even more dreaded task. Usually the brass thing [...]

Number crunching

admin — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:20:29 +0000

Submitted by Collecting Vinyl Records Blog What a busy day I had yesterday! The alarm went off at 5:20 am. Alberto’s phone signalled that a message had arrived. The ride was off because of the rain. Rain - huh? Indeed, the roads were wet and the weather website showed increasing showers all over Brisbane. Glad the [...]

… starting off where I left six months ago …

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:54:31 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog When my heart rate was hovering between 80 and 90 percent of my maximum heart rate for six minutes at a time and my fingers were throwing the gear shifter, down cog by cog, in search of a hard enough gear that provided the required resistance to make my quads burn, [...]

Testing times

admin — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 01:30:22 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog From right to left: Scott, Daniel, Shaun, Alberto, Shane and I enjoying our coffees at Poppy’s after an early morning ride yesterday. The westerly winds were blowing all night. The alarm went off at 5:30 AM - time for test number two. It was 12 C in the house. I could hear [...]

Workout Wednesday: A real Stress-Buster

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:11:24 +0000

Submitted by Total Cycling Performance Blog Let’s face it; there are days that call for a ride that serves no purpose other than to relieve built-up stress. Regardless of the workout you had planned for the day or what you’re your schedule says, the best ride for you that day is to simply ride yourself into the ground. You [...]

Handbrake

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:10:13 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog Test One Temperature: 18C Wind trainer setting: 3 Click on graphs to enlarge. 10 minutes warm up with two one-minute sprints 30 minute time trial 10 minutes cool down First ten minutes I was feeling good and highly motivated. Every time I looked down, I saw power outputs in the 180ies and 190ies, which was very encouraging. Five minutes [...]

4 Hints to Avoiding a Mid-Season Cycling Slump

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:21:49 +0000

Submitted by Total Cycling Performance Blog Most athletes hit a plateau at some point during the season, and it’s frustrating. A typical season begins with enthusiasm high and an eagerness for training and goal achievement. Improvement comes quickly as the athlete trains hard in anticipation of early-season events. These events come and go, the training gets harder and [...]

Am I ready?

admin — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:20:34 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog Sandgate jetty last Saturday A few days ago I was asked by a friend, who is giving me a hand with coaching, if my body is ready for more intensity. I didn’t answer his email. He called me a couple of days later. I told him that I honestly didn’t know but [...]

I can smell coffee …

admin — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 02:42:06 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog I promised to give an account of my “I will just put a few less of the well known and scientifically proven toxins and processed food into my body for a while” diet. So this post is for Lisa, Lily on the Road and Bluenoser (Blue, sorry, I haven’t emailed it [...]

Take a Midseason Checkup

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:19:43 +0000

Submitted by Total Cycling Performance Blog What do you use to gauge your progress and your fitness level throughout the season? Racing provides great and immediate feedback. What if you don’t race, though? What do you use to measure your improvement and whether you’re on track with your goals? Is your average power increasing? Is your threshold [...]

About guilt and suffering

admin — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:18:50 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog Anonymous suggested in a comment on my detox diet post that I’m detoxing because I feel guilty about eating the muffin so I want to make myself suffer. Now this is an interesting thought and felt like exploring. Guilt - yes! I do feel guilty. I feel guilt about not riding last [...]

Detox diet

admin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:45:53 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog Last weekend, over coffee and those Pineapple-Ginger-Muffins, I decided to start a detox diet. It had been on my mind for a long time now, basically since I realised what a strain this Glandular Fever is on the liver. My naturopath had advised against one back in February because the liver was [...]

As the week progressed …

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 18:56:24 +0000

Submitted by Competitive Cycling Blog Rollercoaster rides are supposed to be fun. This one is not. Earlier this week I put together a strength workout that I was able to do at home with just a Swiss ball and a Yoga mat. I’ve always been a fan of using my own body weight for strength exercises rather [...]

3 Lessons from Nature Valley

admin — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:51:44 +0000

Submitted by Total Cycling Performance Blog The Nature Valley Grand Prix wrapped up its 6-race/5-day run yesterday with the grand finale criterium at Stillwater. This stage was comprised of 20 laps of climbing (including the famous Chilikoot Hill and its 18% average grade) and screaming descents. The power these riders exhibited as they climbed this brutal [...]