Some cycling in action
November 1st, 2007To give some examples of exceptional riding, here are some you-tube videos showing what it means to be a professional cyclist.
evade colleagues….
Some advice for exploring more of the you-tube movies, make sure you’re finished with what ever you where doing before entering the site… you wont get back to what you were doing anytime soon.
And when you start cycling, always bring your helmet, in most countries a cycling helmet is mandatory anyway.
A few good spots to see lots of cycling in real life are the local competitions of course, but if you get the chance to go to Europe and visit the alps or any other western European mountain range, you’ll meet a lot of cyclists and even some professional cyclists.
Most of the professionals have houses in france, northern Italy or spain. and if they’re not active they’re running a hostel or restaurant where you can gape at old cycling pictures or listen to stories from the past.
I went in the off season to one of the most beautifull cycling places in europe (Briancon) and had a hard time not encountering fellow cyclists that were trying to beat me reaching the top of the mountain…. The amount of cols that are ridden in the tour each year are huge, the sun is always shining and places to stay are plenty.
The Race of Truth: Winning Strategies for the Individual Time Trial
October 24th, 2007
There is no single greater challenge for a road racer than the individual time trial. The “Race of Truth” tests every physical and mental skill and ability you possess. There is no place to hide, no tactics to play off of, no shelter from the elements. Just you and your bike and the clock. All the things that make you a good ITT rider, maximal aerobic capacity, anaerobic power, aerobic recovery and mental toughness are vital to successful performance regardless of the racing venue.
The athlete that races well against the clock is always a threat. A 40K ITT requires that you ride at and sometimes above maximal aerobic capacity for close to 60min. If your fitness is good and you ride a 40K ITT correctly you should have next to nothing left when you cross the line. I’ve worked with elite riders who have ridden a 40K ITT so hard that they someone to catch them at the finish because they were not able to stand up. This may sound a bit extreme but if you take the ITT seriously and you want to be competitive you have to be prepared to put out that level of effort.
Endurance Lifting: Resistance Training for the Competitive Endurance Rider
October 24th, 2007I am a strong advocate of resistance training as a means to increase strength during the off season. A useful resistance program should focus on the specific demands your particular racing discipline. This does away with the notion of a standardized resistance program that works best for all types of cyclists. As an endurance rider you depend more on muscular strength and aerobic endurance than on raw power. The Endurance Lifting Program was created to develop these critical elements of competitive performance for endurance road, track and mountain bike riders.
Race Day Planning
October 24th, 2007Having a consistent routine will help eliminate errors in planning and provide much needed focus and concentration on race day. Whatever routine you develop it needs to be repeatable and consistent and should reflect your particular needs in preparing for competition.
8-Week Stage Race Plan for On-Bike Recovery, Power and Endurance
October 24th, 2007It takes years of hard work and thousands of miles to become a complete, quality bike racer. Fortunately, athletes are highly motivated people. Athletes need a regular dose of satisfaction and sense of accomplishment to keep them in the game and continue the learning process. Beginning and sport level cyclists will benefit greatly from a training program that develops skills, improves performance and builds recovery from repeated, high intensity effort. Developing a rhythm for training and competition that focuses on intensity, recovery and rest is a proven recipe for success.
Post Race Analysis: Improving your performance with better Planning and Knowledge
October 24th, 2007All along the way in your athletic experience you will have those days when very little seems to go as planned. No worries, it happens to EVERYBODY. Every race is a learning opportunity and when things go poorly it helps to have a process by which you can sift through the details in search of clues that will help you prepare better and improve your performance the next time out.
Strength Training and “aerobic conditioning” during the off-season
October 24th, 2007Professionalcycling.info is a strong advocate of endurance strength training over the traditional heavy lifting programs used by most cyclists. An off-season plan that includes an endurance lifting program and circuit training produces dramatic results for many of our riders every season by building maximal aerobic capacity and muscular endurance.
Racing Tactics
October 23rd, 2007
This primer outlines the general tactics any cyclist can use to perform better in a race. Whether you race on the road, off-road, or the track this guide provides fundamental knowledge.
Always be aware
Many riders are not aware of their surroundings. You must be comfortable riding with and around others and aware of where other riders are in relationship to yourself. If you are uncomfortable riding in the group then you will not be as effective in carrying out race tactics. Remember, your actions will affect the riders around you.
Preparing for a Race
October 22nd, 2007There are several things you should do in preparation for a race, over a several day period. In general make sure to be eating well-balanced meals, getting plenty of fluids and getting enough sleep. If you do not get these basic necessities your performance will suffer even if you do everything else perfectly.