There are many ways to quantify performance in cycling, but two of the most commonly-cited data points are VO2 max and FTP. These metrics are related but distinct, and the connection between them is easy to misunderstand. So what’s the link between VO2 max and FTP, and what role do they play in determining your fitness?
Your heart rate naturally increases during exercise to fuel your muscles with oxygen. How can you improve your capacity to uptake oxygen and get faster?
Power-to-weight ratio is one of the most important metrics in cycling, but it can also be a negative influence driving athletes to obsess over weight. Learn how it can help make you faster if used correctly.
Blood Plasma volume is critical for performance in endurance athletes. Taking a break from training can rapidly decrease it. But the good news is that you can get back on track in just a few days.
Working hard will only get you so far. There comes a point when you need to strategically plan how to best use your hard work to maximize fitness gains — that’s what training smarter is all about. By exploring our training plan process, we aim to clarify the purpose of each training block you’ll work…
When it comes to base training, Head Coach Chad Timmerman usually recommends Sweet Spot Base. Sweet Spot Base is more intense than a Traditional Base training approach. Everything from neuromuscular bursts to VO2 max intervals and Sweet Spot work is included to get you generally fit in a hurry. When an athlete who’s — physiologically —…
Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re not seeing improvements within your season as an aging athlete, adjustments must be made. This is keeping in mind that training, and thereby training adaptation, is cyclical in nature. So the magnitude of improvements will be largely dependent on what level of athlete you already are. Nonetheless, there…