Training & Coaching Tip for Cycling - Bike Skills & Handling

S.M.A.R.T - How to Set 2020 Goals

January 03, 2020

2020 is just around the corner! Our athletes are getting pumped thinking about next year; the races they want to win, making the podium and getting faster, better and stronger. This week's blog post is about how to set goals that are S.M.A.R.T.

How to Get Through the Holiday Season

December 10, 2019

"The Holidays are here! It's that time of the year to enjoy time with family, friends, and loved ones. The holidays are joyful and exciting, but can also bring on stress. It's easy to get out of your normal rhythm and routine with overindulging in bad eating habits and neglected training. It's also a prime time to get sick with flu and colds."

It Takes a Village - From Local Racing to the Tour de France

July 31, 2019

It's easy to think that riders that stand atop the podium are an overnight success. That somehow, they've magically discovered the sport of cycling, flown through the ranks and appeared as though granted a wish and stand smiling, hands waving, champagne being sprayed and flowers tossed to the crowd afterward.

It's Time for a Break! The Importance of the Mid-Season Break

June 28, 2019

Mid-Season break is a time to take (literally) a break from the daily training/racing routines and usually occurs around June/July. Similar to "half-time", it's a time to re-set physically and mentally.

Shoulder Exercises and Stretches Every Cyclist Should Know

June 28, 2019

One of the more common injury types amongst cyclists are shoulder-related. We spend countless hours bent over on the bike (in combination with desk-work) which lead to "rolled shoulders" / poor posture and eventually, injury.

How to Approach Stage Racing. Study hard, Relax harder.

April 01, 2019

"It's officially the start of "Stage Racing" season and riders are priming their legs and lungs for the first set of performance(s). All the off-season training and preparation will be displayed as athletes anxiously await in the final countdown before "game time." There are two aspects behind preparation for a Stage Race: the physical time and energy and the mental aspects."

How to Transition Your Indoor Fitness Outside

March 29, 2019

"Once winter retreats enough to thaw out the bike lanes in your neighborhood, hordes of people will take to the streets again to breath in the fresh air and feel the wind in their face. All of the fitness you gained while anchored to the trainer is more than ready to be showcased and what better way to test yourself than in a group ride? I'm sure I'm not the only one eager to reconnect with their cycling tribe - finally seeing them in person and getting a glimpse of what news jersey colors will fill the peloton. And as excited as you may be, there are a few things to keep in mind once you're back out on the roads that will keep you and the group safe. Below are some tips to ease this transition and keep you upright and rubber side down."

Tips & Tricks for Race Day

March 29, 2019

Everyone is excited to finally pin on a number and make use of all the training during the winter months. But in order to have success, you should be well prepared for race day. Ideally one should have a race day routine and maybe even a checklist that will help get the mind into the game.

Training To Be Healthy

March 07, 2019

Winter is in full force and base-miles and intensity are increasing. With the increased training, cold weather training conditions, and all the viruses that are floating around, the body is often put into a suppressed immune state. The same formula occurs in season, with big racing blocks, added life stress and travel...point being, we are human and we will get sick. This weeks' blog post is about what to do (or not do) when sick.

Mental Toolbox - Noticing: Thinking vs. Feeling

March 07, 2019

"Sitting behind the motor itself is soothing and calming - it's getting to that point that can be the challenge. If there's someone in front of you that's tense and surging, it will ripple throughout the group. Similar to riding in a group on the road - if you find yourself around someone who is moving erratically and unpredictably, it's only a matter of time before something disastrous happens. The best thing to do is to put some distance between yourself and that rider."

Training Quality

February 25, 2019

If you want to get stronger and improve your performance, then you should make sure your rides (or workouts) are high quality vs. just adding up a lot of "empty training miles" or "junk miles". Working with athletes shows me that workouts quality isn't always executed properly. How does one prepare for a ride or workouts? Do you read the workout instructions clearly or do you go out on your ride and loosely follow the workout instructions? Are you aware of your focus on the bike?

Planning for 2019 and Beyond

January 11, 2019

"Got the winter time blues? As the winter solstice approaches, it may seem like FOREVER until the warm summer months. Whether you're finishing up cyclocross this week at Nationals or completed a full road race season and in the midst of some serious winter base miles, now is a great time to check in with your goals for 2019 and beyond."

Returning to the Start Line

December 06, 2018

"Getting back to racing this year taught me some good lessons. It was a modest re-introduction, don't get me wrong. There have been some issues in the last couple years that certainly didn't help, but a lot of it was on me. I just needed to make the time and commit. That took more than I expected."

Skills in the Snow

December 04, 2018

The importance of skill work includes: better balance on the bike and in the peloton, maneuvering through a pack of riders during a race, managing obstacles/avoiding crashing and how to pick up speed quickly in a mass start situation (applies to: MTB Cyclocross and Road situations).

Training During the Winter and the Holiday Seasons

December 03, 2018

The winter and the holiday seasons are coming closer. Most of our ALP athletes enjoyed their off season break sometime back in October or November and by not it is time to be back training for next season.

How to Get the Most out of Your Off-Season

November 30, 2018

Summer is winding down and many parts of the country have already seen a shift of weather, signaling the end of a long road season and for others, the start of the cyclocross season. Whether you take a break now from structured training and racing or do it after cross, it's important to get the most out of your off-season. This is where the biggest gains can be made.

ALP Cycles Coaches Corner: Racing and Training in the Heat

July 13, 2018

It's summer in the Northern Hemisphere and temperatures are heating up. While each person responds differently to heat (some thrive, others wilt) there are a few things you can do to beat the heat and ensure you maximize your performance. Below are several tips that you can start using immediately that might help.

Cool, Calm and Collected

July 09, 2018 1 Comment

It occurred to me that the demands required for steep, extended climbing and a technical downhill or rocky section are sometimes at odds with each other. Just as they are with the skiing and shooting of biathlon. Would training my body to ‘calm on demand’ yield benefits? I decided to give it a try.

Dear Athlete: Help Me, Help You

May 09, 2018

"A great coach should be an athletes best advocate. We're looking out for your best interests - to help you succeed at your goals and perform at your absolute best on game day. And although you may think otherwise when you're assigned intervals and hill climbs, we really are putting you first."

How to Prepare for Race Day

March 26, 2018

Race season is almost here. Some of our athletes will kick off their 2018 road racing season this weekend. Everyone is excited to finally pin on a number and make use of all the training during the winter months. But in order to have success, you should be well prepared for race day and do your "home work."

The Best Recovery Tool of All Time: SLEEP

March 23, 2018 1 Comment

It's choose your own adventure time...it's been a long week. You've had multiple deadlines at work and still managed to fit in your daily training prescribed by your coach. You've had to cut your nightly sleep totals by 30-60 minutes each night and by Friday, you're more than ready for the weekend. Do you: A) let loose and unwind from the week. Go out with friends, have a few drinks, stay up late and plan on catching up on your sleep during the weekend - that's what coffee was invented for, right? Or B) Get a nutritious, well balanced meal and head to bed early.

Tools of the Trade

March 23, 2018

Myofascial Release: Sounds fancy, eh? Chances are you're already doing some sort of myofascial release. Whether you use a foam roller, normatech boots, a lacrosse or tennis ball - you're attempting to release the tension due to trauma, posture, or inflammation. Or in a cyclists case - attempting to make your legs feel better after doing hundreds of thousands of pedal revolutions in a single ride. Sometimes it is downright painful. Yet after you're done, you feel 10 times better.

Training Quality

February 12, 2018

If you like to get stronger and improve your performance, then you should make sure your rides (or WO's) are high quality vs just adding up a lot of "empty training miles" or "junk miles." Working with my athletes shows me that WO quality isn't always executed properly. How does one prepare for a ride or WO? Do you read the WO instructions clearly or do you go out on your ride and loosely follow the WO instructions? Are you aware of your focus on the bike?

Training During Winter and The Holiday Season

December 04, 2017

"The winter and the holiday seasons are coming closer. Most of my athletes enjoyed their off season break sometime back in October or early November and by now it is time to be back in training for next season."