Preparing for race day is more than training and recovery. by Alison Powers, ALP Cycles Coaching The art of being prepared comes down to one simple thing – no surprises on race day. Preparing for race day is more than training and recovery. Success on race day requires precise preparation. This means the things you […]
…cluttering that routine with unnecessary rules is a good way to keep chaotic dialogue going in your head. by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching This past April and May, I had the pleasure of racing the Cherry Creek Time trial series with ALP Cycles Coaching Athlete, Kimberly Hodes. Kimberly (who is very goal driven – […]
What to do when riding isn’t an option. by Alison Powers, ALP Cycles Coaching Good fitness requires consistency. Good bike riding fitness requires consistent bike riding. However, for some of us, it can be tough to find time to fit in 3 bike rides a week. And for others, due to travel, work, family, and […]
“Chicago Women’s Elite Cycling Team Warming up for the Time Trail at Joe Martin Stage Race.” by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching 3% You spend money on equipment, coaching, nutritional advice, etc. yet are you getting the most out of your racing? If you knew that you could improve your cycling by 3% and increase […]
“If all else fails, try taking melatonin 30 min before bedtime.” by ALP Cycles Coaching A lot of us use exercise to improve our sleep. However, for many of us, after a hard training ride, it can be tough to get a good night sleep. Here are some tips to help ensure a better night […]
“Race season is here!” by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching As winter becomes a distant memory and spring arrives with a bang – you can look back and reflect on the dozens of intervals, hours of gym workouts, and mental preparation you’ve devoted to the dark winter months. Race season is here! Whether you’ve been […]
“We rode to the Louisville Criterium course, a moderate course with 1 tough corner and an uphill finishing stretch that is usually windy.” by ALP Cycles Coaching We think the most important thing a coach can do for her/his athletes, is to ride with them. So much knowledge and information can be gained from seeing […]
“It’s important to plan structured, targeted and regular training followed by rest days and rest periods.” by Patricia Schwager, ALP Cycles Coaching We all know that to become better at something we need to practice. Consistent training is key, in order to make progress in your training. If you like to become better at riding […]
“Recovering on the bike is actually harder than it sounds.” by ALP Cycles Coaching Everyone at the camp has been working hard with long endurance rides with pack handling skills, how to get up and over punchy climbs, technical fast downhill cornering, climbing in and out of the saddle, and eating cookies at the Cookie […]
“The worst part about having a job is how it affects your training. Let us be really realistic here – the majority of cyclists in the United States work some type of job.” by Raquel Miller, ALP athlete who works with Coach Alison Powers April 2013 was my first month of coaching with Alison Powers/ALP […]
“…when you can’t quite get to everything, do what you can when you can.” by Mia Cheeseman, Athlete that works with Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching This week’s blog post is written by ALP Athlete Mia Cheeseman who works with ALP Coach Jennifer Sharp. Too often, life gets in the way of our cycling training. If […]
Cyclo-Cross Clinic Part 3: Fitness and Training In part one and two of our Cyclo-Cross clinic we have looked at technique and equipment, in this edition we move to how you can adapt your body and fitness to handle and demands of this highly intensive racing discipline. For those people who are new to cross racing […]
Cyclo-Cross Clinic Part 2: Equipment In part one of the cyclo-cross essentials series we talked about the various techniques needed to race cyclo-cross. In part two we are going to talk about equipment choice, everything from tire pressure, specific tire choice, brakes, bike set up and even the importance of having two bikes. The correct […]
Cyclo-Cross Clinic Part 1: Technique Cycle-Cross has become one of the fastest growing disciplines within the UK cycling scene and with the ever increasing amount of newbies taking this sport up it’s important to get to grips with the basics of cross racing. The team at Dig Deep Coaching has spent many years learning, practicing […]
Surround yourself with people you look up to and that are positive. by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching When I first started racing a decade ago, cyclingnews.com had a section in their website dedicated to mental training. I gravitated to this section more than tech reviews or race results – I wanted to know what I […]
The three most important things I learned this season. by Abby Mickey, ALP Athlete and UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team Member Every year comes with new challenges. The key is to take those challenges in stride and learn from them. Challenges are good for you. They help you grow as an athlete and, more importantly, as […]
Things you do during the off season have a big influence on your next race season. by Patricia Schwager, ALP Cycles Coaching Off season is here and that means time off, time for vacation, or time for activities that you can’t really do during race season. Unless you are racing CX races-then your situation is […]
If you accept the pain and use practiced tools to mitigate it, you can set yourself up for success. by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching Last month, Alison and I attended the TrainingPeaks Endurance Coaching Summit held at Colorado University in Boulder. The Summit brought together over 150 coaches, physiologists, businesses and thought leaders based in […]
Why you should keep working with your coach in the off-season. by Patricia Schwager, ALP Cycles Coaching The 2015 road racing season is coming to an end. A lot of racers start to think about the off-season and look forward to taking a break from training and taking time off the bike. Most do not […]
Pain is complex because it is a subjective experience. by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching Last month, Alison and I attended the TrainingPeaks Endurance Coaching Summit held at Colorado University in Boulder. The Summit brought together over 150 coaches, physiologists, businesses and thought leaders based in the field of endurance sports. During the break out sessions, […]
Pain is complex because it is a subjective experience. by Jennifer Sharp, ALP Cycles Coaching Last month, Alison and I attended the TrainingPeaks Endurance Coaching Summit held at Colorado University in Boulder. The Summit brought together over 150 coaches, physiologists, businesses and thought leaders based in the field of endurance sports. During the break out sessions, […]
