What's Cool In Road Cycling

Author

Stephen Cheung

Dr. Stephen Cheung is a Professor & Senior Research Fellow at Brock University, and has published over 120 scientific articles and book chapters dealing with the effects of thermal and hypoxic stress on human physiology & performance. Stephen published the books "Cutting-Edge Cycling" in 2012 with coach Hunter Allen, and "Cycling Science" in 2017 with Dr. Mikel Zabala from the Movistar Pro Cycling Team. Stephen is also the Chief Sport Scientist for the Xert training system, and he can be reached for comments at [email protected]

SPRINTS & STOMPS: Strength Training for Better Performance

Stephen Cheung Jun 8, 2021

Recently we wrote about switching up strength training now that cycling season is in full swing and exercise restrictions are easing. I thought it would be a fine time to lay out one of my favourite on-bike strength and agility workouts.

How Effective Are Ice Baths for Training Adaptations?

Stephen Cheung Jun 1, 2021

A popular trend in recovery has been the use of cold water immersion or ice baths. They may improve your sensations of soreness and short-term recovery after hard training, but are they the best thing for long-term training adaptation?

Take the Relative Energy Deficiency Sport (REDS) Survey

Stephen Cheung May 11, 2021

Relative Energy Deficiency - Sports, or RED-S, is one of the biggest emerging themes within sports nutrition. It is more than just a matter of insufficient calorie intake and it affects both males and females. It may also strongly…

Power Hour: Is There a Best Time of Day for a Breakthrough Performance?

Stephen Cheung May 4, 2021

Circadian rhythms affect many aspects of our physiology, from temperature to arousal and strength. Does it affect when our workout or racing ability might be optimal?

Concussions in Cycling: Knowledge and Attitudes Among Riders

Stephen Cheung Apr 6, 2021

Sports concussions are no longer just laughed off as getting your bell rung. However, knowledge and attitudes about concussions can vary greatly across different sports. Let’s take a look at what cyclists know and think.

How Marcel Kittel Won 14 Tour Sprints with Tactics, Power, and Position

Stephen Cheung Mar 9, 2021

Sprinters will do all that they can to survive mountain stages for the chance for sprint stage glory. So what did it take for Marcel Kittel to win or lose sprints at Le Tour?

Sprinters Vs Grand Tours: How The Fast Men Grind Out Long Races

Stephen Cheung Mar 2, 2021

For sprinters in Grand Tours, it’s a polarized world to the extreme. Suffer and survive the mountains in the hopes of sprint stage glory. What does it take for a world-class sprinter to tackle the Tour de France?

How Steady Hard Vs Sudden Intense Efforts Affect Cycling Fatigue

Stephen Cheung Feb 9, 2021

It happens every Spring - the first few group rides of the year brutally reawaken the realities of the highly variable nature of racing. What are the neuromuscular differences affecting riding fatigue between hard constant efforts and group…

Aero Positioning: How Low is Too Low?

Stephen Cheung Feb 2, 2021

Time trialing has a massive focus on aerodynamics, both to the bike and the rider. But where does the balance lie between aerodynamics, power output, metabolic economy, and thermoregulation? How low should you go?

Can Grand Tours Suffocate You? A New Study Looks at Respiratory Function in Cycling’s Hardest…

Stephen Cheung Jan 19, 2021

Riding Grand Tours is about the hardest athletic gig that you can find. Over the years, scientists have tracked the power demands and its impact on different physiological systems. A new study explores how GTs affect respiratory function…