TOOLBOX: Last time we discussed the different muscle fibre typology of world-class cyclists in different disciplines. Now let’s explore how different muscle typology can affect recovery from high-intensity interval training.

TOOLBOX: If you love cycling, then you may have come to love many of the behaviors, habits, and goals that come along with enjoying and improving in the sport. Better. Optimal. Perfect? Is that drive always the best thing for performance or happiness?

“We’re all individuals” shouted the mob outside Brian’s window in the Monty Python classic Life of Brian. We’re also all individuals in our response to training, and that may be due to our muscle fibre typing.

TOOLBOX: The loss of events due to the pandemic can have a big impact on our motivation to train. You may have noticed changes in your motivation to put in mileage, strength train, get on your trainer, eat right, or even get off the couch and go to bed on time. Here's how to use exercise to bust out of that de-motivational funk.

Can training the respiratory system improve exercise performance? If so, should we be maximally time-efficient and use it during exercise and interval training?

With #CXisNOTCOMING the hashtag for many of us and the fall season arriving, it’s time to start thinking about transitioning out of peak summer cycling form. Should we think about just riding easy during this period, or including a bit of intense work?

Whether it’s amateurs or professionals, a very high proportion of races ends up in a mass sprint. While we all see the dramatic final burst to the line, the frantic leadup to that final sprint is the critical springboard to success…

TOOLBOX: After the first few years of cycling, we learn that the best gear, the fanciest supplements, and the most favorable weather will only get us so far. In order to take performance from good to great, the resources, skills, and extra juice we need to improve comes from the inside, not out. 

Not all intervals are created equal, even if the average wattage is kept similar. Making intervals that vary in intensity can make them really different from constant wattage intervals.