Basic Physiology Concepts Endurance cycling places unique demands on the human body, requiring a deep understanding of the physiological mechanisms that support prolonged physical activity. Central to this are the types of muscle fibers and the pathways through which energy is produced. Muscle fibers can be broadly categorized into two types: Type I (slow-twitch) and … Continue reading The Physiology of Endurance Cycling: An Introduction
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Understanding Carbohydrate Metabolism During Cycling: Fueling Your Ride with Science
Cycling demands a lot from your body, and understanding how it fuels itself is crucial for optimizing performance and endurance. Carbohydrates are the primary energy source for cyclists, and knowing how your body metabolizes them can make all the difference between a strong finish and hitting the dreaded "bonk." This blog post will delve into … Continue reading Understanding Carbohydrate Metabolism During Cycling: Fueling Your Ride with Science
Setting up your indoor training space
Welcome to the world of the Pain Cave! Whether you're preparing for a grueling race or just trying to stay fit during the off-season, setting up the perfect indoor cycling workout space is key to maintaining your training regimen. A well-organized and comfortable "pain cave" can make all the difference in staying motivated and logging … Continue reading Setting up your indoor training space
Exploring SRAMs new XPLR road drivetrains
SRAM has long been recognized as a leader in cycling innovation, consistently pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in bike technology. From pioneering the first widely adopted 1x drivetrain to their industry-leading wireless electronic shifting, SRAM continues to revolutionize the way we ride. Their latest offering, the SRAM AXS XPLR drivetrain, is no exception. Designed … Continue reading Exploring SRAMs new XPLR road drivetrains
Denaturing Endurance;
Understanding proteins is a great place to start when you want to push the limits of biology. Proteins are responsible for most of the functions of life, and many of the critical processes of metabolism which facilitate endurance exercise are mediated by proteins. Proteins sit like little ice bergs in the seas of cell walls … Continue reading Denaturing Endurance;
Metabolism for Endurance Athletes, Part 3
Jumping back into my series on physiology, I wanted to cover the other side of the coin to my last post. My last post covered the reasons why hydration can affect aerobic performance; the rate limiting step in aerobic metabolism is oxygen movement in the blood, and thinner blood can move faster because it flows … Continue reading Metabolism for Endurance Athletes, Part 3
Training on an empty stomach;
Running first thing after waking, before fussing with making food, or any other task on the to-do list, is a great mental trick to make sure that training happens. Some may call it "eating the frog", or "putting first things first". By training first thing, there's less risk of interruption, of an infant requiring attention, … Continue reading Training on an empty stomach;
Metabolism for Endurance Athletes, Part 1
High school biology class was not particularly interesting. The topics covered, while not interesting to the average tenth grader, are extremely pertinent to endurance athletes. Endurance sport, for the individual, comes down to the capacity of the body to convert the molecules in food into specific forms of movement. Knowing a bit of physiology and … Continue reading Metabolism for Endurance Athletes, Part 1
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, and what can be done about it;
Right off the bat, nothing here is medical advice. You should always consult with your doctor before beginning an exercise routine. Delayed onset muscle soreness is a topic requires that warning, because it's a symptom many experience when they first start exercising, especially after a period away. Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is pain and … Continue reading Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, and what can be done about it;
Aerodynamic Efficiency and understanding the goal;
Bikes have become money pits in 2024. The equivalent bicycle to what I ride (A Felt AR with Ultegra Di2) is $9,000 new, and the cheapest option in that line is $3,500. Now, you do get quite a bit for that money; electric shifting, thru-axles, carbon fiber everything, electric shifting and hydraulic disc brakes. But, … Continue reading Aerodynamic Efficiency and understanding the goal;
