Podcasts by Fast Talk
The Fast Talk podcast offers the best guides to cycling performance and endurance sports training from world-class experts.
Cohosted by cycling coaches and sport scientists Trevor Connor and Rob Pickels, Fast Talk episodes feature fascinating conversations with world-class experts discussing the endurance sports topics they know best: the best ways to train, effective workouts, questions on polarized and interval training, sports nutrition, physiology and recovery, and sport psychology.
Further podcasts by Fast Talk Labs
Podcast on the topic Gesundheit und Fitness
All episodes
210: Nerd Lab: Eccentric Damage and a Heated Polarized Debate from 2022-04-07T11:00
Exercise physiologists and resident nerds Rob Pickels and Coach Trevor Connor continue their discussion of new scientific research in sport science. Though the discussions we have of these studies ...
Listen209: The Balance of Race Experience, Scientific Knowledge, and Coaching with Julie Young from 2022-03-31T11:00
We explore how important it is to have race experience, a scientific background and a coaching background to fully guide athletes with coach, physiologist, and past pro Julie Young. Learn more ab...
Listen208: Q&A on Pacing for a Gran Fondo, Juniors Training, Two Minute Climbs, and 5x5 Minute Intervals with Houshang Amiri from 2022-03-24T11:00
We’re joined by Houshang Amiri, a UCI Elite Coach and Trevor Connor’s coach at the Canadian National Center, to address questions about both building endurance and top end work. Learn more about yo...
Listen206: Dr, Stephen Seiler on Breathing, Beer, and Heart Rate from 2022-03-10T12:00
We got so much great information from Dr Stephen Seiler when we interviewed him for episode 200, we wanted to make sure we shared it all with our listeners. In this episode, Dr. Seiler tells about ...
Listen205: The Physiology and Biomarkers of Recovery with Dr. Iñigo San Millán from 2022-03-03T12:00
Dr Inigo San Millan, the coach of Tadej Pogačar, discusses the physiology of recovery, biomarkers of training and why we don’t want to be in a constant catabolic state. Learn more about your ad ch...
Listen204: Fast Talk Bids Our Heart-Felt Farewell to Chris Case from 2022-02-24T12:00
Chris Case is leaving Fast Talk! For his final episode, we gather some of his close cycling friends to discuss Chris and his epic rides, his parting wisdom, and what has made him a special part of ...
Listen203: Q&A on Cardiac Arrhythmias, Ultra Endurance Training, Cramping in Juniors, Low Cadence Effects, and Workout Analysis Tools. from 2022-02-17T12:00
We asked for your questions on our 200th anniversary episode and we got so many of them that we decided to dedicate another episode to answer them. Here are your questions answered! Learn more abo...
Listen202: A Brief History of Endurance Sports Coaching with Joe Friel from 2022-02-10T12:00
When looking at the history of endurance sports coaching, there's no better guide than coach Joe Friel. Quite simply, Joe Friel is the most trusted endurance sports coach in the world. He has train...
Listen201: Exploring Recent Training Tools with Toms Skujins from 2022-02-03T12:00
Multiple-time Polka Dot Jersey Holder, Toms Skujins, discusses lactate testing, CGMs, ketone strips, and taking his own blood on the side of the road. If you’re a listener of this show, you underst...
Listen199: Training as a Time-Crunched Athlete, with Chris Carmichael from 2022-01-20T12:00
Many of our listeners, in fact, most of the staff here at Fast Talk Labs, could be considered “time-crunched athletes”—people with only 6-8 hours to train each week. We’re athletes who, because of ...
Listen198: Favorite Workouts of Fast Talk All-Stars, Part 3 from 2022-01-13T12:00
We ask every guest of Fast Talk—coach, athlete, or scientist—to describe their favorite workout—the what, why, how, and when. In this episode, we share the favorite workouts of legendary physiolog...
Listen197: Cardiac Remodeling in Endurance Athletes, with Dr. Brad Petek and Dr. Tim Churchill from 2022-01-06T12:00
On several previous episodes of Fast Talk, we have discussed the structural and biochemical changes that take place through the process of adaptation—through training. Today we’re going to address ...
Listen196: Q&A on Annual Training Plans, Race Stress, and Body Image, with Julie Young from 2021-12-30T12:00
We're joined by long-time contributor Julie Young who helps us field unique listener questions on how to build an annual training plan, coping with race stress, and overcoming body image issues. Bu...
Listen195: Favorite Moments of 2021 from 2021-12-23T12:00
Join us as we go through our favorite moments of 2021 including talks with Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, Kristin Armstrong, Jim Miller, Jeff Winkler, Neal Henderson, Dr. Simon Marshall and Lesley Paterson....
Listen194: Q&A with Adam Saint Pierre from 2021-12-16T12:00
Q&A on Nordic Skiing, Recovery, and Mixing Training Modalities, with Adam St. Pierre Adam St. Pierre, the head coach of the Nordic ski team at Montana St. University, and a former physiologist and...
Listen193: How Much Speed Can Be Bought? With Ben Delaney from 2021-12-09T12:00
Today we’re talking speed, but not necessarily the kind that comes from hard work, although we touch on things like coaches and training plans as the first and most important step to “buying” speed...
Listen192: The Evolution of the Perception of Supplements, with Dr. Louise Burke from 2021-12-02T12:00
While we’ve talked about supplements on Fast Talk before, we’ve never sat down with one of the world’s preeminent nutrition researchers to dive into the history and overall value of supplements. Bu...
Listen191: Q&A on Thanksgiving Mind Games, Jan Ullrich Effect, and Food as Medicine from 2021-11-24T12:00
This first question we’ve saved for this special occasion. Brenda Castile from Essex, Connecticut, writes: “Thanksgiving! I love it. I love the food, I love the drinks, I love the desserts. I love ...
Listen190: Is Perceived Exertion the Most Important Metric? from 2021-11-18T12:00
There are many ways to measure intensity. This is an episode about the one that is often forgotten: RPE. Perceived exertion is a standardized way to classify a subjective feeling. We've touched upo...
Listen189: Bike Fit Methodology, with Dr. Andy Pruitt, Colby Pearce, and Todd Carver from 2021-11-11T12:00
In the beginning, a bike fit would include a guy at a bike shop with a plumb line and a theory. Now, bike fit is a full-fledged science with video cameras, 3D models, and a greater understanding of...
Listen188: Nerd Lab: FTP, VO2max, and Sprints within LSD from 2021-11-04T11:00
Exercise physiologist Rob Pickels returns to Fast Talk to out-nerd Coach Trevor Connor as they discuss new scientific research in sport science. Though the findings of these studies may not always ...
Listen187: Bike Fit Philosophy, with Dr. Andy Pruitt, Colby Pearce, and Todd Carver from 2021-10-28T11:00
Bike fit was once purely a quote-unquote “philosophy.” In the old days, you may have experienced getting a so-called fit by a guy at a bike shop with a plumb line and a theory. Now, bike fit is a f...
Listen186: Q&A on Intensity within LSD Rides, Finding a Coach, and Coach as Teacher, with Rab Wardell from 2021-10-21T11:00
Our guest coach for this episode is Rab Wardell, owner of Wardell Cycle Coaching, who competed at the mountain bike marathon world championships for Team GB in 2021 and, in 2020, set the fastest kn...
Listen185: Comparing Training Methods Across Endurance Sports, with Dr. Stephen Seiler from 2021-10-14T11:00
While the Fast Talk podcast was originally geared toward cycling, many of the concepts we discuss can be applied across all endurance sports. After all, human physiology remains the same whether we...
Listen184: Q&A on Triathlon, Running, GI Distress, and Knee Warmers, with Joe Gambles from 2021-10-07T11:00
Joe Gambles has been racing triathlon professionally for nearly 25 years and has been coaching for the last seven years. We've gathered many of our triathlon-specific questions for the right athlet...
Listen183: Developing Youth Athletes, with USA Cycling’s Alec Pasqualina from 2021-09-30T11:00
Young athletes have a host of concerns outside of sport that make their development a unique, challenging undertaking. While they can often be sponges for new information, skills, and techniques, t...
Listen182: Q&A on Polarized Training, Ramping Down Your Season, and Ruining Workouts, with Rebecca Gross from 2021-09-23T11:00
With the help of Rebecca Gross, owner of 3six0 Performance, we field questions on polarized training, how to effectively close out a season, whether you can ruin workouts with indulgences or poor s...
Listen181: Riding the Edge in Cyclocross, with Stephen Hyde from 2021-09-16T12:00
Today we’re talking cyclocross, a discipline that is as demanding as it is rewarding and educational. Because there are so many variables in ’cross, athletes are constantly being challenged and con...
Listen180: Transformative Endurance Challenges from 2021-09-09T12:00
In 2021, four of us on the Fast Talk Labs staff—our producer Jana, Head Coach Ryan, Trevor, and me—chose an N1 Challenge. You’ve hopefully heard us speak about it previously on the show. It was mea...
Listen179: Do You Need a Mentor? With Coach Connor’s Mentor, Glenn Swan from 2021-09-02T12:00
If you’ve listened to Fast Talk for any length of time, you’ve likely heard the name Glenn Swan. That’s because Glenn was Coach Connor’s first and, arguably, most influential mentor in the sport of...
Listen178: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Chronic Training Load (CTL) from 2021-08-26T11:00
CTL. Chronic Training Load has rapidly gained in popularity among endurance athletes, but how well understood is this complex metric? Today we discuss the benefits of CTL, as well as the issues tha...
Listen177: Exploring Heat Stress and Heat Stroke, with Dr. William Adams from 2021-08-19T11:00
In June, Trevor went to Moab for what he thought would be a nice vacation filled with mountain biking with friends. It turned into a stressful, harrowing experience when one friend was evacuated to...
Listen176: Q&A on Training Zones, Cyclocross, Weekly Planning, and Beer, with Alec Donahue from 2021-08-12T11:00
With the help of Alec Donahue, the senior coach at Cycle-Smart who has worked with some of the best American cyclocross racers, including Jeremy Powers, Stephen Hyde, and Ellen Noble, we dive into ...
Listen175: Lessons on Race Targeting, Goal Setting, and Mindset, with Olympians Svein Tuft and Erinne Zarsadias (nee Willock) from 2021-08-05T11:00
When you watch the Olympics, do you think about the dedication, sacrifice, and risk that it takes to focus on such a big event, one that takes four years to prepare for? The pressure is immense. Is...
Listen174: Q&A on Travel and Training, CTL, Race Prep, and Big Gear LSD, with Kendra Wenzel from 2021-07-29T11:00
With the help of Kendra Wenzel, co-founder and head coach at Wenzel Coaching, we field questions on how to manage training when you have a busy travel schedule, when to get intensity during the wee...
Listen173: Is Weight Management as Simple as Calories In, Calories Out? With Dr. Timothy Noakes from 2021-07-22T11:00
For a long time, weight loss and weight management strategies have focused on counting calories. The question we ask in today’s episode is: Does that work? That is, if you count accurately, will it...
Listen172 :Sprinting, Overtraining Your Cells, Durability: Rob Pickels&Trevor Connor Nerd Out on Recent Research from 2021-07-15T11:00
Rob Pickels is the Advanced Development Project Manager at PEARL iZUMi, but more importantly, he can out-nerd Trevor as you'll hear in today's deep-dive into some new scientific research in sports ...
Listen171: Environmental Pollution, Health, and Performance, with Dr. Michael Koehle from 2021-07-08T11:00
sources, it’s time to ask the question: Should we modify how, where, and when we train based on our potential exposure to pollutants? Furthermore, are certain pollutants worse than others? Finally,...
Listen170: Q&A on Returning from Injury, Weight Management, and Fast-Twitch Fibers, with Renee Eastman from 2021-07-01T11:00
We start today’s Q&A with a discussion on returning from injury. Why? Well, Renee Eastman, our guest coach on this episode, just suffered a nasty crash. She's also come back from many injuries and ...
Listen169: Should We Race by Numbers? With Dirk Friel from 2021-06-24T11:00
When Chris Froome first came to prominence on the WorldTour and started dominating grand tours, all the talk was about how he was constantly looking at his stem. Was he staring at his power meter t...
Listen168: How Much High-Intensity Training Do You Need? from 2021-06-17T11:00
Endurance athletes crave intensity. It's the closest thing we have to instant gratification: chose an interval, grab the bike (or running shoes, etc.), and head out the door or into the Zwift sessi...
Listen167: How to Assess and Modify Training Mid-Season from 2021-06-10T11:00
Coach Trevor Connor and Chris Case, as well as Coach Ryan Kohler and Fast Talk producer Jana Martin, all chose an N1 Challenge in the fall of 2020. Now, part way through the training and preparatio...
Listen166: Effective Two-A-Day Workout Strategies, with Neal Henderson from 2021-06-03T11:00
If you’ve ever been a runner, swimmer, or rower, you might be familiar with the concept of two-a-days—individual workouts separated by hours within a single day, most typically one in the morning a...
Listen165: The Physiology of Race Season, with Dr. Iñigo San Millán from 2021-05-27T11:00
The race season is upon us! Hopefully, that’s true where you live... even if it isn’t, we hope this episode helps you understand how to train in the race season. Of course, any discussion about rac...
Listen164: Q&A on Judging Fatigue, Overtraining in Triathletes, and the Crossover Effect, with Melanie McQuaid from 2021-05-20T11:00
Melanie McQuaid, a three-time XTERRA world champion and owner of MelRad Coaching, joins us to discuss how to judge fatigue, the effects of overtraining, and the so-called "crossover effect" between...
Listen163: Training Principles from the 1980s Are (Still) All You Need, with Jeff Winkler from 2021-05-13T11:00
Quick, name two things that hit their peak in the 1980s. Yes, mullets were one. But think cycling and physiology. What about training principles? How much has changed since the days of Bernard Hina...
Listen162: Q&A on Time Trial Pacing and Position, INSCYD, and Tough Love, with Janis Musins from 2021-05-06T11:00
Janis Musins, owner of Train2Win Endurance Coaching in Latvia, joins us to discuss how to pace time trial efforts, how to optimize your TT position, interpreting INSCYD data, and the coach-athlete ...
Listen161: How to Effectively Return to the Bike After Injury, with Dr. Andy Pruitt from 2021-04-29T11:00
Returning to the bike after an injury, whether a traumatic crash or a non-traumatic ailment—something like an overuse injury—can be a lengthy process. Not only is there a physical cost, the mental ...
Listen160: Favorite Workouts of Fast Talk All-Stars, Part 2 from 2021-04-22T11:00
Whenever we speak with a guest of Fast Talk—coach, athlete, or scientist—we always ask them their favorite workout. In this episode, we share the favorite workouts of coach and athlete Jen Sharp, T...
Listen159: INSCYD and the Power of Testing Analysis, with Sebastian Weber from 2021-04-15T12:00
If you’ve been an endurance athlete for any length of time, you’ve undoubtedly performed some type of test to gauge your form, be it a 20-minute on-the-road test or a VO2max test in a physiology la...
Listen158: How to Manage Unwanted Thoughts Through Stoicism, with Dr. Simon Marshall and Lesley Patterson from 2021-04-08T11:00
Have you ever been nervous before a big race? Of course you have. Ever talked yourself into thinking you might fail? Have you ever felt that unwanted negative thoughts and emotions influenced how y...
Listen157: Q&A on Training Grit, Psychological Tricks to Beat Fatigue, and Stage Racing, with Grant Holicky from 2021-04-01T11:00
Longtime Fast Talk Labs contributor and coach, Grant Holicky, joins us for another Q&A episode of Fast Talk. With Grant's help, in this episode of Fast Talk we tackle questions on race tactics (inc...
Listen156: How to Effectively Evolve as an Athlete, with Lachlan Morton from 2021-03-25T11:00
If you consider yourself an athlete—and presumably you do since you’re visiting this site and listening to this podcast—then your definition of what that means has likely evolved through the years....
Listen155: Recent Research on Timing Effects on Performance, Interval Type, Health Benefits of Endurance, and Pacing Strategies from 2021-03-18T11:00
We often mention scientific research articles within our podcast episodes. That said, Coach Trevor Connor laments how little time he is able to spend reviewing the data, in the context of the great...
Listen154: The Art and Science of Time Trials, with Kristin Armstrong and Jim Miller from 2021-03-11T12:00
I’m not going to pretend to know much about time trials. I’ve done one. I also did an Hour Record on the track. That was fun, ahem. On the other hand, our main guests today are arguably the greate...
Listen153: Forget Marginal Gains and Focus on the Fundamentals from 2021-03-04T12:00
We receive a lot of questions about very specific topics—fasted training, supplements and recovery products, breathing techniques, and so forth. (By the way, we love them, so please keep them comin...
Listen152: How to Effectively Modify Your Training and Racing as You Age, with Rebecca Rusch from 2021-02-25T12:00
They say age is just a number. That’s exactly it: Age is nothing more than digits, and certainly shouldn’t be seen as a barrier or a dirty word. We can age successfully, but it requires changes to ...
Listen151: Q&A on Heat Acclimatization, Sweat Rates, Altitude Effects, FTP Testing, and Fasted Training, with Lindsay Golich from 2021-02-18T12:00
Coach Lindsay Golich is a sports physiologist who has worked with the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee in Colorado Springs at the Olympic Training Center for the past five years. She ...
Listen150: Are There Benefits to Carbohydrate Manipulation? With Dr. Asker Jeukendrup from 2021-02-11T12:00
It wasn't long ago that most athletes, in the grand scheme of training, neglected the importance of nutrition, prioritizing time spent on the bike. Now, nutritional periodization and other method...
Listen149: Q&A on Junior Athletes, PVCs, Supplements, and Base Rides, with Daniel Matheny from 2021-02-04T12:00
Today we first take on the complex subject of coaching junior athletes, including everything from building aerobic base in a healthy manner to dealing with overbearing parents. We tackle a very in...
Listen148: The Causes and Effects of Concussions and TBIs, with Dr. Steven Broglio and Timmy Duggan from 2021-01-28T12:00
Unfortunately, concussions and traumatic brain injuries, or TBIs, are far too common in cycling. Whether training on open roads, racing at high speeds, or facing off with rush-hour traffic on your ...
Listen147: What 2020 Taught Us, and the Exciting Places 2021 Will Take Us from 2021-01-21T12:00
We can learn a lot by looking back. And one of the best parts of being an athlete is planning ahead, setting goals, and choosing your next adventure. [For more on this, check out episode 140: How t...
Listen146: Cardiovascular Drift, with Dr. Ed Coyle from 2021-01-14T12:00
If you’ve listened to Fast Talk for a while, you’ve likely heard us mention “cardiac drift” or “decoupling” in several episodes. It's a favorite topic of Coach Connor's. The terms refer to cardiova...
Listen145: Q&A on Time-Crunched Athletes, Zone 1 Rides, and Unstructured Intervals with Hannah Finchamp from 2021-01-07T12:00
Welcome to 2021. And what better way to kick off the new year than to answer some questions from our devoted listeners. Today we take on a series of questions that deal with a dilemma many athlet...
Listen144: The Best of 2020 from 2020-12-31T12:00
Welcome to the best of 2020. What a year it’s been. In so many ways, 2020 was a challenge—sometimes big, sometimes small, but always a bit more challenging. The same goes even for this humble podc...
Listen143: The Art and Science of Yoga, with Sage Roundtree from 2020-12-24T12:00
Is yoga just fancy stretching? Nope. Today we’re going to go into the specifics of why cyclists should consider yoga, from the physical literacy it can provide, to the strength and conditioning ele...
Listen142: Nutrition Myth Busting on Macros, Carbs, Food Allergies, Cramping, and Hydration from 2020-12-17T12:00
Time to bust some myths about nutrition. Head coach Ryan Kohler and Coach Trevor Connor both have degrees in nutrition and decades of experience working with athletes on all manner of sports nutrit...
Listen141: How to create multi-year training plans, with Dr. Stephen Seiler and Sondre Skarli from 2020-12-10T12:00
What a strange and chaotic year it’s been. Despite the disruption to our lives, times like these afford us an opportunity to look farther ahead. It just may be that, from a training and racing poin...
Listen140: How to set training and performance goals from 2020-12-03T12:00
The off-season can be one of the most productive times of the year: It offers the opportunity to reflect on last season—to assess what went well and what could be improved—and then to look forward,...
Listen139: A New Coaching Model: Creating Better Athletes Through Our Virtual Performance Center from 2020-11-26T12:00
We believe modern coaching doesn’t optimally fulfill the needs of the modern athlete. That’s why we’re introducing our community, education, and coaching membership, Fast Talk Laboratories. So o...
Listen138: Q&A on Training Without Power, Optimizing Time at Your Desk, “Lunch Ride Syndrome,” and the Benefits of Fixies, with Amos Brumble from 2020-11-19T12:00
Amos Brumble is a New England legend. Is it because of his racing palmarès? His charm? His collection of guinea pigs? Or all of those things? We find out, and then we dive into some listener questi...
Listen137: An Introduction to Ultra-Cycling, Bikepacking, and Randonneuring, with Matt Roy, Nick Legan, and Jose Bermudez from 2020-11-12T12:00
Are you ready to go long? Today we want to introduce you to the fascinating world of ultra-distance cycling. While there isn’t a true definition of what “ultra” means, and some of our guests like...
Listen136: Q&A on crank length, power imbalance, injuries, and CBD, with Colby Pearce from 2020-11-05T12:00
Today we bring back a former frequent guest, Colby Pearce, who has since graduated to his own show, Cycling in Alignment. We start with a discussion on crank length, determining what you need, and ...
Listen135: The Importance of Sleep, Monitoring Devices, and Changing Your Routine with Dr. Shona Halson from 2020-10-29T11:00
Ah, sleep. I love it. Do you love it? If only I could get more of it, and get better at it, and wake up each day well rested. Somes days it works, many times it doesn’t. Sleep can be hard, but doe...
Listen133: Mastering indoor cycling, with Joe Friel, Jim Rutberg, and riders on the eSports Team Saris-The Pro’s Closet from 2020-10-15T08:00
It wasn’t long ago that riding inside was something most of us did only when the weather was bad, or the days too dark, or we were pressed for time. Flash forward to today and indoor cycling is q...
Listen132: How to set Strava PRs, with The Pro’s Closet from 2020-10-08T11:00
In today’s episode, we catch up with our friends at The Pro’s Closet, Spencer Powlison and Bruce Lin, to discuss their recent four-week Strava PR Challenge. In the lead up to their attempts, we hel...
Listen131: Balancing science and experience in your training, with Cameron Cogburn from 2020-10-01T08:00
How do you, as an athlete, combine your understanding of sport science and your training and racing experience to most effectively map out your training? That question is the basis for today’s epis...
ListenCA 19: How to Pedal a Bike, with Colby Pearce and Chris Case from 2020-09-28T11:00
In today’s episode, Colby Pearce, a Steve Hogg Certified bike fitter, sits down with Chris Case, host of Fast Talk, to dissect the minutiae of how to pedal a bike. Saddle position, ankling, dead le...
Listen130: The science of breathing, with Dr. James Hull from 2020-09-24T08:00
You’re breathing, I’m breathing. But neither of us is probably thinking about our breathing right now. Do you ever think about your breathing during your workouts or races? Do you ever wonder if yo...
Listen129: Q&A on weight loss and metabolism, MTB descending, and 5x5 interval types, with new head coach Ryan Kohler from 2020-09-17T08:00
In today’s episode, we formally introduce our new head coach, Ryan Kohler, and put him in the spotlight for a classic Q&A. (Don't worry, Trevor is not going anywhere! He’s merely stuck in isolation...
Listen128: Roundtable on coaching beginner athletes versus veteran athletes from 2020-09-10T08:00
In today’s episode, we’ve assembled a fantastic group of coaches to discuss the differences, similarities, nuances, and challenges of coaching beginner athletes versus veteran amateurs. This episo...
Listen127: Overreaching, overtraining, and burnout with Dr. Stephen Seiler from 2020-09-03T08:00
This week, our favorite physiologist Dr. Stephen Seiler is back on the program to talk about something that many of us get wrong: the distinction between overtraining, overreaching, and burnout. Of...
Listen126: Q&A on fatigue, peaking, returning from injury, and nutrition, with guest coach Julie Young from 2020-08-27T08:00
We have another fantastic Q&A episode for you today, with a diverse range of questions. Our guest coach this week is Julie Young, who has appeared before on Fast Talk—episode 91, to be exact. Jul...
Listen125: Put it in the big gear—we explore low-cadence, high-torque training with Neal Henderson from 2020-08-20T08:00
You’ve heard us talk about so-called “big gear” training on the program before. Many of you probably incorporate it into your riding, and for a variety of reasons. What’s surprising is how little...
Listen124: How to map out your season, with Toms Skujins, Kiel Reijnen, Joey Rosskopf, and Larry Warbasse from 2020-08-13T08:00
Hello and welcome to Fast Talk, your source for the science of cycling performance! I'm your host Chris Case. Today, we’re digging into the archive for some season-planning knowledge. Why now when ...
Listen123: Performance gains and adaptations from fasted training, with Dr. Brian Carson from 2020-08-06T08:00
Have you ever woken up early in the morning to go for a ride, skipped breakfast, and thought, “I wonder if that was bad for my training? Or maybe it was good?!” In today’s episode, we try to deciph...
Listen122: Mission impossible: determining your true threshold from 2020-07-30T08:00
Today, Coach Connor and I discuss something that comes up nearly every time we receive an email from one of our devoted listeners, from you. (By the way, please keep sending us questions and voice ...
Listen121: Should you build the best engine or focus on specificity, with Jim Miller from 2020-07-22T21:11
Hello and welcome to Fast Talk, your source for the science of cycling performance! I'm your host Chris Case. I’ll set the stage for today’s episode with an analogy. And apologies to those of yo...
Listen120: Q&A on FTP testing, structuring recovery weeks, and the sustainability of base training, with guest coach Steve Neal from 2020-07-16T08:00
Hello and welcome to Fast Talk, your source for the science of cycling performance! I'm your host Chris Case, and today Coach Connor and I are joined by Coach Steve Neal of The Cycling Gym, which n...
ListenBONUS: Anatomy of a Good Cycling Shoe, Cycling in Alignment 08 from 2020-07-10T08:00
Which cycling shoes should I buy? This may seem like a straightforward question. But the better thing to ask is: Which shoes are right for my feet? If you’ve been a professional cyclist with extens...
Listen119: How to use data to make better training decisions, with Tim Cusick from 2020-07-09T08:00
Today we’re taking a good long look at training metrics. We’ve released previous episodes on how to use different numbers, what many of them mean, and how they’re calculated. Today, we tie it toget...
Listen118: Q&A on sweat rates, going polarized for ’cross, VLAmax, big gear work, and recovery tools, with guest coach Grant Holicky from 2020-07-02T08:00
In today’s Q&A episode we invited coach and co-owner of Forever Endurance, Grant Holicky, to join us for a lengthy discussion on a myriad of topics. First, we converse about sweat rates. Ernest B...
ListenCA 07: Jonathan Vaughters, CEO of EF Education First Pro Cycling Team from 2020-06-30T14:16:20
Long-time friends, training partners, and competitors, Jonathan Vaughters and Colby Pearce have a deep racing history and relationship. With decades of experience in pro cycling, they have gained m...
Listen117: Cornering and Descending with Emile Abraham from 2020-06-25T06:00
Today we’ll hit the subjects of cornering and descending from many sides. Our main guest is Emile Abraham, who has racked up numerous wins because of his cornering and descending prowess, having gr...
Listen116: Q&A on the art of listening to your body, ketogenic diets, and the GLUT4 transporter, with guest coach Kristen Legan from 2020-06-18T06:00
In today’s episode, we’ve invited Rambleur Rising coach and elite gravel racer Kristen Legan to help answer your many insightful questions. To give you a broader range of coaching opinions, Kristen...
Listen115: The MTB episode starring Payson McElveen, Geoff Kabush, Joe Lawwill, and Steve Neal from 2020-06-11T06:00
We're all about off-road today! Our all-star MTB lineup includes: - Payson McElveen, 2x cross-country marathon Ntl. champ&host of The Adventure Stache podcast - Geoff Kabush, 3x Olympian, 9x World ...
Listen114: Q&A on LSD Rides, Topical Bicarbonates, Group Rides, and Sugar from 2020-06-04T06:00
On today’s Q&A episode, we cover a broad spectrum of topics including sugar consumption and its health effects, safe rates to increase volume, the pros and cons of group rides, the efficacy of topi...
Listen113: The duration and intensity of rest periods is as critical as your intervals, with Sebastian Weber from 2020-05-28T06:00
We’ll start today’s show with a simple question, one that few athletes ask themselves: why do we have rest periods at all? Then Trevor and I will discuss the metabolic milieu that is “perturbed” du...
Listen3: Allen Lim - Cultivating the Environment of Coaching from 2020-05-27T20:05
Colby Pearce interviewing Dr. Allen Lim, founder of Skratch Labs, is today’s esteemed philosopher. REFERENCES: LUX camp is June 15th to July 15th. Dr. Allen Lim https://www.doctorallenlim.com Skrat...
Listen112: Q&A on HIT training, gut health, recovery, and CTL from 2020-05-21T06:00
Today, we’ll address several questions that we received from listeners via email, voicemail, and Twitter. The first question Coach Connor addresses is about interval work and HIIT exercises, which ...
ListenCA 01: Introduction to Cycling in Alignment with Colby Pearce from 2020-05-19T06:00
I’m your host, Colby Pearce. My goal is to help people express their highest potential by illuminating a path that enables alignment with truth. Ultimately, through this podcast, I aspire to provid...
Listen111: Busting myths about riding in the heat and cold, with Dr. Stephen Cheung from 2020-05-14T06:00
We’re joined by Dr. Stephen Cheung, a professor in the kinesiology department of Brock University in St. Catharines, Ontario. He is one of the world’s preeminent environmental physiologists, and st...
ListenIntroducing Cycling in Alignment with Colby Pearce from 2020-05-12T06:00
Hey Fast Talk listeners. We're proud to introduce the latest addition to Fast Labs. The Cycling in Alignment podcast is the brainchild of Colby Pearce, U.S. Olympic track cyclist and Hour Record ho...
Listen110: Off-the-bike workouts for optimal physical and mental performance from 2020-05-07T06:00
Getting off our bikes is the last thing most cyclists want to do. That, however, is just what we’re recommending in today’s episode of Fast Talk. We'll hear from former pro and longtime endurance c...
Listen109: The metabolic cost of your rides—is it the same for everyone? from 2020-04-30T06:00
Today we have a classic, complex, Coach Connor special. We ask a question not many other physiologists are asking: Is an amateur’s zone 2 ride (in a five-zone model) as physiologically taxing as a ...
Listen108: Q and A on TSS, training at altitude; plus exercise physiology resources from 2020-04-23T06:00
We have received so many great questions about TSS, or Training Stress Score, that we wanted to look at this popular metric from several angles. Most of today’s episode is devoted to those question...
Listen107: How to race aggressively, with national road champion Ruth Winder from 2020-04-16T06:00
Today, we take a step away from the science, and talk tactics. When we’ll race again no one really knows. So we thought it would a great time to help our listeners at least daydream about racing wi...
Listen106: Dr. Stephen Seiler on adjusting your training in a pandemic from 2020-04-07T14:13
As promised, today in episode 106, we bring in Dr. Stephen Seiler, one of the world’s preeminent exercise physiologists, to discuss how to adjust your training now that the world is in a chronic st...
Listen105: Psychological tools to deal with disappointment, defeat, and uncertainty—lessons for cyclists (or anyone living through a pandemic), with Julie Emmerman from 2020-03-31T14:23
In today's episode, we address how to effectively and constructively deal with these emotions: the lessons will, of course, help both with dealing with the uncertainty of a pandemic and with addres...
Listen104: Bonus Q and A on respiratory exchange, using commutes effectively, and life-training balance from 2020-03-26T16:42
Today, in episode 104, we wanted to give you something you’ve come to love about Fast Talk: a discussion on the science of training, and specifically answering your training questions. We take on 3...
Listen103: Fast Talk's origins and future - a special episode as we say goodbye to VeloNews from 2020-03-24T06:00
These are special times, challenging times, and this is a special edition of Fast Talk. This is the last episode of Fast Talk to be co-released on the VeloNews channel. As a way to say goodbye to o...
Listen102: Performance Psychology with Julie Emmerman, Payson McElveen, and Grant Holicky from 2020-03-17T06:00
As the world is fixated on the spread of COVID-19, many of us are feeling various amounts of stress&anxiety. These are challenging times. By coincidence, we recorded&planned to release today an epi...
Listen101: Zones are a range, not a specific number, with an all-star cast of guests from 2020-03-10T06:00
Training Zones are Ranges for a reason. Today we hear from a vast array of former guests, including: - Colby Pearce, time trialist, coach&bike fitting expert - Dr. Stephen Seiler, one of the world...
Listen100: Dr. Stephen Seiler: The Past, Present, and Future of Polarized Training from 2020-03-03T07:00
Today in episode 100, we get nearly two hours of Dr. Seiler. Our conversation is very natural, casual even, but there are so many moments of enlightenment and clarity. We learn about the inception ...
Listen99: Training Triathlon as One Sport with Three Disciplines, with Melanie McQuaid and Whitney Garcia from 2020-02-25T07:00
Swim, bike, run. For our guests today putting these disciplines together represents a good day's work. Our primary guest is Melanie McQuaid, the first person to win the XTERRA world championship 3 ...
ListenOC 03: #BestRetirementEver with Meredith Miller, plus 'cross and badass women from 2020-02-19T07:00
Today, my guest is Meredith Miller. She may say she's "retired" from racing, but she absolutely has not retired from the sport. She is now the Rapha Cycling Club Chapter Coordinator in Boulder. She...
Listen98: Bonus Q and A on Interval Intensity, Dirty Kanza Training, and Muscle Fiber Recruitment from 2020-02-18T07:00
First, Peter B., thanks for asking us about intervals. We hope our dissection of the dreaded 4x8s is helpful! Enjoy Trevor’s graphs&analysis. Next, David S. brought up a really good point: How do y...
Listen02 Chris Case: The Brain, The Body and the Love of Cycling from 2020-02-12T07:00
Chris Case is the former managing editor of VeloNews&co-author of “The Haywire Heart." He spent a good part of his early career as a neuroscientist, from dissecting monkey brains to working with pa...
Listen97: Are You Stretching Too Much? Analysis with Menachem Brodie and Payson McElveen from 2020-02-11T07:00
Today our guest is Menachem Brodie. Menachem is the owner of Human Vortex Training &has over a decade of strength training and coaching experience. As you’ll hear in this episode, Menachem has grac...
Listen96: Bonus Analysis on Pedaling Dynamics with Colby Pearce from 2020-02-04T07:00
Today we're pulling from the Fast Labs vault to hear from one of our favorite guests, Colby Pearce. When we asked him about pedal stroke technique, Colby gave us this monologue of gold. We are very...
Listen95: Lennard Zinn and the Art of Tire Pressure from 2020-01-28T07:00
Today, with the help of two very talented technical gurus, Lennard Zinn and Nick Legan, we explain the complexities of the tire, tire pressure, and how those things lead to changes in comfort, grip...
Listen94: Bonus Q and A on Fasted Training, Goal Setting, and the Polarized Approach from 2020-01-21T07:00
Guess which one of our all-knowing hosts is an expert on Baby Yoda, and who hadn’t even heard of him until this recording? Or, more importantly, what is a palindrome? Welcome to our 2nd bonus episo...
Listen93: Balancing sport and life, with Brent Bookwalter from 2020-01-16T07:00
Today, we’re joined by Brent Bookwalter of the Mitchelton-Scott WorldTour team, a man of both wisdom and humility, for a full conversation on balancing life and sport. We don’t all deal with the is...
Listen92: Bonus Q and A on intensity vs. volume, overtraining, lab testing, and more from 2020-01-09T07:00
Welcome to this bonus episode of Fast Talk. These new episodes, which we’ll publish every other week, will run shorter than our regular episodes, and they’ll be geared toward answering your questio...
Listen91: Beyond the Data: Training is not only About Numbers from 2020-01-03T07:00
In this episode, we're here to remind you that successful training is not determined by data and statics 100% of the time. Our main guest is former professional cyclist turned coach Julie Young, wh...
Listen90: Innovative approaches to base training, with The Cycling Gym from 2019-12-20T07:00
Base training has traditionally been all about long, slow rides, but we've found some innovative approaches to improving training this time of year. Today, we’re discussing how best to deal with Ba...
Listen89: The Value of Physiological Testing with the University of Colorado Sports Medicine and Performance Center from 2019-12-06T22:00
This week’s show is about physiological testing. The result of a good test is a robust set of data specific to you, which can help you understand things like your true training zones&how well you c...
Listen88: Season Planning for the Limited Racer, with Colby Pearce&Grant Holicky from 2019-11-22T17:00
When we're racing only three or four times a year, do we still need to periodize our season? Can we be on form all year round? Today we'll dive into planning a season with limited racing, asking th...
Listen87: Preventing injuries through strength and conditioning with Jess Elliott from 2019-11-11T17:00
In this episode of Fast Talk, we’re going to discuss four of the most common overuse and imbalance injuries in cyclists and how to address them with off-the-bike work and proper bike fit. Patellar ...
Listen86: Listener Questions On Inflammation, Cardiac Drift, and Much More from 2019-10-25T16:00
We’ve received so many intriguing questions from our listeners, it was time to devote an entire episode to answering them. We appreciate the feedback, and generate many future podcast topics from y...
Listen85: Learning to trust the science with Dr. Jim Peterman from 2019-10-11T16:00
In this episode of Fast Talk, we're going to cover: • Basic structure of a research study • Concepts needed to understand scientific research • Understanding scientific methods • Preferences among ...
Listen84: Pro training tips with George Bennett from 2019-09-27T16:00
We sit down with George Bennett of the Jumbo-Visma WorldTour team to get a better understanding of how pros at the highest level of the sport train, and what amateurs can learn from those methods. ...
Listen83: Training the Gut with Asker Jeukendrup from 2019-09-13T16:00
Today on Fast talk we’re diving into nutritional training: 1. Scientific approach to figuring out carb needs 2. G.I. distress 3. Race nutrition 4. Why most people can only absorb 60g of carbs/hour ...
Listen82: The importance of adaptations, with George Bennett from 2019-08-31T16:00
There’s a critical distinction between adaptation and recovery. In fact, sometimes what helps one, hurts the other. Recovery is about doing what you can so the legs are ready for your next workout....
Listen81: The Cyclocross episode with Coach Holicky, Katie Compton, Ellen Noble, and Maxx Chance from 2019-08-16T16:00
It’s been a long time coming, but Fast Talk is finally taking on cyclocross! Today on the pod: - Why cyclocross is so unique to the cycling world - What assets you need to be a good ‘cross rider - ...
Listen80: Properly executing intervals is hard; keep your training plan simple from 2019-08-02T16:00
Complex training prescriptions are becoming increasingly popular. In this episode, we ask the question: Does it really need to be that complex? What do you gain from this complexity? With the help ...
Listen79: Playing the Energy Game with Colby Pearce from 2019-07-19T16:00
In this episode, we discuss how to use energy most effectively. We’ll define energy and discuss the pros and cons of trying to measure it. We’ll dive into all the ways you can unnecessarily waste e...
Listen78: The demands of the Tour de France with Ciaran O'Grady from 2019-07-12T16:00
For three weeks every July we watch the best bike racers in the world tear themselves apart for four-plus hours per day at the Tour de France. Could we ever do something like that? What exactly doe...
Listen77: Avoiding the big mistakes even pros make, with Dr. Andy Pruitt and Frankie Andreu from 2019-06-28T16:00
We all make mistakes. No one trains and races perfectly, which can be frustrating when so often those mistakes are made out of honest effort and a desire to perform at our best. In episode 77, we’r...
Listen76: When to push and when to pull the plug, with Kate Courtney and Whoop from 2019-06-14T16:00
Effective training is a balance between stressing our systems and recovery. While training does damage, it’s in recovery that we repair and get stronger. We dive into the recovery side of the train...
Listen75: High intensity training, with Dr. Stephen Seiler from 2019-05-31T16:00
In episode 75, we’re joined by Dr. Stephen Seiler, one of the top exercise physiologists working today. Dr. Seiler has talked with us previously about the polarized, or 80/20, model of endurance tr...
Listen74: Why women are not small men, with Dr. Stacy Sims from 2019-05-17T16:00
In episode 74, we speak with Dr. Stacy Sims about the numerous and complex differences between male and female physiology, and the significant impact that has on women's training and performance. L...
Listen73: How to balance your VLamax, with Sebastian Weber from 2019-05-03T16:00
In episode 73, we talk about the important balance between our aerobic and glycolytic energy systems and why they may require a little give and take. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...
Listen72: Do we need training zones? With Dr. Andy Coggan, Dr. Stephen McGregor, and Hunter Allen from 2019-04-22T16:00
In episode 72, we discuss one of the most ubiquitous terms in cycling: training zones. We dive into their strengths and weaknesses, standards, and limitations. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Listen71: How to train for and race gran fondo-style events, with Colby Pearce from 2019-04-05T16:00
In episode 71, we discuss the training, experience, and challenge of one-day and multi-day gran fondos — everything you need to know to crush or simply complete your next event. Learn more about yo...
Listen70: Finding your strengths through failure, with Armando Mastracci from 2019-03-22T16:00
The days when training software simply showed a power&heart rate curve are a distant memory. Whether you use TrainingPeaks, Golden Cheetah, or some other software, you’ll know that nowadays basic d...
Listen69: Functional training with Menachem Brodie from 2019-03-08T17:00
What is functional training? And why this buzz phrase is often misunderstood, and why cycling seems to be way behind the curve. We get into the two main benefits of functional work: improving your ...
Listen68: The big picture — the three types of rides you should do from 2019-02-22T17:00
In this episode we're playing the humble role of science communicators, to make sure we get the message right. We’ve also sifted through hours of Fast Talk recordings with our many distinguished gu...
Listen67: What is VLamax? With Sebastian Weber from 2019-02-08T17:00
Today we take a close look at physiological testing and we address ways it can have a significant impact on how you train, and how quickly you progress. First, we define FTP, and why it may not be ...
Listen66: Demystifying periodization with Joe Friel from 2019-01-26T17:00
Periodization is, in many ways, the pinnacle of advanced training. Taking the steps to periodize graduates you to a professional approach, one with purpose, long-term vision&organized planning Toda...
Listen65: Debunking supplements — what works, and what doesn’t? from 2019-01-11T17:00
In episode 65, we discuss our concerns with supplements, then focus on some foods with proven benefits. Our primary guest is Ryan Kohler, manager of the University of Colorado Sports Medicine&Perfo...
Listen64: Inside the Canadian team’s world championship success, with Mike Woods and Rob Britton from 2018-12-28T17:00
In episode 64, bronze medalist Mike Woods and his teammate Rob Britton share their successes at the Innsbruck world championships. We also got to catch up with Mike's coach Paulo Saldahna. Despite ...
Listen63: Training gift ideas with Colby Pearce and Frank Overton from 2018-12-14T17:00
It’s the holidays and if you’re like us, right about now, you’re scrambling for gift ideas. Today we’ll talk about: - The Whoop recovery strap. - The Normatec recovery system. - Power meters. - The...
Listen62: Listener questions on short rides, diet, vegetable oils, and training sub-threshold from 2018-12-07T17:00
We’ve been getting a ton of questions from listeners, and many of them have had similar themes. (We appreciate the feedback, look forward to your questions, and generate many future podcast topics ...
Listen61: Do you need a coach? With Neal Henderson and Rebecca Rusch from 2018-11-30T17:00
Do you need a coach? Today we’ll talk about the relationship athletes have with their coaches — what makes a good relationship and what makes a bad one. After we’ve defined that relationship, we’ll...
Listen60: Rethinking the science of trainers from 2018-11-17T17:00
In episode 60 we’re discussing trainers… we’ll tell you why you shouldn’t completely ignore them. For those who love them, we’re going to tell you why riding outside every once in a while is a real...
Listen59: Preventing cycling’s most common injuries, with Dr. Andy Pruitt from 2018-11-01T16:00
In this day and age, most of the common overuse injuries in cycling can be addressed and prevented. It just requires the proper precautions — such as getting regular bike fits and doing off-the-bik...
Listen58: Inside Colby Pearce’s world record hour attempt from 2018-10-26T16:00
In episode 58, we talked with Colby Pearce about what it takes to make an attempt at the hour record on the track. Not long after, Pearce set the master’s 45-49 world record with a scorching 50.245...
Listen57: Trail, rake, and flop — bike design with Lennard Zinn from 2018-10-12T16:00
Today legend of the cycling industry, Lennard Zinn, shares a variety of factors in frame design including: - The concepts of fork rake, head-tube angle&trail - How these factors act together to mak...
Listen56: The Hour with Colby Pearce from 2018-10-01T16:00
THE HOUR. Those two words represent many things to many people. Some believe it to be the ultimate test of man and machine: out there on the track, with nowhere to hide, an athlete must come to ter...
Listen55: How to win with mind power from 2018-09-14T16:00
Mindset in cycling is an important and frequently neglected side of our training and racing. In reality, mindset is often all that separates the best from second best and can be the difference betw...
Listen54: Applying the polarized training model, with Dr. Seiler from 2018-08-30T16:00
Our featured guest is, of course, Dr. Stephen Seiler, a professor of sports science in Norway, where he has lived for over 20 years. He sits on the executive board of the well-respected European Un...
Listen53: From collegiate racing to the WorldTour in three years, with Sepp Kuss from 2018-08-17T16:00
LAST FALL TREVOR AND I CONDUCTED a not-so-controlled study on climbing, and we had the help of a young, talented Colorado rider. His name? Sepp Kuss. At the time of our little experiment, Kuss was ...
Listen52: Enhancing Your Recovery With Normatec from 2018-08-10T16:00
Today, we’re sitting down with two guests from our sponsor NormaTec to discuss recovery in depth. NormaTec is a medical devices company that also crafts inflatable compression wear for athletes. Ar...
Listen51: Polarizing your training, with Dr. Stephen Seiler from 2018-07-27T16:00
Our featured guest is Dr. Stephen Seiler, a professor of sports science in Norway, where he has lived for 22 years. But no, that’s not a Norwegian accent. He received his Ph.D. from the University ...
Listen50: Unpacking the gospel of Joe Friel’s new ‘Training Bible’ from 2018-07-23T16:00
This spring Joe Friel released his 5th edition of the "Cyclist's Training Bible." Trevor and I had a chance to talk with Joe about the newest edition. We came to the interview with a list of questi...
Listen49: Training, fueling, and suffering at Dirty Kanza 200 from 2018-07-16T16:00
In this episode, we’ll first touch upon the history of Dirty Kanza. Editor in chief Fred Dreier and Chris had a conversation in a recent VeloNews podcast about the phenomenon that is DK — why it’s ...
Listen48: Race tactics and training with Rally’s Huffman and McCarty, part 2 from 2018-06-28T16:00
IN EPISODE 48 WE DELVE into the second part of our series on strategy and training for particular races. This episode is all about hilly road races and winning the GC at a stage race. We caught up ...
Listen47: The art and science of peaking, with Colby Pearce from 2018-06-14T16:00
Our guest today knows all about peaking — both as a coach and as an athlete. He’s an hour record holder, an Olympian, a thinker, a tinkerer, and someone with massive amounts of experience as an ath...
Listen46: Inside ketogenic and high-fat diets from 2018-05-31T16:00
We’ll discuss the difference between a ketogenic diet and a high-fat/low-carbohydrate diet, and why the latter may be the more important one to discuss. Our primary guest is a researcher who has be...
Listen45: The art of recovery — how to balance training and rest with metrics from 2018-05-16T16:00
IT’S OFTEN OVERLOOKED. Sometimes forgotten. But it never should be. Recovery is just as important to strong performances as your daily workouts and weekly riding volume. Our guests today are Dr. Pa...
Listen44: The data revolution — how A.I. and machine learning will make you faster from 2018-05-02T16:00
This episode is all about data. Our guest is the lead engineer for TrainingPeaks and their coach-focused software package WKO4, Tim Cusick. We’ll also hear from Armando Mastracci, developer of Xert...
Listen43: Race tactics and training with Rally’s Huffman and McCarty, part 1 from 2018-04-13T16:00
In this episode we take a deep dive into race strategy and tactics, and the necessary skills and training you need to excel at bike racing. In this two-part series, we’ll first touch upon flat race...
Listen42: The power training revolution, with Hunter Allen from 2018-03-23T16:00
This episode is all about power. We are lucky to have Hunter Allen, a veteran coach who, as our main guest; along with Dr. Andrew Coggan, wrote the original book on training with power in 2006: “Tr...
Listen41: We answer your questions about training from 2018-03-22T16:00
This is our first edition of “Ask Fast Talk.” Because we receive so many compelling questions from Fast Talk listeners, we will begin devoting frequent episodes to answering your questions. On toda...
Listen40: Too much of a good thing? Heart arrhythmias in endurance athletes from 2018-03-16T16:00
In this episode we take a deep dive into a subject that Case knows well, and that our guest, Lennard Zinn, has lived for the last five years: Heart arrhythmias in endurance athletes. Chris and Lenn...
Listen39: The Secrets to Staying Strong as You Age with Ned Overend from 2018-03-01T17:00
In this episode, we’ll look at the changes that have taken place in cycling legend Ned Overend, and how he’s been able to remain strong through the years, with an emphasis on recovery and staying h...
Listen38: Why fatigue may be all in your mind from 2018-02-19T17:00
In this episode of Fast Talk, we’ll attempt to unlock the mysteries of fatigue. Is it just lactic acid pooling in your legs, as your high school coach probably told you? The answer is actually a lo...
Listen37: Nutrition — sugar, wheat, paleo, and performance from 2018-02-01T12:00
We’re taking on the always-controversial subject of nutrition. Why is it so controversial? First, it’s very personal: Many people, trained or untrained, have strong opinions on the subject, and a l...
Listen36: Inside the new science of climbing from 2018-01-19T17:00
To start, we turned ourselves into mad scientists and convinced WorldTour pro Sepp Kuss (LottoNL-Jumbo) to join us. We rode several time trials up a few Boulder climbs in our quest for answers. Joi...
Listen35: How to Train In the Cold from 2018-01-05T17:00
This podcast covers the physiological effects of training in the cold, from muscle damage to the increased caloric demands. We also discuss tips and tricks to set up your bike, stay warm, and even ...
Listen34: Become a climber (even if you live in a flat place) from 2017-12-21T17:00
In this episode of Fast Talk, we tackle the always-popular topic of climbing. A listener in Iowa asked if he could become a better climber. We’re joined by a collection of talented riders and coach...
Listen33: Is FTP dead? from 2017-12-20T17:00
Recently, a big debate kicked up on the Internet. Some cycling experts stated that Functional Threshold Power (FTP) was dead. Many of the big names in training got involved in the debate of the val...
Listen32: A cyclist’s guide to the weight room from 2017-10-30T16:00
We cyclists can get a little lost in the weight room. We are joined by Jess Elliott, who is the sports performance coach and biomechanist at the University of Colorado Sports Medicine and Performan...
Listen31: How to avoid illness (or just cope with it) from 2017-10-24T11:00
Illness can be a big setback for cyclists at all levels. What causes us to get sick, and how do we avoid it? If we train too hard, will it ruin our immune system, or can we power through it and rid...
Listen31: How to avoid illness (or just cope with it) from 2017-10-24T11:00
Illness can be a big setback for cyclists at all levels. What causes us to get sick, and how do we avoid it? If we train too hard, will it ruin our immune system, or can we power through it and rid...
Listen31: How to avoid illness (or just cope with it) from 2017-10-24T11:00
Illness can be a big setback for cyclists at all levels. What causes us to get sick, and how do we avoid it? If we train too hard, will it ruin our immune system, or can we power through it and rid...
Listen30: Myth Busters: Why we can’t talk about lactic acid from 2017-10-17T16:00
Coach Trevor Connor and Caley Fretz examine the chemistry that occurs in our muscles while riding and racing. They talk to Dr. Iñigo San Millán, who is the director of Colorado University’s exercis...
Listen29: The future of bikes with Dan Cavallari and Kristen Legan from 2017-10-10T16:00
The VeloNews Fast Talk podcast is your source for the best advice and most interesting insight on what it takes to become a better cyclist. Listen in as VeloNews columnist Trevor Connor and editor ...
Listen28: Why we need an off-season with Dr. Andy Pruitt from 2017-09-27T16:00
The VeloNews Fast Talk podcast is your source for the best advice and most interesting insight on what it takes to become a better cyclist. Taking time off can feel strange, but it’s absolutely nec...
Listen27: Who can you trust for training advice? from 2017-09-07T16:00
Who should you trust? How can you verify? There’s a lot of training advice out there, often contradictory, so what’s the best way for an athlete figure out what to do? We are joined by pro cyclist ...
Listen26: Cramping myths debunked from 2017-08-25T16:00
For decades (almost a century, in fact), we’ve been told that cramping is caused by electrolyte imbalance or bad hydration. But new science suggests that this probably isn’t why you cramp during ex...
Listen25: A deep dive on tires and pressure from 2017-08-16T16:00
The difference between a fast tire and a slow tire can be ten or more watts. So how should you optimize your tire selection and tire pressure? The science behind fast tires has evolved rapidly in r...
Listen24: Surviving a long season like a pro from 2017-07-25T16:00
Is it possible to stay fit and fast all year round? We talk to former pro and team director Mike Creed about the toll that cycling takes on a body. He also discusses the mentality required to endur...
Listen23: How periodization works… for your nutrition from 2017-07-13T16:00
Forget what you thought you knew about sports nutrition. We speak with Dr. John Hawley, one of the top experts in the world about the cutting edge trends in sports nutrition. Hawley also debunks my...
Listen22: Understanding Tour de France strategy from 2017-06-29T16:00
Have you ever turned on a Tour de France stage and found yourself wondering what the heck is going on? Why are these riders off the front? Shouldn’t that team be chasing? In this special Fast Talk ...
Listen21: Managing Heat with the Illustrious Mr Pickels from 2017-06-07T16:00
Is the heat of summer getting you down? Fast Talk is here to help. Coach Trevor Connor and Caley Fretz are joined once again by Rob Pickels, a physiologist who is currently studying ways to make cl...
Listen20: Get better at sprinting from 2017-06-01T16:00
You need to sprint faster. Everyone does, except maybe Marcel Kittel and Mark Cavendish. Though sprinting ability is largely a function of genetics, there are still tons of ways to get more out of ...
Listen19: Training as a numbers game from 2017-05-20T16:00
What numbers do you use to describe your rides? Some cyclists keep it simple with mileage and time. Others delve into TSS, FTP, or kJ to quantify a day of training. We talk to Dirk Friel of Trainin...
Listen18: Top tips for pre-race prep from 2017-05-04T16:00
Your body is ready to race, but is your bike ready? We are joined by VeloNews’s tech team of Dan Cavallari and Kristen Legan to dig into the tech side of proper race preparation. What should you do...
Listen17: The Art of the Breakaway with Toms Skujins from 2017-04-17T16:00
The breakaway. It is perhaps the noblest form of victory, and the most difficult. Joining and then winning from breakaways is as much art as science, as much tactical awareness as strength. In this...
Listen16: Forget what you thought you knew about warm-ups from 2017-04-06T16:00
Everyone has a warm-up routine, which is sometimes simple, and sometimes very complex. But what are we actually achieving with a pre-race routine? Is it helping us or actually hurting our potential...
Listen15: Should you eat gummy bears like Sagan? from 2017-03-23T16:00
Should you eat gummy bears like Peter Sagan? Maybe. In this episode, we are joined by Dan Cavallari and Stacy Sims, founder of Osmo who now works with Nuun, to discuss the difference between food a...
Listen14: Which is better, polarization or sweet spot? from 2017-03-07T17:00
Which is better, sweet spot training or polarized training? To find out, we invited in proponents of each type of training — FasCat’s Frank Overton on the sweet spot side, and Boulder Center for Sp...
Listen13: How to pick a power meter from 2017-02-14T17:00
There is no training tool more powerful than a power meter, when it’s used properly. But which one you should buy? What part of your bike should it be on? Is a one-sided power meter good enough? We...
Listen12: Use tactics to your advantage from 2017-02-09T17:00
Let’s say you’re on an amateur team. A bunch of Cat. 3s with varying strengths and weaknesses. How do you use each rider effectively? How should a sprinter approach each race? Or a climber? Or a bi...
Listen11: Busting the No Pain No Gain Myth from 2017-01-27T17:00
Today’s episode is all about busting two commonly held and closely related training myths. First, should you always do precisely what’s written on your training plan, even if your body is tired? An...
Listen10: Hit race weight the right way from 2017-01-13T17:00
What is the healthy way to get to race weight? We are joined by Dr. Philip Goglia, a nutritionist to the stars (and Phil Gaimon) to discuss safe and effective ways to drop weight, how to best fuel ...
Listen9: Cycling Roundtable with Andy Pruitt and Rob Pickels from 2016-12-16T17:00
Are top pro teams training differently from the rest of us? Can you replace lab testing with a power meter and field testing? What should you look for in a coach? We are joined by Andy Pruitt, an i...
Listen8: Stop your legs from fighting (themselves) from 2016-12-08T17:00
Want some free watts? Your legs are fighting themselves, and we want them to stop. Episode 8 is all about neuromuscular training, decreasing what is called coactivation, which is when your muscles ...
Listen7: Cold, bare legs make you dumb, not tough from 2016-12-01T17:00
Why do you need to cover your legs when it’s cold? It’s not about comfort, it’s about getting the most out of your training. We dig into the physiology behind pedaling in cold weather and offer up ...
Listen6: Like it or not, you should be lifting from 2016-11-17T17:00
Is it enough to just ride your bike for training? In this episode of Fast Talk, we explain why serious cyclists should be spending time in the gym, incorporating weight lifting into their weekly pr...
Listen5: How much speed can $2,000 buy? from 2016-11-04T16:00
Can you buy speed? Yes, if you spend wisely. Fretz and Connor are joined by tech experts Dan Cavallari and Kristen Legan, and they try to answer a simple hypothetical: If you have $2,000 to spend a...
Listen4: The myth of the useless HR monitor from 2016-10-21T16:00
You thought you could ditch that heart rate strap since you bought a power meter? Think again. In episode 4, coach Trevor Connor and editor Caley Fretz are joined by one of the world’s leading cycl...
Listen3: How to structure your training plan from 2016-10-07T16:00
Episode 3 is all about execution of solid training program with limited time. The theme remains the same as episode 2, but the discussion moves from theory to practice. Precisely how should you str...
Listen2: High vs. low intensity from 2016-09-23T16:00
The VeloNews Fast Talk podcast is your source for the best advice and most interesting insight on what it takes to become a better cyclist. Listen in as VeloNews columnist Trevor Connor and editor ...
Listen1: Why you aren’t a pro from 2016-09-09T16:00
The VeloNews Fast Talk podcast is your source for the best advice and most interesting insight on what it takes to become a better cyclist. Listen in as VeloNews columnist Trevor Connor and editor ...
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