Do Time-Crunched Cyclists Need a Mid-Season Break or Mid-Season Volume?

OVERVIEWLots of endurance athletes take a mid-season break following a big goal event or a substantial training block. Some Time-Crunched Cyclists don't need a mid-season break because they don't accumulate enough training stress to benefit from a prolonged period of reduced workload. Rather, some Time-Crunched Cyclists benefit from an increase in training volume during the middle of the season! Coach Adam Pulford explains how to tell the difference between needing a break and benefitting from adding volume to your mid-season training.TOPICS COVEREDBenefits of a mid-season breakWhat does a mid-season break look like?Who benefits from a mid-season break?Which athletes shouldn't take a mid-season break?ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWGetting sick sucks, any time of year. When athletes are in the middle of the season, like they are now, they get anxious about losing fitness and they get impatient about returning to training. In Episode 255 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", Coach Adam Pulford details the practical steps he uses to guide athletes back to training following common illnesses like cold and flu. Note: Adam is not a physician and this is not medical advice. His guidance is based on standard cold/flu treatment recommendations and practical experience working with athletes as they return to training.TOPICS COVEREDIdentifying the type of illnessUsing "The Neck Rule" to determine next stepsTraining recommendations if symptoms are above the neckTraining recommendations if symptoms are below the neckWhen to reintroduce intensityWill you lose fitness?What does a "sick week training schedule" look like?How to know you're ready to resume normal trainingLINKS/RESOURCESSeasonal Flu and Colds - Child Care Aware® of AmericaCommon Cold (Rhinovirus): Symptoms, Cold vs. Flu, TreatmentThe Stages of the Flu: Timeline and Recovery - GoodRx ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWHeat acclimation is a big topic this summer, especially because heat training has been shown to also improve oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood - similar to altitude training! But, heat training can be tricky, especially for Time-Crunched Cyclists. What if you can't train in the hottest part of the day because of work? What if you spend your workday in a cold, air conditioned office building? Should you sit passively in a sauna or hot bath, or exercise with extra layers and no fans? For how long, at what temperatures, etc.? Coach Adam Pulford provides actionable, pragmatic heat training guidance for amateur and everyday cyclists so you can perform better in the heat and reduce your risks for heat illness.TOPICS COVEREDWhy should you get heat adaptedHow long does heat adaptation take?Native heat vs. Added HeatTraining Schedule for Native Heat TrainingAir conditioning and "global heat stress"Training Schedule for Added Heat TrainingHow do you know you’re heat adapted?LINKS/RESOURCESHeat Adaptation for Females: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Physiological Adaptations and Exercise Performance in the Heat - PMCGoing one step further with altitude training or heat training Heat training 101: A comprehensive guide for athletesHow much do you sweat? - Asker’s Sweat Rate CalculatorHeat training guide for cyclists | EF Pro Cycling https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6422510/ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWSprinting is something a Time-Crunched Cyclist can be very good at, because it doesn't take a lot of training time to develop a strong anaerobic kick. Yes, you still need an aerobic engine to reach the finale with enough energy left to sprint, but a strong sprint can be a Time-Crunched Cyclist's secret weapon! DJ Brew wins Masters and Pro/1/2 criteriums in the Washington DC area with a strong kick and smart sprinting tactics and skills. In Episode 253 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", he and his coach, Adam Pulford talk about key workouts, strength training, sprint practices, and even the differences between 10-, 20-, and 30-second sprint efforts.TOPICS COVEREDThe basics of how to sprint on a bicycleThe best cadence for sprintingCan you train for sprints on an indoor trainer?Neuromuscular drills for high cadence sprintingHow 10-, 20-, and 30-second sprints differ physiologicallyKey Sprint WorkoutsStrength training for powerful sprintsASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKS/RESOURCESAnalysis of standing vertical jumps using a force platformAnaerobic Power Assessment in Athletes: Are Cycling and Vertical Jump Tests Interchangeable? - PMC DJ Personal and Music: SoundCloudBike Doctor Race Team and Bike Fit:GUESTDJ Brew races Masters and Pro/1 on the Bike Doctor Team and has been a regular on the local group ride and race scene in Washington D.C. and surrounding areas. A true time-crunched cyclist, he is a father, husband, and works long hours as a Maryland-National Capital Park Police officer. More than 10 years ago he started racing as a Category 5, progressing to Category 3 within a year and Category 1 the following year. Competing primarily in criteriums and supplementing his training with fast, competitive group rides, DJ’s developed a reputation for having an explosive sprint.HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWIf you or your child is interested in racing bikes (road, mountain, cyclocross, track) as an under-18 competitor, this is the podcast for you! CTS Coach Adam Pulford is one of the top coaches to Junior and U23 Cyclists in the United States. Much of this work is through the DC Devo Cycling Team in Washington, D.C. In Episode 252 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", Adam is joined by Chris Hardee, Justin Mauch, and Ryan McKinney of DCDevo to answer listener questions on how the development pathway works in cycling, how to get started, and what to look for in a development program.TOPICS COVEREDAge-specific aspects of training junior cyclistsHow many hours should junior cyclists train?How do you find a good junior program?What to look for in a junior development programCyclocross and High School Mountain Bike as entry pointShould your kid be riding/racing with grown men/women?ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKS/RESOURCES// General Recommendations by Age (hours per year):- Under 12 (U12):   Volume: ~100-150 hours/year   Weekly Average: ~2-4 hours/week- Ages 13-14 (U14):   Volume: ~150-250 hours/year   Weekly Average: ~4-6 hours/week- Ages 15-16 (U16):   Volume: ~250-400 hours/year   Weekly Average: ~6-10 hours/week- Ages 17-18 (U18/Juniors):  Volume: ~400-600 hours/year (competitive juniors)  Weekly Average: ~10-12 hours/week  Elite or highly competitive juniors could range up to ~600-800 hours/yearTraining for Junior Cyclists: How LUX Cycling Trains Juniors to Join World Tour Teams - CTSCase study: A Finnish junior’s eight-year road to cycling’s World TourBuilding An Annual Training Plan For CyclingTraining Periodization, Intensity Distribution, and Volume in Trained Cyclists: A Systematic ReviewGUESTSChris Hardee, Justin Mauch, and Ryan McKinney of DCDevoHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWIs there a real benefit to a recovery ride or would you be better off just taking the day off completely? Both recovery rides and complete rest are beneficial, but the choice between the two depends on how fatigued you are, your mood, and what else you have going on in your life. Sports science says they accomplish the same thing and are essentially interchangeable. But there are absolutely times when Coach Adam Pulford recommends active recovery (easy ride, walking, yoga, etc.) and other times when he advocates for complete rest. Learn to make the right choice when it really matters in Episode 251 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast".TOPICS COVEREDActive vs. Passive RecoveryWhen to choose complete rest or passive recoveryWhen to choose a recovery ride or active recoveryOff-the-bike active recoveryResearch on active vs. passive recovery effectivenessLINKS/RESOURCESPassive vs Active Recovery on Peak Sprint Power Production: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0032-1331717Passive vs Active Recovery on MLSS Performance: https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/abs/10.1139/h2012-105Passive vs Active Recovery:Passive Recovery Is Superior to Active Recovery During a High-Intensity Shock MicrocycleGood to Go Book: Christie AschwandenASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWHow do you climb fast at the end of a race? Many road, gravel, and mountain bike events finish at the top of extended climbs. In Episode 250 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist", a listener asks how to prepare for a 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) finishing climb at the end of a 2-3 hour race. Everything comes into play: aerobic fitness, power at lactate threshold (LT2), anaerobic capacity, VO2 max, durability, and tactical savvy. Coach Adam Pulford breaks it all down, tells you how and when to focus on specific aspects of fitness and conditioning, how to test durability, and finally, how to tactically take advantage of your fitness on race day.TOPICS COVEREDPhysical demands of hill climb finishes"Edge-finding" or fatigue resistance workoutsHow to test your durability with a workoutTrain "performance first"Train specificity lastWorkouts: OverUnders, Front Loaded Power Intervals, Speed Intervals, How to execute an effective taperRacing tactics on uphill finishesASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWPower, heart rate, or RPE (rate of perceived exertion or how you feel)? Which data point is best for gauging intensity during training or a race, and which is best for monitoring training progress? Coach Adam Pulford tackles these frequently asked questions in Episode 249 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast". Although ALL THREE metrics have their place, Coach Adam reveals the hierarchy for what matters most and what metrics are used for context. TOPICS COVEREDPower vs Heart Rate vs RPE HierarchyHow to keep HR from drifting up during intervalsWhy HR might drop during intervalsWhy prioritize Power first, then RPE, and HR lastTraining at the top vs bottom of power zonesAll about Rate of Perceived Effort (RPE)Why three data points are better than oneASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKS/RESOURCESEston, R., & Connolly, D. (1996).Use of Ratings of Perceived Exertion for Exercise Prescription in the Elderly.Validates RPE as a tool even without heart rate monitoring.Shows strong correlation between RPE and physiological markers like VO2 max and lactate threshold.Faulkner, J., et al. (2008).Rating of perceived exertion during isometric and dynamic exercise is influenced by the duration of exercise.Indicates how fatigue alters perceived effort.Garcin, M., Fleury, A., & Billat, V. (2002).The correlation between RPE and physiological variables (heart rate, lactate) in cycling.Found strong correlation between RPE and lactate threshold, especially in trained cyclists.Source: International Journal of Sports Medicine.Seiler, S., & Kjerland, G.Ø. (2006).Quantifying training intensity distribution in elite endurance athletes: is there evidence for an "optimal" distribution?RPE used as a monitoring tool for training load in elite cyclists and runners.Source: Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.González-Alonso J, et al. (1999). Influence of body temperature on the cardiovascular response to exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology, 86(2), 599–605.https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1999.86.2.599Berntson GG, et al. (1997). Heart rate variability: Origins, methods, and interpretive caveats. Psychophysiology, 34(6), 623–648.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8986.1997.tb02140.xHOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWColin Izzard and Adam Pulford have more than 45 years of coaching experience between them. In this casual conversation between two old friends and colleagues, they pull back the curtain on how the coaching process works, how it differs from a training plan or AI-generated program, and how coaching has changed for the better with the introduction of new technologies - including artificial intelligence. ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKS/RESOURCESLearn About Cycling Coaching with CTSSchedule a no-charge, no-commitment consultation with a CTS CoachGUESTColin Izzard graduated from Syracuse University in 1998 with a BS in Exercise Physiology and Biomechanics. He served as the Head Coach for USA Swimming Teams as well as working at UNC Chapel Hill as a swimming and strength coach. He joined CTS as a coach in the early 2000s, developed CTS’s first regional center in Asheville/Brevard NC, and mentored, developed, and trained dozens of coaches. Other fun projects have included writing stage races for Zwift and working with Training Peaks to help develop WKO 4 software. He served as a bike fit/sports science advisor for the Hincapie Racing Team, Columbia Es Passion Professional Cycling Team, The Toronto Maple Leafs NHL Team, and Trek Regional Factory Programs. HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete

OVERVIEWWheels and Tires and Tire Pressure. These are the subjects of endless debates among road, gravel, and mountain bike racers. Wheel and tire technologies continue to change. Internal rim widths allow for wider tires, as do modern frames. In Episode 247 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", Coach Adam Pulford and Velosmith's Tony Bustamante discuss how cyclists can narrow in on the wheel + tire + pressure combination that works best in specific situation, like SBT GRVL vs. Big Sugar. TOPICS COVEREDWhy are tires so important to cycling performance?Why you should be testing multiple tire choicesSourcing course-specific info on tire selectionHow tire pressure affects wheel system performanceTinkering with tire pressure to find your preferred setupSweet spots for rire size and handling characteristicsASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCASTLINKS/RESOURCESVelosmith Bicycle Studio- SRAM/ZIPP tire pressure guide - Schwalbe tire width guide - WTB Tire/Rim fit chartGUESTTony Bustamante of Velosmith Bicycle Studio. A second-generation bike shop owner, Tony Began working for his father in 1986 and over time worked in shops from L.A. to D.C. In the late 90s - early 00s. He worked at Seven Cycles in production/manufacturing and design before starting Velosmith in 2011 with a focus on building custom bicycles and delivering an exceptional level of mechanical service and hospitality. One last bit about Tony: he was an athlete Adam Pulford worked with for a handful of years and Adam has utilized Tony's skills and guidance on equipment choices, bike fit, and more.HOSTAdam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world.Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platformGET FREE TRAINING CONTENTJoin our weekly newsletterCONNECT WITH CTSWebsite: trainright.comInstagram: @cts_trainrightTwitter: @trainrightFacebook: @CTSAthlete