Blog
The Most Popular Formats of Amateur Bicycle Road Racing Explained
Amateur bicycle road racing is a thrilling and diverse sport, offering a range of formats that cater to all types of cyclists. For newcomers, understanding each format's unique aspects and challenges is vital for success.
How to Choose the Right Cycling Coach for You
The experience of working with a cycling coach is different from that of other sports. They typically aren’t on the sidelines at your races, and they rarely go for a training ride with you. Most cycling coaches create training plans and use software like Training Peaks to analyze ride data, from which they provide you with post-workout feedback.
Strength Training for Cyclists: Breaking Down Gender Differences
In cycling, the impact of strength training on performance has been a hot topic, but research has primarily focused on male cyclists, leaving a gap in understanding about female cyclists. However, in this post, we explore the findings of research conducted by Olav Vikmoen and Bent R. Rønnestad, exploring how strength training influences cycling performance across genders.
Periodization of Nutrition and Fat Loss in the 2024 Off-Season: A Comprehensive Approach
The off-season is an excellent time to focus on improving body composition and getting lean. Why is that? Early season training typically means spending a solid block of riding characterized by long, low intensity to build aerobic endurance. More specifically, training the aerobic system develops important capacities like improving fat oxidation rates (i.e. increasing the amount of fat molecules we utilize for fuel/energy), improving metabolic efficiency, and increasing stamina/endurance via carbohydrate sparing, just to name a few.
The Top 10 Mass Start Gravel Rides in the World
Gravel riding has surged in popularity because it combines road cycling's fast pace with the thrill of mountain biking's off-road routes. It's appealing for its adventurous routes and the variety of terrain, making each ride a unique challenge.
AchievePTC 2023 Athlete Accolades
Join us as we celebrate the incredible achievements of 10 of our dedicated athletes in 2023.
The AchievePTC Strength Training Plan for Cyclists
It’s officially the road cycling off-season. Most professionals and amateur cyclists (other than those who compete in cyclocross) who compete at a high level use the fall to take a break. It’s also popular to spend some of their time off the bike and in the gym.
Personalized Performance: Elevating Athletic Potential on the Bike with INSCYD
Since 2017, we’ve offered performance analysis testing in partnership with INCYD, a revolutionary tool that helps unlock your unique physiological blueprints, which we then use to guide our training recommendations and tailor programs for you.
Understanding Power Measurements on Your Strava Dashboard
The power measurements on your Strava dashboard provide a comprehensive view of your cycling performance, from your overall power output to specific details about your efforts. By understanding and analyzing these metrics, you can make informed decisions about your training, track your progress, and optimize your cycling experience.
Mental Training Techniques to Reach your Potential
How many hours per week do you spend training your body? How about training your mind? Often it’s our minds, not our bodies, that will take us to the next level in athletic performance. Check out our 9 mindset and mental training techniques below and learn how to use sports psychology to improve confidence, motivation, and help you reach your true potential both on and off the bike.
Top 3 Tips to Sprint Faster
Most races come down to a sprint finish. Whether you’re in a small breakaway or a bunch sprint to the line, honing your sprint technique and timing can make all the difference between standing on that top step or coming away mid-pack.
How to Prepare for your next Stage Race
Perhaps you’ve tried your hand at road racing and criteriums and now you’re ready to take things to the next level with multi-day events. Whether you’re a seasoned stage racer or interested in dipping a toe into multi-day events, showing up prepared will allow you to get the most out of your experience. Check out our top tips on how to prepare for your next stage race.
Race Day Routine
No matter which kind of rider you are, creating a personalized race-day routine can significantly lift your performance to the next level. Following the same routine from week to week can help to reduce stress, increase confidence and sharpen focus. Experiment with your race-day routine, take notes and find what works best for you.
Pre-Race Homework
Long before you toe the start line of a race, there’s one thing you can do to seriously increase your odds of success. I like to call it, Pre-Race Homework. The best bike racers in the world are not just physically prepared before the start of each race, they are mentally prepared. Having thoroughly researched the course, conditions and competition well ahead of time gives racers a notable advantage over others and provides a well-timed confidence boost.
Why You Need a Coach
Do you ever wonder if you’re doing it right? Does your fitness feel like a luck of the draw, an enigmatic triumph you can’t seem to pin down? Do you lose motivation as the season progresses? Do you feel unable to balance all of life’s priorities? Do you need a reminder that you have what it takes?
Pre-Race Breakfast
Macro nutrients (carbs, protein & fats) and micro nutrients (minerals, vitamins and electrolytes) are sources of energy needed to do the work that stresses your body. If you don’t have the correct amount, and taken at the right time, then it’s impossible to achieve your maximum performance.
The Importance of Heat Acclimation
Heat acclimation allows your body to better tolerate exercise in high temperatures and maximize performance. The adaptations that occur with heat acclimation allow your body to off-load heat more easily, resulting in improved performance and off-setting time to the performance sapping effects of dehydration and overheating.
Our Recipe for a Killer Training Plan
As an athlete, it’s easy to get caught up in the day-to-day training rides and focus on the next big event (“Why was my power so low today?!” you might say). As a coach, however, one of our biggest jobs is to keep things in perspective, to look at the big picture and ensure that we are properly developing the athlete to reach their potential.
Foam Rolling for Cyclists
For most cyclists, the foam roller is an essential tool for optimizing performance. No matter how much we love to hate it, the benefits of foam rolling are undeniable. In this blog, we’ll offer up tips on proper foam rolling technique, what muscles to target, and what to avoid.
VLOG - Bike Fit Essentials
Bodies change throughout the year, so it’s important to consistently review your position on the bike. Ensure your setup is targeted to you and your body, and not just a copy of what everyone else is doing.