Master Six Key Abilities to Be Successful in Cycling
The old adage that knowledge is power is especially true for the serious cyclist. One of the most important pieces of information you can acquire is the different abilities that encompass the entire realm of cycling. In total there are 6 key abilities in cycling that should be understood and worked on if you want to be a successful cyclist. In this article we will discuss what each of those abilities are and where each is applied, that way you can determine which abilities need to be focused on most in order to achieve your goals.
1. Endurance
The most obvious ability is endurance. For most people new to the sport much of the riding they do is in the 1-3 hour range, so they are very familiar with endurance. This particular ability is used in century rides but it is tapped into during longer time trials.
2. Strength
The second ability is strength. This ability can not be overlooked because it is often dependant on the terrain and weather conditions. If you are riding uphill or into a strong headwind then you will need to have a great deal of strength if you want to be successful.
3. Speed
The third ability is speed and its accompanying skill set. Speed in its most basic sense is the ability to spin the pedals at a very quick rate, but with speed also comes the added necessity to handle and maneuver well. This ability is crucial in short time trials and short bike races like those found in a sprint triathlon.
4. Muscular Endurance
Next is muscular endurance, which is basically a combination of endurance and strength. This is the ability to go long but into a strong head wind or uphill.
5. Anaerobic Endurance
Fifth is anaerobic endurance. This ability is crucial for people competing in time trials and races of an hour or less. Anaerobic endurance is basically the ability to sustain a very fast speed for an extended amount of time.
6. Power
The final ability in cycling is Power. Someone who possesses a lot of power is able to accelerate to a fast pace in a very short amount of time. This particular skill is very useful in short races where pace changes are frequent.
Knowing the basic elements of cycling will allow you to isolate each aspect of your training and work to improve each element individually. A good cyclist will incorporate specific workouts for each ability into their weekly schedule so that in a race they never encounter anything they are unfamiliar with.
|
DS Carroll is a consultant for Biomedical Research Laboratories. Biomedical Research Labortories market scientifically based nutritional supplements for endurance athletes including supplements for cyclists, runners, triathletes, and mixed martial arts. Visit http://www.epoboost.com to learn more about how EPO-Boost can increase VO2 max, running economy and endurance. Patent pending EPO-BOOST ingredients have been shown to increase VO2 max and running economy in college athletes. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DS_Carroll |
7 Top Tips For Running Your First Ironman
So you made the decision to race an ironman and you have been training hard for 20 weeks or so. Now its race day and you are waiting nervously at the start of the swim for the horn to go. Here are a few things to keep in mind throughout the race and to practice in training so that they are not a surprise when you finally get out there.
1. During the swim you are going to want to go as hard as you can for at least 400 meters so that you get a decent position to swim the remaining 3.5 kilometers. There is nothing worse than being stuck in the middle of the pack for the first couple kilometers because by the time you finally get in a rhythm the swim is basically over.
2. Look up every 20 strokes or so. Do not trust that the person in front of you is swimming a straight line. There have been pro triathletes who failed to look up and found themselves a few hundred off the lead pack because they were swimming such a inefficient path.
3. Wear your bike clothes under your wet suit and clip your shoes to your bike pedals. This will save you a couple of minutes in transition and will allow you to concentrate on more important things like putting on sun screen and making sure you have your sunglasses and nutrition.
4. Do not draft! If you are caught drafting it is a hefty penalty at first and if you do it again you are out. Make sure when you go for a pass you do it swiftly and never remain in another riders slipstream. If it is too close to tell then it is better to back off, you are not going to save any time drafting for a few seconds but you definitely will lose time if you get caught.
5. Make sure to hydrate and take calories and salt throughout the bike. Its obvious that you need to hydrate but many athletes often forget that they need sodium as well. Most collapses and end of race muscle cramps are due to a lack of sodium. So before you compete in the race make sure you have been supplementing with salt in your training rides and make sure you have plenty on race day.
6. Do not unlatch your helmet at any point during the ride. If you are caught with your helmet undone at any point on the bike leg its an automatic disqualification.
7. During the run you may want to walk through every other aid station so that you get a chance to thoroughly hydrate and take a few gels. You are almost done so the last thing you would want to do is run out of energy to burn.
Finishing an ironman will probably be one of the greatest achievements of your life. You should visualize the race as much as possible in training and come up with a strategy for every situation you can think of. With hard work and determination there is no doubt that you will complete the race and you will likely catch the triathlon bug in the process.
Biomedical Research Laboratories market scientifically based nutritional supplements for endurance athletes including supplements for cyclists, runners, triathletes, and mixed martial arts. Visit http://www.epoboost.com to learn more about how EPO-Boost can increase VO2 max, running economy and endurance.
Patent pending EPO-BOOST ingredients have been shown to increase VO2 max and running economy in college athletes.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=DS_Carroll
Training Tips for Open Water Swim in Triathlons
If you’ve been swimming in a pool all season and your priority race is an open water swim then there are a few things you’re going to want to keep in mind before race day. Of course, it’s ideal if you can get in some open water training sessions before the race, but for many that’s not an option. Whether or not you can get into open water before the race it would still be wise to consider the tips listed below so that you can practice them in the pool, and when you do finally hit open water it won’t be as big of a shock.
1. Swimming the shortest distance. When swimming in open water you’re obviously going to want to swim the least possible distance as you can. If it’s an ironman distance then it would be nothing to swim an extra 400 meters just by taking an irregular path. In order to prevent this you’re going to want to get into the habit of turning your head and eyes when you breathe in order to see what’s in front of you. Now you don’t want to do this every breath as it will lead to inefficient swimming, but you definitely want to get in the habit of checking every 50 to 100 meters. It should be a smooth motion, not jerky, and should be barely visible from an outsider’s perspective. Many of the best swimmers have develop the technique so well that they don’t even need to turn their heads they can just turn their eyes as they submerge their face after taking a breath and see everything that’s going on in front of them.
2. Another important technique to get comfortable with is taking a breath on both sides. You never know where the wind is going to be coming from in an open water swim. If you can only breathe on the right then you’re going to have big problems if the waves are coming from that direction. It’s not hard to learn to breathe from both sides; it just takes patience and effort. If you make a vow to improve breathing on your weak side then there’s no reason why you can’t get it up to par within a month.
These are the most important aspects to keep in mind when open water swimming.
3. Sprinting workouts. One final tip you might implement in the training sessions leading up to the race is getting into the habit of sprinting for a few hundred meters at the beginning of the workout. This is a great way to simulate the commotion at the beginning of a race and if you do it enough times it shouldn’t be a problem for you to break away from the main pack and get out front. This will make the swim much more enjoyable and allow you to get into your rhythm much quicker than those jockeying for position in the back.
Visit www.epoboost.com to learn more about how you can improve your endurance, speed and strength. You have nothing to lose with our 90 day money-back guarantee.
Boost your endurance with EPO-BOOST™ and you’ll run faster and farther, we guarantee it!
Are You Pulling Your Tire? – Running Training Tips
Are you pulling a tire in your training program?
Hardcore runners are always looking for ways to improve their endurance. Pulling a 20 pound tire and running down the road is certainly a novel way to train. Whether you are running in flat terrain or running in a hilly area this technique has shown to be a good way to improve your performance.
One of our runners was actually pulled over by a police officer asking what he was doing… so be prepared for some stares, especially if you are train in a populated area.
One of the most important components of implementing tire pulling into your training regimine is to make sure you use the right technique. A rope around your waist will cut in and can cause injuries, similarly, improper posture can add an injury risk too. So if you are going to try it be very careful. Get the right harness. Train from short distances (100 to 200m) before going for 1000m.
Some suggest that your harness be attached high up on your back (parachute style), this will provide the resistance but the strain on your back can be better managed by having pull and angle of the rope in the correct place. Some like pulling from the waste… you will have to see what works best for you.
Tire size can also be important… try a smaller SUV tire. Some runners have shared less bouncing and still good training effects. What tips do you have to share about tire pulling?
Your EPO-BOOST TEAM
Visit www.epoboost.com to learn more about how you can improve your endurance, speed and strength. You have nothing to lose with our 90 day money-back guarantee.
Boost your endurance with EPO-BOOST™ and you’ll run faster and farther, we guarantee it!
Ch ch ch Chia? Endurance and Chia?
Yum… chia is yummy. No, you do not have to smear Chia on your head and water yourself every day to get the benefits of Chia. Chia seeds are one of the most powerful nutritional superfoods in the world.
Chia has been used by the Indians in the southwest and Mexico as a staple food. It is known as the running food, as it is known to be a high-energy, endurance food. It was believed that ancient Aztec warriors subsisted on Chia seeds during their conquests.
The southwestern Indians would eat as little as a teaspoon full when going on a full day run. Indians running form the Colorado River to the California coast to trade their wares would only bring the Chia seeds for their nourishment.
Chia is a super-hydrater and helps with electrolyte balance. The soluble fiber also know as hydrophilic colloids, massively retains water which keeps you hydrated and helps maintain electrolyte balance.
If you mix a spoonful of Chia in a glass of water and leave it for approximately 30 minutes or so, the seeds and water will become an almost solid gelatin. This gel-forming reaction is due to the soluble fiber in the Chia. Researches have found that this same gel-forming phenomenon takes place in the stomach when food containing these gummy fibers, known as mucilages, are eaten. When the gel is ingested, carbohydrates conversion into sugar slows. Chia seeds provide long lasting energy that brings with it stamina and endurance and at the same time gives you a quick boost of energy.
Chia seed is also known to stabilize blood sugar, improve mental focus, provide protein and essential fatty acids, build lean muscle mass, and many other effects on a persons overall health. Endurance athletes can benefit from adding this little seed to your diet. There are many good Internet sources for the seed and some really good deals if you look around. You may want to add this to your list of endurance supplements along with EpoBoost, an all natural endurance supplement.
You can sprinkle ground or whole chia seeds on cereal, yogurt, or salads; eat a handful of whole seeds as a snack; or grind them up and mix with flour when making muffins or other baked goods. We like to take a two cup container add water , 1/3 chia seeds and stir and in 15 minutes you have chia gel. We just consume a 3 tablespoons a 2-3 times a day. Some people like to add it to juice.
Let us know how you are using Chia and what results you are having?
Endurance Running, Swimming, Cycling – Ice Baths BRRRRR…
If you bike, run, or swim at high intensity for any period of time you may have experienced sore muscles and discomfort. Many endurance athletes are spending 15 minutes or so in an ice bath to ease the pain after a long run.
Ice baths or cold water immersion therapy constricts blood vessels and decreases metabolic activity, which reduces swelling and tissue breakdown. Once the skin is no longer in contact with the cold source, the underlying tissues warm up, causing a return of faster blood flow, which helps return the byproducts of cellular breakdown to the lymph system for efficient recycling by the body. This means that not only do you suppress inflammation but you also get rid of of the broken down tissues from the body. So ice baths reduce inflammation of tissues and joints, relieves soreness, and speeds recovery.
Ice baths require more than just 1 tray of ice. Get about 30 lbs of ice and add to water and climb in brrr, soak for 15 minutes and yes, your teeth will be chattering. Stay no longer than 15 minutes or you may cause tissue damage. Some people suggest getting into the tube in cool water and add the ice to create less of a cold shock to the body.
Another option might be to hop into a cold lake (if you are lucky to have one nearby) and stand in cold water for 15 minutes. Wrap up and drink a warm beverage while sitting in the tub. Have fun and feel great the next day!
WHY SHOULD I DRINK BCAAs?
BCAAs were recently shown to reduce muscle damage during cycling, as reported in the International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism (December, 2007). Dr. Greer and his team of researchers examined the effect of a branched chain amino acid (BCAA) drink on markers of muscle damage after endurance exercise. A BCAA drink was compared with an equal calorie carbohydrate drink and a flavored water placebo.
The group found all measured markers of fatigue were reduced in the BCAA-supplemented group. So if you want to ride your best, it seems including BCAAs in your hydration formula could help.
The Study
Nine untrained men performed three 90 minute cycling trials. The men were blinded to drink selection during each trial. Cyclists received a carbohydrate drink on the first trial; a BCAA drink on the second trial; and flavored water on the third trial. Bouts were separated by eight weeks with no training in-between, to omit training effects from trial to trial.
During each trial the subjects ingested 200 calories of their drink before exercise and at 60 minutes of the 90-minute cycling trial. Subjects were assessed before and immediately after, as well as 4, 24 and 48 hours post-exercise.
The data showed significantly reduced markers of muscle damage in the BCAA trial, with the carbohydrate trial showing reduced markers when compared with the flavored water. Measurements included blood markers of fatigue, leg-flexion tests, and ratings of perceived exertion.
The Bottom Line
Proteins are made up of amino acids. BCAAs are a sub-group of these amino acids which have been found to be particularly useful for athletic performance. Although this study indicates that BCAAs are superior to carbohydrate formulas for reducing markers of muscular fatigue, this does not mean you should replace your carbohydrate drink during your ride.
Reduced muscle damage has the advantage of speeding recovery and reducing muscle soreness, but not addressing your glycogen stores while training could have a negative impact on performance. Combine both for greater muscle recovery while maintaining energy stores.
What to do
If you’re training regularly it would be wise to invest in a carbohydrate-BCAA combo drink such as EnduraFuel by BRL, available online at www.EnduraFuel.com. EnduraFuel contains a full 6 grams of BCAAs per serving; more than any other product available on the market.
Does Quercetin Improve Performance in Endurance Athletes?
Everyone was excited with the initial studies done on Quercetin and endurance athletes looked for promising results to improve their athletic performance. However, studies in humans have been disappointing.
Quercetin is a phytochemical that is part of the coloring found in the skins of apples and red onions. It has been isolated and is sold as a dietary supplement. Quercetin is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties. Research shows that quercetin may help to prevent cancer, especially prostate cancer.
Early studies in mice demonstrated evidence of being a potent performance enhance in mice. In the study two groups of mice were given either quercetin or placebo and did pre and post testing on a wheel treadmill. The mice that received Quercetin were able to run 37% longer that their counterparts who received the placebo.
Several studies in humans both athletes and non-athletes were done with Quercetin and have not produced the same results. F.R.S. financed a small study which demonstrated that the highly trained human athletes improved their performance on Quercetin. The subjects were then given placebo and they also had signifcant improvement in their performance. A second study was done using 12 untrained men and gave them quercetin and did find improvement after 1 week.
However 3 additional studies have had disappointing results. Runners in the Western States Endurance Run, a 100 mile were given quercetin and saw no difference. A similar study done by the same researchers found no difference in cyclists.
The most recent study was done by Coca Cola, which was testing a new drink with Quercetin. “There were simply no differences” between the quercetin and the placebo group, says Kirk J. Cureton, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Georgia and lead author of the study. It just does not improve endurance.
Flying through the air.
Shantessa Pama (USA) doing a jam on the uneven bars © 2008 Steve Lange
Have you ever been watching the Olympics or a Gymnastics invitational and see one of the gymnasts take to the uneven bars, and just seem to effortlessly fly through the air? Without notice, they will then catch one of the bars, and fly in the opposite direction. I don’t know about you, but I am simply in awe every single time.
What makes these athletes so different from us average human beings? Are they lighter than air? Do they have springs in their feet? Maybe they have rubberized joints? No, the difference between Olympic gymnasts and the rest of us, is simple determination. They see their goal, which is of course, the gold medal, and that is all they think about for years.
These athletes have to have such incredible endurance, you know they are practicing eating habits that enable endurance nutrition, and when diet alone isn’t enough, they will get endurance support via nutritional supplements. Only the best, all natural products will make the grade for these elite athletes. Rest assured that Epo-Boost is one such product! Made of all natural ingredients, Epo-boost can help you get to where your dreams are taking you, even to that gold medal.
The “Boost” in EPO-Boost
The other day I was asked by a curious consumer what exactly the “EPO” in EPO-Boost stood for. The answer is Erythropoietin, a peptide hormone that is produced naturally by the kidney, heads straight for the bone marrow, and increases the production of red blood cells (which is what bone marrow does for a living) and in turn carries oxygen to the body’s muscles.
That’s a good thing, especially for athletes. When performing athletically, and you feel that insane, horrifying burn in your thighs or arms, this is the muscle screaming for oxygen and relief. Since we all know that relief is essentially slowing down (totally not acceptable), the oxygen is what you need.
This is where a product like EPO-Boost comes in! Taking the correct amount of EPO-Boost, which is non-addictive, your personal EPO levels will rise significantly, as in 90%, and increase your VO2max.
What is VO2max you ask? Beginning athletes and veterans alike have most likely heard the term, but have no clue what this refers to. Well let me clue you in, just in case. VO2max is the highest capability of your body to transport and use oxygen during exercise. Literally, V stands for “volume per time”, O2 stands for oxygen, and max means maximum.
Now one thing that skeptics need to know is that EPO-Boost is 100% legal. This is not a synthetic or actual hormone (which were banned in the 1990’s by the World Anti-Doping Agency), but many familiar and/or all-natural substances that just let your body do what it does best… only a little better. The endurance, strength, speed, and all-around performance increase are completely guaranteed.
There’s nothing better than a guarantee, since that simply means you have nothing to lose, but a world of power to gain.
-
-
The 3 Natural Ways
to Increase EPO Levels
How to Increase Endurance
and VO2max Instantly!
Get your
FREE eBook NOW!
