Training & Nutrition

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Stretching: The Truth – It’s about flexibility, recovery and preventing injury
(Originally published in Velonews) by Kendra Wenzel and Jeremy Nelson
Because the gains from stretching aren’t always immediately obvious, it’s easy to put off stretching or forget it altogether. But before you put off reading this article, consider this: Stretching can help prevent injury and improve flexibility. For healthy riders, it’s about getting ahead in the game. For injured or ill riders, stretching is training when a normal workout isn’t possible. >>> more

Strategy

Setting Tempo – It works for strong leaders with strong teams … and for getting a little TV time
(Originally published in Velonews) by René and Kendra Wenzel
The fortunate cycling fans who have been able to tune in to Outdoor Life Network the past few years have likely been exposed to the strategy of setting tempo in modern cycling via the Giro, the Tour and the Vuelta. Whether it’s Mario Cipollini’s zebra gang, U.S. Postal’s blue train, or some other squad, the sight of a single team lining it up at the front is common during TV coverage of the three grand tours. But what’s to be gained, or lost, by setting tempo, and how did the practice become so common? >>> more

Aggressive or assertive? – You needn’t be a jerk to take charge of your racing
(Originally published in Velonews) by Kendra Wenzel and Neil Browne
We all admire the riders voted “most aggressive” in a race. They are the ones attacking time after time and passing the miles in breakaways, occasionally with a favorable result. We want to be like them — confident riders who move wherever they please in the pack, who have no fear of the chaos of a big field sprint. But for many of us, even the word “aggressive” is intimidating. It’s a characteristic we just don’t see in ourselves, though we may admire it in others. >>> more

Learning to win – Holding off on upgrading might pay dividends later
(Originally published in Velonews) by Kendra Wenzel
Points, field sizes, race experience, stickers on your license and phone calls to the district rep — you’ll deal with it all if you are progressing through the racing category ranks. For some, the upgrade from Category IV to Cat. III, for instance, may come in as few as three or four races. For others the struggle to break out of the same category may take years. It may seem straightforward that a racer would want to progress from category to category as quickly as possible. Sometimes, however, there are reasons to hold off on that call to the district rep and wait for a better time to upgrade, or even remain in a certain category longer. The reason? Learning to win. >>> more

Cross for the not yet fully converted – The basics of cyclo-cross training for the non-specialist
(Originally published in Velonews) by Kendra Wenzel
Of all the cycling events, cyclo-cross has to be the most fun to train for. In addition to building the fitness for a hard 45- to 60-minute effort, racers must prepare to ride rolling hills and short, steep ascents, negotiate off-camber turns, and stay upright in loose and muddy terrain. On top of that, a racer must learn how to dismount, run, carry the bike and remount — all as fluidly and quickly as possible. >>> more

Balancing training with other commitments

Working Overtime – Minimizing stress is key to balancing racing and a full time job
(Originally published in Velonews) by Kendra Wenzel
Two racers follow a nearly identical, demanding training pattern. They have similar goals, racing schedules, talents and strengths, plus a common team. One is a full-time athlete; the other has the hours available to ride, but works nearly full time at a regular job. What kind of condition do you think each will be in once the racing season rolls around? >>>more