Part 4 – Cycling Techniques – Difficult Questions About Training

Although group activities are an inherent nature of the racetrack type, cycling is generally a more personal activity. Perhaps that is why most of the crabs tend to be self-learning and self-training. Most courses rely on all sorts of insights and books, such as this book (Training Techniques For Cyclists by BEN HEWITT – RODALE Publishing, 2005) to create training programs. .

>> See also part 3: Tips from top bike coaches

In many ways, this is not a bad idea. But gradually the cyclists wanted to ask a coach to guide them in designing and implementing an exercise program. This is a trend driven in large part by the famous relationship between Lance Armstrong and his coach Chris Carmichael, whose Carmichael Training System is open to training teams and bodybuilding. professional sports.

1.So should you hire a coach?

According to Joe Friel, a top coach of the sport Bicycle racing and the author of Cyclist’s Training Bible, who has many students to reach the national championship, depending on your circumstances and your goals. “The biggest reason athletes turn to me is because they don’t have enough time,” Friel said. “They wanted me to design a program that maximizes their practice time. If a person only has 6 hours a week to practice then they cannot make mistakes in their program. The show needs to be precise if they want to become able to play. ”

Friel recommends having a genuine self-assessment of your cycling ability and how you view your training. “Athletes who use coaches effectively are people who cannot judge themselves objectively,” says Friel. “And most athletes can’t do it.” It is for this reason that it is very helpful to have a coaching partner to help assess your current situation.

One of the coach’s most important things is to act as an impartial supervisor for your training. A good coach will detect the symptoms of overtraining early before you can even think about reviewing it and will adapt your training accordingly. A good coach will help keep you excited and healthy, by applying external force and keeping your training out of the way. A good coach is also a place to vent out sadness when things go bad and someone to celebrate if the job goes well.

“It’s a different world,” said Ralph Heath, who followed Friel in January 2004. At the age of 53, Haeth has been in racetrack and triathlon for almost 20 years and has “Read nearly all the books in the market and the articles in the published magazines.” But all the words printed in the world could not do as Friel did. “I understand the concept of eraization,” says Heath, who is the president of a marketing firm. “But it always makes me want to go to sleep, but it always makes me want to sleep.”

Under Friel’s guidance, Heath started a well-structured program that allowed him to train most of the time, but mostly with low intensity. “After six to eight weeks, I found myself slowly moving to the top in group cycling,” Heath said. “During the climbing trips I often pedal with the best people. That made me realize that I was always overtrained in the past. “

In fact, Heath believed in a new way to win his nagging battle with asthma due to his movement. “I think my body has always been so depleted that the disease cannot be put aside. Now it doesn’t matter anymore. ”

2. Are there any drawbacks?

The first is cost. Whether you can get someone to train for free or almost for free, Friel warns that it’s an old situation where “you get what you pay for”. For example, if you want to hire Friel, be prepared to take $ 1000 per month. But Friel also works with a lot of assistant coaches who follow his principles and benefit from his research, and the Carmichael Training System offers a lot of training “packages”. price from $ 50 a month or more. What was the result? Try your research and you’ll find a coach that will perfectly match your personality, your goals and your budget.

If you are facing difficulties in training preparation, please refer to the previous ones. sports bike training experience from experienced professionals and professional racers to be able to prepare well for their training.

Excerpt: Training Techniques For Cyclists By BEN HEWITT – RODALE Publishing, 2005

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Part 5: Indoor cycling techniques