Semi-pro Cycling Podcasts

This episode explains what burnout is, examines the symptoms, illustrates why it occurs, provides a burnout questionnaire to assess burnout levels, and provides strategies to prevent its occurrence.

On August 5, 2008, Sarah Hammer and Michael (meatball) Friedman arrived at Beijing Airport ready to compete for the USA 2008 summer Olympic games wearing face masks to protect them from air pollution. Why?Do masks even protect you from air pollution? Is air pollution that dangerous? Today we’re investigating whether Hammer and Meatball were right to wear masks - and what you can do if you’re faced with a similar situation.Listen in to find out the effect of air pollution on your cycling performance; including, what air pollution is, and how it is measured. Also, why athletes are at a greater risk, do masks help protect athletes, and what else you can do to avoid air pollution suffocating your performance.

This episode explores Green Tea Extract and the promise it has shown as a supplement to induce weight loss by an increase in energy expenditure and fat oxidation.

Energy systems drive all of our activity on the bike. Understanding them will help you to focus your training and optimise your nutrition. The 3 energy systems will also help you understand training zones.

The impact diet has on performance is huge. We look at the latest recommendations for carbohydrate use, and how to increase fat oxidation.

How did Eric Marmotte win the US Pro National Championships in 2014, and what can you (and your team) learn from this race? We take a look at his win while also looking at all the different options that were available to Marcotte and Team Smart Stop.

How do you know if your training program working? Testing is the best way to find this out - but testing is hard physically and mentally. With the help of Alan Couzens this episode looks a how to put together a monitoring system that doesn't rely on maximal tests.

Traditional periodization follows an optimal sequence based on the time course of training adaptations. Understanding this will help you set your training load, and time physiological adaptions better. Use the ideas from Alan Couzens to help you plan your training for optimal performance gains within the linear periodization model.

Learn how to read scientific papers if you should implement the techniques or products mentioned while avoiding the main pitfalls of using this approach to performance.

To get things going in 2015 I thought it would be cool to look a little deeper into a 2014 Cyclingnews Reader Poll By: James Huang. It produced a top 10 of innovations from the year, and we dig into each one a little deeper.

Since the Summer crits have started in Australia, and this is one of the most underrated episodes of SPC I've decided a replay Criterium Racing: Tips, Tactics and Strategy.

What is the right tapering strategy for you? While this is not top of mind all year round, it’s important even when it’s not happening. Meaning you should be thinking about it when you’re planning your season.

Interval training is the cornerstone for successful cycling training. I use them in all my training programs and I believe they are the most effective way to achieve great results. Find out what they are, why you should be doing them, and how to do them.

This is something new for Semi-Pro Cycling – a Rider Hot Seat where a rider jumps in the hot seat and I try and answer their questions about their training and racing.

Learn how to take control of the coaching relationship and take advantage of the knowledge of your coach. This episode covers Things You Can do to Make The Most of Your Coaching which can be used as a criteria if you’re considering changing and once you change to a new coach.

If your current coach's plan seem to work and you have a good rapport, why would you make such a radical change? If your after performance gains and have an appetite for knowledge, then a new coach can serve you well.

Learn the 5 step system to become a stronger, faster and more efficient climber. Including the Focus Checklist - a complete body and form check to keep you riding at your highest capacity even in high stress situations. Also learn a quick way to check if you are activating your glutes, and why it's so important in climbing.

This episode looks at optimising the mechanical forces on the pedals in different situations to produce a higher power output. In every cycling environment there are opposing forces that change the force on the pedals compared to the input. The problem with pedalling is that it is impossible to have an effective force throughout the entire cycle. Understanding these forces better will help you make adjustments on the fly.

This episode is all about choosing team members, finding mentors and pleasing sponsors from both a rider and manager perspective. Nick Traggis - Director at Team Horizon Organic/Einstein Bros helps us out with some knowledge bombs.

Carter Jones’ coach Dr Stephen McGregor joins us again to talk about Carter's development. Carter Jones has signed a two year deal with Team Giant-Alpecin.