Blog: The Coaching Chronicles

The True Price of Human vs AI Coaching

The modern cyclist is inundated with data. From power meters and heart rate monitors to continuous glucose monitors and sleep trackers, the quantification of performance has never been more accessible. In parallel, Artificial Intelligence (AI)/ AI Coaching has risen to meet this deluge, offering algorithmic training plans that promise optimized, adaptive training without the cost…

Using Performance Testing to Shape Your Training

Performance testing is how we evaluate our strengths and weaknesses, what’s overdeveloped and underexpressed. It’s not a judgement, it’s a compass. As a coach, I don’t believe in religiously prescribing power tests to my athletes, but following a period of transition, testing can be quite useful. Testing an athlete’s physiology, whether in the lab or…

Beyond the Basics: An Honest Discussion About Applying Advanced Sport Science in the Real World

Coach Zack and Coach Adam have an in depth, real discussion about applying new, modern sports science to coaching practice and how it has yielded exceptional athlete results.

Balancing School and Cycling: Good Grades and Strong Results Are Possible!

Hire Coach Ethan Balancing academics and athletics, whether in high school or college can feel overwhelming at times. The workload, travel, and training all pile up quickly. But after navigating both high school and a double major in college, I’ve learned how to strike the right balance and succeed in both.   Going to school…

Offseason Training, Don't Waste Your Base (2 of 2)

Build YOUR BASE Once it was observed that many of the benefits seen with longer and easier training sessions were also seen with shorter and harder workouts, the next step was to identify which changes do and do not occur among the two training modalities.  By analyzing training adaptations at different intensities in individuals of various fitness,…

Offseason Training, Don't Waste Your Base (1 of 2)

Build YOUR Base The off-season doesn’t exist to many racers on structured training plans. It’s a period to race cyclo-cross and/or recover for a short bit before prepping for the next season’s races. This period can also be tremendously beneficial in gaining fitness. However, the elements are against most racers with cold weather, snow and…

When To Start Training For Next Season And Why

Now. The time is now. As coaches and athletes, fall or early season is training season and this is the most exciting time of year. We can look back at last season and be objective in looking at the data and seeing what worked and what didn’t. We can sit down and map out the…

The Process of Progress: Masters Cycling  (40+)

From Olympic Triathlon to Competitive Masters Cycling     Jeffrey Gracik’s journey into competitive cycling began with a triathlon. After his wife encouraged him to try the sport, he quickly realized that the cycling portion was the only part he enjoyed and excelled at. This led him to focus solely on cycling, which he initially used…

The Process of Progress: Masters (40+:) Development Interview with Jeff Burt-Gracik

This video is an interview with Master’s cyclist Jeff Burt-Gracik, where he discusses his journey into bike racing and his development as a competitive cyclist. He shares how he balances a rigorous 10-12 hour a week training schedule with his personal and professional life, the importance of a disciplined training plan, and the significant impact…

Junior Cycling Development: Mac Tomkins’ Ascent

Find out how coach Taylor can help your development Introduction Mac and I started our coach-athlete relationship shortly after he attended a USAC junior cycling development camp. The camp was a great place to start, to help riders identify their level, start to learn how to train effectively and give them guidance on where to…