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 After reading a few editions of VeloNews or pages of CyclingNews, one could get the impression that bicycle racing can be quite the glamorous life with travel to beautiful countryside and more than a century of history in some cases. However, like everything in life, attention to the many tedious details is what makes for success or failure. Anyone reading this blog is aware that I have found my greatest success in cycling in the time trial. Although I prefer the teamwork and complicated dynamics of a stage race, the time trial has appeal for me as well, and probably stems from my years of competitive running. What can I say, but I kinda like that suffering feeling it brings?! I suppose I am also a bit of a perfectionist, and time trialing gives me an opportunity to look for more ways to improve each year – especially when you are chasing the rainbow…
When people ask me how much I train, I’m never quite sure how to answer that because I view much of what I do off the bike as significant training time. These are the details. I have always been an athlete who appreciates the importance of daily stretching (I admit that I do miss days), but since becoming a cyclist I have discovered the joy of weekly or bi-weekly deep tissue massage. Although important and for the greater good, these massages are not always relaxing as my non-cyclist friends assume, when my main man, Kevin Shanahan, has a way of discovering exactly why I am avoiding stretching certain muscle groups! Last year I began a more rigorous core stability exercise program with cycling-specific Pilates instruction from Owen Grady. I have seen more comfort in a lowered time trial position since truly developing more core stability. Finally, this year I was fortunate to meet up with physical therapist Curtis Cramblett, who has uncovered my inefficient pedaling style most likely developed after my ACL knee surgery in 2002. Now I have added a number of specific muscle-retraining floor exercises to my core stability routine. These tasks add an additional 8+ hours per week to my actual on-the-bike training time.
Of course, I am hoping that these extra details bring me rewards not only of improved health and longevity (I am not a young chicken any longer!), but also of better results. Since I was a student for so long, I like to make an analogy to schoolwork and the effort it takes to obtain a 4.0 GPA vs. a 3.5 GPA. Let’s hope for a valedictorian this year!
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You'll get an inside look into other aspects of racing such as travelling, preparing for a big event like a national or world championship, and juggling life's many challenges like work, school, and family. Make your selection from the articles below: 