Mastering the Rapha Festive 500 in One Day: An Endurance Cyclist’s Ultimate Guide
Riding 500 km in the festive period is a serious endurance challenge. Completing the Rapha Festive 500 in one day demands more than determination: it requires sensible preparation, a realistic route, disciplined pacing and a fuelling plan you can stick to. This guide covers the practical decisions that can help you make the day safer, […]
Mastering the Art of Pacing in Ultra Cycling Races
Ultra cycling pacing can make the difference between riding strongly deep into an event and watching your performance unravel hours before the finish. In shorter races, going slightly too hard early may cost you minutes. In an ultra, repeatedly riding above a sustainable intensity can accumulate into hours of lost time through fatigue, reduced power, […]
Conquering RAAM: Part 3: The Final Frontier – Mental Resilience and Logistical Strategies for RAAM Success
RAAM demands far more than physical fitness. This final part of the guide covers RAAM mental resilience and logistics: the mental skills, crew planning and bike setup that help you stay focused, comfortable and effective when fatigue builds. Get these details right before race week, because they can make a real difference when the race […]
Leverage Your Ego for Epic Cycling Performance Gains
We all have an ego, and in cycling it can either push you forward or quietly sabotage your progress. Learning to work with your ego in cycling can help you train with more purpose, stay accountable and handle the pressure that comes with ambitious goals. The key is recognising when it is serving your performance […]
Why raising money for charity can be disastrous for cycling performance
I’ve had the honour and privilege to coach, work with and call friends many amazing people who have raised incredible amounts for worthy causes, including Mark Beaumont, Ben Smith and Dean Stott. I’m also proud to have raised and donated tens of thousands for mental health charities. But raising money for charity by cycling can […]
How decision fatigue is ruining your cycling performance
From my many years as a coach, I have seen that cyclists in demanding executive or desk-based roles can struggle to commit to training, even when they are not physically active all day. The constant responsibility of making important decisions can leave less energy to get on the bike. Understanding decision fatigue cycling performance can […]
How a dog will improve your cycling performance
Can a dog improve cycling performance? Possibly, but please do not adopt one on the strength of this article alone. A dog is for life, not just for Christmas, yet the potential benefits of human-animal interaction may be worth considering if you are already thinking about sharing your life with one. Covered in this […]
Winning the war of scales
If weight loss has felt like a relentless battle, you are not alone. For endurance athletes, weight loss for cyclists is rarely as simple as eating less and training more. This article looks at the stress, habits and expectations that can make lasting change far harder than it needs to be. Covered in this […]
How having wind makes you a stronger cyclist
Wind can be painful, it slows you down, and it often arrives with something wet. But cycling in the wind can make you a stronger, more resilient and more aerodynamic rider, once you learn to work with it rather than resent it. Of course, I’m talking about the infamous invisible force that destroys our speed […]
Meditation and cycling performance
Silence gives you an opportunity to sit with your thoughts, reflect on your training and check in with how your body and mind are feeling. Meditation for cyclists can be a simple, time-efficient way to build mental toughness, improve focus and better manage the thoughts that arise before and during a ride. During this time, […]