By Chris Carmichael, with data from Coach Adam Pulford Athletes often specialize in disciplines that favor their strengths. In cycling, some beginners recognize they have an aptitude for sprinting, or climbing, or time trialing, and that’s the aspect of the sport they focus on intently. They become “sprinters”, “climbers”, and “time trial specialists”. It makes …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS I hate wasting energy and it bothers me to no end to see athletes do things that are self-defeating. You spend so much precious time and effort developing fitness and building your capacity to produce power, and then you waste that fitness through poor decision making …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS We had big plans for 2020. Throughout the year, we were going to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the founding of CTS, and then I was going to throw some kind of party or event with the coaches for my 60th birthday (which is today, …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Major disruptions can be great opportunities for learning, and at least in my lifetime there has never been a more far-reaching disruption than the COVID19 pandemic. While it has had–and continues to have–tragic effects on many lives around the world, it has also created research conditions …
Despite the fact athletes didn’t have a lot of events to participate in during the 2020 summer season, the rapid approach of cooler weather and shorter days means there’s a change coming to training for most of us. Staying closer to home and not interupting training with races and events has ironically led many masters …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Nearly 50 years of riding (and crashing) bikes have taken their toll on my body. Nonetheless, I count myself as fortunate; injuries haven’t taken me away from the activities I enjoy or left me otherwise debilitated. But this year, as I near my 60th birthday, …
This is the time of year when a lot of athletes ask about strength training. Should they? Shouldn’t they? Should they lift heavy or light? Free weights or machines? And what about Crossfit? Coaches have been debating the effectiveness and necessity of strength training for endurance athletes for many years, and even my own view …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Intermittent fasting (IF) is a popular dietary and lifestyle choice for a lot of people, for a variety of reasons and in pursuit of a range of different goals. It can be effective for accomplishing some goals, and ineffective or detrimental in other areas, meaning …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Sometimes it takes an actual finish line to remind you what “going hard” really means. I’ve been riding a lot this year, partly due to the “stay at home” orders earlier this season, and more recently due to renewed interest in cycling camps. I even …
“If I don’t get up I’m dead.” That was my thought as I lay on my back, one dog biting into my calf and another circling around toward the back of my head. I had to get up. I had to fight. Fortunately, when the two 140-pound dogs attacked me, my mountain bike fell on …