By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Most people who read my blog posts are year-round athletes, meaning the New Year probably is less of a cold start and more of a recommitment to training after a few months of intermittent exercise, indulgent eating, and a bit too much wine (or whiskey). To …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS In my view, reflecting on the accomplishments and challenges of the previous 12 months is one of the best things you can do as the year draws to a close. It’s not just a matter of scrolling through your own personal highlight reel; it is …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Whether you are getting ready for your first season as a cyclist or your 40th, here’s your 10-point action plan to make it a success. Make sure it’s fun Sounds obvious, but I’ve seen lots of athletes who start out having fun and end up obsessing …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Would knowing how many minutes of walking or running it would take to burn off the calories in a snack influence whether or how much of that snack you eat? The Royal Society for Public Health in the United Kingdom seems to think so. As a …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS December did not get off to a good start for me. Maybe it was because Thanksgiving was November 28, six days later than it was in 2018. With Thanksgiving, Black Friday, family time, and lots of leftovers, I have only completed 3 hours of training so …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS It was with great pleasure that I read this recent article from Alex Hutchinson, this one by Amby Burfoot, as well as the research they’re based on. Every few years during the past decade or so, we’ve seen headlines claiming high volumes of exercise cause damage …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder/Head Coach of CTS The articles and responses about the toxic environment and abusive culture in the Nike Oregon Project have included a discussion about the line between tough and abusive. There is a benefit to holding athletes accountable to their goals, and to pushing them to reach further toward a …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder & Head Coach of CTS One of the habits that separates champions from everyone else is the willingness to do what they are the worst at. Your greatest strength will not be enough to overcome weaknesses you neglect or refuse to address. To use cycling as an example, being the …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Sometimes life conspires to steal your training time, but it’s important to take some of it back and get in a short and effective cycling workout indoors. When I’m out of time and can’t ride outdoors, I hop on the indoor trainer for my Quick Fix …
By Chris Carmichael Founder and Head Coach of CTS Races and group rides on Zwift continue to grow in popularity, and while many riders visit Watopia year-round, this is the time of year when even more cyclists jump on the platform as it gets colder outside. I absolutely recommend participating in group rides and races …