Year Review 2016

Chris Carmichael’s List of the “Best of 2016”

  My social media feeds are full of people lamenting how horrible 2016 was, but from where I’m sitting the past twelve months were AWESOME! I am a big believer in taking time to recognize and appreciate goals you have accomplished and feats you have achieved. Some people are too quick to dismiss or gloss …

Old Man Speed

How to Boost Your Old Man or Woman Speed

When it comes to pure speed and power, younger athletes usually beat out us older athletes, but that doesn’t mean they always come out on top. Many young cyclists don’t have the experience to put all that power to good use.  I’m going to share with you a few of the lessons I’ve learned over …

2016Gift Guide

The Ultimate 2016 Gift Guide for Endurance Athletes

  Athletes are hard to purchase gifts for (just ask your significant other). Most people who are not athletes have no idea what you might need, enjoy, or actually use. That’s why you get things like runner wind chimes or a bicycle-shaped corkscrew. Those poor gift givers know you are into endurance sports and want …

FatRutty

The Key to Staying Lean Through Fat Season

  Welcome to Fat Season! Halloween was a few weeks ago, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and then it’s party time through New Year’s! Let’s face it; this stretch of time is a minefield of dietary indiscretions. It’s hard to avoid packing on an extra few pounds with everyone shoving high-sugar, high-fat foods (and alcohol) …

CC Bill usapcc2015

The Proven CTS 9-Week Holiday Cycling Training Plan

Three Workouts, No Excuses. I talk with busy athletes juggling cycling goals with full-time careers and families pretty much every day, and when it comes right down to it you fall into two primary categories: those who figure out how to get it done, and those who rattle off a litany of circumstances that prevent …

pinarello giordana kenda

6 Bike Maintenance Problems You Need To Tackle Right Now!

  As winter tightens its grip, I’m seeing a lot of bikes that are ‘plain tore up’, as one of my favorite old mechanics used to say. Your bike or fleet of bikes have seen a lot of hard hours and miles this year, and this is a smart time to get your equipment tuned …

Ritchey bars

Long Term Review: Ritchey Handlebars and Stems

  There is absolutely nothing more frightening than breaking a handlebar or stem while riding a bicycle. In the 40 years I’ve been riding, some of the worst non-collision crashes I’ve ever seen (meaning not getting hit by a car or colliding into a mailbox) have resulted from breakage or slippage of a cockpit component. …

Rio Track Cycling

The Olympic Cycling Race to Watch This Weekend

After a fantastic series of road cycling events at the Rio Olympics, it is time for track cycling! The 4km Team Pursuit is the track event that captures my attention more than others, mostly because CTS Coaches have worked with two of the four teams in medal contention. A lot of cycling fans are only …