By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS The days are numbered for my right knee. I’ve known for a long time that I would eventually need a knee replacement. I suffered a compound fracture of my right femur in 1986, cracking it between the femoral condyles at the distal end. In the ensuing …
Anyone who has made it to their 40s and 50s (masters), or 60 and 70s (grand masters) knows we can’t get away with some of the things we did in our 20s. All-nighters, whether for work or play, are harder to bounce back from. A few too many drinks lead to a bigger headache than …
By Alison Tetrick, Pro cyclist, Entrepreneur, CTS Contributing Editor It was the best of times, and it was the worst of times. Nothing like riding an event with your partner to stretch the ol’ relationship rubber band. Will it snap back, or just snap? And no. We weren’t racing with or for each other. There …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS Fear of riding in a group has been a recurring theme in conversations I’ve had with cyclists this summer. Some are new cyclists who took up riding during the height of the pandemic, but there are also the experienced cyclists who have concerns about the indoor …
By Reggie Miller, NBA Hall of Fame, Olympian, MTB Racer, CTS Contributing Editor I’ve heard the clichés a thousand times, maybe more: “Get your head into the game, be mentally strong”. “Focus on what you’re doing and block everything else out”, and my favorite, “Put your thinking cap on and execute”. Now, I’m not …
Athletes and coaches often mistake complexity for sophistication. They think a complex training plan or intricate workouts must be more effective. And there is a time and place for complicated periodization models and advanced interval setups. But, it’s important to realize those things are only necessary once you have maxed out the gains you can …
By CTS Coach Maddison Russell When considering hiring a cycling coach, it’s extremely important to do your due diligence. Whether you are progressing from being a self-coached athlete or a static cycling training plan there are a lot of bases you need to cover. If you are handing over the keys to your training, you …
Chris Carmichael, CTS Founder and Chief Endurance Officer Life is less forgiving after 40. It’s a myth you can’t gain fitness, lose weight, change careers, or change yourself past a certain age; but I do think those changes get harder. Your body doesn’t absorb and shrug off abuse as well as it did years …
By Chris Carmichael, Founder and Head Coach of CTS “I like the idea and you’re probably one of the only coaches I know with the balls to do it. I applaud you for that, but I can’t let you do it.” – Dr. Harvey Schiller, Executive Director of the United States Olympic Committee Watching the …
By Scott Mercier, CTS Contributing Editor, US Olympian, Retired pro cyclist Professional athletes are known for their mental toughness. And professional cycling, with its biblical levels of physical suffering, requires mental toughness in spades. Let’s face it, to be a professional in the peloton, you have to be tough, like hard as nails tough. …