Bill Walton during a cycling trip with CTS

Bill Walton’s Lessons on Joy and Bike Riding

Our friend Bill Walton passed away last weekend and many of the CTS Coaches and CTS Athletes who rode with him and got to know him have been sharing their memories on social media. Back in 2013, CTS Founder Chris Carmichael wrote a Road Bike Action Magazine column about riding with Bill. The gentlest and …

coach summit

Athlete Takeaways from 2024 CTS Coach Summit

  By Darcie Murphy, CTS Pro Coach I have never been more excited to be a professional coach, and that’s because there’s never been a better time to be a coached athlete. I recently spent a long weekend at the CTS Coach Summit in Bentonville, Arkansas, which was a combination of classroom seminars, in-depth discussions …

cycling seated and standing

Cyclists: Seated and Standing Climbing Mechanics to Ride Uphill Faster

A cyclist’s speed going uphill is the product of power, weight, and technique. The first two get the lion’s share of the attention, but the last one can make a huge difference in how comfortable, confident, and economical you are on climbs. Improving your body position for seated climbing and standing climbing on the bike …

altitude camp

The Pros and Cons of Altitude Training Camps

  By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “The Time Crunched Cyclist” and “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” Athletes use altitude training camps to stimulate the production of red blood cells, thereby increasing the oxygen carrying capacity of their blood. There are other benefits, too, but the increase in red blood cells is the most …

cycling group rides

How to Stop Getting Dropped in Group Rides and Races

  By Adam Pulford, CTS Premier Coach, Host of “The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast” Getting dropped from cycling group rides is a probability all riders face. Sometimes it’s caused by inadequate fitness, but even fit riders get dropped when they have poor skills and habits. So, for the beginners and those we are welcoming back to …

getting kids into cycling

How to Get Kids Into Cycling and Junior Bike Racing

    By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “The Time-Crunched Cyclist”, “Ride Inside“ and “Training Essentials for Ultrarunning” High school mountain bike leagues are transforming the landscape for Junior (racing age 18 and under) cycling in the United States. As cyclists ourselves, we are motivated to share our love for the sport with our …

matt-freeman-riding-through-downhill-corner

Cornering Skills to Ride Faster, Safer, and More Confidently in Turns

  By Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach and co-author “The Time-Crunched Cyclist“ Car enthusiasts long derided American muscle cars for being great in a straight line and useless in corners. European performance cars, they argued, were designed for drivers. They had power for speed but also advanced suspension, steering, and weight distribution for superior handling. …

best long ride performance riders at paris-roubaix

Unlock Your Best Long Ride Performance

  By Chris Carmichael, CTS Founder and Chief Endurance Officer Performance is never just about fitness, or even determination. Your performance in specific events often comes down to how you use your energy. Many cyclists are used to riding 2-4 hours, but rarely get the opportunity to go really long and stretch themselves to 6+ …

normalized power

What Is Normalized Power And How Is It Used In Cycling Training?

  by Jim Rutberg, CTS Pro Coach, co-author of “Ride Inside“ and “The Time-Crunched Cyclist” Normalized Power® (NP) is a valuable training metric used to account for the variability of power output during different types of rides and races. It is also used in calculations for other common training metrics, including Training Stress Score, Intensity …