I’ve always been fascinated by the role of genetics in sport. Obviously, there’s the heredity aspect that sometimes helps children of great athletes become great athletes themselves. More practically for those who don’t win the DNA lottery, genes affect the way individuals respond to stimuli, potentially opening the door to even greater customization of …
Training BooksProducts > BooksBUY NOWThe Time-Crunched Cyclist, 3rd EditionThe Time-Crunched Cyclist reveals the fastest way to get fit for road racing, century rides, gravel grinders, cyclocross, Gran Fondos, and mountain bike events. With elite cycling coach Chris Carmichael’s innovative, time-saving approach, busy cyclists will develop fitness, speed, and power in just 6 hours a week. Now powered …
By Mara Abbott, 2016 Olympian, CTS Athlete, and CTS Contributing Editor At the 2016 Redlands Classic I went down hard, and came back up with a cracked collarbone. After 10 years of professional cycling it was my first broken bone. However, when I tried explaining my ensuing fear and uncertainty, people were duly polite, but it …
By Syd Schulz, CTS Athlete and Pro Mountain Bike Racer It’s January, the trails are closed due to slop, the weather is gross and (depending on where you live) there isn’t even enough snow for decent skiing. Maybe you just got in to a big goal event, or your New Year’s resolution is to get …
By Syd Schulz, CTS Athlete One of the most important skills I’ve learned as a professional mountain biker is how to learn. Why? Because I used to be bad at it, and now I’m not. In order to grow as an athlete, progress in a career, or build a successful relationship, learning to learn is …
I want to finish 2017 on a high note, and to do that I need some extra motivation. So I’m issuing a challenge for myself and for you: Complete 15 hours of training from Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve. Challenge Rules We’re going to keep this really simple: there are no rules. Any …
Whenever you suggest weight training to a cyclist, runner, or triathlete, one of the athlete’s first concerns is whether putting on additional muscle mass will hurt their sport-specific performance. Will more muscle make you slower by increasing you total bodyweight, or make you faster by increasing your strength and resilience? There are a few ways …
Last weekend was the first CTS Figueroa Mountain Gran Fondo, and like any endeavor that takes you outside your comfort zone, I learned a lot about being an event promoter. The feedback I’ve received about the event has been overwhelmingly positive, and I am immeasurably proud of my coaches and staff, especially Event Director …
Every year a team of CTS Coaches and nearly 20 athletes rode every stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Our group had a head start on the pro peloton, VIP access to parts of the course that were closed to the public, pro-level support on the road and between stages, and the opportunity …
This week I came across an article in the New York Times about the University of Connecticut women’s basketball program, and it caught my attention because it highlights a subject my coaches and I have been shouting from the rooftops for years: Fitness First! The UConn Huskies are 34-0 this season with only …