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FasCat Cycling Training Tips Podcast

FasCat Cycling Training Tips Podcast

362 episodes — Page 2 of 8

Too Many Hours Too Soon? Don't Be The Group Ride Hero

Instagram is a funny thing for cyclists: It can be inspirational to see what the pros are doing, but it can also be misleading as far as what we should be doing for training. Coaches Sierra Sims and Elliott Baring discuss what we're seeing in terms of 20+ and 30+ weeks from U.S. gravel pros. What does this do for the domestic riders as they prepare for their year? Is it even a good idea? And what should a regular working stiff with a 9-to-5 do? For starters, relax! And just listen to this great podcast for much needed perspective and solid advice. - Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Sierra or Coach Elliott: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/sierra-sims https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/elliott-baring -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Feb 14, 20251h 2m

How the pros are training now & what YOU should do

It's fascinating to study exactly how professional cyclists are training and why, but what are the takeaways for everyday athletes? Beyond the gee-whiz quotient, what about elite training translates to us, and what is irrevelant or even harmful to try to emulate? That is exactly what Coaches Andrew and Ricky dig into in this podcast. Both are uniquely positioned in that they are professional cyclists AND professional coaches for amateur riders. In addition to some highly specific pro anecdotes, Andrew and Ricky also share some easy-to-remember rules of thumb for your own training. - Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Andrew or Coach Ricky: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/ricky-arnopol -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Feb 7, 202556 min

Strength training for cycling - what the latest research says

If you're a longtime FasCat podcast listener, then you know we're big believers in strength training in the offseason. The science has long proven the benefits for endurance athletes. But what's new? What's the latest science? That is exactly what Coaches Andrew and Sierra get into in this pod, as Sierra brushes up on her master's degree studies with the latest research. -- Want to add weight lifting to your cycling training and get Coach Sierra or Andrew's help? Please visit https://fascatcoaching.com/pages/hire-a-coach to learn more about them, fill out a new athlete questionnaire and to schedule a coaching consultation with them! Not ready for a Coach yet but still want to improve under the guidance of a coach? Try CoachCat! Its like hiring a Pro Coach for a fraction of the price of personal coaching. Getting started is as easy as 1,2, 3 and the 1st month is free, go here ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 Then follow Coach Frank's Top 4 Tips: #1 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans #2 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. #3 Sync all your devices: Whoop, Wahoo, Zwift, Garmin, Hammerhead, Oura, Apple Watch and more! # 4 receive Instant Data Analysis + 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Feb 4, 202549 min

Come Sweet Spot with us on Zwift! Saturday group rides!

FasCat friends, we invite you to join us on Zwift for our Saturday Sweet Spot group rides, where Coaches Jake and Frank lead A and B groups and we chat on Discord. In this podcast, we talk about why so many riders love this wintertime format of getting high-quality, semi-structured work in with a social group. The time flies by, the kJs shoot up, and you can feeeeel yourself getting faster. Join the FasCat club on Zwift and then join our Saturday ride. (If you are already on Zwift, there is no additional cost.) Learn more and sign up here: https://fascatcoaching.com/blogs/training-tips/sweet-spot-saturday-base-rides -- Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Jake: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/jake-rytlewski -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Jan 31, 202541 min

The Remco Effect: Junior development is completely different now

FasCat Coaching has been working with riders of all ages for 20 years, and while the fundamentals of training are the same, the science and technology and culture have changed tremendously. Nowhere are these changes more dramatic than what is going on with younger riders. In this podcast, Coaches Justin and Frank delve into what's changed and why, and what the best ways are for helping young riders develop in a healthy, fun, sustainable way. -- Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Justin: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/justin-bowes -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Jan 24, 20251h 9m

Train better by measuring with OTS: Optimized Training Stress

If you want to improve something, measure it. This applies in life and on the bike. Whether you're talking blood pressure, finances, or FTP, how can you know something is improving if you are not accurately measuring it? The same principle applies to training stress, a key summative metric that quantifies the total load of your training. As coaches and as athletes, we can measure how much work you are doing each day, each week, each month and each year. We balance this with measurements of your recovery metrics, and make prescriptions from there based on your goals. Training Stress Score has long been used to measure training load, and it's a great metric. There are two problems, though: TSS gives you credit for coasting, and it gives you the same amount of credit for a certain amount of wattage in hour one as the same amount of wattage in hour four. As you have probably noticed doing a two-hour ride on Zwift vs a two-hour ride outside, not coasting at all for two hours makes a big difference in how much work you are doing! Similarly, you know how much harder - how much more stressful - a 250w effort feels late in a long ride compared to when you first start. Now, Zwift is a great tool, but don't misunderstand - we aren't advocating that you do all your rides inside! We are simply advocating that you accurately measure your training wherever you do it, so together we can precisely apply the right training load to make you better! At FasCat, we address these issues and other improvements with Optimized Training Stress, which is found exclusively in the CoachCat app. Learn more inside this podcast with Coach Andrew Giniat and FasCat Founder Frank Overton. --- Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Andrew: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Jan 17, 202545 min

How to Plan the Perfect Race Calendar

So you're signed up for a couple big races this year - now what? Coaches Andrew and Ricky break down the planning process on this podcast, including: -how to set your A-race goal (process and power are usually better than time) -how to fill in B and C races -how to determine the optimal number of events -classic planning mistakes to watch out for (we've seen a lot of them! and done a few ourselves...) -- Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Andrew: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat Or by hiring Coach Ricky https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/ricky-arnopol -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Jan 13, 20251h 11m

You CAN have it all: Fun, flexible AND effective training

Normally in cycling, it's a two-out-of-three situation: strong, light, cheap; or aero, light, inexpensive... And the same often applies when it comes to training: you can't blow off structure and expect to get fast and stay fit. However! On today's podcast FasCat Coaches Frank and Andrew explain how you can have fun, be flexible, and still achieve effective results by training with the FasCat method. -- Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Andrew: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection

Jan 6, 20251h 6m

Strength training for cycling - what the latest research says

If you're a longtime FasCat podcast listener, then you know we're big believers in strength training in the offseason. The science has long proven the benefits for endurance athletes. But what's new? What's the latest science? That is exactly what Coaches Andrew and Sierra get into in this pod, as Sierra brushes up on her master's degree studies with the latest research. -- Want to add weight lifting to your cycling training and get Coach Sierra or Andrew's help? Please visit https://fascatcoaching.com/pages/hire-a-coach to learn more about them, fill out a new athlete questionnaire and to schedule a coaching consultation with them! Not ready for a Coach yet but still want to improve under the guidance of a coach? Try CoachCat! Its like hiring a Pro Coach for a fraction of the price of personal coaching. Getting started is as easy as 1,2, 3 and the 1st month is free, go here ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 Then follow Coach Frank's Top 4 Tips: #1 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans #2 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. #3 Sync all your devices: Whoop, Wahoo, Zwift, Garmin, Hammerhead, Oura, Apple Watch and more! # 4 receive Instant Data Analysis + 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Dec 13, 202449 min

What the latest nutrition research means for cyclists, with performance dietitian Alex Winnicki

Between mainstream media reports of national obesity and cycling media reports of pro riders consuming huge amounts of carbohydrates, we cyclists are bombarded with often-conflicting information about food. What's a cyclist to do? On this new monthly series, FasCat Coach Andrew Giniat digs into the latest sports nutrition research with the help of an expert to help guide you in your training, your fueling, and your overall pursuit of a healthy life. On this episode, Andrew is joined by performance dietitian Alex Winnicki, a board-certified specialist in sports dietetics and founder of Second Arrow Nutrition. Together, Andrew and Alex discuss particular examples of what healthy eating and fueling for hard training means for you. Alex argues that there aren't 'good foods' and 'bad foods' - a lot of nutrition is condition-specific. "Our environment tells us that salad is the healthy choice," Alex says, giving an example. "But if you're not eating enough and your health is falling apart...eating salad and then riding for five hours is not the way to health." -- Take your training to the next level by hiring Coach Andrew: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat or Save 50% on CoachCat from now until Dec. 2nd, 2024! https://app.fascat.ai/promo?sale=true Then follow Coach Frank's top 4 tips to ride faster! #1 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans #2 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. #3 Sync all your devices: Whoop, Wahoo, Zwift, Garmin, Hammerhead, Oura, Apple Watch and more! # 4 receive Instant Data Analysis + 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Nov 27, 20241h 30m

3 things that make Tadej Pogacar fast - including 1 you can do

Tadej Pogacar is a talent of a generation, able to watlz away from the world's best riders seemingly at will in both one-day and stage races. But why is he so good? Sure, his natural gifts play a huge role, as do years of elite training. But on this podcast, we present a different view. Three things make Tadej fast: his upbringing, his mental outlook and his genetics. While you can't change your genes, you can steer your mental outlook. And, you can influence the upbringing of the next generation of cyclists. Listen in to learn how. -- You may Hire Coach Justin here https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/justin-bowes or Save 50% on CoachCat from now until Dec. 2nd, 2024! https://app.fascat.ai/promo?sale=true Then follow Coach Frank's top 4 tips to ride faster! #1 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans #2 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. #3 Sync all your devices: Whoop, Wahoo, Zwift, Garmin, Hammerhead, Oura, Apple Watch and more! # 4 receive Instant Data Analysis + 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Nov 22, 20241h 12m

Level up your cycling with this 30wk training plan

Want to ride faster next year than you did this year? The time to start training is now, and we have a 30-week training plan that scales to your schedule. On this podcast, FascCat Founder Frank Overton walks you through the details of what this 30-week program entails - Muscle Tension Intervals, Nino's Secret Training, Foliage Rides, Weightlifting for Cyclists and much more. The best way to get faster is not the latest supplement or a particular magic workout. Instead, the best way to get faster is through training consistently, following a science-based plan tailored to your time to train and your goals. Our training app CoachCat not only builds custom plans for you, but helps you adapt when life throws you a curveball. Between work, kids, travel, sickness and weather, life can get tricky. We get it! CoachCat answers your questions when you need to skip a workout, or change workouts around. As always, consistency is key! This month we are encouraging your consistency by sending FasCat T shirts to athletes who make 80% of their CoachCat calendar turn green through completing at least 80% of their scheduled workouts in October. -- Try CoachCat Free for a month - with no credit card required ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Oct 14, 202449 min

Gravel gossip with Ben Delaney: hot races, big changes, and training prioritization

What are the hot gravel races for 2025? Sign-up season has already started, so on this podcast we're digging into our favorite events, exploring some big changes in race formats, and explain how and when you should train for these challenging events. We're joined by longtime friend of FasCat Ben Delaney, who runs a gravel YouTube channel called The Ride. Dig in and start dreaming about next year. Then, get started with your training with CoachCat or a FasCat Coach! -- Go give it a try for free for a month - no credit card required. We'll give you a custom plan for you to follow and unlimited plan revisions for when 'life' gets in the way. ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Oct 4, 20241h 6m

Build your own custom training plan with CoachCat

We get faster when we follow a training plan, but stock plans have obvious limitations. Therefore, creating a plan that is customized to your goals and your available time to train is ideal - and that is exactly what we are talking about in this podcast. We begin with three simple but important questions: What are you training for? When is your target event? How much time do you have to train? From there, we can build a plan just for you. And by 'we', we mean you and CoachCat, our AI-powered training app that incorporates all 20+ years of our professional coaching knowledge + customer feedback from amateur athletes just like you! Our custom training plan builder uses the most advanced periodized training plan system in the industry. We took our five star rated plans, proven by thousands of athletes (read our five star reviews) and modified them based on athlete feedback to develope this technology. -- Go give it a try for free for a month - no credit card required. We'll give you a custom plan for you to follow and unlimited plan revisions for when 'life' gets in the way. ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Sep 27, 202427 min

The Three Things Good Coaches Do For Athletes

At FasCat, we've been helping athletes improve for more than 20 years. But how? In this podcast, Isaiah Newkirk and Frank Overton break down the three primary things good coaches do: We tell athletes what to do We analyze data to let athletes know if they are doing it right and improving We tell athletes what to do next based on our experience, sports science and the athlete's feedback Then, Isaiah and Frank walk you through the specifics of what the coached athlete journey looks like at FasCat, from the initial consultatoin and custom plans to ride analysis, communication frequency and type, power meter and wearable data analysis, and much, much more. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance.

Sep 20, 20241h 20m

Weight Lifting for Cyclists

The road to a faster, fitter you in 2025 leads straight through the weight room in 2024, and in this podcast FasCat Founder Frank Overton walks us through exactly what that looks like. Frank breaks down the what, the why, the when and the how, leaving you empowered with the knowledge of how to steadily and safely improve your strength and stability. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Sep 13, 20241h 10m

The 'No Training Plan' training solution

As effective and gratifying as following a carefully crafted training plan can be, sometimes you just want to ride... And that can be impactful training, too! Especially here in the fall, riding on a weekly rhythm of taking some days off, and going hard and/or long on other days is a great recipe for mental and physical health. On this solo podcast, FasCat Founder Frank Overton breaks down exactly how you can train effectively without following a training plan, the limits of this approach, and how you can use Coach Cat for guidance along the way. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Sep 6, 202440 min

Annual Training for your best year yet (in '25) starts now: Four coaches explain the process

Hoping to have your best year next year is not a strategy. But you absolutely CAN have your best year ever next year with some planning, starting now. In this podcast, Coaches Allie, Frank, Jake and Andrew walk you through what you need to do when, starting with taking an actual, legit, no-bike riding break once your season wraps up. Then what? Well, give this podcast a listen, and then ask Coach Cat or a FasCat Coach any follow up questions you may have. -- Show Notes: Using Power Data to Review Your Season: https://fascatcoaching.com/blogs/training-tips/using-power-data-to-review-your-season Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Sep 2, 20241h 12m

How to Plan for Next Season

This is the third podcast in an eight-pod how-to series. Last episode we talked about 14 ways to review your season, and on this podcast we discuss how to map our next season for maximum results and fun. Coach Jake Rylewski raced as a professional for many years, and he breaks down the full-year planning methodology for three types of athletes: coached riders CoachCat subscribers self-coached athletes Ready to take your training to the next level? Subscribe to CoachCat for unlimited training plans and access to FasCat coaches who can answer your training questions. Start your free, month of CoachCat (no credit card required)

Aug 26, 20241h 1m

Your training questions answered! By FasCat Founder *and* CoachCat AI

Here at FasCat, we have been answering your training questions for more than 20 years, and we've done 27 'Ask a FasCat' podcast episodes. On today's pod, we have a special iteration featuring questions from 21 email subscribers that are answered both by CoachCat - our expert AI inside the FasCat App - and FasCat Founder Frank Overton. Frank feeds the questions into CoachCat, reads CoachCat's responses, and then adds his own expert analysis. Both offer some surprising answers! -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Aug 9, 20241h 9m

What the best coaches tell athletes ahead of their 'A' race

With your big event coming up, you should have almost all your training behind you. All the hay is in the barn. But even the best training alone isn't a complete recipe for success on race day. Showing up and just hoping for the best will always pale in comparision to showing up prepared, having considered and planned for key variables like: nutrition equipment course terrain aid station logistics race-day transportation logistics In this podcast, FasCat Coaches Sierra, Jake and Frank walk you through the discussions they have with their one-on-one coached athletes to make sure all the i's are dotted and all the t's are crossed. Are you prepared for you next big race? Are you sure? If you are a FasCa one-on-one athlete you may have heard this before. If you'd like to be you can hire Coach Jake, Coach Sierra or an of the FasCat Coaches on our website, FasCatCoaching.com. We even have a super double-secret coaching deal going on right now through August 10. If you are a FasCat app subscriber - you are in luck because CoachCat is trained on this, too! All you gotta do is ask and tell. That's right: chat with CoachCat and say, "what should my aid station strategy be for ___ race?" Ask about the Coursee, Pacing, Equipment, Nutrition, where should I eat and drink, nutrition, equipment... whatever you like! CoachCat has got your back! If you'd like to try CoachCat for free for one month head over also to FasCatCoaching.com - start a free trial, no credit card is required and after that you can save 43% when you sign up with us for the year. 43%! That brings the monthly price down to less than $20 a month. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Aug 2, 20241h 2m

Altitude Training: What, why and how - including if you don't live in the mountains!

More altitude can mean more power... eventually. Training at altitude - or even just sleeping at altitude - can increase your red blood cell production, which means more oxygen to your muscles and therefore more power output. There are other benefits, and many caveats. And we get into those. But what about riders who don't live at or near altitude - and who have a high altitude race like Leadville 100 or SBT GRVL coming up? Well, we'll get into that, too. On today's podcast Coach Frank is joined by Coach Elliott, who falls into that "I live near sea level and I'm doing Leadville in a few weeks" camp. Elliott explains what he's been doing to prepare, and how he is coaching his athletes for Leadville and SBT GRVL. You might not be able to do nine week at altitude like Tour de France stage winner Victor Campenaerts, but there are things you can do! -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jul 26, 202455 min

What's the best power meter? We've reviewed files from them all!

For 22 years we have analyzed files from every single type of power meter on the market, and as coaches and riders we have used a whole heck of a lot of them ourselves. Considering buying a power meter? Well, the Big Cat just got a new bike and bought a new power meter, and he went with a brand he had never bought before. Here, we walk you through the five considerations when buying a meter. Compatibility Trust in the data Drivetrain considerations The type of meter you SHOULDN'T get Price is less and less a consideration as they have all come down (remember SRM's were $3k og) all are around $400 give or take 50-$100 Give it a listen, and let us know what your experience with power meters has been. We're here to help! -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jul 19, 202457 min

Live! Special edition podcast with your training questions answered

We're always game for trying something new here at FasCat, and this week we did a live session on YouTube where we took your questions while recording this podcast. We answer things like: Does the FasCat app work with sports besides cycling? How can I know if I can trust auto-detected FTP increases? Who answers user questions inside the FasCat app? When is the Zwift integration coming? How can I best do my specific workouts outside? Why is erg mode bad for intervals inside? When doing a Zone 2 ride, is it okay to pedal in other zones to get over hills and things? And much more! -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jul 12, 20241h 10m

Six Aspects of Gravel Training to Implement Now

It's the summer of gravel, and we've got some proven techniques for you to step up your gravel game starting now. On this podcast, Coaches Frank Justin break down six aspects of gravel training you can use now: mindset gravel specificity workouts for gravel simulation rides gravel training plans nutrition Fresh back from the Belgian Waffle Ride, we are surfing the highs (and the lows!) of gravel racing with you. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jun 28, 20241h 6m

Get faster all summer with our heat acclimation protocol

Riding in the heat of summer can be hard, but why exactly is that, and how can you train your body to perform better? In this podcast, Coaches Ricky Arnopol and Andrew Giniat explain: heat acclimation for cycling what happens to the body when it's hot the heat acclimations that occur with the proper training the performance benefits of heat acclimation methods for accclimation and some practical actions you can take now to better equip yourself In addition to working with athletes all over, Ricky and Andrew are both racing professionally now, and have plenty of experience training and racing in brutal heat. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jun 21, 20241h 6m

Dad Watts! How to train as a busy parent + shout outs to our dads

As a father to five, Coach Jake knows a thing or two about earning and keeping those Dad Watts. On this podcast, he and dad-to-be Coach Christian talk about various strategies for taking care of your family and training when time allows. They discuss how to maximize the benefit from those precious hours on the bike. We also give a few shouts outs to our own fathers. Happy Father's Day to all you dads out there! -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jun 14, 202444 min

Inside Unbound Gravel with Lauren De Crescenzo + her coach & 100mi winner Elliott Baring

Lauren De Crescenzo sent a solo flyer at Unbound Gravel 2024 in hopes of repeating her 2021 victory. How did it work out? What did the chaos of the race look like from her perspective? And what are the takeaways for going forward in racing and training? Lauren speaks with her Coach Elliott Baring all the time, and on this special episode we bring you inside their post-Unbound debrief. Elliott is too humble to brag, so we'll do it for him - the dude won the 100-mile Unbound Gravel! So make sure to ask him about that soon... -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

Jun 5, 202444 min

A new way to train: think different about how you improve on the bike

Fun, flexibile and highly effective — that is the FasCat way to train. On this special episode, FasCat Founder Frank Overton explains how the FasCat App has incorporated all the most impactful pieces of FasCat training methodology in a customized format that scales to your available time and gives your real-time feedback to every single workout. There are a lot of old and perhaps outdated ways of thinking about training out there. Give this podcast a listen to understand a new way of training - that is fun, flexible and highly effective. -- Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

May 31, 202439 min

Science-based, practical fueling for your big training rides and races

If you want to race well, you gotta pack in the carbs - before, during and after your big race. But exactly how does that work in real-world scenarios? And what exactly does the science say about it? On this podcast, we cover six subjects: -the science of carb loading and pre-ride nutrition -the practicality of that science -the science of how to fuel during an event -the practicality of eating a high volume of calories during an event -the thing of your neutron -fueling examples that work for us and our athletes Coach Christian Parrett and FasCat Founder Frank Overton tee you up with all the info and real-world examples you need to nail your next race - starting days before the event even starts. -- To get your nutrition - and training - dialed in by Coach Christian, hire him as a personal coach: https://fascatcoaching.com/products/christian-parrett Or Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required! 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 💥 Receive CUSTOM fueling recommendations per this podcast 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat.

May 17, 20241h 5m

Trick our AI Coaching? CoachCat answers FasCat Athlete submitted training questions

Hello, listeners! We have a very different podcast for you today. We've taken your great questions that we normally answer with Coaches in our popular Ask a FasCat episodes and run them through our AI-powered CoachCat to answer them. Further, the questions are asked by an AI version of FasCat Founder Frank Overton. The real Frank explains how this experimental podcast will work at the start of the show, and then analyzes how it went along the way and at the end. As you probably know by now, AI can be surprisingly good with a number of things, but it lacks human judgement. At FasCat, we are excited to be using the latest technology alongside our professional Coaching with their real-life experienece, not simply choosing one or the other. Go see what AI-powered Coaching advice does with your own training inside the FasCat app, where the first month is free with no credit card required. https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 If you would like to use the same technology you heard in this podcast, visit our website start a free one month trial. No credit card is required and you can synch your ride and wearable data and start training like a pro for a fraction of the cost. 😸 Use CoachCat just like you would a real coach for a fraction of the price without having to wait for them to respond or analyze your data. 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat. Try FasCat for Free for the 1st Month ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/47rr7em4 - no credit card is required!

May 14, 202429 min

Your gravel training is wrong. Here's what you should be doing

Gravel training is not the same as training for the road, and therefore you should pay attention to different power-based metrics. FTP is not as important nor is your peak 20-minute power. Nor your 5-minute power. So what should you be looking at and trying to improve? In this podcast, we give you the power-based metrics you should pay attention to for your gravel training and racing! What's important is how long you can ride hard. That's way more important than your 60-minute FTP power when it comes to gravel racing. In fact, you can have a low FTP but great 5-hour power. We can that strength 'diesel watts'. Are you a diesel? If so you are probably good at gravel racing! To see what effective gravel training is like including the new Gravel Power workout described in this podcast, try the FasCat app, where the first month is now free! https://fascatcoaching.com/pages/app 📆 Create a Custom Plan using unlimited training plans ⏰ Instant Data Analysis 💥 Custom Workout Recommendations 🧠 Training Plan Revisions 🚀 Auto FTP Detection 🤓 Plus we have connected your activity and wearable data to our AI Coach (CoachCat) to analyze your training-to-recovery balance. 🥦🥕🥗 And don't forget performance nutrition and weight loss meal plans a la Chef CoachCat. Hire Coach Andrew ➡️ https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/andrew-giniat Try FasCat for Free ➡️ https://fascatcoaching.com/pages/app

May 3, 20241h 1m

Lactate Truthers, FTP, Zone 2 & ERG Mode: Myth Busting

Over the years, the internet has twisted the simple definition of FTP. We are here to bust those myths and set the record straight. Coach Jake and Frank also cover "Lactate Truthers", Zone 2 and finally our favorite the right and wrong usage of ERG mode. ERG mode is great but it can be harmful to your training so we discuss. -- The first month of the FasCat app is now FREE: https://fascatcoaching.com/pages/app You'll receive a custom trainning plan, unlimited training plan revisisons, custom workouts, Auto FTP detection, daily Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology + meal plans, and of course the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Ride Faster Now with FasCat Get started with your free month now: https://fascatcoaching.com/pages/app

Apr 26, 202452 min

Achieve your best results with consistency. Here's how

For years FasCat has touted 'FTFP' - or follow the f'ing plan! But we realize life often gets in the way of executing a detailed training plan to the T. And that's okay! On this podcast, we talk about how you can adapt to life's winding road, make changes in your training as things come up, but still stay the course to achieving your goals. FasCat is here to help you stay consistent with two great options: you can hire a full-time professional coach or you can use our new FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, and of course the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Get started with your free month now: https://fascatcoaching.com/app

Apr 19, 20241h 8m

Will AI replace human coaches in endurance sports?

Will AI replace human coaches in Endurance Sports? The short answer is YES. The long answer is No. No doubt, AI will 100% change how humans coach endurance athletes. Or at least the Coaches who adopt and embrace the technology. Gone are the days of a coach spending most of their time on training plan design, data analysis, custom workouts, scheduling and training plan revisions. AI automates those tasks, mind blowingly well. In fact, our very own CoachCat performs these tasks NOW. This frees up professional coaches to do what they do best, which is to guide athletes through their experience. On this podcast, FasCat Founder Frank Overton explains what AI is doing now in endurance sports coaching, what it could in the future, and what this means for professional coaches and athletes alike. Find out for yourself with a free month on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, and of course the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Get started with your free month now: https://fascatcoaching.com/app

Apr 12, 20241h 1m

How to ace your first gravel race (of the season, or even ever!)

Do you have your first gravel race coming up? Or perhaps you've already done a few in years past, but you've got your first gravel race of the season in your sights. Well, on this podcast, Coach Justin Bowes and Ben Delaney walk you through five main tips so you will show up ready to have your best race. Coach Justin explains how to: 1 get your body ready 2 get your bike ready 3 plan out your nutrition 4 dial in your equipment and 5 practice, practice, practice everything on the all-important simulation ride -- Be sure to check out Coach Justin's page, where you can learn more about him and hire him as a personal coach: https://fascatcoaching.com/products/justin-bowes To start training for your best year yet, get a free month on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches like Justin and now the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Get started with your free month now: https://fascatcoaching.com/app

Apr 5, 20241h 1m

5 must-know cycling nutrition strategies

If you're interested in going fast, then paying attention to what, when and how much you eat on the bike is of huge importance. And the science and practice of on-bike nutrition has rocketed ahead recently, with the huge amount of carbohydrate consumed in particular being a major change from just a few short years ago. On this podcast, Coach Christian Parrett digs into what you need to know now to fuel your best races and intense training, based on the current science and how it applies to both elite pros and everyday Janes and Joes. Coach Christian raced professionally for a number of years, and has some funny as well as enlightening stories to tell, comparing what is happening in sports science now with how things worked - or didn't! - back in his day. We reference three links in the podcast: -a power-to-speed calculator where you can tweak parameters like your weight and speed and ground surface to see how that affects the amount of power required: https://www.gribble.org/cycling/power_v_speed.html -an energy gel made from Belgian beer beef stew, stoofvlees: https://www.instagram.com/p/C5Dax7yKUwC/?hl=en -Coach Christian's page, where you can learn more about him and hire him as a personal coach: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/christian-parrett To start training for your best year yet, get a free month on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches like Christian and now the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Get started with your free month now at https://fascatcoaching.com/app.

Mar 29, 202454 min

How I won The Mid South-The Lauren De Crescenzo interview

Working with Coach Elliott Baring, FasCat athlete Lauren De Crescenzo won her third Mid South this past weekend in dominant fashion. On this podcast Lauren and Elliott talk about how she trained to win this major 100-mile gravel race, the strategy and tactics and gear she used, what you can learn from her methodology, and what's next on the calendar for the LDC. To start training for your best year yet, get a free month on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches like Elliott and now the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Get started with your free month now at https://fascatcoaching.com/app.

Mar 22, 20241h 7m

Your best race yet? Try a multi-day event

You know what's better than a great day of racing? Multiple days of racing, all stacked together. Whether a traditional stage race, a multi-day training camp or a race with some additional riding bolted on, there are a few ways to indulge in a big block on the bike, and on this podcast Coaches Sierra Sims and Ricky Arnopol join Ben Delaney to talk about fun and challenging road, mountain and gravel events that they have done and recommend, plus tips and strategies on how to get the most out of them. To start training for your best year yet, get a free month on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches like Sierra and Ricky and now the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Get started with your free month now at https://fascatcoaching.com/app.

Mar 15, 202457 min

5 ways to race at your best

'Know thyself,' Plato said. 'And know thy course,' Coach Allie says. With years of professional racing around the glove under her belt plus years of working with all levels of athletes, Coach Allie Legg knows what it takes to have a successful race. Here are her top 5 tips for having your best race. Know the course, make (and use!) a pre-race checklist, prepare your nutrition the night before, be smart with your efforts, and take a chance! To start training for your best year yet, get on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches like Allie Legg and now the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Use the code IMAFASCAT to get a free month of FasCat at FasCatCoaching.com.

Mar 8, 202448 min

Understanding race variables and other top tips from Coach Maddy Ward

Listen to your body, know the variables, don't treat travel as rest, go with the flow, don't diet on the bike! Maddy Ward is a UCLA grad, a former pro with Tibco and InstaFund, and a new FasCat Coach who on this episode delivers her Top 5 Training & Racing Tips. To start training for your best year yet, get on the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches like Maddy Ward and now the new AI-powered technology CoachCat! Use the code IMAFASCAT to get a free month of FasCat at FasCatCoaching.com.

Mar 1, 20241h 4m

New CoachCat AI technology delivers instant, interactive workout analysis & guidance

Getting better and faster on the bike just got a whole lot better and a whole lot faster. We are proud to announce CoachCat, an AI technology driven tool inside the FasCat App that delivers interactive workout analysis and guidance immediately upon upload of your workout. Based on decades of our coaching experience and the cutting edge of both sports science and AI technology, CoachCat analyses your workout file and provides detailed, supportive and actionable text feedback - just like a FasCat Coach. Further, you can ask CoachCat questions about the workout you just did, or a workout you have coming up. Things like, 'I only have an hour tomorrow but am feeling good, what should I do?' CoachCat provides workout guidance and workout suggestions regardless of whether you are following a plan. Say you want to just ride most days in the week, but then want a suggestion of a workout for one day. CoachCat will offer you a workout based on your parameters and even location, and then once you approve the workout, CoachCat will add it to your calendar so you can view the details and send it to your bike computer. This podcast is all about CoachCat and the future of training. Give it a listen! Better yet, go chat with CoachCat yourself! Use the coach IMAFASCAT to get a free month of the FasCat App, which includes unlimited training plans, the Optimize training-to-recovery balance technology, meal plans, access to FasCat Coaches and, now, CoachCat!

Feb 23, 202450 min

How to test and build cycling durability

One of the new hot topics in training is a concept dubbed 'durability.' It's being talked about by WorldTour coaches and being written about in cycling media. But what is durability really? Is it a new concept? Is it a metric? And most importantly, how do you train durability and test for it so that you can improve as a cyclist? On this podcast, Coaches Christian Parrett and Andrew Giniat dig into what it is, why it matters, and how you can improve it. -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Feb 16, 202455 min

5 Ways To Be A Better Cyclist: Justin Bowes

Be your best. It's a simple concept, and hard to achieve. So here, we're going to keep it simple and straightforward, with five easy-to-remember mantras that will help you be your best in tangible ways. Leading you in this is our new FasCat Coach Justin Bowes, an experienced coaching veteran across various disciplines. -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Feb 9, 202456 min

3 Ways to Maximize Your Zwift Training & Racing

Following a prescribed training plan is the most effective way to improve as a cyclist, and yet… riding and racing in Zwift can be super fun. Can you do both? Yes, yes you can. Here to help us on our digital and IRL training journey is Coach Jake Rytlewski, our in-house Zwift master and father of five - because you know those two things are related. (Jake also raced professionally for years, so Zwift isn't the only trick in his bag.) Coach Jake breaks down Three Ways to Maximize your Zwift Training and Racing — with 9 tips for racing, instructions on how to do OTS rides on Zwift, and how to best incorporate Zwift into your training plan, whether you work with a coach or are self-guided. Are you racing on Zwift? How many of these nine things are you doing? 9. Line up early 8. Be ready for a fast start 7. Stay in the draft 6. Don't coast 5. Know the course 4. Know the Power Ups 3. Know the finish 2. Don't judge your fitness based on a Zwift result 1. Limit Zwift racing to once a week, twice at the most Coach Jake raced for years as a pro, in Europe, Asia and in the US, before starting his now-12-year career as a Coach. You can learn more and hire him here: https://fascatcoaching.com/collections/coaches/products/jake-rytlewski -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Feb 2, 202458 min

Best Cycling Habits Under 10 Minutes

It's January and many of us are in the thick of new year's resolutions that may or may not last. Here to help us become better cyclists - with 10 easy-to-form habits that can last and only take 10 minutes or less - is Coach Sierra Sims. Coach Sierra holds a Master's Degree in exercise physiology, and she did graduate work on the physiology of master's cyclists and bone health in female road cyclists, mountain bikers, and runners. This woman is an expert, folks! Sierra has also won a national MTB championship, and raced at the national level in road and 'cross as well, along with racing in Europe for the USA national team. Suffice it to say, you're in good hands here, folks. Listen in so you can pick up 10 good habits that will improve your cycling in 10 minutes or less. You see what you are looking for - Awareness Test: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahg6qcgoay4 *Sierra's 4-way charging cable: http://tinyurl.com/yc25z349* -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Jan 26, 20241h 1m

Rack Up Training Load with the OTS Workout: Sweet Spot Series 5 of 8

Sweet Spot training is great for a number of things, and today we're talking about how it's highly effective for racking up Training Load - a key metric for any cyclist's training plan. Training Load is the forest view of your fitness, a weighted 42-day rolling average of your recent workouts. The higher the load, the more potential fitness you have at your disposal. On a daily perspective, you might be familiar with TSS from your Garmin or Wahoo - TSS stands for Training Stress Score. FasCat founder Frank Overton helped create this metric back in the day! Now at FasCat we use OTS, or Optimized Training Score, which is a more refined metric that accounts for things like coasting during a ride or weighting the power output at the end of four-hour rides higher than the same output in hour one. On this podcast, Frank and Ben Delaney talk about doing OTS workouts - where the objective is to rack up a prescribed amount of work, not to follow a bar-graph set of intervals. -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Jan 19, 202455 min

The 3 Steps to Achieving Your Cycling Goals

Goals are great to have, but a specific plan to reach your goals is where the rubber meets the road - or trail. In this podcast Coach Elliott Baring walks you through the three steps to achieve your cycling goals: determine your goals determine the demands of your goals build the training timeline to reach your goals As a precursor, the nine talented athletes who comprise the Optimize Collective tell us what they are training for, and how they are working with their coach to get there. Then, Coach Elliott breaks down how you can set your training to achieve your goals, using some examples of two-time Unbound Gravel winner Lauren De Crescenzo, whom he is coaching this year, as well as his own goals, like Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina and the Leadville Trail 100. -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Jan 12, 20241h 9m

How to Sweet Spot on the Group Ride (4 of 8 in the SST series)

Group Rides and Sweet Spot - two things we love here at FasCat. This podcast puts the two together. If you're new to the pod, welcome! And if you're new to the concept of Sweet Spot, know that it's a training zone and a training technique. As a zone, it's between 84% to 97% of your functional threshold power. At FasCat, we have Sweet Spot training baked into many of our training plans, especially at this time of the year. And yes, you can do Sweet Spot workouts on the trainer or by yourself. But cycling is often more fun with others, and the real jedi magic for training is when you can incorporate specific training into either the landscape - like hills or wind - or group rides or even races! So, how to Sweet Spot in the group ride? The answer, as always is: IT DEPENDS. So we discuss a few scenarios: Hard group rides, medium hard group rides, and then the all-important post-ride analysis. This is the fourth episode in an eight-pod series on Sweet Spot. -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Jan 5, 202456 min

40 Hot Races in 2024: road, gravel, MTB, fondo and more!

There are so many rad races available for us in 2024, and here, the FasCat Coaches walk you through 40 events that we're excited about. We've got recommendations for road events, gravel events, stages races, mountain bike events, gran fondo events, and more. While most of the races we suggest are in the United States (as this is our area of expertise), we do have a trio of recommendations in Europe. When you've picked out an event or events you want to train for, we have two great ways to help you get there: -an Optimize subscription with unlimited training plans -personal coaching with one of the experts you hear on this podcast Happy New Year and all the best in 2024! -- Have you been enjoying the FasCat Podcast? Please leave us a review on the App Store or Google Play. Thanks! You can save 25% off a subscription to Optimize — your year-round training solution with unlimited training plans, meal plans, and strength and conditioning videos — with the code 25podcast.

Dec 29, 20231h 6m