Training Babble: Off-Road Insights for Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling
Unlock your endurance potential. The Training Babble Podcast takes a deep dive into the strategy and science behind training for off-road cycling and gravel racing. Host Dave Schell brings over 20 years of coaching and racing experience, including as former Director of Education at TrainingPeaks.
Each episode features interviews with experts and insiders to inform your training on topics like physiology, nutrition, mental toughness, equipment selection, and race tactics. Expect an informative yet lighthearted conversation filled with practical tips to up your performance. Special guests from across the cycling world join to share their hard-earned wisdom.
Whether you're an amateur looking to reach new heights or a coach wanting to refine your craft, The Training Babble Podcast offers a master-class in endurance training. Challenging conventional methods, busting myths, and digging into the latest research, this show equips you with the knowledge to train smarter and unlock your full athletic potential.
Subscribe to the Training Babble Podcast and join our community of passionate off-road cyclists. With tips, stories, and advice from leading figures in gravel and mountain biking, we're here to support your journey to peak performance and beyond. Elevate your off-road cycling experience with us.
Episodes
73 episodes
Be Here Now: Let Go of the Past, Forget about the Future, Perform Your Best
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, hosts Dave Schell and Matti Rowe delve into the complexities of athlete mindset, focusing on time orientation, the burden of past performance, the impact of aging, and the role o...
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Season 7
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Episode 7
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45:53
You Should NOT Hire a Coach...
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell and Matti Rowe dive into the intricacies of the coach-athlete relationship, emphasizing the importance of alignment between a coach's methodology and an athlete's goals. They discuss common misconc...
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Season 7
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Episode 6
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1:00:27
FTP is everything, FTP is nothing
In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, hosts Dave Schell and Matti Rowe dive into the complexities of training metrics, particularly focusing on Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and its relevance in endurance sports. They discuss the e...
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Season 7
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Episode 5
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45:06
We Hired an AI Coach So You Don't Have To! with Matti Rowe
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, Coach Dave Schell and guest Matty Rowe of Gravel God Cycling dig into the implications of AI in coaching. They discuss the rise of AI tools like CoachCat, the challenges of relyi...
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Season 7
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Episode 4
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44:52
Athlete Spotlight with Megan Onweller: More Moms on Bikes!!!
Send me a message, I'd love to hear from you! SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, Coach Dave Schell interviews athlete Megan Onweller, who shares...
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Season 7
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Episode 3
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1:01:41
Top Training Mistakes, and how to avoid them, with Dr. Phil
SummaryIn this episode, Dave and Dr. Phil discuss the top training mistakes that athletes make. They emphasize the importance of focusing on the fundamentals of training, such as consistency, specificity, and progression, rather than...
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Season 7
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Episode 2
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30:10
Training Check-In with Phil: CRAZY VO2 Max and 5 min power increase
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and Dr. Phil Batterson discuss Phil's training journey as he prepares for an uphill running race. They cover the structure of his training, focusing on VO2 max w...
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Season 7
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Episode 1
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38:21
End of Year Wrap Up and tips for Kicking off 2025 on the Right Foot
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell reflects on the past year, expressing gratitude to listeners and sharing insights on coaching and training strategies. He emphasizes a minimalist approach to coa...
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Season 6
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Episode 30
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15:39
Healthy Weight Loss for Endurance Athletes with Alex Larson
Let's connect! Send me a message at KaizenEnduranceSummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell speaks with registered dietitian Alex Larson ...
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Season 6
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Episode 29
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46:57
The Value of Repetition, Keeping it Simple, and the Magic of Consistency
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell and Dr. Phil discuss the importance of consistency in training, the use of RPE (Rate of Perceived Exertion) for better self-awareness, and the physiological adaptations that occur with structured w...
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Season 6
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Episode 28
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39:52
Indoor Training Tips
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell discusses the transition to indoor training as colder weather approaches. He emphasizes the importance of flexibility in workouts, understanding the limitations ...
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Season 6
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Episode 27
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11:48
Embracing the Off Season and Setting Yourself Up For Success
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell discusses the importance of the off-season for athletes. He emphasizes the need for physical and mental recovery, the significance of reflecting on the past s...
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Season 6
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Episode 26
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15:31
A Peek Behind the Curtain: Inside the Mind of an Endurance Coach
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell and Dr. Phil Batterson explore the intricacies of coaching and training for endurance athletes. They discuss the importance of setting realistic goals, the role of a coach in guiding athletes, a...
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Season 6
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Episode 25
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1:03:42
Why I Coach: Helping Athletes Navigate Information Overload
In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell reflects on his journey into coaching and the importance of simplicity in training. He shares personal anecdotes from his experience with triathlons, emphasizing that effective tr...
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Season 6
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Episode 24
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7:02
Calibrating Your Inner Power Meter: How to Train Better with RPE
SummaryIn this episode, Coach Dave discusses the importance of calibrating your inner power meter by pairing your perception of effort with objective metrics like power, heart rate, and pace. He emphasizes the need to tune into...
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Season 6
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Episode 23
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17:50
The Machines Know!!!: Should you follow your wearable's training and recovery advice?
SummaryIn this episode of Fast Physiology, Dave and Dr. Phil discuss the validity and reliability of training devices and the advice they provide. They highlight the issue of proprietary algorithms and the lack of transparency in ...
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Season 6
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Episode 22
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26:27
Introducing Intuitive Endurance Training: Making the case for flexibility and training by feel
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell discusses the concept of intuitive endurance training, which involves listening to your body and structuring your training based on subtle cues like fatigue, soreness, and motivation. He emphasizes...
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Season 6
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Episode 21
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14:51
Fast Physiology with Dr. Phil: When return to training after battling illness
SummaryIn this episode, Dave and Dr. Phil discuss the healthy way to return to training after dealing with an illness. They emphasize the importance of understanding the stress that illness puts on the body and the need for proper re...
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Season 6
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Episode 20
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21:56
Fast Physiology with Dr. Phil: Magic Bullets and Marginal Gains, what actually works?
SummaryIn this episode of Fast Physiology, Dave and Phil discuss ergogenic aids or performance-enhancing substances. They cover various types of aids, including caffeine, beetroot juice, sodium bicarbonate, beta-alanine, and creatine...
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Season 6
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Episode 19
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26:40
Fast Physiology with Dr. Phil: FTP (Functional Threshold Power) Misconceptions
SummaryIn this episode of Fast Physiology, Dr. Phil Batterson and Dave S discuss the concept of Functional Threshold Power (FTP) and its misconceptions. They explore different methods of measuring FTP and the importance of training a...
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Season 6
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Episode 18
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22:38
Fast Physiology with Dr. Phil: What Causes Cramps and How Can You Avoid them?
SummaryIn this episode of Fast Physiology, Dr. Phil and Dave discuss muscle cramping. They differentiate between different types of cramps, focusing on muscle cramps. They explore the role of electrolytes in muscle cramping and the i...
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Season 6
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Episode 17
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31:06
Sports Nutrition for Women with Kristen Arnold: Fueling Performance through Peri and Post Menopause
SummaryIn this episode, host Dave Schell interviews sports dietitian Kristen Arnold about sports nutrition for women, with a focus on menopause. They discuss the differences between men and women in terms of nutritional needs and how...
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Season 6
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Episode 16
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34:40
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Fast Physiology with Dr. Phil: The Size Principle
SummaryIn this episode of Fast Physiology, Dr. Phil Batterson and Dave Schell discuss the size principle in muscle fiber recruitment. They explain that the body recruits muscle fibers based on the force required, starting with slo...
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Season 6
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Episode 15
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26:59
You're doing it wrong!: The Gravel God's Guide to Gravel Racing.
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell and Gravel God, Matti Rowe, discuss the differences between road racing and gravel racing. They highlight the importance of pacing, drafting, and fueling in gravel races. They emphasize the need...
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Season 6
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Episode 14
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57:08
Fast Physiology with Dr. Phil: Muscle Fiber Types
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell and Dr. Phil Batterson discuss fiber types in muscles and their relationship to endurance training. They explain the different types of muscle fibers, including type 1 (slow twitch), type 2a (fast ...
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Season 6
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Episode 13
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33:18
