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.
Training Babble: Off-Road Insights for Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling
Unlocking Your True Cycling Potential: Is ERG Mode Holding You Back?
Are you truly tapping into your potential on the bike, or has ERG mode taken the wheel? Unshackle your training on the latest Training Babble as I, Dave Bott, share my unfiltered opinion on why ERG mode could be stifling your ride. Throughout this episode, we scrutinize the allure of consistent power output and expose the potential pitfalls of letting technology dictate the pace. By shedding light on how this popular smart trainer feature may lead to a disconnect between rider and ride, we challenge you to consider if it's really serving your quest for peak performance.
Get ready for an energizing discussion that champions a return to the fundamentals of cycling, where perceived effort and active participation reign supreme. We dissect alternatives to ERG mode that encourage you to mimic the dynamic conditions of outdoor cycling, ensuring your training is as impactful and variable as the terrain you conquer. Whether you're gearing up for your next race or simply looking to enhance your cycling journey, this episode is your invitation to redefine the role of technology in your training and reconnect with the essence of the ride. Subscribe and share Training Babble for more provocative insights that will push your boundaries and pedal your passion to new heights.
Hi, welcome back to the training babble podcast, where we dive deep into the world of endurance cycling. I'm your host, dave Bott, the AI voice of Dave Shell, and today we're talking about something that might be a bit controversial for some of you my deep loathing of ERG mode. Yes, you heard me right. I hate ERG mode, and by the end of this episode, you might too. Let's get into it. First things first. Let's talk about power.
Speaker 1:We all know it's a big deal in cycling, but how you create that power, that's just as important. Power is the rate of work we do, measured in watts. Think about it like this If you're pedaling at 200 watts for an hour, you're burning about 720 calories. We use power and everything from climbing stairs to well drinking coffee, but in cycling, power is a mix of force how hard you push the pedals and velocity, how quickly you turn the cranks. You can produce more power, go faster, by pedaling harder, faster, or both, using a mix of gearing and cadence.
Speaker 1:Now let's talk ERG mode. It's a feature on most smart trainers that controls your power output by adjusting resistance based on your cadence. Sounds helpful, right? It keeps your power steady during structured workouts. But here's the kicker. So is it really the best way to train? I'm here to tell you for the most part no. Why am I not a fan of ERG mode? Well, let's break it down First power meters and our bodies aren't that precise. A power meter can be off by about 2% and your body doesn't really notice a few watts difference. Then there's flexibility. Our bodies are complex and the effort required can vary day to day. If you're locked into a rigid power output, you might be pushing too hard or not enough, depending on how you feel. Another point ERG mode can make you miss improvements. By focusing on perceived effort instead of specific wattage, you'll naturally see gains over time. And let's not forget about being an active participant in your training. Erg mode can make you a passive athlete, which is not how real world cycling works. It's about tuning into your body and the ride, not just zoning out.
Speaker 1:Cycling isn't just about power. It's about how you create that power. Outdoors your power can be scattershot, but that's natural. That variability is key to training. When we train, we should mimic real world conditions right. With ERG mode, you're not getting that. It's like training for a flat race by only riding up hills. Okay. So ERG mode isn't all bad. It's great for setting intensity caps on recovery rides or doing specific cadence work. It's also useful if you're limited by your bike's gearing. But remember specificity is key. Learn to adapt to your race's demands, not just what's convenient on a trainer. So what are the takeaways? While ERG mode is a convenient tool for structured workouts, it's not the be all and end all for improving your cycling performance. Focus on the range of your efforts, not just hitting exact targets. Remember it's about feeling the ride and being an active participant in your training. Thanks for tuning in to Training Babble. Please be sure to leave a rating or review, subscribe and share. Until next time, keep pedaling and keep exploring. Happy cycling.
