Training Babble: Off-Road Insights for Mountain Bike and Gravel Cycling
Real talk on endurance training for gravel and MTB racing. Host Dave Schell coaches and races events like Leadville 100 and Unbound 200, and each episode brings in coaches, physiologists, and industry insiders to dig into the physiology, nutrition, tactics, and training science that actually moves the needle for off-road endurance cyclists.
Episodes
95 episodes
Durability with Matti Rowe
SummaryDave and Matty break down durability, the fitness quality that actually determines whether you finish strong or fall apart late in a long race. If you've ever wondered why your FTP keeps climbing but your race results don't...
Addressing Knee and Lower Back Pain with Martin Kumm
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and guest Martin Kumm discuss why cyclists get hurt and what to do about it. Martin, a sports chiropractor for Team EF Pro Cycling, breaks down the mechanics ...
.png)
Two Weeks Out: Everything You Need to Know Before Unbound with the Gravel God Matti Rowe
SummaryIn this episode Dave and Matti break down everything you need to know in the final two weeks before Unbound Gravel. Whether this is your first 200 or your fifth, the same mistakes show up every year. This episode is about ...
Do You Really Need to Fuel with 100 Grams of Carbs per Hour?! with Uri Carlson
SummaryA new review of 300+ studies claims athletes only need 10 grams of carbohydrates per hour during exercise. Dave and Uri dig into that claim, the history of carb recommendations, and the more important question underneath al...
Sweet Spot Ain't That Sweet with Matti Rowe
SummaryIn this episode of Training Babble Dave is joined by Matti from Gravel God Cycling to take a hard look at sweet spot training, where it came from, why it became so popular, and whether it actually delivers on its promise...
How to Develop Body Awareness for Better Performance
SummaryIn this episode, Coach Dave Schell discusses the over-reliance on data and technology in training, emphasizing the importance of listening to your body and developing intuitive training skills. He shares personal experiences a...
"Easy" Riding for Maximal Training Load and Optimal Adaptation with Marinus Peteren
SummaryIn this episode, Marinus Petersen shares his insights on training load, lactate thresholds, and effective training strategies for endurance athletes. Discover how to optimize your training by understanding physiological marker...
Unlocking Elite Performance, the Power of Patience, and Long Term Athlete Development with Joel Filliol
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Bible podcast, host Dave Schell interviews world-class triathlon coach Joel Filliol. They discuss Filliol's coaching philosophy, the importance of periodization, managing mental load in athletes...
Practical Body Comp Tips for Busy Athletes with Alex Larson
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell and nutrition expert Alex Larson discuss the evolution of fueling strategies for endurance athletes, particularly in the context of transitioning from triathl...
Sweat Testing Made Easy with H Drop Wearable Hydration Sensor
SummaryIn this conversation, Adria from HDrop discusses the origins and development of their innovative hydration monitoring device. The discussion covers the accuracy of the device, its market position against competitors, and how a...
Winter Strength Training for Cyclists with Jen Kates
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, Coach Dave Schell speaks with Jen Kates, a strength and cycling coach, about the importance of strength training for cyclists. They discuss how to simplify strength training, key...
The Athletes' Guide to Training with a Continuous Glucose Monitor with Hunter Allen
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell interviews Hunter Allen, a leading expert in the field of athletic performance and nutrition. They discuss the evolution of training tools from power meters t...
Eating is NOT Cheating! with Uri Carlson
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell talks to sports dietician, Uri Carlson from Inner Wild Nutrition. The conversation discusses how to navigate the holidays, healthy weight loss for endurance athl...
The Quest for the Perfect Tire: with John Karrasch
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble podcast, host Dave Schell interviews John Karrasch, a bike fitter and coach who has ventured into tire rolling resistance testing. They discuss John's journey into bike fitting, the impor...
Reflect, Reset, Rebuild: Making the Most of Your Off-Season with Simon Kessler
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell speaks with coach Simon Kessler about the complexities of the off-season for cyclists. They discuss the importance of mental resets, the need for tailored off-se...
The Science of Breathing and Performance with Tymewear Founder and CEO, Arnar Larusson
In this episode of the Training Babble podcast, Dave Schell interviews Arnar Larusson, the founder and CEO of Tymeware, about their innovative wearable breathing sensor, the Vital Pro. The discussion covers the technology behind the device, its...
Leadville Recap and Post Season Training Advice
SummaryIn this episode, Coach Dave Schell provides a detailed recap of his experience at the Leadville 100, discussing the challenges faced during the event, including traffic, tire choices, and nutrition strategies. He emphasizes th...
Pre Leadville 100 Team Call with Kaizen Endurance
Summary In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast you get to be a fly on the wall and listen in on our team meeting in prep for the Leadville 100. This conversation provides an in-depth overview of strategies and considerat...
Finding Balance: Practical Training Over Perfection
SummaryIn this episode, Dave Schell and Dr. Phil Batterson discuss the concept of hyperoptimization in training, exploring its implications and dangers. They emphasize the importance of consistency, practicality, and focusing on fund...
Training Truths we Wish More Athletes Would Embrace
In this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and guest Matti Rowe dig into the complexities of cycling, racing, and coaching. They discuss Matti's recent experience at Unbound, the importance of supporting athletes, the ...
"Will this make me Faster or Slower?" The mindset for achieving great things with Lea Davison
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, host Dave Schell and guest Leah Davison discuss the challenges and sacrifices involved in pursuing athletic excellence, particularly in the context of Olympic dreams. Leah sha...
We Are What We Repeatedly Do: The Importance of Specificity, The S.A.I.D. Principle
SummaryIn this episode of the Training Babble Podcast, hosts Dave Schell and Matti discuss the said principle of training, emphasizing the importance of specificity in fitness as athletes transition from general fitness to race-sp...
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...
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...
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...
