Ask a Cycling Coach Podcast - Presented by TrainerRoad

🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 ⁠www.TrainerRoad.com⁠🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/apple2⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2⁠Google Podcasts: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/google⁠// TOPICS COVERED(00:00:00) Welcome + SFR training overview(00:00:33) TrainerRoad AI announcement(00:02:05) Why TrainerRoad AI ≠ chatbot coaching(00:06:03) What SFR training is(00:09:15) Force vs cadence & muscle fiber recruitment(00:14:16) Why the research is mixed(00:15:18) Study: Low cadence maximal intervals (Paton 2009)(00:18:06) Study: Low cadence climbing & TT transfer(00:19:53) Study: Low cadence HIIT in female cyclists(00:22:21) Studies showing no added benefit(00:26:02) Injury risk & knee stress considerations(00:29:09) When and how to use SFR safely(00:33:08) Key takeaways & final adviceIn this special episode, Coach Jonathan digs into SFR or low cadence, high torque training, explaining where it came from, why elite cyclists still use it, and why the research around its benefits remains mixed. He walks through the underlying physiology, reviews studies that both support and refute performance gains, and explains why any potential upside appears small, highly context dependent, and often linked to higher intensity work. Coach Jonathan also highlights the real risks, especially knee and joint stress, and offers practical guidance on if, when, and how to experiment with SFR safely, emphasizing that it is a marginal gains tool best suited to base training and never worth compromising power targets or consistency. The episode opens with a major TrainerRoad update, previewing TrainerRoad AI, the company’s biggest release ever, which replaces Adaptive Training with new in house AI models designed to deliver better workout selection, fewer misses, and more FTP and power gains, setting the stage for a new era of data driven coaching.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- TrainerRoad’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehannahotto - TrainerRoad AI Blog Post: https://www.trainerroad.com/blog/trainerroads-biggest-update-ever-is-coming-%f0%9f%91%80/ - TrainerRoad AI Forum Post: https://www.trainerroad.com/forum/t/trainerroad-s-biggest-update-ever-is-coming/107205/26 - Paton, et al., 2009 Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19675486/ - Nimmerichter, et al., 2012 Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21479957/ - Hebisz, et al., 2024 Study: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0311833 - Kristoffersen, et al., 2014 Study: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3907705/pdf/fphys-05-00034.pdf - Hansen, et al., 2017 Study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28095074/ - Sign up for TrainerRoad! ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad - Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub⁠ // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠ TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://www.TrainerRoad.com/podcast - TrainerRoad on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/⁠- TrainerRoad Forum: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE⁠- TrainerRoad on Strava: ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad⁠- TrainerRoad on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd⁠- TrainerRoad on X: ⁠https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad⁠ - Learn more about TrainerRoad: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur⁠⁠ - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5⁠- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP⁠- Training Blog: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 ⁠www.TrainerRoad.com⁠🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/apple2⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2⁠Google Podcasts: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/google⁠// TOPICS COVERED(00:00:01) Welcome!(00:00:29) Which wearable data points matter, and how do you use them?(00:07:03) Hannah’s take on data and wearables(00:10:23) Sleep tracking reality check(00:14:30) HRV/readiness scores(00:19:00) Steps/calories/strain(00:23:19) Continuous glucose monitors(00:25:41) Hydration + sodium(00:31:13) Recap: what’s useful vs. noise(00:33:12) The best “data” you can collect(00:35:58) Indoor training priorities(00:41:59) Fueling indoors(00:45:11) Workout execution hierarchy(00:49:55) Power vs heart rate(00:55:48) Balancing Zwift racing with structured training(00:58:35) How racing can stall fitness(01:05:59) 2026 Lifetime Grand Prix rosterIn this episode, Hannah and Coach Jonathan dig into the messy middle of wearables and training metrics, what is genuinely useful, what is mostly noise, and how to keep data from hijacking your confidence before you even start a workout. They unpack why metrics like HRV, readiness scores, sleep stages, and body battery style numbers can be wildly inconsistent across devices, and why those numbers work best as retrospective context that confirms what you already feel rather than daily go or no go decision makers. From there, the conversation turns practical, focusing on what actually drives performance, executing the plan, fueling well (especially indoors), and recovering consistently, then using data only if it supports adherence instead of adding friction. They also highlight underrated but far more actionable tools like post ride notes and long term patterns, with a clear warning not to let a watch seal the fate of your day before you have given the workout an honest shot.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Hannah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehannahotto - Sign up for TrainerRoad! ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad - Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub⁠ // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠ TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://www.TrainerRoad.com/podcast - TrainerRoad on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/⁠- TrainerRoad Forum: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE⁠- TrainerRoad on Strava: ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad⁠- TrainerRoad on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd⁠- TrainerRoad on X: ⁠https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad⁠ - Learn more about TrainerRoad: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur⁠⁠ - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5⁠- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP⁠- Training Blog: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 ⁠www.TrainerRoad.com⁠// SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/apple2⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2⁠Google Podcasts: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/google⁠// TOPICS COVERED(0:00:00) Alex Drops a Big Announcement (0:08:19) Why Threshold Feels Brutal (Even When Fitness Is Up) (0:10:21) The Indoor Setup Fix Most People Miss (Match) (0:11:30) The Hidden Reason You’re Stuck: No Real Cycles (0:18:18) Stop Guessing: Rate Workouts the Right Way (0:24:37) The #1 Endurance Mistake: “Easy” Rides Too Hard (0:36:11) Race Pacing Autopsy: Where It Was Won (and Lost) (0:41:27) Rapid-Fire Answers You’ll Actually Use(0:49:27) Plans for your event (gravel, Zwift racing, touring, more) (0:51:22) “My longest workout is 1:30… is that enough for a long race?” (0:56:23) How many intensity days per week should you do? (0:56:53) “Which plan should I pick?” (custom plan vs presets) (0:57:17) “I don’t want to follow a plan” (how to train without feeling boxed in) (0:58:49) When to add strength training (without wrecking key workouts) (0:59:33) Cross-training: “I also do another sport” (how the plan accounts for it) (1:01:58) Vacation, sickness, missed days: “Will it adjust when life happens?” (1:06:55) Quick edits: swap to a shorter or longer workout on the fly (1:03:58) “I already know my FTP… do I need AI FTP Detection?” (1:05:42) Training outside: how to execute workouts outdoors (1:03:36) “Is this only for serious racers?” (training for fun still works) (1:07:31) “Is it going to be boring?” (how people actually do it) (1:09:08) “What makes TrainerRoad different?” (1:15:14) “Can I talk to someone if I have questions?” (coaches + help)In this episode, Alex Wild and Coach Jonathan break down why your workouts can feel way too hard even when your fitness is improving, and the culprit usually isn’t motivation or toughness, it’s how the week is structured. They unpack an athlete calendar to show how intensity can quietly creep in on “easy” days, why that makes threshold feel brutal, and how better training cycles, real recovery space, and honest post-workout ratings get progress moving again. The final portion turns into a rapid-fire TrainerRoad FAQ, covering every question you could have prior to signing up.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Alex’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwildmtb - Sign up for TrainerRoad! ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad - Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub⁠ // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠ TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: https://www.TrainerRoad.com/podcast - TrainerRoad on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/⁠- TrainerRoad Forum: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE⁠- TrainerRoad on Strava: ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad⁠- TrainerRoad on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd⁠- TrainerRoad on X: ⁠https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad⁠ - Learn more about TrainerRoad: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur⁠⁠ - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5⁠- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP⁠- Training Blog: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 ⁠www.TrainerRoad.com⁠🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/apple2⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2⁠Google Podcasts: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/google⁠// TOPICS COVERED(0:00:01) Intro(0:01:29) Offseason reset and avoiding burnout(0:04:02) The “year-long offseason” trap: trying to maintain fitness(0:07:39) Athlete calendar review: big training, no real breaks(0:10:00) Why recovery weeks fail (weekend overreaches)(0:14:30) Reframing rest: creating space for adaptation(0:32:25) Perimenopause training: strength, fueling, flexibility, more recovery(0:48:03) Easy endurance should feel easy (stop “suffering to suffer”)(0:51:57) Fueling focus: carbs and planning hard days (less room for error)(1:04:59) Gift guide begins (budget friendly picks and practical favorites)(1:18:10) Experience gifts, trips, and adventure ideasIn this episode, Coach Jonathan sits down with pro cyclist Hannah Otto to break down a common training trap: not respecting rest and recovery. They talk through the mindset side of recovery, why many athletes never fully bounce back when they keep stacking “productive” weeks without real space, and how weekend overreaches can quietly derail an entire training block. The conversation also covers choosing bucket list events that keep training fun and sustainable, plus practical considerations for perimenopause training including strength work, fueling, flexibility, and the need for more recovery.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Hannah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehannahotto - Sign up for TrainerRoad! ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad - Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub⁠ // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠ TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi⁠- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! ⁠https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q⁠ - TrainerRoad on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/⁠- TrainerRoad Forum: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE⁠- TrainerRoad on Strava: ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad⁠- TrainerRoad on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd⁠- TrainerRoad on X: ⁠https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad⁠ - Learn more about TrainerRoad: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur⁠⁠ - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5⁠- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP⁠- Training Blog: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN

🚀Try TrainerRoad risk-free! 👉 ⁠www.TrainerRoad.com⁠🤝Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 https://trainerroad.cc/TRzwiftclub // SHARE AND RATE THE PODCAST!iTunes: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/apple2⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/spotify2⁠Google Podcasts: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/google⁠// TOPICS COVERED(0:00:00) Intro – Ruth Holcomb on Balancing School, Training and Big Goals  (0:14:42) Coaching Young Riders – Avoiding Burnout and Keeping Cycling Fun  (0:25:37) How Ruth Learned to Pace Long Races vs Short, Punchy Efforts  (0:27:16) Race File Analysis – Why This Athlete Is Blowing Up Mid-Race  (0:30:40) Understanding “Matches” – How Every Spike Hurts Late Performance  (0:33:01) How Lower Threshold Riders Should Pace Cyclocross Starts  (0:40:43) Peaking, Rest and Why You Only Get Faster When You Recover  (1:10:31) Warming Up the Right Way – Avoiding the “Cooked Before the Start” Trap  Pro cyclist Ruth Holcomb joins Coach Jonathan to talk about what it takes to develop as a young rider without burning out, how to balance school with high performance, and what she learned transitioning from XCO racing to long gravel events. Together they break down an athlete’s cyclocross race files to show why so many riders blow up early, how pacing and power spikes drain your matchbook, and what smarter strategy looks like when your threshold isn’t the highest in the field. Ruth also shares practical advice on peaking, rest, warming up effectively, and keeping cycling fun for long term success.// RESOURCES MENTIONED- Ruth’s’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woofholcomb - Sign up for TrainerRoad! ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠- Follow TrainerRoad on Instagram 📸 https://www.instagram.com/TrainerRoad - Join the TrainerRoad Zwift Club 🚴 ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/trzwiftclub⁠ // TRY TRAINERROAD RISK FREE FOR 30 DAYS!https://trainerroad.cc/GetFaster⁠ TrainerRoad is the #1 cycling training app. No other cycling app is more effective. Over 17,000 positive reviews, a 4.9 star App Store rating.// HELPFUL LINKS- Have a question for the podcast? Ask here: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3HTFXNi⁠- Watch our latest Cycling Science Explained video now! ⁠https://youtu.be/z2HXE1-il_Q⁠ - TrainerRoad on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/trainerroad/⁠- TrainerRoad Forum: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3uHvLnE⁠- TrainerRoad on Strava: ⁠https://www.strava.com/clubs/trainerroad⁠- TrainerRoad on Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/TrainerRd⁠- TrainerRoad on X: ⁠https://www.x.com/TrainerRoad⁠ - Learn more about TrainerRoad: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LBb5Ur⁠⁠ - Listen to the Successful Athletes Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3JmKrN5⁠- Listen to the Science of Getting Faster Podcast: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3LpuIhP⁠- Training Blog: ⁠https://trainerroad.cc/3gCdNdN