By Coach Fred Matheny I’ll never forget the rider approaching me near Boulder, Colorado, some years ago. Roadies are common in that cycling-mad town but this guy stood out, even at a distance, for the smoothness and fluidity of his pedaling motion. He sat rock steady on the saddle and his legs flowed underneath him. I…
Question: I climb a lot better when I’m sitting. If I stand even for 30 seconds, my cadence slows, I lose momentum, and I get winded. Should I try to learn how to stand or just stay in the saddle? I’m 5-foot-10 and 168 pounds with about 10 percent body fat. — Curt P. Coach…
Question: I’m afraid I’m going to go nuts this winter, stuck on the trainer here in the Midwest. Should I periodize indoor training, or is it okay simply to pick three or four trainer workouts and rotate them? — Charlie L. Coach Fred Matheny Replies: Believe me, Charlie, I can identify. I live at 6,000…
Why Recommendations Based on Bike Cops Are Flawed By Coach Fred Matheny The most controversial presentation at the SICI conference was given by Steve Schrader, Ph.D., from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). In his talk titled “Sex and Saddles — What’s the Problem and the Fix?” Schrader reviewed the literature on cycling and…
By Coach Fred Matheny Cycling can be a solo sport. Long rambles through the spring countryside, hard rides in the hills, weekend tours to scenic areas – all can be enjoyed with only your own thoughts for company. In fact, many cyclists prefer to go it alone. Then they can choose their own route and are…
Question: I’ve been getting into riding on Zwift on my smart trainer. Recently I’ve begun to feel numbness in my crotch after about 45 minutes. What can I do to eliminate this scary problem? — Walter H. RBR Replies: Move around and stand up. Most cyclists ride trainers predominantly in the saddle because there aren’t…
