Coach John Hughes

By Coach John Hughes Effective training results from riding in the proper zones (plural). One of the biggest mistakes my new clients made before working with me was always riding at about the same level of effort. (The other was riding too many miles!) … [Read more...] about How To Do Endurance Training Correctly

By Coach John Hughes It depends on how much riding you did over the fall and what your objectives are. This week I discuss how a 76-year-old woman trains for speed. Next week I’ll describe how a 62-year-old man should train for climbing power. … [Read more...] about Should You Do Intensity Training This Winter? (Part 1)

By Coach John Hughes Last week’s column was How Much Should You Train to Get Faster? After I posted it to Facebook, readers made a number of good responses. … [Read more...] about How Much Should You Train to Improve Cycling Performance, part 2

By Coach John Hughes Coach Hughes: I’ve been friends with Elizabeth Wicks for several decades and have coached her for many ultracycling 12- and 24-hour races. She turned 75 in 2019 and gave herself a birthday present of riding PAC Tour’s 1900-mile Ridge of the Rockies trip in July, which was challenge enough.  But she then added another challenge for the year and we … [Read more...] about Elizabeth Wicks Turns 75 and Rides 7,500 miles in 2019!

By Coach John Hughes My long-time friend Bruce Perry asked me a good question.  I met Bruce and his wife Becky when we rode the PAC Tour Transcontinental in 1988.  Bruce and Becky rode tandem. We averaged 152 miles / day for 17 straight days. I remember a couple of days that were almost double centuries. Bruce reminisced “As I remember the trip now it was not … [Read more...] about Ask the Coach: Strength Training for Older Roadies

By Coach John Hughes We’re each an experiment of one. Here’s what I’ve learned from almost 50 years of research and experimentation. … [Read more...] about What’s the Best Food for Cycling?

By Coach John Hughes In last week’s newsletter Dr. Mirkin wrote an informative column Tips for Keeping Your Maximum Heart Rate Up As You Age.  He’s correct that the formula of (220 – your age) is a wildly inaccurate way to determine your maximum heart rate. However, your max heart rate – even if determined with a heart rate monitor by riding all out – is … [Read more...] about Older Riders: Why Max Heart Rate Is Irrelevant

By Coach John Hughes My longtime friend John Lee Ellis, age 67, completed his sixth Paris-Brest-Paris (PBP) this summer.  PBP is a 750-mile (1200 km) continuous ride from the outskirts of Paris to Brest and back, which must be completed in 90 hours or less.  The 90 hours includes all stops for rest stops, meals, sleep, mechanicals, etc. Ellis finished in 83 hours 9 … [Read more...] about Setting Goals as You Grow Older

By Coach John Hughes Question: “I understand that interval training of one type or another is the best method to improve performance. However, I am coming off an extended six month period of minimal riding. Is there some level of base miles I should do before I start doing intervals?” RBR Reader Richard Z. … [Read more...] about How Many Base Miles Before Intensity Training?

By Coach John Hughes In my recent column I’m 70! Yikes!!! Lessons from my Journey Through Life one of the key lessons I’ve learned is to ride less and recover more.  The results are that the riding I do 1) is more enjoyable because I’m not tired at the start of the ride and 2) produces more improvement because I can do a more challenging ride that’s longer and / or … [Read more...] about Importance of Recovery in your 50s, 60s and Beyond: 9 Tips on Cycling Recovery