Fast Talk
The Fast Talk podcast offers the best guides to cycling performance and endurance sports training from world-class experts.
Cohosted by cycling coaches and sport scientists Trevor Connor and Rob Pickels, Fast Talk episodes feature fascinating conversations with world-class experts discussing the endurance sports topics they know best: the best ways to train, effective workouts, questions on polarized and interval training, sports nutrition, physiology and recovery, and sport psychology.
Fast Talk guests and regular contributors include Dr. Stephen Seiler, Joe Friel, Dr. Asker Jeukendrup, Sebastian Weber, Jim Miller, Dr. Andy Pruitt, Dr. Timothy Noakes, and elite professional athletes like Kristin Armstrong, Sepp Kuss, Brent Bookwalter, Kate Courtney, and many more.
Fast Talk is part of Fast Talk Laboratories, a new endurance sports knowledgebase for endurance racers and adventurers.
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72: Do we need training zones? With Dr. Andy Co...
There’s possibly nothing more ubiquitous in cycling than training zones. Trevor and I have lost count of the number of questions we’ve received from Fast Talk listeners that begin with something along the lines of “I was training in zone 4…”...
103 min
352
71: How to train for and race gran fondo-style ...
Not long ago, gran fondos were these strange events popping up in a few places that most racers didn’t understand. Now, when you talk to most younger riders, they know all about fondos, but they might ask you what this road racing thing is all...
92 min
353
70: Finding your strengths through failure, wit...
The days when training software simply showed a power and heart rate curve are a distant memory. Whether you use TrainingPeaks, Golden Cheetah, or some other software, you’ll know that nowadays basic data is mined to reveal a wealth of information...
79 min
354
69: Functional training with Menachem Brodie
We all ride bikes because we love being out on the road or trail, we love performing, we love the thrill. It’s the part of our meal we look forward to. Our vegetables are all the functional work we know we need, but tend to push to the side of the...
86 min
355
68: The big picture — the three types of rides ...
In this episode we’re taking a step back — way back — to see the forest for the tress. Let me explain: Many of you have been fascinated by our recordings with scientists and coaches like , , , and . We’ve received a stack...
95 min
356
67: What is VLamax? With Sebastian Weber
In this era of training data, one number reigns supreme for many athletes: FTP. It’s a badge of pride, or maybe an obsession, and many cyclists pay coaches good money to improve it. But is FTP the only number we should be looking at — or even the...
57 min
357
66: Demystifying periodization with Joe Friel
Periodization is, in many ways, the pinnacle of advanced training. Taking the steps to periodize graduates you to a professional approach, one with purpose, long-term vision, and organized planning. But periodization can also be confusing and,...
69 min
358
65: Debunking supplements — what works, and wha...
Those who take their training and racing seriously are always looking for something to give them an edge — that marginal gain. The obvious and easiest fixes are often equipment upgrades — lighter bikes, more aerodynamic wheels. Then come...
69 min
359
64: Inside the Canadian team’s world championsh...
In episode 64, we ask the question: What does it take to stand on the podium at the world championships? It’s a simple question without a simple answer. Strength buys you a seat at the table, but playing a winning hand takes effective training,...
83 min
360
63: Training gift ideas with Colby Pearce and F...
It’s the holidays and if you’re like us, right about now, you’re scrambling for gift ideas. So we’re trying something new on Fast Talk and doing a gift episode. Of course, there are a ton of great gifts you can give that cyclist in your life,...
81 min
361
62: Listener questions on short rides, diet, ve...
We’ve been getting a ton of questions from listeners, and many of them have had similar themes. (We appreciate the feedback, look forward to your questions, and generate many future podcast topics from them, so please keep them coming.) While...
38 min
362
61: Do you need a coach? With Neal Henderson an...
In the famous book “Daniels’ Running Formula,” Jack Daniels lays out what he considers to be the four ingredients of success. The fourth ingredient is “direction,” and he describes it as follows: “Direction, the final ingredient of...
75 min
363
60: Rethinking the science of trainers
In episode 60 we’re discussing trainers… hey, for those out there who hate them, we get it, but stay tuned, as we’ll tell you why you shouldn’t completely ignore them. For those who love them, we’re going to tell you why riding outside every...
79 min
364
59: Preventing cycling’s most common injuries, ...
PAIN, INJURIES, SORES… they are an unfortunate but nearly inevitable part of cycling. If you want to be among the best, you need to wear them with pride. And if you believe that, then get out of the 1980s. Yes, this is a sport for the tough man...
77 min
365
58: Inside Colby Pearce’s world record hour att...
In episode 58, we talked with Colby Pearce about what it takes to make an attempt at the hour record on the track. Not long after, Pearce set the master’s 45-49 world record with a scorching 50.245 kilometer effort. For this special episode, we...
32 min
366
57: Trail, rake, and flop — bike design with Le...
SO, YOU THINK YOU KNOW BICYCLES? Well, think again. Today we’re sitting down with a legend of the cycling industry to talk about a variety of factors in frame design that most cyclists have never heard of. Yet these design elements — things...
76 min
367
56: The Hour with Colby Pearce
THE HOUR. Those two words represent many things to many people. Some believe it to be the ultimate test of man and machine: out there on the track, with nowhere to hide, an athlete must come to terms with what he or she is truly capable of....
91 min
368
55: How to win with mind power
The best riders understand… mindset wins races. And controlling your thought patterns in races is one of the most powerful things you can do. Mindset in cycling is an important and frequently neglected side of our training and racing. It’s avoided...
77 min
369
54: Applying the polarized training model, with...
IN , which we published several weeks ago, we had the chance to speak with Jay-Z — or at least the Jay-Z of the exercise physiology world, Dr. Stephen Seiler. We took a deep dive into the polarized model of endurance training … or so we...
90 min
370
53: From collegiate racing to the WorldTour in ...
LAST FALL TREVOR AND I CONDUCTED a not-so-controlled , and we had the help of a young, talented Colorado rider. His name? . At the time of our little experiment, Kuss was about to head to Europe for a training camp with his new...
78 min
371
52: Enhancing Your Recovery With Normatec
IF YOU’RE A LONGTIME LISTENER of Fast Talk, you’ve probably noticed a theme emerge time and time again: To maximize performance you need to be as intense in your recovery as you are in your training. Put another way, the more you want to...
72 min
372
51: Polarizing your training, with Dr. Stephen ...
EPISODE 51 OF FAST TALK is one that Coach Connor and I are particularly excited about. In fact, Trevor is so enamored with our guest’s research that he refers to him as the Jay-Z of physiology. I don’t really know what that means, but I’m...
74 min
373
50: Unpacking the gospel of Joe Friel’s new ‘Tr...
Cycling can be a fickle sport. Coaches come and go; new, exciting, revolutionary ways of training take the sport by storm then grown stale; riders at the local training race who were once unbeatable age and fade from the front. Few things have...
73 min
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49: Training, fueling, and suffering at Dirty K...
EPISODE 49 IS A SPECIAL EDITION of Fast Talk. We’re talking the science of suffering. As many of you may know, Chris has become something of the VeloNews resident lab rat, guinea pig, and/or crash test dummy. A Case study of one, if...
59 min
375
48: Race tactics and training with Rally’s Huff...
IN EPISODE 48 WE DELVE into the second part of our series on strategy and training for particular races. (.) This episode is all about hilly road races and winning the GC at a stage race. If you salivate over 12 percent grades, if your heart...
56 min