SEMIPRO CYCLING - podcast cover

SEMIPRO CYCLING

Welcome to Chain Reaction. I’m Coach Damian Ruse, a professional cycling coach for over a decade. Each episode unpacks a real cycling story about the human side of performance.

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Episodes

SPC044 - Solving the Mechanical Efficiency of Your Hips and Ankles

This episode deals with basic problems and errors rather than bike fit per se. A proper bike fit is going to go a long way in helping these elements, but a bike fit you are limited by your structure, and to some extent your event. But basically it’s your limitations that stop you from getting into certain positions on the bike. And so, depending on the extent of your limitations, a bike fit is just a band-aid. Making structural maintenance and improvement a high priority in your training will pa...

May 16, 201328 min

SPC043 - Judging Your Intensity by Feel

Feel is important on a bike, not only for skills but knowing how your body feels in different zones of intensity. Understanding how it reacts in each zone can help you more than the data from your computer, especially when you are riding outside your normal limits. Using Borg's RPE CP-10 Scale, I break down what you might experience at each level, and offer some ways to anchor the feelings to your numbers. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

May 08, 201331 min

SPC042 - Cleat Position: Getting Your Power to the Pedal with Steve Hogg

Where do you place your cleats, and why do you do it that way? Cleat position is usually done without much thought as to why. It’s well worth a revisit because you may be losing power. I got Steve Hogg on the show to discuss his ideas behind cleat position. Steve is a world leader in fitting riders to their bikes, and his advice on cleat position is spot on. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

May 01, 201335 min

SPC041 - When to Use Your Mountain Bike in Training with Alison Dunlap

Training on the road and trainer allows for consistent efforts but it doesn’t help with specificity, especially how your body works under heavy load on your race bike. I got former XCO World Champion and now coach and CX racer Alison Dunlap on the show to discuss her ideas on how and when to use your mountain bike in training. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Apr 24, 201330 min

SPC040 - How to Clean Your Bike Like a Semi-Pro

Everyone has their own style when they clean their bike. I am sharing mine this week, so you can clean your bike like a Semi-Pro, I'm also on the hunt for new ideas on ways to get the job done. Also, I talk about my favourite lube, and break down the great disc brake debate. What are your thoughts on road disc brakes? → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Apr 17, 201326 min

SPC039 - How to Get and Keep Cycling Sponsorship

Securing cycling sponsorship is tough! That's why I've created a 6 step process to help you identify potential sponsors, solve specific problems, create a proposal and seal the deal. This sponsor focussed approach will give help to create relationships that you can build on year after year. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Apr 10, 201329 min

SPC038 - The Cycling Lifestyle - Habits, Balance and Training

Using cycling as a lifestyle creates longevity for staying competitive and healthy. This show takes lessons from Tony Steward of joetoprocycling.com, who's life has been transformed by cycling and racing. We cover useful tips like balancing family life with cycling, the cycling mindset and dealing with beginners in the bunch. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Apr 03, 201335 min

SPC037 - The Art of Building a Cycling Team with Henoch Getz

Cycling teams are not as integrated into racing for semi-pro riding, opposed to the PRO peloton, but with the increase in racing cyclists over the past 5 years, more riders are turning to teams for a PRO racing experience. Henoch and I talk cycling team logistics, dynamics, sponsorships, benefits and more. We also talk about how to get on a team, and how not to be a dick. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Mar 27, 201338 min

SPC036 - Detraining Quickness and Maintaining Fitness

What happens when you stop riding for 5 days? The detraining timeline is important to understand, as is knowing how to maintain fitness when you can't train like usual. I cover both these topics in this episode. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Mar 20, 201325 min

SPC035 - Motorpacing: Your Neuromuscular Secret Sauce

How are you training your neuromuscular response to your chosen event? Motorpacing is hard, dangerous and probably illegal where you live, but it might be just what you need to kickstart your speed. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Mar 13, 201330 min

SPC033 - Practical Periodisation and Training with Adam Zimmerman

Periodisation models are a confusing mess for anyone new the different options. I got Adam Zimmerman from Zimmerman Training on the show to explain his take periodisation and training in the real world. He also introduces a running coach called Jack Daniels that influenced his training and coaching, and discusses some of Jack's wisdom that you can also benefit from. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Feb 27, 201328 min

SPC032 - Managing Overreaching and Preventing Overtraining.mp3

Overtraining is over diagnosed by cyclists, you are probably experiencing overreaching instead, but that's not to say that they aren't both serious and need to be managed. In this episode I go through 7 ways to recognise overreaching, what to do about it if you think you are overreaching, and how you can manage your training load using any one of the 6 popular training programs. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Feb 20, 201327 min

SPC031 - Cycling With Your Eyes Closed : Visualisation Techniques

Two visualisation techniques to get more out of yourself, train your mind and prepare for new situations. Picking your number and practising an event before you actually race. They both work under the idea that visualising new situations will increase your confidence and give you more control of your training, racing and life in general. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Feb 13, 201325 min

SPC030 - Holistic Bike Fitting: What It Is and Why It Matters

Correct alignment of your body on the bike is secondary to correct alignment off the bike. Up to 25% of your training plan should be dedicated to maintaining and improving your bodies functional movement and structure to enable a more aggressive position on the bike. Or adjust the bike to your structural realities. That's holistic bike fitting. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Feb 06, 201328 min

SPC029 - Power and Coaching with Hunter Allen

We talk about the idea behind the The Power and Fatigue Profiles, how power meters help to work out your optimal training hours, why keeping a training diary is the most important part of training with a power meter, specific ways to get the best out of yourself during intervals, books for athletes wanting to understand training, their body and mind, and the future of cycling training technology in the next 5 years. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Jan 30, 201342 min

SPC028 - 15 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Go Coach Hunting

The most important relationship in cycling: Finding a coach is hard enough without being clear what you want out of the relationship. These questions get you ready to be coached and help filter out the wrong candidates. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Jan 23, 201332 min

SPC027 - 5 Ways to Increase Your Safety on the Road

A new perspective on road safety to shift your mindset and give you more freedom when riding on the road. Hint: It's about your circle of influence, not HiVis clothing. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Jan 16, 201324 min

SPC026 - Why Are Knicks So Expensive?

When buying cycling clothes price is a major factor, especially when knicks are involved. How can companies justify charging over $300 for a pair of knicks? The episode uncovers some reasons, but not the ones you may first think of. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Jan 09, 201331 min

SPC025 - 6 Weight Training Fundamentals for Cyclists

Working with these fundamentals will help you turn the strength gained in the gym into muscular power and endurance on the bike. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Dec 21, 201221 min

SPC024 - 5 Training Principles to Live By

These 5 principles can help you make important decisions regarding things like when to stop intervals, when to ride in a bunch and other important decisions that need to be made during training. Having something to fall back makes training consistent and can put your mind at ease. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Dec 17, 201225 min

SPC023 - 6 Steps to Planning Your Annual Training Plan

The 6 steps according to Joe Friel-Planning 2013 or any year is long and complex. This episode goes through his training plan process and sets up a framework for getting the most out of 2013. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Dec 03, 201225 min

SPC022 - How to Make Your Indoor Training Easier and More Efficient

Making training easier and more efficient is all about perceived effort compared to power output. I explore this idea with the latest indoor trainers and their super powerful software. It's amazing what's out there! → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Nov 26, 201225 min

SPC019 - 5 Ways to Optimise Your Life for More Riding Time

Only owning one type of sock and 2 pairs of underwear are a couple of the ways I reduce time spent on mundane and repetitive tasks. This week is all about ideas to give you more riding time. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Nov 05, 201225 min

SPC018 - 2013 Tour de France and Etape Planning with Tim Marsh.mp3

I’m planning a trip to the 2013 Tour and Etape and not using a tour company. It’s a logistical nightmare so I asked Tim Marsh of velonomad.com to help me out. We cover stage watching, flying with bikes, campervans, hotels and rides through the Alps, and much more. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Oct 29, 201241 min

SPC017 - Is it Time To Buy a Power Metre?

The pre-release of the StageOnePower power metre is a sign that power data is starting to become available to the Semi-Pro for a realistic price. This coincides with my hunt for a complete data solution for my new training regime. Join me as I break down power and offer my recommendations for the ultimate bike data setup for today and the future. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO...

Oct 22, 201227 min

SPC016 - Finding Cheap Momentum to Save You Energy

Madison hand-slings are a classic way to get cheap momentum but there are lots more ways. This episode looks at many of the ways to save time and energy when racing. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Oct 15, 201225 min

SPC015 - Boost Your Power and Speed with One Hour per Week

Introducing the Tuesday of Terror aka Hour of Power aka Hour of Speed. The prescribed intervals in this episode are key to building power and speed in both the off season and competition phases. → Subscribe to the Cycling Science Digest → Join Team SEMIPRO

Oct 08, 201224 min
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