I was recently interviewed on the Student of the Game podcast about the Psychology of the Tour de France. In the podcast, I explore the psychological and emotional challenges of racing for 21 days in pursuit of the "maillot jaune" (the coveted yellow jersey of the Tour de France winner). In the podcast, I introduce [...]
You may be thinking: What does a bike saddle have to do with sports technology? Saddles don’t have computer chips or batteries or record data (at least not yet) Yet, I would argue that a bicycle saddle is one of the most important pieces of cycling technology for several reasons. It is the biggest interface [...]
I was recently interviewed by Dylan Johnson, a world-class gravel and MTB competitor and cycling coach, for his podcast on his YouTube channel: "Can You Use Your Mind to Improve Your Cycling Performance? Sports Psychology with Dr. Jim Taylor" In the interview, we explore the mental aspects of cycling, whether you're a competitive cyclist, endurance rider, [...]
Here is a great article about Tour de France winner and multiple Olympic cycling champion, Sir Bradley Wiggins, and his approach to the mental side of cycling.
Frustration may be your most significant obstacle to achieving your cycling goals. We’ve all experienced the feeling of frustration when we get reeled in by the peloton after a breakaway or our legs turn to Jello with a mile until the summit of a climb. We feel stuck and discouraged, we tense up, and we [...]
In my last post, I introduced you to the importance of intensity in your cycling. I indicated that all of the mental preparation in the world will go for naught if you are not also physiologically prepared to ride your best on race day. After a good pre-race warm-up on your bike or trainer, reaching [...]
Intensity may be the most important contributor to cycling performance once the race begins. It’s so important because all of the motivation, confidence, focus, and emotions in the world won’t help you if your body is not physiologically capable of doing what it needs to do for you to ride your best. Whether you are [...]
No two ways about it, negative thinking hurts your cycling confidence. If you’re on ascending a long and steep climb and negative thoughts, such as “I’m gonna bonk” or “I can’t hang with this group,” pop into your head, the chances are you’re not going to keep up your pace. What’s worse is that if [...]
I was asked recently by a parent of a young cyclist, “What does it take to make a champion?” I thought for a moment and then responded with three words: “Genes, motivation, and support.” So let’s explore these three essential components (pun intended) to cycling development and success. Genes Genes are the foundation of all [...]
