Efficient, Sport specific and Safe Bike Training
The terribly sad events of the past days are once again a reminder of the ever increasing dangers when training on public roads. It is worth reminding ourselves that the single most efficient and result producing tool for triathlon cycling improvement is the turbo trainer.
Discussing training with age group athletes at our training camps, I observe that so many who already have a busy work and family schedule are also spending so much time ‘commuting’ to training, or engaging in activities that our Trisutto pro (non-working, no kids) athletes do not have time to do!
A lot of the programs I see incorporate gym strength training, which is a waste of valuable time in pursuit of sports specific strength, and also will not develop your speci!c skill level in any of the three disciplines. Instead we incorporate strength work directly into the disciplines of swim, bike and run.
The reasoning is simple, but very effective: What we’re trying to do is engage and strengthen the muscle groups that actually perform the discipline while using the correct skill technique for our sport. Riding a turbo is far superior to road riding if you wish to become a bike monster! It can be controlled, it can be monitored and through smart training I’ve seen the turbo turn many a poor cyclist into a good one. For busy age group athletes, riding the turbo is also time efficient, with no commute to get to training routes considered safer for riding. Instead just hop on, and ‘give it a tonk’!
In my earlier days a turbo set was an every second ride occurrence, however with the onset of ITU legal draft races I let it go. With the last years increasing focus on Ironman I reintroduced it as a big part of what we do. Athletes don’t have to work on if it is not to their liking, however let me be clear:
It is the key to opening the door to time-trialling success, and is at the core of our TBF (Total Body Force) method. The turbo:
Addresses time management issues (no commute, no gym).
Better promotes strength acquisition within the speci!c cycling muscles
Addresses safety concerns of training on public roads
Is suitable for all weather conditions (too hot, too cold, too wet), seasons, daylight or nighttime hours.