For amusement, I was thumbing through my roomate's USAT magazine (Winter 2010). Now, I didn't expect much but some of the "training advice" is laughable at best. Now, I'm sure there are no advertising agreements with any of the coaching companies publishing the articles in the mag (how do I turn on pink font again)... but is the readership really that incapable of logic?
For example: "I Want More Power" written by Lindsay Hyman (a coach for CTS- I guess they've given up on sports science too)
Lindsay is laying out the benefits of mountain biking in the off season. Great, I love mountain biking and have always used it as a way to ride in the winter, have some fun, and prevent burnout on the bike. But, she is doing so because 'mountain bikers have a more efficient pedal stroke than triathletes'.
Hmmmmmmm, ok, this isn't new data but her comparison is flawed- if triathletes have a pedal stroke with higher peak powers, and you are competeing in a similar event, then perhaps you should try to mimick them rather than a completely seperate athlete. In other words- there is no logical point to having this whole comparison; all it does is show the incompetence of her as a coach. She even states why it is thought that some mtbers produce power differently and it has NOTHING to do with producing 'more power'. Rather, it stems from trying to maintain the traction of the rear wheel on looser terrain.
In my opinion, USA cycling gave up on following sports science a long time ago. Has USAT already done so as well?
For example: "I Want More Power" written by Lindsay Hyman (a coach for CTS- I guess they've given up on sports science too)
Lindsay is laying out the benefits of mountain biking in the off season. Great, I love mountain biking and have always used it as a way to ride in the winter, have some fun, and prevent burnout on the bike. But, she is doing so because 'mountain bikers have a more efficient pedal stroke than triathletes'.
Hmmmmmmm, ok, this isn't new data but her comparison is flawed- if triathletes have a pedal stroke with higher peak powers, and you are competeing in a similar event, then perhaps you should try to mimick them rather than a completely seperate athlete. In other words- there is no logical point to having this whole comparison; all it does is show the incompetence of her as a coach. She even states why it is thought that some mtbers produce power differently and it has NOTHING to do with producing 'more power'. Rather, it stems from trying to maintain the traction of the rear wheel on looser terrain.
In my opinion, USA cycling gave up on following sports science a long time ago. Has USAT already done so as well?