Shows / Fast Talk
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…
Episodes
- Fast Talk
387: Preparing for Cyclocross Race Day, with Adam Myerson
Cyclocross veteran Adam Myerson shares the essential race-day strategies—covering equipment, course inspection, warm-up, nutrition, and tactics—that can make…
- Fast Talk
386: The Psychological Impact of Overtraining
We talk with Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach about the psychological indicators of overtraining, which can often be the more dynamic signs for athletes and coaches to…
- Fast Talk
385: Potluck Discussion - Fatigue Training, Impact of Pregnancy, and Athlete Parents
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss the value of training fatigued, how to support a pregnant athlete, and what we can learn from parents who are…
- Fast Talk
384: The State of Gravel Racing, with Alexey Vermeulen and Ben Delaney
We’re joined by the Michigan-born gravel racer and the longtime cycling journalist to explore the good, the bad, and the ugly of gravel racing and riding in…
- Fast Talk
383: Longevity and Biomarkers of Performance
In this episode, we take a critical look at the longevity movement and explore the most valuable—yet elusive—biomarkers for athletes. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
382: Can We Resurrect the American Road Race Scene?
Leipheimer talks with our team about how a new racing model used at the Levi Fondo may be the future of domestic racing. Learn more about your ad choices…
- Fast Talk
381: The Synergistic Power of Training Your Brain, with Dr. Scott Frey
We’re joined by neuroscientist Dr. Scott Frey as we explore the effects of mental fatigue and brain endurance training on performance. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
380: Durability: The Fourth Pillar of Aerobic Fitness
Coaches have known about the importance of durability for years, but researchers are only just starting to catch up. We discuss why it is the fourth pillar of…
- Fast Talk
379: Why Researchers, Coaches, and Athletes Need to Work Closely Together
We talk with Dr. Michael Kennedy about his work trying to bridge the knowledge-practice gap between researchers and practitioners Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
378: Potluck Discussion - Lessons Learned, Comparing Intervals, and Is All Base the Same?
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss lessons learned from big events, the difference between over-under's and true HIIT intervals, and whether all base…
- Fast Talk
377: When Is Our Interval Work Too Much?
Brent Bookwalter talks with us about the importance of balancing physical and mental resources to get our workouts just right. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
376: Too Little Protein? Too Much Sodium?
Two nutritional trends have serious health and performance consequences. We discuss the why, what, and how of protein and sodium intake. Learn more about your…
- Fast Talk
375: Comparing the Top Nutrition Apps for Endurance Athletes
In this episode, we explore how endurance athletes and coaches are using today’s top nutrition apps—and what to consider before relying on them. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
374: The Impact of AI on Training Prescription, with Dr. Paul Laursen
The world of AI is changing extraordinarily fast. We spoke with Dr. Paul Laursen about the current challenges and developments of the technology. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
373: The Revolutionary Work of Dr. Hans Selye
Dr. Stephen Seiler joins us to talk about one of the biggest influences on his own work, Dr Hans Selye who's been called the Einstein of the biological…
- Fast Talk
372: Coffee, Gels, and the Jitters: Using Caffeine Without Overdoing It
In this episode we explore the science of caffeine in endurance sports—when it helps, when it doesn’t, and how to use it wisely. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
371: Potluck Discussion - Is More Better, Training for Time Trial Series, and Dream Research
Our hosts talk about why we shouldn’t believe that more is always better, how to build a weekly time trial series into your training, and what research we’d…
- Fast Talk
370: Our Deep Dive on the Norwegian Method
We talk with Brad Culp, author of “The Norwegian Method,” about the main tenets of the training philosophy, as well as who should and shouldn’t apply the…
- Fast Talk
369: How Coaches and Athletes Interact with Data
Mollie Brewer joins us to discuss how we interact with data – which can say as much about coaches and athletes as the data itself. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
368: Are Shorter Cranks Faster?
On this episode, Lennard Zinn shares his decades of experience and experimentation to help answer the question of whether shorter cranks are better. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
367: Podcast Swap — Body Composition, Performance, and the Dangers of Under-fueling, from the TriDoc Podcast
This week, we share an episode from the TriDoc Podcast. Host Jeff Sankoff is joined by dietitian Alex Larson and coach Juliet Hochman to explore the complex…
- Fast Talk
366: Balancing the Principles of Training with Triathlon
The TriDoc Jeff Sankoff joins us to talk about how to still apply the principles of supercompensation and progressive overload in a sport as complex as…
- Fast Talk
365: Potluck Discussion - Athlete Autonomy, Training Different Bikes, and the Importance of Skincare
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss the balance of athlete autonomy versus prescription, how to balance training with multiple types of bikes, and how…
- Fast Talk
364: How to Help Your Body Fit Better on the Bike with John Howard
We talk a lot about fitting your bike to your body, but there’s a lot you can do to keep your body healthy and help it fit in a more powerful position on the…
- Fast Talk
363: Why Breathing Frequency May Become Our Best Measure of Training Stress
Dr. Stephen Seiler joins us to talk about his new project developing a breathing frequency measure and why it may match up better with perceived exertion than…
- Fast Talk
362: How to Make Interval Work Motivating
Our team of coaches got together and discussed why we do intervals, how to execute them, and most importantly, how to make them more fun. Learn more about your…
- Fast Talk
361: Examining a Critical Meta-Analysis of Training Distribution Models
Dr. Michael Rosenblat joins us to discuss the largest meta-analysis comparing distribution models that he wrote with Dr. Stephen Seiler. Learn more about your…
- Fast Talk
360: Potluck Discussion: First Conversation, Doing Cadence Work, and Training with a Group
In this week’s potluck episode, we discuss what coaches should look for in their first conversation with an athlete, how to best do cadence work on the bike…
- Fast Talk
359: Do Women Athletes Need Zone 2 Training?
Recently, some prominent researchers have suggested that women need far less zone 2 training than previously thought. Physiologists Julie Young and Dr. Dana…
- Fast Talk
358: How to Use—and Not Use—HRV in Your Training
We talk with HRV expert, Dr. Brad Lichtenstein, about the value of HRV in training, what it does and doesn’t show, and what to be careful of when you use it…
- Fast Talk
357: Progressive Overload Is Critical But Does It Have a Limit?
Coach Isaiah Newkirk joins us to talk about why progressive overload is so important to training, and how we can continue to get gains when we can’t add more…
- Fast Talk
356: The Importance of Maintaining Muscle Mass with Jared Berg
Fast Talk’s head physiologist details why it’s important to maintain muscle mass as an endurance athlete, and how to do it even when trying to lose weight…
- Fast Talk
355: Potluck Discussion: Finding the Right Plan, Virtual Base Training, and U.S. Cyclocross
We discuss how to find the right plan for you, using virtual training platforms in the base season, and the state of U.S. Cyclocross. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
354: How Homeostasis Explains Everything
In this summary episode we discuss how homeostasis is at the core of almost every function in our bodies, including how we train and stay healthy. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
353: The Power of Motivational Interviewing, with Dr. Jeff Breckon
Dr. Jeff Breckon discusses motivational interviewing concepts and techniques to empower coaches to better effect change in their athletes. Learn more about…
- Fast Talk
352: The Four Fitness Foundations of Mobility, Flexibility, Stability, and Strength
We talk with coach and physiologist Dr. Stacey Brickson about the importance of off-the-bike work, not just for performance but longevity and health. Learn…
- Fast Talk
351: Drawing Ethical Boundaries in the Coach-Athlete Relationship
Dr. Kate Bennett discusses ethical boundaries, dual relationships, and power imbalances that both coaches and athletes should be aware of. Learn more about…
- Fast Talk
350: How to Set Strava Records on the Most Famous Climbs in the World
Jack Burke tells us how he trained and raced record-setting climbs on Alpe d’Huez, the Stelvio, and the Mortirolo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…
- Fast Talk
349: Potluck Discussion: Sacrifices, Initial Season Workouts, and Over-Communication
Our hosts talk about whether it is better to be balanced or pursue something fully, good workouts to start the season out, and how much communication is too…
- Fast Talk
348: How to Find Your Motivation in the Early Season
Our team talks with pro riders Madigan Munro and Noah Granigan about how they find motivation to train and stay fit when their next race is a winter away…
- Fast Talk
347: Favorite Workouts—Off-the-Bike Edition!
We hear from Fast Talk all-star guests like Dr. Andy Pruitt and Stacey Brickson about their favorite off-the-bike workouts. Learn more about your ad choices…
- Fast Talk
346: The Effect of Virtual Training on Coaches and Athletes, with Robbie Ventura
Training is becoming increasingly virtual. We discuss with Velocity owner Robbie Ventura how to maximize athlete and coach interactions in this new online…
- Fast Talk
345: Why Our Gut Microbiome Is Important for Performance and Recovery
We talk with Julie Ann Davey about the bacteria in our gut and how the composition of our microflora affects everything in our bodies, including our…
- Fast Talk
344: The Role of Nutrition in Optimizing Mental Performance
We shine a light on an oft-overlooked aspect of athletic success: using nutrition for optimal mental performance, especially for endurance athletes. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
343: How to Fuel for Health
There’s an important difference between fueling for performance and fueling for health. In today’s episode, Dr. Mikki Williden and Dr. Paul Laursen give us…
- Fast Talk
342: How to Set Yourself Up for a Successful New Season
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- Fast Talk
341: Potluck Discussion: Hobbies as Training, Returning from Injury, and Off-Season Workouts
Our host regulars discuss when an unplanned activity—such as commuting—becomes training, how to adjust for an event when returning from injury, and what…
- Fast Talk
340: Norwegian Method or Just Good Holistic Practice? With Dr. Stephen Seiler
Dr. Seiler explains what we can and can’t take from the Ingebrigtsen brothers and from the Norwegian approach to training in general. Learn more about your ad…
- Fast Talk
339: How Our Muscles Adapt, with Dr. Brendan Egan
Dr. Brendan Egan joins our hosts to explain what happens in our muscles after a hard training session that causes us to get stronger and faster. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
338: Nutrition Needs of Junior Endurance Athletes
Our hosts talk with Jared Berg about the nutrition needs of development athletes and whether they should eat differently from their adult counterparts. Learn…
- Fast Talk
337: End-Season Form, CX Race Fueling, and Getting to the Top Too Fast?
We discuss a host of questions, from how to get a little more out of your form in autumn, to fueling needs for short races like cyclocross, and why so many…
- Fast Talk
336: How to Train Perceived Exertion and Go Harder
We talk with Dr. Scott Frey and Tour commentator Brent Bookwalter about how our brains perceive effort and ways we can manipulate that perception to go harder…
- Fast Talk
335: Nerd Lab: Dr. Edward Coyle's Defining and Controversial Work on Endurance Athletes
Dr. Edward Coyle was a pioneer in figuring out how endurance athletes adapt and defining what attributes—such as efficiency and fuel utilization—are most…
- Fast Talk
334: How to Measure and Train Zone 2, with Jared Berg
We do the bulk of our training in zones 1 and 2, so this episode will explain how to define them and—more importantly—how to best train them. Learn more about…
- Fast Talk
333: It's Never Too Late to Start an Endurance Sport—or Change It Up
Many started young, others turned their passion into their profession, and some used it to get healthy. Learn from the experiences of multiple athletes and…
- Fast Talk
332: How to Measure Running, with Nell Rojas
In today’s episode, we switch our cycling shoes for running shoes and discuss how runners can accurately measure and pace their training. Learn more about your…
- Fast Talk
331: Potluck Discussion: Race Weight, Not Feeling a Workout, and Big Lessons Learned
In this week’s potluck, we discuss if lighter means you always perform better, how to change things up if you’re not feeling that day’s workout, and what key…
- Fast Talk
330: How Much Interval Training Do We Really Need? With Dr. Stephen Seiler
Nothing has been researched more than high-intensity interval training. We talk with Dr. Seiler about what the science really says and how to apply it to our…
- Fast Talk
329: Nutrition Approaches for Ultra-Endurance Events
Athlete, coach, and nutritionist Stephanie Howe explains how ultra-athletes can optimize performance through evidence-based nutrition practices. Learn more…
- Fast Talk
328: Long Workdays, Training Races, and Varying Base Rides
Our hosts bring their questions on working out at the end of a long day, how to manage when training races are too easy, and if base ride intensities should be…