Rob Pickels Archives

Rob Pickels

Cycling and Running Coach and Exercise Physiologist

Rob Pickels is Cohost of Fast Talk Podcast and was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Product Officer at Fast Talk Laboratories.

Rob Pickels is now coaching with Grant Holicky’s Forever Endurance. where he offers personalized coaching and and monthly training planning services. Rob is now accepting masters athletes and juniors seeking off-road cycling training for mountain biking, gravel cycling, and cyclocross.

Pickels is a Level 3 Certified USA Cycling Coach, holds a master’s degree in exercise physiology, and served as lead physiologist at the acclaimed Boulder Center for Sports Medicine and University of Colorado Sports Medicine and Performance Center before joining Pearl Izumi as director of product innovation.

As a founding coach and Team Manager of Boulder Junior Cycling’s Elite Cyclocross Team, Pickels coached 10 junior athletes to USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championship podiums and 6 to worlds team selection.

His interest in performance led him to both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in exercise physiology. He completed a biomechanics internship at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Rob grew up in New Hampshire and gravitated toward field sports. His propensity for running led him to track and field where he focused on the 110-meter and 400-meter hurdles. Throughout high school and college (Ithaca College), he held multiple school, state, and conference records.

In graduate school at Montana State University, he dabbled in triathlon, before realizing cycling was his strength. Upon moving to Boulder and becoming the lead physiologist at the Boulder Center for Sports Medicine, he switched purely to cycling.

He enjoys racing cyclocross, where his natural anaerobic ability can shine; and multi-day mountain bike races where his need for adventure can be fulfilled.

He has published research in the journals “Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise” and “International Journal of Physical Education, Fitness, and Sports.” He has written for various media titles and brands, including VeloNews, Bike Radar, Podium Runner, and Pearl Izumi.

Latest: Page 10

The Physiology and Biomarkers of Recovery with Dr. Iñigo San Millán

Dr. San Millán, the coach of Tadej Pogačar, discusses the physiology of training, biomarkers of recovery, and why we don’t want to be in a constant catabolic state.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 205

Fast Talk Bids Our Heart-Felt Farewell to Chris Case

Chris Case is leaving Fast Talk! For his final episode, we gather some of his close cycling friends to discuss Chris and his epic rides, his parting wisdom, and what has made him a special part of Fast Talk.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 204

Q&A on Cardiac Arrhythmias, Ultra Endurance Training, Cramping in Juniors, Low Cadence Effects, and Workout Analysis Tools

We asked for your questions on our 200th anniversary episode and we got so many of them that we decided to dedicate another episode to answer them.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 203

Exploring Recent Training Tools with Toms Skujins

Multiple-time Polka Dot Jersey Holder, Toms Skujins, discusses lactate testing, CGMs, ketone strips, and taking his own blood on the side of the road.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 201

The Future of Endurance Sports! With Dr. Andy Pruitt, Kristen Legan, Rob Pickels, and Dr. Stephen Seiler

What will the future of endurance sports look like? From training to research to racing, we examine what is to come.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 200

Indoor Cycling Pathway

Used strategically, riding inside can be a beneficial way to keep motivation high, effectively add intensity, and stave off winter training doldrums. With the help of Joe Friel, Dr. Stephen Seiler, and others, we explore all aspects of indoor cycling.

Chris Case, Dr. Stephen Cheung, et. al.

How to Warm Up for Zwift Races

The demands of virtual racing are different from live racing. Physiologist Rob Pickels explores the science of warmups and how this applies to fast-start Zwift races.

Rob Pickels

Mastering Zwift Race Tactics

Rob Pickels details the many nuances of racing on Zwift, and offers essential tips to improve your tactical acumen for the virtual world.

Rob Pickels

Nerd Lab: FTP, VO2max, and Sprints within LSD

Physiologist Rob Pickels nerds out with Coach Trevor Connor for a deep dive into new scientific research.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 188

Recent Research on Sprinting, Overtraining Your Cells, and Durability

Nerd Lab! In this episode, Mr. Pickels nerds out with Coach Trevor Connor for a deep dive into new scientific research findings.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 172

Exercise in the Heat Pathway

Endurance athletes inevitably face the challenges imposed by training and racing in the heat. How do our bodies respond, and what are ways that we can best prepare? Learn how to beat the heat with advice from Dr. Stephen Cheung, Dr. Stephen Seiler, and a range of experts and coaches.

Chris Case, Dr. Stephen Cheung, et. al.

Managing Heat, with Rob Pickels

Physiologist Rob Pickels joins our hosts to talk about how heat affects athletic performance and the different strategies you can implement to manage it.

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 21

Cycling Roundtable with Andy Pruitt and Rob Pickels

We are joined by Andy Pruitt, an internationally-known fit guru and sports physician, and Robert Pickels, a coach and researcher working at the leading edge of endurance training at the CU Center for Sports Medicine, for a wide-ranging discussion

Fast Talk Podcast Episode 9