Fast Talk Podcast

We explore the physiology of race season—how to find top-end fitness, how long it takes, and the best ways to do it.

Three-time XTERRA world champion and owner of MelRad Coaching, Melanie McQuaid, joins us to discuss how to judge fatigue, the effects of overtraining, and the “crossover effect.”

With regard to physiology principles, what has and has not changed since the 1980s? We compare the science, equipment, and analysis software, then and now. Which decade wins? Stay tuned.

Janis Musins helps us answer questions on time trial pacing, TT position, INSCYD testing, and the coach-athlete relationship.

We discuss the physical and mental aspects of safely and effectively returning to the bike after an injury.

Former Fast Talk guests including Ted King, Lindsay Golich, and Kristin Armstrong discuss their favorite workouts and their benefits.

We compare and contrast various test methods based on three key aspects: 1) the protocol, 2) the data the test provides, and 3) the analysis you can perform with that data.

We discuss the underlying principles of an athlete’s psychological welfare, and why our thoughts and feelings are simply emergent properties of brain and nervous system physiology.

We address questions on how to train grit for race situations, if you can safely override the central governor, and training for a five-day stage race.

We explore how athletes can evolve and find more fulfillment from their sport with pro cyclist Lachlan Morton

We review four recent studies from the scientific literature, addressing the hypotheses, methods, and conclusions of each to give you a greater understanding of the latest findings in endurance research.

We break down every aspect of the time trial: part performance art and part crucible for athletic and scientific experimentation.

In an age when athletes often focus on the specifics, we address the importance of focusing on the fundamentals: training, recovery, and functioning gear—the things that will bring you the greatest return for your investment of time, sweat, and energy.

Age is just a number. Few athletes know that better than Rebecca Rusch, who joins us to discuss how to adapt and perform at the highest levels of sport as you age.

Physiologist Lindsay Golich, who works with some of America’s best Olympic athletes, helps us field questions on heat, altitude, FTP testing, fasted training, and much more.

We sit down with sports nutrition expert Asker Jeukendrup to discuss potential performance gains from modifying carbohydrate load during training.

Coach and endurance mountain bike champ Daniel Matheny helps us field questions on coaching junior athletes, how aerobic capacity is impacted by intensity, PVCs, and much more.

Concussions and traumatic brain injuries are far too common in cycling. We define the causes, effects, management, and preventative measures.