The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS

S6E308 Active vs Passive Heat Training: Which Works Better?

Heat adaptation can improve performance, comfort, and recovery in hot conditions. But many athletes make the mistake of treating heat training as free fitness.In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford…

S6E307 How to Climb Faster Without Increasing FTP

Climbing faster isn’t always about increasing FTP or producing bigger power numbers. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the pacing strategies, tactics, fueling, and key workouts that…

S6E306 Why Data Alone Won’t Make You Faster

Endurance athletes have access to more data than ever before, but data alone doesn’t guarantee better decisions. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the role of Rate of Perceived…

S6E305 These Habits Are Quietly Killing Your Recovery

Recovery isn’t just about what happens right after training, it’s about all the little things between sessions that add up. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the habits that quietly…

S6E304 What “High Quality Training” Actually Means

Quality training is often reduced to intensity, but that’s only part of the picture. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down what high-quality training actually looks like and why it’s…

S6E303 You Don’t Have a Fitness Problem, You Have a Durability Problem

Most athletes focus on how strong they are when fresh. But performance is defined by what holds up as fatigue accumulates.In this episode, we break down durability: what it is, how to measure it…

S6E302 Why You Shouldn’t Train Alone All the Time

Training alone might feel productive, but it’s not always the most effective way to improve. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford explores the concept of social facilitation and how training with…

S6E301 Why You’re Overcomplicating Endurance Training

Zone 2 training has become increasingly complicated, with subzones like 2a, 2b, and even 2c being thrown around. But does any of that actually improve your training?In this episode, we break down…

S6E300 Why Shorter Rest Periods Lead to Bigger Gains (#300)

Most cyclists think they need more volume or more power to improve. Coach Adam Pulford explains why that’s not always the case and how training density (doing the same work with less recovery) is one…

S6E299 Is High Carb Fueling Bad for Your Health? (#299)

If you're fueling with high carbs during training and worrying about diabetes, weight gain, or gut issues, this episode will change how you think about sugar. Coach Adam Pulford breaks down why your…

S6E298 Build a Bigger Aerobic Engine With These 2 Workouts (#298)

Most cyclists think a massive amount of Zone 2 training is the secret to a bigger aerobic engine, but it's only part of the story. Coach Adam Pulford breaks down two workouts he uses with his…

S6E297 Pro Teams Are Doing Zone 2 Intervals. Should You? (#297)

Zone 2 intervals are trending across pro pelotons and training apps, but are they actually superior to steady endurance riding, or just a complicated solution to a simple problem? Coach Adam Pulford…

S6E296 Finding Your Training Rhythm: A Weekly Framework for Time-Crunched Cyclists (#296)

Struggling to fit training into your busy life? Coach Adam Pulford breaks down a simple weekly framework that helps time-crunched cyclists build real fitness — without burning out or blowing up their…

S6E295 We're Leveling Up — Here's What's Coming

S6E294 Should Cyclists Use Different Power Zones for Indoor vs Outdoor Training? (#294)

OVERVIEWCyclists almost always report a discrepancy between the power output and/or perceived exertion between indoor and outdoor cycling. Typically, this means struggling to achieve the same power…

S6E293 How to Build VO2 max Year Round! (#293)

OVERVIEWShould cyclists incorporate VO2 max work year round or focus VO2 max work on only select periods of the year? Coach Adam Pulford tackles this listener question in Episode 293 of "The…

S6E292 Indoor Cycling: How to Prevent ERG Mode From Ruining Your Workouts (#292)

OVERVIEWERG Mode, or ergometer mode, is a feature on smart indoor cycling trainers that allows the trainer or connected app to set the resistance you experience as a rider. For interval workouts, for…

S6E291 How Training VO2 max Also Increases FTP (and vice versa) (#291)

OVERVIEWIn Episode 291 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", Coach Adam Pulford answers a listener question about the relationship between FTP and VO2 max training, particularly how and why…

S6E290 How To Level Up With Volume, Recovery, Strength, And Community (#290)

OVERVIEWAlthough this is "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", we recognize that not everyone is time-crunched. In particular, we hear from lots of older cyclists who have more time to train now that…

S6E289 Step-by-Step Guide to Creating an Annual Strength Training Plan (#289)

OVERVIEWEndurance athletes are accustomed to building Annual Training Plans for the phases of their sport-specific training, but are less familiar with building annual training plans for strength…