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This podcast is dedicated to bringing the 40+ year old mountain biker the best training strategies to help them ride stronger now and for year to come.
Episodes
Friday Oct 11, 2019
Friday Oct 11, 2019
Last week I posted a review of a new soft tissue tool I’ve been using called the Boomstick. At roughly 2 feet long and weighing 20 pounds, it opens up ways to address tightness and mobility that I didn’t know existed.
Having a long history with the foam roller I thought I knew a lot when it came to improving recovery and mobility through soft tissue work but after experiencing the Boomstick at a seminar I realized I still had a lot to learn. So I decided to go to the man behind the Boomstick, Chris Duffin.
Chris is the founder of Kabuki Strength, a company dedicated to moving the fitness industry forward through innovative training tools and education. He is also the author of the book The Eagle and The Dragon, which tells the story of how he overcame a lot of obstacles to get to where he is today.
I got Chris on for a podcast interview to go over his views on strength and recovery and how they tie into the next level soft tissue work you can do with tools like the Boomstick. We also touch on barefoot training and Mace Swinging (a.k.a. 360’s and 10-2’s). It was a great talk covering a lot of topics but one that anyone interested in maximizing their recovery while decreasing the chance of injury should check out.
If you’re interested in learning more about Chris, the Boomstick and Kabuki Strength you can check them out at www.kabukistrength.com or one of the other links below:
Educational Content - @kabuki_virtualcoaching
Kabuki Strength - @kabukistrengthlab
Chris Duffin - @mad_scientist_duffin
I hope you enjoy this interview and get some stuff from it. And be sure to check out the Boomstick Review for some videos on how to use it on common problem areas for riders.
Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
MTB Strength Training System
Monday Sep 23, 2019
Monday Sep 23, 2019
In the book Sapiens - which I highly recommend BTW - the author talks about the superpowers that separate humans from other animals. We have a couple of them but the one that I like to focus on is the ability to purposefully affect our future-selves.
Unlike other animals that are only focused on the present, humans can see into the future and project themselves into it. This allows us to make sacrifices now that we know will help ourselves in the future.
But, like any superpower, if we choose to ignore it then it doesn’t do us any good. You have to embrace the power and the responsibility that comes with it if you want to put it to use.
This is why I tell people that if you are a mountain biker then you are a mountain biker 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Every decision you make is going to affect your future self, both in the short term and the long term.
Trying to separate yourself from the impact of your decisions on your riding is ignoring your superpower. What you had this morning for breakfast, your sleep habits and your recovery strategies should all looked at as to how they will impact your riding.
Which brings me to this week’s BikeJames Podcast. In this episode I recap the Bioforce Coaches Weekend, where I saw some great presentations and met some really smart coaches.
I had a lot of takeaways from it and have a couple of the speakers lined up for podcast interviews so we can dive deeper into some of the subjects.
I hope you get some useful stuff for your own training, sleeping and recovery plan. I’m looking forward to putting some of the things I learned into place and sharing the results with you down the road.
Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
Monday Sep 09, 2019
Monday Sep 09, 2019
By the time you get this podcast I’ll be on my way back from a seminar in Seattle. It’s hosted by Joel Jamieson for his Bioforce Certified Coaches and I’m looking forward to sharing some of what I learned with you over the next few weeks.
In the meantime, though, here is a new BikeJames Podcast. Here are some notes from what I cover in this episode...
Training
Balance training for mountain biking: Does “balance training” work for improving your balance on your mountain bike?
Skills Training
Why dropping your heels on descents or dropping your outside foot in corners is a bad idea.
Bro Science
Do clipless pedals increase the risk of hip injuries? Three studies would suggest the answer is “yes”, which means a lot for the discussion about clipless vs. flat pedals.
Links to the studies - Study #1/ Study #2/ Study #3
Rider Q & A
Studies show that sitting is more efficient at sub-max efforts so why do you recommend standing up to pedal so much?
I hope you enjoy this episode and get some stuff you can apply to your own training. And remember that if you have any questions or comments about this episode or if you have any suggestions for topics you want me to cover let me know.
Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
Wednesday Aug 14, 2019
One of the recurring themes in my life lately is the need to identify the right problem before you can come up with the right solution. Sometimes we think the problem is one thing and work like crazy to find answer to it only to be frustrated over and over again because we were seeing the wrong thing.
From life to training to riding your bike, it is all one big series of “problems” to solve with physical and mental tools you have available. But you only know the right tools to develop when you know the problem to solve.
The reason I bring this up is that “find the right problem to solve” became the theme of this episode of the BikeJames Podcast. By shedding some light on a new way to look at some common problems we face on the bike and in the gym I hope I can help you come up with better solutions to them.
In this episode I share some thoughts on...
Training: Horizontal Loading vs. Vertical Loading: What is it and which is better for improving hip movement on the bike.
Skills: Pressure vs. Weight for Standing Climbing: Why you don’t need or want you butt on the seat for traction.
Bro Science: Functional Threshold Power vs. Intermittent Power to predict XC race results: Does improving your FTP improve your MTB?
Equipment: Angles 90: Great training tool for chin ups and deadlifts.
I hope you enjoy this episode and get some new perspective on the problem how to improve your power, endurance and skills on your bike. I’ll be in touch next week with a new video showing how standing climbing makes it easier to navigate technical climbs.
Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
Monday Jul 08, 2019
Monday Jul 08, 2019
Hope you had a great holiday weekend. I had a good one myself, getting some riding in with Aka the Trail Mutt.
Aka is getting a little older - just like his master - but he just refuses to slow down. I joke that he gets me out as much as I get him out but it’s true...without his enthusiasm for getting out on the trail as much as possible I probably would have skipped more than a few rides over the last 7+ years.
But I’m always glad when I do get out. The combination of being in nature, getting the “runners high” from a long, grinding climb and the adrenaline rush of some sweet momentum fueled fun is something that never gets old.
Nothing else provides this combination of soul-recharging elements, which is what makes mountain biking so unique. The struggle it provides and the environment it provides it in are the things that keep me coming back to the trail after almost 2 decades of riding.
That’s also why I love sharing my passion for riding and training with everyone. I know that mountain biking isn’t easy but with a little knowledge you can fast-track you progress and avoid unnecessary frustrations.
Which brings us to this week’s podcast. In this new BikeJames Podcast I cover some topics that I think will help you ride faster, longer and with more confidence on the trail.
This Week’s Podcast Topics
Rider Q & A: Why does my female training partner who can’t deadlift as much as me (load or strength-to-weight ratio) outclimb me? Doesn’t my higher deadlift strength mean I’ll have more power and can outclimb her?
Bro Science: Three studies that tell us the characteristics of a good mountain biker.
Training: Why Crossfit or “Mixed Cardio” isn’t as good as “regular cardio” for MTB specific training.
Skills: Cockpit Control workshop overview and insights.
Equipment Review: Neat Ice Bag
You can stream or download this episode below. Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
MTB Strength Training Systems
Wednesday Jun 19, 2019
Wednesday Jun 19, 2019
This week I’ve got a new BikieJames Podcast for you. A lot has happened since the last one and I had a few interesting topics to share, including...
- The opening of my new Catalyst Training Facility in Fruita CO
- Rider Q&A: Is speed determined by power?
- Why your handlebars are too wide
- Resistance Bands: Why I like them and some experiments with them
- Bro Science: The role of emotions on Pacing Strategy
Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
MTB Strength Training Systems
Monday May 13, 2019
Monday May 13, 2019
This week I’ve got a new podcast to share with you. Instead of a single topic, I had a few random things that wouldn’t make for a whole episode alone so I put them together into this BikeJames Podcast.
In this episode I cover…
- Knee Stomp vs. Hip Stomp: Why “stomp your feet” can be a bad coaching cue for jumping or manualing your bike.
- The importance of foot position on the bike for using your Hip Hinge and “stomping your feet” the right way (and why this is a major reason the Catalyst Pedals work so well).
- Some history on the Turkish Get Up and why you may be missing out if all you do is the kettlebell version.
- Some interesting studies on Isometric Training and my Bro Science interpretation of them for us as riders.
I hope you enjoy this month’s episode and I’ll look forward to sharing more stuff with you in the next one.
Until next time…
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
MTB Strength Training Systems
Monday Apr 08, 2019
Monday Apr 08, 2019
In this episode of the BikeJames Podcast I look at two recent studies and their application to mountain biking and training.
You can find the full studies below:
Until next time...
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
Monday Nov 19, 2018
Monday Nov 19, 2018
Everyone knows that training hard is part of getting better. If you don't push your body past what it did yesterday then it won't have any reason to improve your fitness levels.
But we also know that if you push too hard things can go wrong. Usually referred to as Overtraining, almost everyone reading this has experienced the symptoms of pushing our body harder than we should have, which include lack of energy, getting sick and overuse injuries.
Your body will force you to take time off and rest but taking time off is one of the worst things for your progress. Staying consistent with your training is important and so pushing your body hard while also avoiding Overtraining is the key to long term progress.
In this episode of the BikeJames Podcast I dive into the subject of Overtraining, letting you know exactly what it is and how you can use that information to help you. I also share some tips, strategies and tools I've found to be especially helpful for this goal.
Until next time,
Ride Strong,
James Wilson
Monday Nov 12, 2018
Monday Nov 12, 2018
Spending some time getting stronger is one of the best things you can do to improve your perfomance on the trail.
While nothing can replace riding your bike, there are 3 reasons that strength training will help you in ways that just riding your bike can not.
1 - It helps you work on tension skills that you need on the trail but don't do enough on the trail to improve past a certain point.
2 - It helps you work on movements you need on the bike in a less stressful learning environment.
3 - It helps you avoid acute and overuse injuries, helping you stay consistent with your riding and training, which is the #1 secret to improvement.
In this podcast I go over these points in some more detail and hopefully convince you that strength training is not an option if you want to be the best version of yourself both on and off the trail.
Until next time...
Ride Strong,
James Wilson