32 Years of Cycling Knowledge in 8 Minutes

*Join* *TEAM* *SEMIPRO* for *$32* *every* *4* *weeks* ($16.58/month yearly). Access *53* *training* *plans,* *307* *structured* *workouts,* *TrainingPeaks* *Premium* *+* *Virtual* and a *one-time* *coach* *consultation* to make every session count.👇🏼

Here are some of the most vital cycling tips I've learned the hard way during the last 32 years of riding and coaching cyclists. When it comes to navigating your cycling, there are some important bits of knowledge here that pro cyclists will never tell you.

------------------

Free stuff

Get my best info, every week, for free 👇🏼

0:00 Introduction
0:14 Lessons Learned the Hard Way
0:22 Inside Pro Cycling
1:27 Don't Blindly Follow the Pros
1:30 Embrace the Season You're In
2:10 Don't Chase Metrics at the Expense of Feel
2:52 Choose Quality Over Gimmicks
4:12 Simplicity Over Complexity
4:37 Ride for Personal Satisfaction
5:09 The Power of a Support System
5:39 Adaptability Over Rigid Plans
6:10 Direction Beats Effort
6:39 Success Isn't Measured by Pain
7:12 Don't Follow 'The Rules'
7:51 Finding Your Place in Cycling
8:01 Outro and Next Steps

[jbrocks]

Well done, lad! As a cyclist of over 50 years, I approve of this message. Nice, grounded approach.

[talibe]

Ride for yourself is the most important...i ride for more than 45 years, im 61 almost 62 and cycling and taking care of my bikes its my therapy for many years, sometimes i train with pro´s, but riding alone or with two or three friends its the best.Cycling is the best sport ever and the bike is one of the best inventions ever.

[SpencerMusic]

I simply like riding my bike. I like looking at it.... I like knowing how it works. They are fun devices that capture my curiosity. I also like going place and riding my bike. It's fun to cruise through an area, town, over bridges... the scenery is nice when going through back roads and over hill climbs. I do enjoy the challenge of the endurance and a little bit of the pain. Mostly though, I like to ride my bike. I will do group rides on occasion but I only try to keep up to a certain degree. My goal is always to just get where I am going and enjoy the sights on the way. I do check my strava and measure myself against others but it only goes. as far as knowing where i sit with other riders. Every once in a while I get a bee in my bonnet and go on a quest to ride a route faster than I have before and when I do It feels better than when I see that I am faster than someone else. Somehow that's not a lasting joy so much as out doing my own efforts.That's a long way to go to simply say.... try riding your bikes to support an adventure. Like a car trip or a train ride it can be fun and enjoyable... pick a destination and go.

[tmayberry]

Going at it alone is very tough 😔 I would know. You have to keep yourself motivated, focused, and confident.

Remember you are an army of ONE. Do what you like and like what you do. Stop when you like.
It's not about time, distance, watts, kit or the bike. IT'S ABOUT THE JOURNEY

[MartinGebauer-cb]

"Dont chase metrics at the expense of feel!" Is probably the best advice I've heard since the emergence of smart bike computers. Putting one's "data" over your own body sensation is just insane. This micro development is almost a text book case for macro: Machines take over and we lose control and sensation.

[CyclingwithVovo]

4:43 Best Tip on this whole video...That is why I ride solo..EVERYONE that is close to me that do group rides their times are WAY off the times I ride. So its either ride when I can or the time I want or rework my whole schedule to fit in someone else's schedule. I tell these people my work schedule ect. and they will not budge an inch to adjust their schedule...Like really???...Screw that, I ride alone...I do multiple of different rides...Zone 2 with Sprint every so often, than a max threshold ride, also a climbing ride, etc..They just do the SAME group ride with no changes.

[BOBFudge]

I needed this video! My biking journey started on BMX, then Downhill racing, then cross-country, and endurance road cycling. I have ridden the huge drops on an expensive bike and 300+ miles in a weekend on a borrowed sub $400 bike. Got married and sold all 4 of my bikes to pay bills. Over the past 10 years, I have gained weight being at an office job. Now, I have 3 kids and my weight has yoyo-ed during the past year. My wife and I decided I needed to bike again because I miss it so much and I need it for my health. I need to "embrace the season" I'm in and start small with slow, more frequent rides.

[strandedpaki]

Perfect encapsulation of keep things in perspective and balanced, between performance and health and happiness 🙏

[markwalker]

Great advice! Road cycling can be a very snobby sport! and there is no place in my life for snobs . Just ride and enjoy it, even if your on a £500 entry-level bike.

[norwayusernorwayuser]

Good advice. I knew most very early on. As a kid when on holiday in Italy at the Riviera I knew I wanted to cycle the coastal mountains. The Netherlands the country I am from has no maintains or real elevation. Twenty years later I managed to cycle there for one week, as a preparation for the Marmotte in France. It was the best cycling week I ever had. I was cycling with a vriend of mine. We encountered some Italian cyclists the way up a few times and raced them to the top. It was really terrific. I knew instantly as a kid that racing up the mountains was what I wanted to do.
Self motivation was a speciality of mine. Reading the mountain road another. It is the absolute best feeling riding on the edge climbing out of the tree zone on hairpin road.

[pedrogrluz]

Really nice video. Simple and straight to the point

[LFMC]

When I started cycling, 55 years ago, we even couldn't know how fast we were riding or the distance. I think people now focus on periferic things rather than having joy on pedalling. And cheating through Strava ahah!

[tom]

Love #2. Thanks for reminding us of that point.

[ills.]

ride for personal satisfaction, best advice ever especially for those who keep telling me im terrible if i didn't get the most best dated gear 💪💪💪🚴🚴

[JordyJayHomer]

I bought a Nike lycra top that I think is intended for running, but I use it as an underlayer when riding in the cold. The seams are glued together with something crappy. It lasted about 4 rides before the seams around the shoulders started coming undone.

[HughDWallace]

Top advice. I am a mediocre recreational cyclist but also a strength coach by profession & I couldn't agree with you more.

[tannerminnis]

Great vid. I appreciate your advice. The harder/faster you go, the smaller the group becomes. Riding your own ride, and finding joy through the experience of riding and training becomes more and more important. I'm someone who works really hard, but is also past my racing prime (43y/I). It's really nice to hear your perspective on what you do. Thanks

[philipsefton]

This was Gold advice from start to finish. 👍

[gearsofmedicine]

Wonderful video - from a cycling (serious since 2019), as a internal medicine/critical care doctor - excellent ideas and important points;

[williamfooks]

Best video yet. Except for the last point. Always follow the rules ;)
There is no one right way but there is better ways, hence your point on kit! For example, Alibaba is not a place for new cyclists