PERFORMANCE
Deep dives into the world of cycling performance; training, aerodynamics, science and technique
The hips don't lie: Is it time to shorten your cranks?
Pogačar does it, Remco does it, even educated knees do it. Let’s do it. Let’s… talk about the minutiae of whether you should drop crank...
Demystifying HRV training: Why it works for the pros and how it could work for you
Heart rate variability is omnipresent on smart watches and dedicated wearables. But do you use it? Hmmm, we thought not. Well, after speaking to those...
Is the Tour de France really getting faster?
Blink and they’re gone – professional cyclists are on overdrive. But how? What factors are sending them to Paris (okay, maybe Nice) in greater urgency...
Buy now, pay later: the cost of fatigue at a Grand Tour
Tadej Pogačar is seemingly coasting to his first Giro d’Italia title. What can stop him? Maybe a crazy attack in the first week whose residue...
How to master travelling with your bike
This summer’s cycling adventure in foreign climes will run smoother and be that bit more enjoyable if you heed our travel advice with special input...
Paris-Roubaix performance: What do cobbles do to the human body?
The brutal pavé of Paris-Roubaix is witness to staggering power outputs and shuddering vibrations. We examine the physical demands of conquering the cobbles
Tyre pressure, experience and finding the cobbled rhythm: how John Degenkolb prepares for Paris-Roubaix
John Degenkolb won the 2015 edition of Paris-Roubaix during his annus mirabilis. He might be 35 but after coming so close in 2023, he’s still...
How to become a demon descender
Descending is an art form that can make or break your ride, especially when faced with the 30km-plus downhills of the Alps. Thankfully, it’s an...
'Looking to mimic riding the Alps? Pretend you’re in a headwind' - how to prepare yourself for long climbs
Whether you’re attending one of Rouleur’s incredible summer Alpine trips or hitting mountains elsewhere, there are proven ways to prep for 30km climbs even if...
Fighting fatigue: why cycling fatigue is in the brain, not in a head unit
Data can assist progress in cycling. But the key driver is your brain and how you feel. That’s why it’s time to learn from Rolf...
Fasted training: Does fast equal fast?
Hit racing weight and become a fat-burning machine? That’s the calling card of glycogen-depleted training. But, says a new study, it may not be all...
Will running this winter make you a better cyclist?
Each winter, it seems like an increasing number of professional cyclists are adding running to their training armoury. But should you, the recreational cyclist, do...
I'll believe it when I see it: Visualising a faster, stronger you
Visualisation and mental imagery is a proven performance-enhancer at the peak of the performance pyramid, but rarely used by amateur cyclists. Until now, that is,...
Cycling strength training: how strength and conditioning can level up your riding
Boost cycling performance and, more importantly, quality of life with just one weights session a week? It can be done, says strength coach to the...
Alcohol and cycling: The truth behind beer and bikes
Alcohol and cycling aren’t exactly happy bedfellows but, for many, they’re certainly lifelong companions. As it’s the season of goodwill, where corks are popping and...
Higher, faster, stronger and more fun: why indoor riding is a must
Scientific and anecdotal evidence shows that the likes of Zwift will transform both your indoor and outdoor riding. Here’s why you must build virtual speed...
Become a more powerful cyclist? It's time for cyclocross...
Cyclocross is a wonderous sport that’ll transform your fitness and technical skills. Here, we dig deep into the muddy fields to reveal how, with a...
Would I lie to you? I might not have to...
Placebo could provide the performance boost your cycling needs. And it might not even require a spoonful of deception…
The miner, the telephonist, and the pickle juice: what is cramp and how to prevent it
Even the greatest athletes can suffer with cramp. But what is it? How can you ease it? And how do you prevent it in the...
Supplementing peak performance: What the pros use
Sports nutrition is rife with snake-oil proclamations, of delivering personal bests based on little more than marketing hyperbole. But not all. We tapped up one...
The stoicism of peak performance: how the world’s best race strong from January to October
Durability in cycling is one of the key differences between the goods and the greats. Rouleur investigates and enters the world of polarised training, kilojoules...
The physiological benefits of cycling - whatever your ability
Occasional cyclist or pseudo-professional, our favourite sport and activity will forge a stronger, leaner, happier you. Let’s lift the anatomical bonnet…
The age-related gender divide
The past few years have seen ‘youngsters’ dominate the men’s Grand Tours. It’s a different story in women’s racing where the biggest races are the...
Science of peak performance: how Tadej Pogačar can win the Tour de France
Tadej Pogačar has an elite physiology that few can match. And, as his head of performance reveals, it’s at a far deeper and nuanced level...
Heading high to peak at the Tour de France: The theory vs reality
Altitude training and the pre-Tour de France camp are synonymous in modern-day racing, but how closely does the physiological ideal match rider experience? Rouleur catches...
Sitting or standing? The appliance of climbing science
A rider’s climbing technique, weight and muscle-fibre type will all impact who’ll be wearing the pink jersey in Rome on Sunday May, 28 2023…
Chasing the pink jersey: What it takes to challenge at the Giro d'Italia
Looking to discover the training strategies behind hitting top-five at the Giro d’Italia. Well, you’ve come to the right place…
Training by power: Everything you need to know
They’re omnipresent in the professional peloton and increasingly so at an amateur level. Here’s how to maximise your power meter for faster, stronger, Pog-like riding…
Lower back pain in cyclists: causes, cures, and preventatives
It’s arguably the most common injury in road cycling. But thanks to one of the world’s leading physiotherapists and bike-fitters, this could be the year...
Older, faster, stronger: how to adapt your training as you get older
Over 40 and distressed that your best cycling days are behind you? Don’t be. There are numerous proven training and fuelling techniques to ensure there...
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