FASTER Cycling

Most people in the west think of two things when discussing mushrooms. Food and hallucinogens. However, mushrooms have been used in the east for thousands of years for health. Recently, a cycling team used cordyceps mushrooms to help their athletes improve VO2 Max and studies show humans do get a VO2 Max boost from mushrooms. In this episode of FASTER we talk with Danielle Ryan Dawson from FourSigmatic about how adaptogens and mushrooms can be used to improve sports performance. Listen to this episode to learn more about mushroom so you can be faster.

Watt Points: 45-60 

We've got exciting news about the 2025 FLO Factory Team. For 2025 we are bringing the management of the team in-house. There are lots of exciting changes in store and we want to share them all with you. Listen to this episode to learn all about the FLO Factory Team and how you can become a member. 

Did you know that the fastest disc brake wheels we make are our gravel wheels even through they are 23mm shallower than our deepest road wheel? In this episode we discuss why and have a detailed conversation about Dollars/Watt when looking at gear. Most people look at the cost and the number of watts saved but time needs to be considered. We break down the math and show you how to save the most watts for the least amount of money.

Watts/Dollar Blog Post

Pelvic floor health may be something you've never heard of. While pelvic floor physical therapists been around since the 70s many issues go misdiagnosed by clinicians unaware of this specialty. Most pelvic floor work has focused on women's health but men are also impacted by pelvic floor issues. Listen to this episode of FASTER to learn all about pelvic floor health and how you ensure you aren't experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction. If you're an athlete looking to get pregnant, this episode could help you return to sport much faster and in much better health. Listen to this episode to optimize your pelvic floor health so you can become faster. 

Testosterone generally has a bad name when it comes to cycling and endurance sports. Steroids, TRT, and other options have landed cyclists in a lot of hot water. However, testosterone is a key part of our make-up and it is important to have enough to perform as a cyclist. In the episode of FASTER we talk with Mike Mahler of Mahler's Aggressive Strength about testosterone, hormones, and how to increase it naturally. Listen to this episode to optimize your testosterone so you can become faster. 

Vibration plays a critical role in cycling yet many people do not understand its importance. We've been studying vibration at FLO for years and working vibration reduction into the design of our wheels. Today on FASTER we talk with Matt Chase the vibration expert who helped with on road testing at FLO for measuring vibration and natural frequencies. Listen to this episode to get a masterclass on vibration and how it applies to you as a cyclist so you can become FASTER.

Watt Points: 10-15

As we age pain can increase during physical exercise. However, pain is not always a sign to stop. It may mean we need to push through or find new ways to keep moving. Old theory states that as we age we must slow down but new research proves that the more we move the longer we live and the better quality of life we have. In this episode of FASTER Dr. Kyle Buth from Crafted Wellness discusses using pain as an indicator to keep moving forward as we age to ensure we can stay active and health doing the things we love. Listen to this episode to learn how to use pain to be FASTER.

Watt Points: 0-100%

Have you ever considered how your spine alignment during sleep impacts your performance? We'll Dr. Martone has created a whole career on helping people improve the position of their spine during sleep to improve performance and prevent injury. Dr. Martone a practicing chiropractor and mountain biker herniated a disc which had him re-evaluate everything he knew and was teaching his patients. This led to a complete change in his chiropractor practice and led to the creation of his company Neck Nest. Now Dr. Martone is faster on the bike without pain. Listen to this episode to learn how the alignment of your spine during sleep can help make you FASTER.

Watt Points: 30

Dr. Chris Winter makes his second appearance on FASTER to discuss more on sleep. As more is discovered about sleep more can be applied to becoming faster. In this episode we discuss the optimal time to train around sleep, sleep pressure, coffee use, sleep with kids, sleep enough vs missing a workout, the use of saunas and cold showers, fasting and much more. Listen to this episode of FASTER to learn how optimizing your sleep can make you faster.

Watt Points: 20

Braking has the potential to not only save watts expended but can also save more power in your legs. It's been calculated that 25% of the watts put into the pedals are burned in braking. When you learn to brake more efficiently you waste fewer watts during braking and can use the brakes less often when cornering saving power in your legs. This week on FASTER we talk with Dr. Matt Miller about breaking and his compnay Brake Ace. Matt literally has a PHD in braking. Listen to this episode to learn about braking an brake technique so you can become faster. Some times you need to slow down to speed up.

Watt Points: 5-10