Velo Podcast

In episode 74, we speak with one of the leading researchers on how women’s physiology influences optimal training and performance.

There has been a long history of gender-neutralizing sports science. Money in sports science research is tight, and physiologists often assume they don’t have the resources to study male-female differences. We’ll address later in the show why that “added expense” assumption isn’t true, but the more important issue is that most research is conducted on men and then generalized to women.

The problem is that women are not just small men. Now that sports science research is being conducted specifically on women, we are discovering, not surprisingly, that men and women don’t have the same physiology. And what works for men doesn’t always work for women.

Dr. Stacy Sims has been leading a surge in research on women athletes. Her book "Roar" takes a deep dive into female physiology and how it impacts training. There’s a wealth of knowledge in the book – far too much to address in a single episode – but today we'll focus on a few of its key points, including:

- Stacy Sim’s background, and how she became a leader in women’s sport’s physiologyWhy the “shrink it and pink it” approach to women’s sports research doesn’t work – optimal performance means tailoring training to the female physiology

- How the menstrual cycle affects both training and performance, and why some types of training can be very effective at certain times during the month and relatively ineffective at others

- Why all female athletes should track their cycle and learn how it impacts their training – there's a very real physiological explanation why you sometimes get on the bike and just can’t put out the power

- Why women often need more protein for recoveryThe impact of birth control pills, and why the very common practice of giving athletes the pill may be misguided

- Why research has too often ignored these questions, and why that actually presents a big opportunity for coaches and physiologists

- Finally, Dr. Sims will offer advice specific to both masters and junior female athletes

Our primary guest today is, of course, Dr. Stacy Sims. Many of you know her as the founder of Osmo and one of the founders of Skratch Labs. But her research has always focused on the physiology of female athletes and her book "Roar" is a must-read.

In addition to Stacy, we also talk with Brent Bookwalter, a WorldTour pro with Michelton-Scott. His wife is an ex-professional cyclist and we discuss how their training regimens differ.

Finally, Chris speaks with Ruth Winder, a top pro with Trek-Segefredo and winner of the 2017 Redlands Classic. Ruth had some insights on how the length of women’s races affects race dynamics and, more importantly, as a big fan of Stacy’s book, how understanding the science specific to women has helped her training.

And one final note: We know that the majority of Fast Talk listeners are male. But before you say, “So much for this week’s episode,” we encourage you to listen in. Dr. Sims does a great job of explaining this complex subject. And as she points out later in this episode, just about every one of us has a wife, daughter, sister, or a female training partner. This is a sport that’s about helping one another out and you can’t help if you don’t understand.

Stage 5 Pismo Beach to Ventura.

Find out why George Hincapie named his son Enzo, jump into a heated debate over sock lengths, listen to Coach Bobby J break down today’s race and deep-dive into the subject of Riding On The Front.

Special bonus, an off-the-air-on-the-air honest discussion of the Van Garderen decision; what could have happened, what should have happened.

“Slip one under the carpet.” - Coach Bobby J

Stage 4 Laguna Seca to Morro Bay.

Coach Bobby Julich does a deep dive into all things aero and wind related including but not limited to whether or not riding with your forearms on the tops and your hands dangling off the front in a mock TT position is good idea, Superfans’ true identity is almost accidentally outed, Gus talks about playing Grand Theft Auto vs actually racing on the Speedway along with some very poignant thoughts on which side of the bike front and rear brakes should be mounted, and of course the team gets into yesterday’s crash and subsequent questionable "Van Garderen" ruling.

Stage 3 Tour of California: Stockton to Morgan Hill. Coach Bobby Julich and Gus morton discuss what happened in the race and the art & science of descending from the supertuck to the #pantanidangle. Superfan weighs in with a question about style as it relates to the topic of going downhill fast. Producer MFS shares his thoughts about slog vs slouge. Interviews with Alex Howes and Peter Stetina. Featuring original music by Taylor Phinney, a track called Sad Bang.

Stage 2 of the Tour of California: Rancho Cordova to South Lake Tahoe.

"It’s one of the few stages that I’m actually scared of in cycling. It’s not very often that you go from sea level to 2,500-2,800 metres without ever having a break in the pedals. It’s virtually uphill for 110km, and for those power geeks out there you’re average power is exactly the same with or without zero, because you are always on the pedals.” - Nathan Haas.

On course shaped like a ramp into the sky, today's show is all about power.

VeloNews Voices is a NEW multimedia platform featuring a collection of cycling luminaries each with their own distinct POV and channel. Coaches, Athletes, Movers and Shakers, Visionaries, the old guard, the new guard, the Vanguard, VeloNews Voices is how and where the story of our sport is being told now and into the future.

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Olympic Medalist and Tour De France podium finisher Coach Bobby J invites you to Put Your Socks On. Winning and losing, training and racing, agony and defeat, all of it comes down to understanding what works and what doesn't and for that, you need an experienced and accomplished Coach. From insightful analysis into our sports most iconic races and racers to entertaining, educational and actionable advice, PYSO is an illuminating deep-dive into the art and science of racing. Come for the Legends, Fan Clubs, Knowledge, At the Race and SuperFans. Join Coach Bobby Julich and former World Tour Racer and Outskirts visionary co-host Gus Morton as they help you watch the race, do the race. Prepare to be prepared. It’s time to Put Your Socks On.

“Whether you are training or racing, the moment you put your socks on, that’s the point of no return. That’s it, it’s time to go to work.”

On this week's episode of the VN podcast we have two very special gusts stop by: Kasia Niewiadoma and Sepp Kuss.

Niewiadoma tells us all about her exciting victory at Amstel Gold Race, and explains why she was able to score a big victory at the hilly classic.

Kuss talks to us about his upcoming Giro d'Italia start, and discusses his rapid rise through pro cycling's ranks.

Drivetrains have gotten a lot of attention in 2019, with the launch of SRAM's eTap AXS ecosystem and Rotor's 13-speed hydraulic drivetrain. As it all unfolded, Shimano remained fairly quiet... until now.

Today, the big dog in the drivetrain world launches its GRX drivetrain designed for gravel and adventure riding. Tech Editor Dan Cavallari talks to Shimano's Dave Lawrence and Nick Legan to understand the heart of what makes GRX different, who it's for, and where drivetrains go from here.

In episode 73, we talk with Sebastian Weber about the important balance between our aerobic and glycolytic energy systems and why they may require a little give and take.

On this episode, we hear from world cross-country mountain bike champion Kate Courtney about how the tutelage of Thomas Frischknect is making her an Olympic contender.

But first, we bid farewell to longtime podcast host Spencer Powlison and also look back on Liege-Bastogne-Liege, and the classics season as a whole.

This episode of the VeloNews podcast is sponsored by Canyon Bicycles, which is providing its race-ready Lux CF SLX 9.0 Pro Race for us to ride at mountain bike races all season long. Check it out: https://www.canyon.com/en-us/mtb/lux/lux-cf-slx-9-0-pro-race