The Matchbox - A Cycling Podcast

Ignition Coach Co
  • 4.8 (53)
  • Sports
  • Updated Weekly

The Matchbox podcast presented by Ignition Coach Co - a cycling show that covers training-related topics in a discussion-oriented format. Show hosts, Adam Saban and Kaitlyn Maddox, are endurance coaches with Ignition Coach Co who share a passion for expanding their knowledge of endurance training. They have also competed as elite cyclists across various disciplines and often lean on their experiences competing at the highest level to provide unique perspective into the world of bike racing. Tune in each week to find out how you can find that extra match for your next race.

  1. 1d ago

    Episode 206 - Periodized Nutrition and the Real Science Behind Fueling the Worlds Best Athletes w/ Dr. Sam Impey

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking to the co-founder of Hexis, Dr. Sam Impey.    As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Links from today’s episode: https://journals.humankinetics.com/view/journals/ijsnem/aop/article-10.1123-ijsnem.2026-0135/article-10.1123-ijsnem.2026-0135.xml, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29453741/   Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies   Summary    This episode is a practical conversation about how nutrition can be personalized around training, not just tracked after the fact. Dizzle is joined by Dr. Sam Impey, co-founder of Hexas, to break down how the platform uses training data to recommend carb intake, support body composition goals, and make fueling easier for athletes and coaches.They also get into the newer frontier of performance nutrition, including bicarb, lactate gels, and why day-to-day nutrition habits matter for recovery, adaptation, and long-term consistency.   Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome and introduction to Dr. Sam Impey 02:00 — How Hexis started as a PhD research tool 03:08 — Why the platform was built to scale nutrition recommendations 04:31 — Hexis does not replace a nutritionist 05:01 — Early adoption by Uno-X and other tech-forward teams 06:16 — How the app syncs with TrainingPeaks and daily ride data 08:08 — Periodizing carbs around hard rides and recovery days 09:04 — Dizzle’s Leadville weight-loss block and what he learned 10:51 — Pro riders naturally vary nutrition with training load 12:12 — Why good carb timing improves adaptation 13:10 — Did weight loss affect power numbers? 16:03 — Late-night cereal, hunger, and cutting calorie-dense foods 17:28 — How vegetables support gut health and carbohydrate tolerance 19:15 — How a different environment made nutrition easier to follow 20:20 — Why training camps can improve compliance beyond the workouts 22:19 — App versus desktop use for athletes and nutritionists 25:00 — Hexis onboarding and how personalization starts 26:53 — Lose, maintain, or gain goals and how the plan adapts 28:30 — Food-tracking updates, barcode scanning, and favorites 30:10 — Natural-language food logging and meal correction 32:27 — How the app adapts calorie and macro targets throughout the day 34:34 — Education features and why the old video feed did not stick 35:37 — Interactive explanations for why recommendations change 36:43 — A plate-visualization idea that did not make it into the app 37:47 — Comparing Hexis with other performance tech and wearables 40:32 — Why total intake is only part of the nutrition picture 44:02 — Why nutrition sparks strong opinions 45:40 — What cycling can learn from other sports 46:27 — Cycling as an early innovator in heart rate, power, and fueling 48:23 — Recovery lessons cycling can borrow from rugby and football 50:57 — The rise of higher carb intake during competition 52:57 — Whether high carb intake creates health concerns 54:01 — Bicarbonate, lactate, and newer supplements 55:08 — How sodium bicarbonate works and why it may help performance 58:28 — Bicarbonate dosing, timing, and testing before race day 60:24 — When preloading and on-bike bicarbonate gels might make sense 66:03 — Why bicarbonate dosage is tied to performance, not just lactate numbers 68:16 — Lactate gels, theoretical effects, and emerging science 72:14 — Broccoli shots and isothiocyanates as a potential supplement trend 75:48 — Three common nutrition mistakes endurance athletes make 78:12 — Why protein matters more than many endurance athletes think 79:25 — Why race-day fueling should be trained, not improvised 83:27 — Why cutting on-bike fuel is usually the wrong move for weight loss 86:18 — Fasted training versus low-glycogen sessions and when each may make sense 91:10 — Low energy availability and why carbs around training matter for health 93:32 — How Hexas aims to help athletes fuel better around training 94:13 — How coaches can use Hexas to support off-bike nutrition 96:09 — Closing thoughts, partnership mention, and discount code

  2. 6d ago

    Episode 205 - How Athletes Are Training Smarter Than Ever Using Ventilation Metrics w/ Tymewear Founder Arnar Larusson

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking to the founder and CEO of Tymewear, Arnar Larusson about all things training with ventilation metrics.   As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies   Summary This episode features Arnar Larusson, founder and CEO of Tymewear, talking about why breathing may be the missing signal in endurance training. The discussion centers on how ventilation can give coaches and athletes a more reliable view of internal workload, training zones, fatigue, and perceived exertion than heart rate alone.We also hear from Adam and Dizzle as they pressure-test the practical side of the tech, from zone setup to high-intensity work to whether the strap holds up in winter layers. Key topics Arnar Larusson shares how an engineering background in prosthetics and exosuits led him to endurance physiology and eventually to building a breathing sensor for athletes. The core idea behind Timeware is that lab-grade insights about ventilation, thresholds, and metabolic output were not accessible in the field, so the company built a way to bring that signal outside the lab. Arnar explains why he sees heart rate as only one limited piece of the performance picture, especially when it is affected by heat, altitude, fatigue, and fueling. The episode breaks down why ventilation is a stronger reference point for training zones because it is more directly tied to what the muscles are doing. Arnar walks through the evidence behind poor zone estimation using population averages, including the problem of large error margins and high non-responder rates. Adam and Dizzle dig into the relationship between breathing rate, RPE, and how the strap could help athletes better calibrate effort in real time. The conversation covers why ventilation is especially useful for endurance work and threshold work, while power remains the better guide for short VO2 max intervals. Arnar explains how the strap’s dedicated breathing sensor differs from estimating respiration through HRV, especially once exercise intensity rises. They discuss how fatigue, race load, altitude, and heat can distort heart rate and power, while ventilation often stays the steadier anchor. The episode also touches on practical use cases like winter clothing interference, dynamic zones, and how the product may help coaches understand athlete readiness and training response. Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction to Arnar Larusson and the breathing sensor concept 00:34 - Arnar’s engineering background and the path from prosthetics to exosuits 01:29 - Why lab-grade breathing data mattered in the field 02:49 - The gap between lab testing and real-world athlete feedback 04:43 - Why breathing became the missing performance metric 05:01 - Timeware’s launch timeline and the Vital Pro Strap rollout 06:02 - Why heart rate alone is too limited to guide training 07:24 - The problem with population-based training zones 08:51 - Why true VT1 and VT2 zones matter more than estimated percentages 10:15 - Breathing as a cleaner signal than lactate or heart rate 11:41 - Why ventilation works as a foundation for interpreting other metrics 13:40 - The breathing rate and RPE connection 15:20 - How breathing rate can help objectively estimate perceived effort 16:22 - Using resting breathing data to set reserve and calibrate effort 17:38 - Why the strap complements heart rate instead of replacing it 18:35 - How ventilation helps distinguish fitness gains from fatigue effects 20:31 - Why power, heart rate, and ventilation can diverge during long efforts 22:39 - Why ventilation stays stable at altitude while power and heart rate shift 24:02 - How coaches think about custom heart rate zones versus ventilatory zones 26:22 - Ramp testing and how the app builds zones from multiple signals 27:52 - How heart rate responses vary by athlete, fitness, and season 28:58 - Jonas and the Visma example of a large VT1 shift in one month 30:19 - The psychology of getting attached to old training numbers 31:14 - Breathing as a grounding metric for effort perception 33:48 - Why ventilation is closer to a continuous lactate signal than heart rate is 35:48 - Why lactate is useful but delayed and influenced by fueling status 37:30 - The lactate cascade versus the near-instant response of ventilation 39:21 - Which ventilation averaging window works best for different workouts 40:05 - Does fatigue change ventilation, or just power and heart rate? 42:22 - Why stable ventilation can indicate fitness gains even when power rises 45:55 - Backyard ultra example showing breathing rate rising while ventilation stayed flat 48:16 - How coaches can use the data to adjust pacing and training interventions 49:02 - Why fresh legs can still show higher ventilation after racing 50:27 - Listener question on VO2 max workouts and how to use ventilation data 51:13 - Why power or pace is still best for guiding VO2 max intervals 52:39 - Why ventilation shines for endurance and threshold work 54:14 - Why standard VO2 max estimates can badly overstate actual capacity 55:06 - How the app’s zone testing improves confidence in training targets 56:27 - Using breathing rate as an RPE-style guide during hard intervals 57:40 - Winter clothing, bib shorts, and sensor interference 60:22 - Dynamic zones and the neural net designed to handle external interference 62:06 - Can ventilation reveal illness or respiratory issues? 64:29 - Anecdotal signs of infection, allergies, or asthma in the signal 65:14 - Current and upcoming integrations with major head units and platforms 67:18 - Why the strap includes both heart rate and a dedicated breathing sensor 68:39 - Why HRV-based respiration estimates break down during exercise 69:39 - Where listeners and coaches can get involved with Timeware

  3. Sep 18

    Episode 204 - Chain Efficiency, Executing Intervals Outdoors, and Muscle Mass

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about drive train efficiency, how to convert those quality indoor workouts into superior outdoor workouts, and whether we should be increasing muscle mass for more power output.   As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies     Summary This episode tackles two practical cycling questions: how to choose the most efficient and reliable chain for a SRAM 13-speed setup, and how to translate indoor workout discipline to outdoor riding. Adam and the Host also dig into whether adding muscle mass helps power output, how strength training should be periodized, and how much muscle is actually useful for cyclists. Key topics Jim from Albany, New York, asks about chain selection for a SRAM 13-speed Eagle/Explorer groupset. Waxing a chain, including using Silca drip wax, can improve drivetrain efficiency and narrow the gap between a great chain and a mediocre one. Matching the chain brand to the drivetrain brand can support better shifting, fewer dropped chains, and fewer compatibility issues. SRAM 12-speed and 13-speed chains are effectively the same category; there is not a separate 13-speed chain standard. Higher-end chains may offer meaningful durability benefits, even when their efficiency advantage is relatively small. 11-speed Shimano Dura-Ace is discussed as a historical efficiency benchmark, but the practical gap between modern drivetrain options is small. Outdoor workout execution is a skill that must be practiced rather than avoided. Shifting, route selection, and terrain awareness can help riders keep power within the target range. Lap average, time in zone, and power distribution are more informative than occasional power spikes alone. Strength training can improve force application, neuromuscular coordination, and cycling economy without requiring dramatic muscle gain. Strength training should generally be emphasized during lower-intensity cycling periods and maintained during harder training blocks and race season. Body type and racing goals should influence whether an athlete prioritizes climbing or sprinting performance. Timestamps 00:00 - Jim asks about the most efficient chain for SRAM 13-speed and whether wax changes the answer 00:33 - Why Silca wax boosts efficiency and reduces the difference between good and bad chains 01:32 - Shimano Dura-Ace 11-speed as a historical efficiency benchmark 02:41 - Best practice: use the chain made for your drivetrain 04:03 - Durability, breakage concerns, and why higher-end chains can last much longer 05:35 - Force versus Red on SRAM flat-top and Explorer setups 07:28 - 12-speed and 13-speed chains are the same category 08:28 - Why off-road riders may choose SRAM for reliability over small watt savings 09:10 - Why waxing saves money by extending chain and cassette life 10:08 - Drip wax versus hot melt and how often to reapply 11:31 - Convenience, training time, and why not to overthink chain choice 13:13 - Blair’s question: indoor erg mode works, but outdoor workouts feel harder to hold 14:00 - Why outdoor execution matters more than perfect trainer compliance 15:20 - Use shifting and pacing skills to hold power across rolling terrain 16:56 - Why pedaling easier is not the same as making the workout harder 18:20 - Terrain choice matters for staying in Zone 2 19:39 - How to simplify outdoor intervals and narrow power ranges over time 20:36 - Using a 10-second average and a more stable power display outside 22:29 - Lap average can help, but only if the workout structure stays intact 23:31 - Why a 30/30-style effort is not the same as a steady tempo interval 24:33 - What to do when terrain interrupts a planned interval 26:24 - TrainingPeaks time-in-zone and workout distribution as coaching checks 27:34 - Reviewing workouts through color-coded power distribution 28:49 - Zone discipline is about lactate control, not just external power numbers 30:15 - Mixed feelings on erg mode and why it may not translate well outdoors 31:51 - Erg mode can help indoors, but it can also hide the skill of self-pacing 33:53 - Ryan asks whether more muscle mass means more power and how to periodize lifting 34:26 - Strength work, hypertrophy, and muscular endurance explained 36:25 - Why beginners often move from higher reps to lower reps for safety and progression 37:22 - How strength training and cycling blocks should align through the season 38:35 - Strength gains in new lifters are often neuromuscular, not just muscle growth 39:32 - Why strength training can improve cycling economy and muscle-firing efficiency 41:43 - Endurance athletes usually do not need huge muscle gains to benefit from lifting 44:06 - Goals matter: crit racers and climbers may optimize differently 46:10 - FTP is mostly cardiovascular, with strength training as a supporting tool

  4. Sep 12

    Episode 203 - Cadence, Durability, and Bicarb: What Actually Helps Performance?

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about preferred cadence, durability workouts for mountain bikers, and our current takes on sodium bicarbonate supplementation.   As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies   In this episode, Adam, Dylan, and Kaitlyn Maddox answer listener questions on cycling cadence, durability workouts, and sodium bicarbonate. They break down what changes performance, what mostly changes feel, and where the research and real-world experience line up.   Key topics In this episode: cadence does not directly make you faster at the same power output. Watts matter more than RPM alone. Dylan argues that the most efficient cadence is usually your preferred, most comfortable cadence, not a forced target. The group discusses why low cadence can feel grindy on climbs and why too much cadence manipulation often adds more fatigue than benefit. Kaitlyn and Adam note that bike fit, saddle height, core stability, and position can all contribute to bouncing in the saddle at higher cadence. The conversation shifts to durability training and how to place hard sessions with intervals before and after endurance riding. Dylan and Kaitlyn both say durability workouts are taxing enough that they should not be done year-round as a weekly default. Kaitlyn explains her coaching approach of building one energy system at a time, then adding a durability session at the end of each block. Dylan shares that he has progressed from basic endurance-between-intervals sessions to longer tempo blocks between interval sets to better simulate race fatigue. The final section covers bicarbonate use for sprint triathlon and short running events, with agreement that it is worth testing for hard, high-intensity efforts. The hosts compare products and methods, including delayed-release capsules, flavored systems, and the importance of trialing bicarb in training before race day.   Timestamps 00:00 - Listener question: does higher cadence make you faster? 01:10 - Same watts, different RPMs: what actually changes 02:45 - The most efficient cadence is your preferred cadence 04:03 - Can cadence be trained, or is it mostly self-selected? 05:16 - Why low-cadence riders can struggle on climbs 07:03 - Fast-twitch recruitment and why low cadence can burn you out 08:40 - Torque intervals versus cadence manipulation 10:20 - Why the science on cadence is not convincing 14:25 - Pogacar, short cranks, and why pro cadence trends can mislead 15:34 - Why more trained riders often naturally choose higher cadence 17:41 - Fixing saddle bounce: cadence, core, and bike fit 19:10 - Adam’s move to single-speed mountain biking 19:39 - Listener question: how to use durability work in training 20:58 - Why durability workouts are too taxing to do all year 22:30 - Building race-specific durability around the demands of the event 24:48 - How durability sessions differ from standard VO2 workouts 26:00 - Dylan’s progression from endurance gaps to tempo blocks 28:48 - Why Kaitlyn avoids a dedicated durability block 29:18 - Energy-system blocks and adding durability at the end 30:10 - Why these sessions should not happen the week before a race 31:21 - Where durability fits if an athlete only has one long ride day 33:29 - Why durability is not a third intensity day 34:09 - Listener question: is bicarb worth it for sprint triathlon and 5K racing? 35:21 - Why bicarb matters most for short, hard efforts 36:21 - Product options and stomach-friendly formulations 38:32 - Delayed-release capsules and reducing GI issues 39:04 - How Dylan doses bicarb before racing 40:38 - Why bicarb should be tested in training, not first used on race day 43:57 - Creatine versus bicarb: different benefits, different use cases 46:50 - Why supplement benefits do not always stack 48:33 - Bicarb plus caffeine and why that combination can feel stronger 49:27 - How bicarb can still matter in longer events 50:05 - The workout-level feeling of “unlocking another gear”

  5. Sep 4

    Episode 202 - The Should and Should Not of Mid-race Tire Pressure Changes

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about whether or not you should consider tire pressure changes into part of your race strategy.   As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies   Summary The conversation also gets into mini pumps, CO2, tire pressure strategy, and when it’s worth making equipment changes based on course layout.

  6. Aug 29

    Episode 201 - Do You Really Need to Ride Gravel to Race Gravel?

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about our personal takes on approaching everyday nutrition with a performance mindset.   As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies         Summary In this episode, the crew breaks down a common gravel racing question: how much gravel training do you really need if you can’t always get to gravel? They discuss the value of road training, mountain bike skills, tire choice, course recon, pack dynamics, and why confidence and awareness often matter more than logging endless gravel miles.    Timestamps 0:01 — Intro and first listener question: do you need to train on gravel to race gravel well? 0:52 — Strengths, weaknesses, and why mountain bike skills transfer 1:49 — Riding your race bike matters, but not necessarily all the time 4:15 — Line choice, surface awareness, and avoiding crashes 5:40 — Tire tread and tire size can improve handling overnight 7:35 — Big tire changes can completely change bike feel and handling 9:56 — Power output differences between road and gravel 11:19 — Don’t sacrifice all your training time just to ride gravel 12:42 — Watching gravel racing can help mentally prep for racing 15:03 — Second question: why is holding wheels harder in gravel? 17:02 — Rolling resistance, surging, and group dynamics in gravel 18:49 — Positioning depends partly on fitness relative to the group 23:15 — Trusting wheels, reading the road, and staying safe in packs 25:26 — Bigger tires and suspension can reduce flats and improve confidence 28:33 — How to get a group working together without creating tension 33:20 — Course recon and knowing pinch points before race day

  7. Aug 25

    Episode 200 - Coaches Takes on Everyday Nutrition for Endurance Athletes

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about our personal takes on approaching everyday nutrition with a performance mindset. If you're interested in using the Hexis nutrition platform, use code "igniteyourpotential" for 25% off at https://hexis.live As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/    The following was generated using Riverside.fm AI technologies   Nutrition for endurance athletes: carbs, protein, race-week fueling, and better day-to-day decisions Adam and Dizzle answer a listener question about what a typical nutrition day looks like for endurance athletes across training weeks, recovery days, and race prep. The conversation focuses on practical fueling choices for cyclists, how to adjust carbs around training load, and how to avoid the common trap of overeating on easy days.   In this episode, Adam and Dizzle also dig into the value of tracking food for short periods, how to build better habits without obsessing over every bite, and why planning ahead beats making food decisions when you are already hungry.   Key topics Dizzle recommends Matt Fitzgerald’s Racing Weight as a practical, science-backed guide for endurance nutrition, especially because it focuses on performance rather than dieting for weight loss. Carbohydrate intake is the main variable that changes from day to day, while protein and fat tend to stay more consistent across the week. Hard training days call for high-carb, easy-to-digest meals, especially breakfast before a big ride, with foods like oatmeal, pancakes, syrup, and rice. Recovery days should usually mean fewer carbs and fewer total calories, rather than continuing to carbo load after the workout is already over. Post-ride fueling can be simple and effective with a smoothie built from fruit, protein powder, and antioxidant-rich ingredients like blueberries, strawberries, and cherries. Protein comes mostly from whole foods, with lean animal sources such as chicken, turkey, fish, and salmon doing most of the work. Race-week fueling is intentionally different from normal health eating, with very low fiber, white rice, white bread, cereal, pancakes, and chicken used to maximize carbs and minimize digestive stress. Tracking food for a short period can reveal big blind spots, especially around calorie-dense foods like peanut butter and large portions that are easy to underestimate. Planning ahead prevents bad impulse decisions, like grabbing junk food at a gas station when you are hungry and underprepared. Gamifying nutrition can make it easier to stick with, whether that is using a diet quality score system or simply setting an intention for a specific meal before you are hungry.   Timestamps 00:00 - Listener question on endurance nutrition across training, recovery, and race weeks 01:30 - Why Racing Weight is Dizzle’s go-to nutrition book for cyclists 02:27 - Six nutrition principles for endurance athletes 03:25 - Carbs as the main lever that changes across the week 04:48 - Nutrition for performance, not dieting for its own sake 05:39 - What a hard training day looks like in practice 06:41 - Why recovery days need less food, not continued carb loading 08:08 - Pre-ride breakfasts that actually digest well 09:07 - Pancakes, syrup, and bicarb before big workouts 10:34 - Post-ride smoothie strategy with fruit and protein 11:38 - Protein targets, fat intake, and food choices in a cut 13:40 - Protein sources and why whole foods still matter most 17:54 - Overshooting protein with salmon and other natural foods 19:31 - Why natural food usually beats protein shakes 21:05 - Race-week fueling: low fiber, white carbs, and simple meals 23:18 - Why vegetables and whole grains matter outside race prep 24:39 - Using Hexus to connect training load with nutrition targets 26:47 - Fuelin, Hexus, and shared coaching tools for athletes 28:03 - What two weeks of food tracking teaches you fast 29:29 - Why weighing food helps calibration, not lifelong obsession 31:14 - Peanut butter as a hidden calorie trap 32:39 - Fitzgerald’s diet quality score and gamifying nutrition 34:21 - The gas station Twix problem and why planning ahead matters 36:48 - Implementation intention as a nutrition habit tool 39:26 - Choosing healthier road-food options like a deli stop 41:47 - Keeping a staple-food list and easy meal ideas on hand

  8. Aug 14

    Episode 199 - Balancing Weight Loss / Performance and Coaching Advice

    Hello everyone. Welcome to the latest episode of The Matchbox Podcast powered by Ignition Coach Co. I’m your host, Adam Saban, and on this week’s episode we’re talking about how to balance chasing target body composition/weight goals while still focusing on fitness performance before diving into some of our personal advice for a listener embarking on his own coaching journey.   As always, if you like what you hear, share this with your friends and leave us a five star review and if you have any questions for the show drop us an email at matchboxpod@gmail.com or head over to ignitioncoachco.com and fill out The Matchbox Podcast listener question form.    Alight let’s get into it!   For more social media content, follow along @ignitioncoachco @adamsaban6 @dizzle_dillman @dylanjawnson @kait.maddox       https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanJohnsonCycling https://www.ignitioncoachco.com  https://www.youtube.com/@DrewDillmanChannel   Intro/ Outro music by AlexGrohl - song "King Around Here" - https://pixabay.com/music/id-15045/

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4.8
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

The Matchbox podcast presented by Ignition Coach Co - a cycling show that covers training-related topics in a discussion-oriented format. Show hosts, Adam Saban and Kaitlyn Maddox, are endurance coaches with Ignition Coach Co who share a passion for expanding their knowledge of endurance training. They have also competed as elite cyclists across various disciplines and often lean on their experiences competing at the highest level to provide unique perspective into the world of bike racing. Tune in each week to find out how you can find that extra match for your next race.

Information

  • Creator
    Ignition Coach Co
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The Matchbox - A Cycling Podcast

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