The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS

CTS
  • 0.0 (0)
  • SPORT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Coach Adam Pulford delivers actionable training advice and answers your questions in short weekly episodes for time-crunched cyclists looking to improve their cycling performance. The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast (formerly The TrainRight Podcast) is brought to you by the team at CTS - the leading endurance coaching company since 2000. Coach Adam pulls from over a decade of coaching experience and the collective knowledge of over 50+ CTS Coaches to help you cut throught the noise of training information and implement proven training strategies that’ll take your performance to the next level. 

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Creatine: What Cyclists Need To Know To Benefit From Creatine Supplementation

    OVERVIEW Creatine is one of the most researched supplements available, it's safe to consume, and it has been receiving renewed interest in endurance cycling. Although it's not incredibly useful for improving low-intensity aerobic performance, it can be beneficial for high-intensity efforts in training and competition, may have cognitive benefits and some recovery benefits. In "Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast" style, Coach Adam Pulford provides the need-to-know information about creatine for endurance cyclists in this 18-minute episode. TOPICS COVERED What creatine is and what it does in the bodyHow much creatine athletes need and when to supplementWhat types of activity are enhanced by high levels of creatine in the musclesCreatine's influence on the brain: cognition and concussion recovery Drawbacks to creatine supplementationCreatine for vegan and vegetarian athletesRESOURCES Examine: Creatine Summary https://examine.com/supplements/creatine/Asker Jeukendrup: Does creatine help or hinder endurance performance? Creatine does not improve aerobic performance: Effects of Creatine Monohydrate on Endurance Performance in a Trained Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis - PubMedCreatine may improve anaerobic capacity & dosing suggestions: Creatine for Exercise and Sports Performance, with Recovery Considerations for Healthy Populations - PMCCreatine benefiting vegans and vegetarians: Creatine Supplementation Beyond Athletics: Benefits of Different Types of Creatine for Women, Vegans, and Clinical Populations-A Narrative Review - PubMed ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCAST HOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    18 min

  2. 29 OCT

    Before They Were Champions: Revisiting An Early Interview With A Young Christopher Blevins

    In 2025, Christopher Blevins won 9 UCI World Cup races and was the first American Male to earn the UCI Men’s World Cup Overall Championship in 34 years. He raced for Team USA at the 2020 (held in 2021) and 2024 Olympic Games and won the inaugural UCI Short Track MTB World Championship in 2021. Before any of those accomplishments, in the summer of 2021, Blevins was an early guest on this podcast. We're revisiting that conversation in Episode 278 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast" to showcase the wisdom, work ethic, and authenticity he exhibited as a young athlete on the precipice of becoming one of the best athletes in the world. Episode Highlights: How BMX training translated to racing MTB and on the roadThe influence of Durango Devo and mentors at Hagens Berman AxeonMaking the transition from Junior to U23 to ProStarting to work with Coach Jim Miller in 2019Seeking balance off the bike with poetry and musicGuest Bio – Christopher Blevins: With a background in BMX, Cyclocross, and Road Racing, Christopher Blevins developed into a MTB World Champion, World Cup Champion, and 2-time Olympian. In 2021, he made history by winning the inaugural XCC World Championship. Riding for Specialized Factory Racing, Blevins is known for his technical brilliance, tactical intelligence, and clutch sprint finishes. In 2025, he won 9 UCI World Cup races and was the first American Male to earn the UCI Men’s World Cup Overall Championship in 34 years. Off the bike, he’s a poet, advocate, and inspiration to many, using his platform to grow the sport and empower the next generation of cyclists. Read More About Christopher Blevins: Website: https://usacycling.org/athlete/christopher-blevins Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christopherblevs Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/19o8lsgMX0NLiGHPfbgOud ASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCAST HOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    48 min

  3. 22 OCT

    Do What AI Can't: How To Adjust Your Workout In Real Time (#277)

    OVERVIEW Can AI optimize your training by determining if you should do more or fewer intervals than prescribed today? Artificial Intelligence can do a lot of things, but it's not great (yet) at advising changes to your workouts in real time. Coach Adam Pulford details the factors he considers when deciding to scale up, maintain, or scale down an athlete's daily training. More important, he teaches you how to evaluate your workout in real time. TOPICS COVERED What makes up a good training plan and process?Factors to consider when deciding to change workouts in real timeHow to make changes when you feel greatHow to make changes when you feel badRESOURCES Tim Cusick: Periodization, Training Modalities, And Getting Your Training Rhythm Right - CTSHow to Use Data to Make Better Training Decisions, with Tim Cusick - Fast Talk LaboratoriesIntensive vs Extensive Training Concepts:How to Get Faster with "Intensive" and "Extensive" Cycling WorkoutsInterval Training: Knowing When Enough is Enough - CTSWKO5 and the Annual Training Process, Part 1: Early Base Extensive Aerobic DevelopmentASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCAST HOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    15 min

  4. 15 OCT

    Training, Strategy, and Demands of Timed-Segment Racing vs. Traditional Racing

    OVERVIEW Timed-segment racing might be your new favorite competition format! Coach Adam Pulford and CTS Athlete Camilo Lopez discuss their experiences at Gran Fondo Maryland, which featured five timed-segments rather than a start-to-finish competition format. They reveal the key differences in effort level, physical demands, strategies, cycling skills, and even nutrition and pacing between timed-segment racing and start-to-finish racing.  NOTE: The 2026 Gran Fondo National Series Calendar is live and registration is open for all six of their annual events, including the 2026 Gran Fondo National Championships. Topics Covered In This Episode: Demands of timed-segment racingDemands of traditional start-to-finish racingRace-winning strategies for timed-segment competitionsWhy timed-segment races are more inclusive for many ridersTraining for success in timed-segment racingTraining for success in traditional start-to-finish racingResources Gran Fondo National Series: granfondonationalseries.comGran Fondue: BDF Grand Fondue | Dirty Kitten GravelTCC Durability PodcastGuest Bio: Camilo Lopez is an accomplished cyclist and triathlete and winner of the 2025 Gran Fondo Maryland Gran Route competition. He is a CTS Athlete coached by Adam Pulford. HOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    1h 7m

  5. 8 OCT

    How To Leverage Late-Season Fitness For Big Gains

    OVERVIEW The end of the summer cycling season is the best time to leverage a season's worth of fitness and training without the pressure of upcoming goals. It's the time when you can go have epic adventures, work on performance limiters, go hunting for Strava PRs and KOM/QOMs, complete end-of-season performance tests, and much more. Coach Adam Pulford helps you decide whether to take a break (some people need it, others don't), and how to make the most of the days when the weather is still warm and there's still abundant daylight. TOPICS COVERED What to do if you still have energy and motivationHow to tell if you need time off instead of pushing throughExamples of late-season training challenges and adventuresASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCAST RESOURCES Podcast: Different Types of Field TestingTraining LimitersHOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    14 min

  6. 1 OCT

    Scribble Outside the Lines: How Imperfect Training Makes Faster Cyclists (#274)

    OVERVIEW Following a training plan is better than training haphazardly, but how closely do you need to follow the letter of the plan? In Episode 274 of "The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast", Coach Adam Pulford discusses the benefits and necessity of not following the plan to a T, when that’s ok, when it’s not, and how to adjust daily training sessions based on how you're feeling while still sticking to the vision and progression of a bigger plan. TOPICS COVERED What flexibility means in endurance trainingExamples: hard day planned and don't feel greatExample: easy day planned and feel greatExample: had day planned and feel greatShould you push through a hard workout if you don't feel good?How to modify your workouts on any given dayAutonomy of trainingASK A QUESTION FOR A FUTURE PODCAST RESOURCES Rigid vs Flexible Training:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23881116/Planned vs Self Select: https://arxiv.org/abs/1902.02061?utm_source=chatgpt.comTime in Zone vs Just HIIT:https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00421-018-3910-3Specific vs General Training Programs:https://sportsci.org/jour/05/amt-m.pdfHOST Adam Pulford has been a CTS Coach for nearly two decades and holds a B.S. in Exercise Physiology. He's participated in and coached hundreds of athletes for endurance events all around the world. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    14 min

  7. 24 SEPT

    Smart Strength Training for Cyclists, with Sarah Scozzaro MS, NSCA-CPT, NASM-PES

    OVERVIEW 95% of the cyclists and runners coached by Sarah Scozzaro and Adam Pulford incorporate strength training. Scozzaro is one of our top strength and conditioning coaches and in Episode 273 she and Coach Adam discuss how cyclists should blend strength and endurance training throughout the year. Topics Covered In This Episode: How different endurance athletes leverage strength trainingHow strength training changes throughout the yearWhen to back off strength training volume during event/race seasonHow to reintegrate more strength training in the post-seasonResources for self-coached and time-crunched athletesResources Strength Training for Endurance Athletes: Key ExercisesHow to Program Strength Training: An Endurance Coach’s GuideGuide: Strength Training for Endurance Athletes » UESCAGuest Bio: Sarah Scozzaro is a CTS Pro Coach who specializes in strength training and  ultrarunning. A coach within the CTS High Performance Program, she is on the performance teams for Western States Champions Katie Schide and Abby Hall.  Sarah has her Masters's degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention. She has a long list of qualifications and certifications after her name, including being a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified personal trainer (NSCA-CPT) and National Academy of Sports Medicine performance enhancement specialist (NASM-PES). Guest Links: Coach Bio: https://trainright.com/coaches/sarah-scozzaro/IG: https://www.instagram.com/drtyrunner/Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    34 min

  8. 17 SEPT

    Can Rucking With A Weighted Vest Make You A Stronger Cyclist?

    OVERVIEW Almost anywhere you go these days, you're likely to see someone walking, running, or climbing stairs wearing a weighted vest. Popularized by Crossfit boxes, mixed martial arts gyms, and boot camp-style exercise programs, “rucking” is a new name for the old concept of an “overloaded training intervention”. The question we get is whether training with a weighted vest (off the bike) will improve cycling performance. CTS Pro Coach Sarah Scozzaro, one of our top strength and conditioning coaches, breaks down the details of whether weighted training works for cyclists.  Topics Covered In This Episode: Weighted Vests: Are they effective for:Increase Core Strength?Improve Strength-Endurance?Increase Bone Density?Improve VO2 Max?Increase Motivation?History of overloaded training interventions in cyclingSeparating strength from endurance trainingHow to use weighted vests safely How much weight to carryResources Should Runners Train with Weighted Vests? - CTSGravel Racing Gear Guide for Cyclists - CTSWeighted Vests Are Now A Fitness Trend. Here’s What You Need To KnowHydration Backpack Market Size | Industry Report, 2030Guest Bio: Sarah Scozzaro is a CTS Pro Coach who specializes in strength training and  ultrarunning. A coach within the CTS High Performance Program, she is on the performance teams for Western States Champions Katie Schide and Abby Hall.  Sarah has her Masters's degree in Exercise Science with a concentration in performance enhancement and injury prevention. She has a long list of qualifications and certifications after her name, including being a National Strength and Conditioning Association certified personal trainer (NSCA-CPT) and National Academy of Sports Medicine performance enhancement specialist (NASM-PES). Guest Links: Coach Bio: https://trainright.com/coaches/sarah-scozzaro/IG: https://www.instagram.com/drtyrunner/Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, or on your favorite podcast platform GET FREE TRAINING CONTENT Join our weekly newsletter CONNECT WITH CTS Website: trainright.com Instagram: @cts_trainright Twitter: @trainright Facebook: @CTSAthlete

    30 min
See All (280)

Trailer

About

Coach Adam Pulford delivers actionable training advice and answers your questions in short weekly episodes for time-crunched cyclists looking to improve their cycling performance. The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast (formerly The TrainRight Podcast) is brought to you by the team at CTS - the leading endurance coaching company since 2000. Coach Adam pulls from over a decade of coaching experience and the collective knowledge of over 50+ CTS Coaches to help you cut throught the noise of training information and implement proven training strategies that’ll take your performance to the next level. 

Information

You Might Also Like