The Time-Crunched Cyclist Podcast by CTS

CTS
  • 4.5 (114)
  • Sports
  • 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. 6d ago

    A Scalable Carb Fueling Plan Based On Effort

    Fueling advice has never been more confusing. One expert recommends fasted rides, another says 120 grams of carbs per hour, and every nutrition brand seems to have a different answer. In this episode, CTS Head Cycling Coach Adam Pulford introduces a practical fueling framework that scales carbohydrate intake to the demands of your ride. Using kilojoule output, ride intensity, and duration, you'll learn how to build a fueling strategy that's individualized, repeatable, and easy to apply for easy endurance rides all the way to race day. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: Introducing Fueling Insights: A Smarter Way To FuelThe Importance of Carbohydrates and Glycogen for Athletes  How much sodium do I need?Fueling Insights: Iñigo San-Millán on Optimizing Carbohydrate Intake for Cyclistshttps://trainright.com/coaching-consultation/Drinking to Thirst vs. Following a Hydration Plan, with Dr. Alan McCubbin

  2. Jul 6

    A Simple Framework For Raising Cycling FTP

    Want to increase your FTP? Many cyclists assume the answer is simple: do more FTP intervals. While that can help, it's only one piece of the puzzle. In this video, CTS Head Cycling Coach Adam Pulford introduces a simple coaching framework, Push vs. Pull, to explain how FTP is really built. You'll learn why aerobic training lays the foundation, how VO₂ max work raises your ceiling, and how to combine both throughout the season for your strongest FTP yet. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: How Quickly Can Cyclists Increase FTP?Pushing vs pulling up FTP - Training - TrainerRoadTim Cusick: Periodization, Training Modalities, And Getting Your Training Rhythm Right - CTSHow To Improve Your Cycling FTP (Functional Threshold Power) - CTS

  3. Jun 29

    Everything Cyclists Get Wrong About Normalized Power

    If you've ever wondered what Normalized Power is actually telling you, this episode is for you! Normalized Power has become one of the most common metrics in cycling, but it's also one of the most misunderstood. In this episode, CTS Head Cycling Coach Adam Pulford explains what Normalized Power was designed to measure, how it differs from average power, and why context matters when using it to evaluate training and racing. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: What Is Normalized Power And How Is It Used In Cycling Training? - CTS What is Normalized Power?Understanding Normalized Power Calculations to Coach CyclistsNormalized Power®: What It Is and How to Use It | TrainerRoad BlogThe Science of the TrainingPeaks Performance Manager Estimating Training Stress Score (TSS)

  4. Jun 22

    The Masters Athlete Playbook

    Do masters athletes really need more recovery, or are they simply balancing more life stress and responsibilities? In this episode, CTS Head Cycling Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the realities of training and racing as a masters athlete. We discuss recovery, consistency, intensity, strength training, race preparation, and how training priorities should evolve with age. The conversation explores both the physiological realities of aging and the habits that allow many athletes to continue improving well into their 40s, 50s, and beyond. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4482301/https://joefrieltraining.com/Joe Friel: Science-Based Training Advice for Older Athletes - Part 1Joe Friel: Part 2 of Science-Based Training for Older Athleteshttps://trainright.com/masters-and-grand-masters-cycling-training-mistakes/

  5. Jun 15

    Can AI Actually Make You Faster?

    AI is rapidly changing nearly every industry, and endurance coaching is no exception. In this episode, CTS Head Cycling Coach Adam Pulford explores where AI can genuinely help athletes improve, where it falls short, and why the future of coaching may be more collaborative than competitive. We discuss training data, prompting, bias, TrainingPeaks, Claude, ChatGPT, Vekta, Kristin Faulkner's use of AI, and the areas where experienced coaches still provide value that algorithms struggle to replicate. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: Best-ever 20-minute power and 3 Pan-Am golds: Inside the AI tech Olympic Champion Kristen Faulkner built, and is testing on, herself | Cycling WeeklyStrava Launches MCP Connector, Allowing Athletes to Sync Training History to ClaudeVekta

  6. Jun 8

    Active vs Passive Heat Training: Which Works Better?

    Heat adaptation can improve performance, comfort, and recovery in hot conditions. But many athletes make the mistake of treating heat training as free fitness. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the differences between active and passive heat training, how each method works, and why heat should be viewed as a training stressor in its own right. We discuss plasma volume expansion, sauna protocols, heated trainer rides, hydration, recovery considerations, and how to integrate heat adaptation without compromising the quality of your training. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: Beat the Heat – a hot bath after exercise boosts performance in the heatExercise under heat stress: thermoregulation, hydration, performance implications, and mitigation strategies - PubMedActive vs. passive heat training: which is best?

  7. Jun 1

    How to Climb Faster Without Increasing FTP

    Climbing faster isn’t always about increasing FTP or producing bigger power numbers. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the pacing strategies, tactics, fueling, and key workouts that help cyclists climb faster with the fitness they already have. 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. The Problem with Chasing Data - RPE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsywx731ki0 ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/

  8. May 25

    Why Data Alone Won’t Make You Faster

    Endurance athletes have access to more data than ever before, but data alone doesn’t guarantee better decisions. In this episode, CTS Coach Adam Pulford breaks down the role of Rate of Perceived Effort (RPE) in training and racing, and why internal awareness remains one of the most important skills an athlete can develop. We cover pacing, training zones, effort calibration, common mistakes athletes make with RPE, and how to integrate subjective feedback with power and heart rate for better long-term performance. Wattage tells you what you did, RPE tells you what it cost. 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. ​​Free Cycling Training Assessment: https://trainright.com/cycling-training-assessment-welcome/ Interested in working with a coach? Schedule a free consult: https://trainright.com/coaching/cycling/ Self-coached athlete? Check out our TrainRight Membership: https://trainright.com/membership/ Find more free resources here: https://trainright.com/blog/ Resources: https://trainright.com/rpe-rating-of-perceived-exertion-in-training-and-racing/https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/abstract/2001/02000/a_new_approach_to_monitoring_exercise_training.19.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2017.00612/full?utm_source=researchgate.net&utm_medium=articlehttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10422765/?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1341972/full?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://support.trainerroad.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021324932-RPE-Key-Explained

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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. 

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