I spoke at a camp in Saudi Arabia a couple of weeks ago and a triathlete asked me what he should do on downhill portions of a bike course. Should he pedal hard, pedal easy, or coast? That was a great … [Read more...] about Couzens’ 50-40-30-20-10 Rule
Joe Friel’s Blog
Hills: Sit or Stand?
I am often asked about standing vs sitting on hill climbs on the bike. This is an article from some time back that addresses this matter. Realize there are different answers, to some extent, if you … [Read more...] about Hills: Sit or Stand?
The Efficiency Factor in Running
This is something I wrote a while back, but recent questions I've received tell me it's time to reprint it. ________________________ High performance runners are typically very efficient. You … [Read more...] about The Efficiency Factor in Running
Mallorca Triathlon Camp
Coach Clinic
Chile Coaches Clinic
Arizona Triathlon Camp
Saudi Arabia Triathlon Camp
On February 13–15, 2020, Joe presented a triathlon camp for athletes in Dammam, Saudi Arabia. Organized and led by Meshary Al-Ayed, the camp attracted triathletes from throughout the region, averaging … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia Triathlon Camp
Training and Faith
“Training is principally an act of faith.” That is from Franz Stampfl who, I suspect, you have never heard of although he was Roger Bannister’s coach. Though Stampfl had a very interesting life, this … [Read more...] about Training and Faith
Measuring Workouts
If you own a power meter should all of your workouts be based on power? How about if you only have a heart rate monitor? Heart rate only? I had someone who bought a training plan of mine recently … [Read more...] about Measuring Workouts
My New Power Meter
In my last post I explained how I first heard of cycling power meters and how I came to use one. That first one was very basic. It just told me instantaneous power and average power. It was heavy. The … [Read more...] about My New Power Meter
Favero Assioma
I recently started using the Assioma DUO power meter pedals. After 25 years of using many power meters and watching the technology improve, I have found these to be the best I’ve ever used. … [Read more...] about Favero Assioma
A Personal History of the Cycling Power Meter
The first time I ever heard of a bicycle power meter was in the fall of 1993. There was a magazine article (by Samuel Abt in Velonews, I believe) about Greg LeMond having recently hired a Dutch … [Read more...] about A Personal History of the Cycling Power Meter
Question: How Should I Train?
The most common question I get on social media and in emails is something along the line of, “How should I train?” That’s certainly a valid question. And I appreciate the writer’s confidence in me to … [Read more...] about Question: How Should I Train?
More on Cleat Position
The first blog I ever posted was January 30, 2007. The topic of that post was cleat position for cycling shoes. A few months prior to writing that I had started placing my cleats in the arch area of … [Read more...] about More on Cleat Position
Lamson Cycle Shoes
Don Lamson is a master at making custom shoes for road cyclists and mountain bikers. He’s been making shoes for cyclists since 1989, and mine since 2007. There are many reasons a rider may want custom … [Read more...] about Lamson Cycle Shoes
Riding Indoors and Pedaling Skills, Part 2
In Part 1 I explained why your power output is likely to be lower when riding an indoor trainer as compared with riding on the road. And I also touched on the how this is related to the skills of … [Read more...] about Riding Indoors and Pedaling Skills, Part 2
Riding Indoors and Pedaling Skills, Part 1
There are a few things that change when you ride indoors on a trainer as compared with on the road. A common one is heat. Since you’re not moving forward when on a trainer body heat tends to … [Read more...] about Riding Indoors and Pedaling Skills, Part 1
Duration and Intensity in Training
The most basic component of training is the balance between workout duration and workout intensity. Whether you are an Olympian or a novice "how long" and "how hard" are the only two variables that … [Read more...] about Duration and Intensity in Training
Problems With Determining FTP
A while back I received an email from a triathlete who explained that he got different FTP results if he did a 20-minute test on his Watt Bike indoor trainer versus doing a 40km time trial on a tri … [Read more...] about Problems With Determining FTP
More on Overtraining
Yesterday I received an email from a female pro cyclocross racer who shall remain anonymous. She described what certainly sounds like overtraining. It’s hard to be certain, as I’ve written about here … [Read more...] about More on Overtraining
The Triathlete as Fast Marathoner
The following is an article I wrote for a magazine sometime back. Here I lay out how to prepare to run a fast marathon. Of course, “fast” is only relative to your ability, goal, experience, training, … [Read more...] about The Triathlete as Fast Marathoner
The “All New” Cyclist’s Training Bible
I recently finished writing a "somewhat" new book — The “All New” Cyclist’s Training Bible. The original version was published more than 20 years ago. It had been edited three times over the years. … [Read more...] about The “All New” Cyclist’s Training Bible
Sleep, Part 2
I apologize for the long gaps between posts to my blog. Even though I am now retired from one-on-one coaching it seems there’s still never any time for writing here. But one thing I seldom pass up in … [Read more...] about Sleep, Part 2