POWER! It means different things to different people, but rest assured if you want to be a better cyclist you need to have more power. Yes, endurance work, planned recovery, lactic acid work, and VO2max efforts are all important components of a complete training program, but in the end power is what drives the bike forward. In assessing your power you must ask yourself these questions:

1. How much power do I have?

Take a watts test through your local sports medicine facility.

2. Where is my power best?

Flats? Steep climbs? Downhill at high rpms?

3. Where is my power worst?

Focus on improving these areas first

4. How do I get more?

Read on faithful scribe...

Watch top World Cup riders in both Cross Country and Downhill. They rely on and deliver power with amazing grace and blistering efficiency. They apply power throughout the pedal stroke, at all different RPM’s and across all conditions. They have mastered the technique with brutal effects. To help you develop this type of focus try these three easily adaptable techniques:

1. Big Gear Efforts

2. Rider/Bike Connectivity

3. Ride with Stronger Cyclists

*Note: If you haven’t done the requisite base training then don’t attack power efforts with too much vigor in the early season or you will pay for it through injuries and overtraining.

Up next...The Pre Race Ritual