Welcome to the AthletiCamps Training Article Library.  We have accumulated a long list of useful articles related to training geared to improve your performance.  We have also added book and product suggestions within the article pages.  We feel this will also act as a valuable resource to further seek out useful and specific information.

Featured Article

• Keeping it Fresh - Especially useful at this time a year, Matt Larson explains how to keep the training fresh!

General Training

• 2010 TDF Coaching Observations - A few things we noticed during the Tour
• Master’s and Age - All masters level athletes have something in common
• Networking - Creating your team of advisors
• Bike Racing and Jazz Music - Learn how bike racing is like jazz music
• Pro Shop - The New Season - We talk with Rubens Bertoliati (Androni-Diquigiovanni) and Vladamir Efimkin (AG2R) about preparation for the upcoming season
• 10 New Year’s Cycling Resolutions - Get ready for a great 2010 with these 10 cycling resolutions
• Strength training on the bike - The benefits of an on-the-bike specific workout called SFR’s are explained.
• Choosing a Team - We examine the ritual of the reshuffling of the decks, which occur every fall
• Training Week of a Lifetime - AthletiCamps took it’s annual trip to Italy and the spent the week with one of the greatest cyclists of all time - Andrea Tafi.  Read about our incredible trip and sign up for next year!
• Time Trial Basics II - Now that you decided, here are some key tips
• Time Trial Basics I - Why you should time trial as a bike racer
• How Power Helps the Coach-Athlete Relationship - Using power as a training tool not only helps the athlete, it helps the coach also!
• Preventing Overtraining thru Proper Recovery - It’s early in the season, so let’s talk about how to prevent overtraining in the first place.
• Routines and Checklists - A great article on one of the necessities of being a great bike racer
• The Upcoming 2009 Racing Season - We chat with Burke and Dario about some training and racing tips going into 2009
• Planning a Team Training Camp - We review some tips on planning a quality team camp this year
• Working with the Kids -We spoke with Dr. Aldo Sassi of the Mapei Sports Institute and long time professional Roy Knickman about what’s best for Junior level athletes
• The Health Benefits of Riding a Bike -There’s more to riding a bike than just improving performance.
• Pro Shop - Focused Training and Tracking Improvement - We ask Dario Cioni (Silence-Lotto) and Aaron Olson (Team Bissell) questions about how they focus their training on stage races versus one-day race and also about tracking improvement thru the year.
• Pro Shop - Defying Gravity - We ask Chechu Rubiera (Astana) and Burke Swindlehurst (Team Bissell) some great questions about how they work on their climbing in their training program
• Pro Shop - Back to Business in 2008 - Here comes the 2008 cycling season!  We asked Dario Cioni and Aaron Olson questions about what type of training they are doing at this time of year
• To Group Ride or Not to Group Ride - We examine the popular local group ride and help you decide whether it can benefit your training program.
• Identifying Your Weaknesses - In Part II of this series we look at the task of identifying your weaknesses and what “Esential Ingredients” are needed to improve those weaknesses and become a better athlete.
• Essential Ingredients to Success -In this first of two articles we identify the essential ingredients to becoming a better cyclist.
• Half Time - Taking a Mid-Season Break -We spoke with Aaron Olsen (T-Mobile) and Dario Cioni (Predictor-Lotto fresh off their 2007 Giro performances about taking a break in the middle of the race season.
• Performance Testing for Effective Training - We explain the basics of performance testing and how it can benefit all levels of athletes
• Recovery - We look at some of the ways to achieve optimal recovery from races and hard training
• New Year’s Resolution for your Cycling Season - New Year resolutions to keep you on track all year
• Training Through the Dead Spot of the Cycling Season - How Bobby Julich and Aaron Olson spend their offseasons
• Dealing with Heart Rate Variablity - How do deal with heart rate variablity on a daily basis
• Overcoming Stage Race Problems - We asked Chris Baldwin and Aaron Olson about common stage race problems and then summarize how to handle them
• Optimizing the Coach-Athlete Relationship - We take a look at how you can get the most out of your relationship with your coach
• Developing Power and Determining your Racing Style - We talk with former pros Roy Knickman and Brian Walton to get some good advice about developing power and stereotyping your riding style
• Pro Shop - Taking a Break with the Pros - We ask Bobby Julich and George Hincapie about their 2005 seasons
• Being Part of a Research Study - Experiences from taking part in a research study
• The “F” Word - Fatigue - A very common problem amongst endurance athletes that usually does not have a simple solution.
• Training with the Pros - How to train with the pros and live to tell about it
• The Stock Market and Cycling - What the Stock Market can teach us about reviewing of our seasons.
• Recovery From A Grand Tour - We ask George Hincapie, Levi Leipheimer and Andrea Peron how they recovered from the 2004 Tour de France.
• Chill out Dude! - Relaxing is the key to success.
• Planning Ahead - Read how Levi Leipheimer, Bobby Julich and Mike Sayers train in the winter months.
• How the Pros Transition to Race Season - Read how Levi Leipheimer, Bobby Julich and Mike Sayers transition from the winter to the race season.
• Fixed Gearing - One of the secrets to cycling success
• The Future Looks Bright - A week at the Olympic Training Center with some of the best junior and under-23 developmental riders in the US
• The Future is Still Bright - AthletiCamps’ 2005 trip to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista. CA.
• The Test of Time - See what advice the pros have received over the years that made them the riders they are today.
• The Balancing Act - I ask Mike Sayers, Mike Carter and Scott Moninger about how they balance racing and training once the season begins.
• Cycling and Age - I ask the Bobby, Mike and Scott about how age has affected their cycling careers
• Pedal, Pedal, Pedal - The secrets to an efficient pedal stroke

Conditioning

• Lower Back Pain in Cyclists - We look at some of the causes of lower back pain in cyclists and how to address them
• Neck and Upper Back Pain in Cyclists - Do Neck Pain and Upper Back Pain Go Hand in Hand With Cycling?
• Does A Chiropractor Offer Anything To Cyclists? - What you should expect with a visit to a Chiropractor, that can help your cycling

Racing Tactics and Strategies

• Making the Winning Break - We analyze some tips from a couple sucessful Northern California Master’s racers
• Pre-riding a Race Course - Tips on how to make the best of your reconnaissance mission.
• Pre-race Homework -We look at some of important things a bike racer can do to prepare for an upcoming race
• Post-race Homework - Following up the previous article, the race is over.  What can you do to gain from your race experience?
• Post-season Homework - Examine some of the key elements of beginning your post race-season

Nutrition

• Fueling for Optimal Performance
• Successful Weight Maintenance Tips for the Fall and Winter - We look at some of the things you can do to maintain weight this non-race season

The Mental Side of the Sport

• Athlete vs. Competitor - Part I - Becoming a better bike racer
• Athlete vs. Competitor - Part II - More tips on being successful in competition
• Morale - Why thinking like a winner can make you one!
• The Start Line - How to utilize the start line as an opportunity for success
• Persistence and Perseverance - We talk with Aaron Olson and Chris Baldwin about how they handle the mental challenges of the sport

Interviews

• An Interview with Dr. Massimo Testa
• A Blast from the Past - Cycling legends Connie Carpenter and Ron Kiefel share their wisdom

Northern California Ride Descriptions

• Gold Lakes Loop - An incredible 60 mile loop which begins in Sierraville, north of Truckee on Highway 89
• Auburn to Nevada City - One of the most spectacular rides in the Gold Country
• Tour de Foothills - Challenging ride along historic Highway 49
• Amador County - One of the many secrets of this area, Amador County boasts endless back roads and a wine region few know about