Training without a Power Meter
I had a fun talk with Sarah Kaufmann and Jay Burke around training for mountain bike season using vibes instead of power meters. It was a great conversation.
You can find it on:
Spotify
and anywhere else you like to listen to podcasts.
Show Notes are below! Check it out.
This is for everyone whose bike get's a bit dusty over the winter. You are a multi-sport athlete doing some type of snow sport in the winter. With a couple of races coming up this summer how should you train? If you aren't into power meters and are more into vibes and having fun on your rides, check this out!
🎙️ Episode: Training Without a Power Meter
🚵♂️ A conversation for mountain bikers who want to train smarter, ride stronger, and still keep it fun. Perfect for weekend warriors, endurance racers, and anyone balancing riding with winter sports in the American West.
👇 Chapters:
0:00 – Intro: Meet the coaches and riders
0:44 – Sarah’s racing background and intro
1:15 – Jay’s fitness goals and training experience
2:34 – Who this conversation is for (ages 35–55, multi-sport athletes)
3:42 – The purpose of training vs. exercise
4:28 – Recovery is when the gains happen
6:14 – Jay’s real-world take on fitness and events
8:00 – Weekly training structure (2 intensity, 2 endurance)
10:34 – How the gym supports the bike
11:33 – Off-season training: tissue health and hypertrophy
13:00 – Why you lose tissue during the season
14:50 – Getting back on the bike: build slowly
15:53 – Cadence tips: 80–100 RPM for efficiency
17:05 – Ride volume varies—don’t overdo it early
18:40 – Most common mistake: too much, too soon
19:19 – See a bike fitter to avoid injury
20:00 – Pre-season/base training phase starts
21:52 – Shift to strength and power in the gym
23:49 – How to progress volume/intensity smartly
24:17 – When and how to take a recovery week
26:16 – Warm-ups and grip strength as recovery tools
27:23 – Dynamometer: a $25 way to avoid overtraining
28:21 – The truth about Zone 2 and fatigue
30:00 – Two full rest days per week: yes, seriously
30:46 – Ride by feel, not just heart rate
32:27 – Transition from base to build phase
33:46 – Starting intervals: long and sub-threshold
35:17 – VO2 max work: why and how to do it
38:00 – Interval recovery and contrast training mistakes
40:00 – Recovery day rides (less than 60 min)
41:00 – Gym during season: lift heavy, low volume
44:00 – Specific prep: over-unders and sharpening
45:26 – Tapering: reduce volume, not intensity
46:03 – You won’t lose fitness in a week—rest matters
47:09 – Rule of Thirds: not every workout should feel good
49:00 – When to pull the plug and why it saves your season
50:20 – Final recap and where to get coaching help
🎯 Coaching & Programs
👉 Mountain bike training, gym support, and race prep plans at 100yearathlete.com
👉 Custom plans and Point to Point coaching from Sarah at KS Coaching @ https://kcyclingcoaching.com
Shout out to Jay Burke for getting us all in the same room!
