William Montgomerie

Caffeine Dreams: 13 Books for the Coffee Obsessed

According to legend, the coffee bean began shaping culture since its effect was discovered by a goatherder in 11th-century Ethiopia.<p>Then the drink spread and spread fast, first through mostly Muslim areas and then gripping Europe by the 1600s. Its effect on human imagination took hold quickly, too, …

HiiT Mania! High Intensity Intervals for Every Cycling Goal

Whether you want to become a speed demon or the ultimate climber, we've got a high-intensity interval workout for you<p>Eventually, you outgrow your old workouts and need to go even harder if you want to keep your fitness gains going along an upward trajectory. That means more high-intensity interval …

How to get stronger legs for cycling

While cardiovascular fitness is a must for high-level cycling, improved leg strength can help with a more balanced physique.<p>Quick exercises to build …

Indoor vs. outdoor cycle training

We pitched the advocates of the great outdoors against the supporters of the stationary bike — pros, coaches and sports scientists — to reveal the …

9 indoor cycling sessions

For most, cycling is about the pursuit of fun and fitness in the great outdoors. Unfortunately, modern urban living and bad weather can get in the …

How to get fit fast

Want to make the most of the time you have to train. When the weather is bad and the days get shorter, finding time for those long endurance- and …

The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to iPhone/Smartphone Photography

Dear friend,<p>This guide is intended for you if you currently own a smartphone (iPhone, Android, etc) and want to learn how to take better …

100 Photography Tips for Beginners

Downtown LA, 2015Dear friend,If you’re new to photography, it can be quite daunting. There is so much information on the internet about photography, …

Cycle to Work scheme: everything you need to know

The 2016 autumn statement has just been announced, and the good news is that the Cycle to Work scheme remains unchanged. For UK cyclists, this is a …

Build Base Fast: A Training Plan

Be ready to play hard—in just 4 weeks with this easy to follow plan from the Fit Chick<p>Purists preach that to properly prepare for the cycling season, you need to roll out six weeks ahead and do nothing but low-heart-rate, low-intensity rides before you throw the hammer down and go out and play, …

VMO FTW: How to Build This Iconic Cycling Muscle

A chiseled VMO muscle is an unmistakable mark of the fittest, most dedicated cyclists. Here's how to strengthen yours—and get enviable quads in the process.<p>There are quads. Then there are cycling quads. And of the four muscles that make up the quadriceps, the one that's come to signify the …

Roll Out the Kinks

The world would be a better place if all cyclists had the luxury of daily postride massage. But with a foam roller, you can pretty much do the job yourself—minus the harp music.<p>The world would be a better place if all cyclists had the luxury of daily postride massage. But with a foam roller, you …

Handlebar reach: how to get it right (video)

The distance you have to stretch (or ‘reach’) to get your hands on the bars, with your arms, glutes and lower back in a comfortable riding position …

Cycling neck pain: how to treat and avoid it

Humans weren’t designed to ride bikes; for starters we were created to have our feet on the ground. Cycling completely changes the weight …

Four short but effective autumn cycling workouts

As the days get shorter and time is of the essence, sports scientist Garth Fox gives you four sessions to squeeze in some quality work before it gets …

How to train with a power meter

Power meters are getting more affordable, but knowing what to do with one is a different matter.<p>Jon Sharples of Train Sharp Cycle Coaching explains: …

Can cycling compromise your immune system?

One of the sayings inscribed over the ancient Greek Oracle at Delphi is ‘nothing in excess’, a phrase that has woven itself into present-day life as …

The Beginner’s Guide to Riding With Power

You don't have to be a supergeek to ride with power—learn these five basic stats to get started<p>Power meters spit out a lot of numbers: current power, average power, max power, and all manner of derivatives. But what matters more, says Joe Friel, longtime coach and author of <i>The Power Meter Handbook</i>, …

The Real Leadership Lessons of Steve Jobs

His saga is the entrepreneurial creation myth writ large: Steve Jobs cofounded Apple in his parents’ garage in 1976, was ousted in 1985, returned to rescue it from near bankruptcy in 1997, and by the time he died, in October 2011, had built it into the world’s most valuable company. Along the way …

26 Strategies to get Stronger, Faster, and Fitter

Don't just hang with your fast friends—make them beg for mercy. These 26 proven strategies will turbocharge your training and make you stronger, faster, and fitter than ever.<p>Learn more about these tips and tons more essential advice on how to ride faster, get stronger, recover smarter, shed pounds, …

Six winter cycling exercises for strength and conditioning (video)

Winter is the ideal time to concentrate on strength and conditioning work. With in-the-saddle time inevitably diminishing as the weather worsens, the …

No Time? No Bike? No Problem.

Burpees might be the ideal way to squeeze in a workout—here’s how they can help you ride faster and stronger<p>Burpees make everything burn: Your muscles, your lungs, and most importantly, a ton of calories, making them a great exercise for days when you don’t have a lot of time or access to a bike. …

Ride Faster in Three Days Per Week

Can't get out every day? You can still become a better cyclist with just three rides a week.<p>Of all the training programs I've written for hundreds of athletes over the past 25 years, one of my favorite (and simplest) for cyclists of any level is the three-day magic bullet. Whether you're a …

Building an Elite Cyclist

Over the last decade, sports scientist Neal Henderson, 41, has become one of the world’s top cycling and endurance coaches, advising Olympic racers …

Get Fast: Boost Your Leg Strength

101 Cycling Tips to Completely Transform Your Bike Life

Ride better, get stronger, be happier, go faster, look nicer, stay safer, get fitter, smile wider, and lots more<p>Want to be a better cyclist? Just ride. Every time you turn the pedals, you naturally improve a little. Of course, one well-placed tip, trick, or nugget of wisdom can help you achieve …

Dead Zone Syndrome

Typically found in the time-crunched, who often feel that every moment on the bike is so precious that they must go hard. Here's how to break free from your rut...<p><b>Etiology</b><p>This condition, common among cyclists, is brought on by repeated training at a single, moderately hard intensity, known as Zone …

The Pursuit of Happiness

The tendency to be happy or not is an inherited trait, but the good news is that this is less than half the story. According to a 2012 study of identical and fraternal twins conducted by a team of scientists from top universities around the world, only about a third of our happiness level is …