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Base Building for Cyclists: A New Foundation for Endurance and Perfomance
Ultrafit coach Thomas Chaples shows how cyclists of any age, experience, skill, and talent level can reach their full potential as both athlete and individual by training their bodies and minds for athletic competition with his practical guide Base Building for Cyclists . Based on the idea that success depends on the extent to which cyclists build their foundation of aerobic fitness, or their "base," for the road ahead, the book explains step-by-step how to build a bigger aerobic engine, work up to higher volumes, and make significant improvements in strength, endurance, and speed.
- GenresCyclingFitnessNonfiction
302 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2006
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51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 9, 2013
I've been riding a bike for 4-5 years now, usually around 1000 km per year. I haven't been involved in many races, but I guess I'd be a Cat 4 rider by US cycling standards.
When I picked up this book, I wanted to learn how to lose weight, improve my performance and endurance. While Thomas Chapple's book doesn't really cover the first part, it does explain how your body works and what should you do in order to be able to ride faster and farther.
The book is nicely laid out and easy to read and it really puzzles me when I see some people saying the book is too complex. It first starts with how your body works, including some rather recent studies, then it moves to what you should do in order to be better, explaining along the way what is base training and other options you have in case you picked up this book just a couple of weeks before a race or an important ride. Finally, it explains the exercises you need to do and how to plan your schedule, based on your previous training and experience.
I, for one, used the beginner cyclist schedule. It requires around 5-6 hours per day for training which means cycling, cross-training (e.g. swimming or running) and strength exercises. For each training plan you have abbreviations that you need to look up (e.g. MS is "Main Set"), but those should be already clear if you have read the book before jumping into the actual training. Even the strength exercises have drawings that should make the instructions a bit clearer (if not, you can search on YouTube and you'll see loads of examples).
Normally, I give books I really enjoy 4 stars and expect something really special from a book in order to give the fifth star. In this case there were several reasons:
* the training plans are actually made for people like me, who work during the weekdays and have more time during the weekends. The example schedule contains the longer rides during the weekend and one in the middle of the week
* the training charts are really excellent and Thomas Chapple explains why that training plan works and what other options you have.
I my mind, if you want to ride longer and better, not necessarily race, this is a great book. If you want to start going to races or start doing group rides, it's one of the simplest ways to improve your fitness levels.
When I picked up this book, I wanted to learn how to lose weight, improve my performance and endurance. While Thomas Chapple's book doesn't really cover the first part, it does explain how your body works and what should you do in order to be able to ride faster and farther.
The book is nicely laid out and easy to read and it really puzzles me when I see some people saying the book is too complex. It first starts with how your body works, including some rather recent studies, then it moves to what you should do in order to be better, explaining along the way what is base training and other options you have in case you picked up this book just a couple of weeks before a race or an important ride. Finally, it explains the exercises you need to do and how to plan your schedule, based on your previous training and experience.
I, for one, used the beginner cyclist schedule. It requires around 5-6 hours per day for training which means cycling, cross-training (e.g. swimming or running) and strength exercises. For each training plan you have abbreviations that you need to look up (e.g. MS is "Main Set"), but those should be already clear if you have read the book before jumping into the actual training. Even the strength exercises have drawings that should make the instructions a bit clearer (if not, you can search on YouTube and you'll see loads of examples).
Normally, I give books I really enjoy 4 stars and expect something really special from a book in order to give the fifth star. In this case there were several reasons:
* the training plans are actually made for people like me, who work during the weekdays and have more time during the weekends. The example schedule contains the longer rides during the weekend and one in the middle of the week
* the training charts are really excellent and Thomas Chapple explains why that training plan works and what other options you have.
I my mind, if you want to ride longer and better, not necessarily race, this is a great book. If you want to start going to races or start doing group rides, it's one of the simplest ways to improve your fitness levels.
October 1, 2012
This is a good book if you're wondering how to train in the off season. It explains the whys and hows of building endurance in order to reach your performance goals later in the year. It's a little dry, but there is lots of good information there and I'm glad I read it.
October 20, 2012
Way more information in this book than I can use now. This is one of those books that I will grow into as the year (years) and my training progresses. I am excited to be back into cycling and want to make sure I stick with it even having to do training indoors. I am a cold wimp, so indoors here I come to be a better cyclist in the spring when I am out again.
September 24, 2012
Skip this book and go straight to "Cyclist's Training Bible" by Friel and if you are training witha power meter supplement your reading with "Training and Racing with a Power Meter" by Allen and Coggan
September 25, 2015
Another book with detailed charts showing an intricate training plan that is way too complicated for me. Some nice tips about riding within large groups and some nice stretches for cyclists
February 15, 2012
Good book for cyclists interested in more complex training. Not for the beginner or those only casually interested in "riding faster"
December 12, 2013
So much good information for cycling enthusiast of all ability and experience levels. Will reference it often in the future.
January 9, 2015
Great showed me how I was doing everything wrong..
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews