Johnny_Monkey

Is there a book that is recognised as being the 'best' book for cycle training? I read an earlier thread which recommended Lance Armstrong's Seven Week book, but the reviews I read seem to think it may be a bit basic ie for the novice cyclist rather than for someone who's been around a bit.

Can anyone recommend a good book that will help in improving my fitness and cycling performance (and perhaps also cycling technique)?

rule

That would likely be Joe Friel's The Cyclist's Training Bible.

FatguyRacer

I have the Bible, but i love Arnie Bakers book Smart Cycling. He goes into race tactics that make sense for the rest of us racing the local indy park crit circuit. I'd say get them both.

craigery

The Ultimate Ride by Chris Carmichael. Its an easy read with LOTS of info that makes sense.

Johnny_Monkey

Thanks guys. I'll check them out.

TryingMyBest

Last week, I spent an hour browsing through all the bike training books at Borders. I ended up buying this book. I'm on page 33 of 260+. So far it is all definitions and theory. I was afraid this book is too focused on theory and what the basis of a good workout is without giving enough workout plans.

So, I also bought The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists: A Heart Zone Training Program by the authors Sally Edwards and Sally Reed. This book has some theory in the early chapters but also has over 50 different workout plans, one for each week in the year.

I think I bought both books for less than $30 total. I think The Cyclist's Training Bible will teach you the general what, how and why to exercise a certain way while The Heart Rate Monitor Book for Outdoor and Indoor Cyclists: A Heart Zone Training Program will show 50+ precise workouts for you to follow.

If you can, flip through both books at your local bookstore (I found these books at Borders) and see which one you like better (or buy both like I did). Hope this helps.

Chicane

Look at the end of the Bible, in Annexes. Plenty of workouts examples.

TryingMyBest

I just see a bunch of Revelations at the end of the Bible.

Thanks for the recommendation, I didn't see these before. I just took a look at it. There are a total of 7 pages divided into the following categories:

• 3 samples of Endurance workouts
• 3 samples Strength workouts
• 6 samples Speed workouts
• 7 samples Muscular-Endurance workouts
• 6 samples Anaerobic-Endurance workouts
• 3 samples Power workouts
• 2 samples Test workouts

As an example, here are all the Strength workouts word-for-word:

1. Moderate Hills: Select a course that includes several hills up to 6 percent grade that take up to 3 minutes to ascend. Stay seated on all climbs pedaling from the hips. Cadence should be at 70 rpm or higher. Stay in zones 1-4 on this ride (Periods: Base 3)
2. Long Hills: Ride a course including long grades of up to 8 percent that take six or more minutes to climb. Remain mostly seated on the hills and keep your cadence at 60 rpm or higher. Go no higher than zone 5a. Concentrate on bike position and smooth pedaling. (Periods: Base 3, Build 1)
3. Steep Hills: Ride a course that includes 8 percent or steeper hills requiring less than 2 minutes to climb. You can do repeats on the same hill with three to five minutes of recovery between climbs. Be sure to warm up thoroughly. Intensity may climb to zone 5b several times with recoveries into zone 1. Climb in and out of the saddle. Maintain a cadence of 50-60 rpm. Stop the workout if you cannot maintain at least 50 rpm. Do this workout no more than twice per week. Do not do this workout if you have knee problems. (Periods: Build 1, Build 2, Peak, Race)

At this point, that is not enough guidance for me. I think the stength of The Cyclist's Training Bible is to help make me more self-sufficient. Reading this book is essentially a school course to allow me to learn how to create good workouts on my own instead of providing detailed workouts. That is where I feel the other book comes into play.

I like both books.