Mountain Bike Training without a power meter

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!