Drinking Beet Juice? Maybe You Should Start
By Wayne Hansen, D.C. Beet juice is all the rage lately, and there might be…
Fad Diets – How Short-term Successes May Not Benefit Long-term Nutrition
The term “fad diet” refers to idiosyncratic eating patterns that promote short-term weight loss, usually with no concern for long-term weight maintenance, but they enjoy temporary popularity in the media or at your local gym.…
Prevention of Overuse Injuries
Overuse injuries are surprisingly high in cycling. In a recent study they found that 94% of cyclists over a one-year period will have experienced at least one overuse injury.…
Study Shows Pre-Ride Stretching Can Result in More Power
A study in the Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness has shown that stretching after a short warm up gives you more power on the bike.…
Fish Oil in place of Ibuprofen for Post Ride Soreness?
What are some other options if you don’t want to take ibuprofen for post ride soreness and inflammation? In a recent article in the Journal of Sports Science Medicine they showed that omega-3 supplementation decreases soreness, as a marker of inflammation, after eccentric exercise.…
Can Cyclists Benefit from Vitamin Supplements?
There is no doubt that adequate amounts of vitamins are necessary for health and optimal athletic performance. But, will supplementing with “excess” (i.e., more than the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA)) enhance performance? This nutrition article describes the roles of vitamins in athletic performance and attempts to answer the question of whether cyclists will benefit from vitamin supplementation.…
For Optimal Athletic Performance, Minerals are Worth Their Weight in Gold
The human body needs about twenty different minerals in order to function properly. And while all are important in one way or another for optimal athletic performance, certain minerals are particularly important because (a) they play a critical role muscle metabolism or (b) athletes are at increased risk for deficiency. These minerals include calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and sodium.…
A Guide to Cycling With Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
For people with multiple sclerosis (MS), preparing for an athletic event whether it’s a 5K walk or a 100 mile bike ride, is not an option but a necessity.…
To Supplement or Not to Supplement?
By Katherine A. Beals, PhD, RD, FACSM, CSSD and Breanne Nalder, MS, RD “Faster,” “leaner,”…
Nutrition Series, Part 1 of 3: Protein Needs for Cyclists
The word “protein” is derived from the Greek word, “proteos” meaning first and, when it comes to reputation of this macronutrient in the diets of athletes, the name seems to fit. Surveys assessing the nutrition knowledge of athletes often find that they believe protein is more important than either carbohydrate or fat in athletic performance. But, is protein deserving of this position on the pedestal of the athlete’s diet? In this month’s nutrition article—the first of a three-part series-- we will take a look at the role of protein in cycling performance as well as protein recommendations for endurance athletes, considering the amount and timing of protein intake around training. In subsequent articles we will address the topics of meeting protein needs on a vegetarian diet and protein supplementation.…
The Heat is On: Calorie Needs of Cyclists
In the quest to improve performance, cyclists often place an emphasis on improving the power-to-weight ratio (power: weight), which is measured by the amount of power (watts) one is able to generate per pound or kilogram of body weight.…
University of Utah’s Neuromuscular Lab Studies Cycling
The University of Utah’s Neuromuscular Function Lab is a gadget-enthusiast’s dream. Contraptions of all sorts sit in the large room – motors, crank wheels, fly wheels, and machines than seem to combine them all.…