Tom Scotto has done it again, with a very informative article on neuromuscular training and why it is important. Find out why employing neuromuscular training in your profiles will help you improve endurance, strength, speed and power, all important aspects of cycling AND indoor cycling. Use it for base building and beyond!
The great thing about training science is that the more you study it, the more methodologies and facets emerge. Sometimes it is something totally new and other times (in the case of neuromuscular training) it is something we have been doing for years but either didn’t know what it was called or the specific benefits. Considering its impact on base training, I thought it would be a great topic to cover during this time of the year (Jan-Feb). However, as you will see, neuromuscular training takes on a different form later in the season.
Thanks for the great article! We need the emphasis on the importance of base building. Plus, I always enjoy reading or listening to Tom breaking down the pedal stroke! This is a very confusing concept to a lot of instructors (and cyclists) and I finally got clear on it when I attended a workshop by Tom two years ago.
This is the kind of information our “general” ridership really needs. We just have to deliver it in a way that would fit the group we are riding with. Sometimes we have a more advanced group (my team of 18 falls into that), and they will soak up this kind of information like “cycling sponges” 😉 But the newbies will be lost if we don’t simplify it a little for them. The coach will have to size up the room and go from there 🙂
I agree with the comment that some new riders walk into our rides, looking for a rah-rah class. Base building does not appeal to those guys. But, as we guide the amazing and effective rides, those guys will feel and may understand the “difference”. They will either love the offered knowledge and become a “regular”, or…. look for a class that fits into their style and goals. We cannot satisfy every single rider that walks into our room, and life goes on 😉
How do leg speed drills tie in with intensity? When I do leg speed drills my heart rate goes up commensurate with effort. Is it ok during base to push to breathless on these drills?
I enjoyed the article but I was hoping for a little more information as to how this helps with the people who just ride inside and only do cardio 3 or so times a week. Some just want a workout and don’t care about improving their speed, etc. We always have new people who drop in to try the class and have to be careful not to overwhelm them, Please help in translating this to the general fitness indoor cycling class.