Archives For Cardio

PerformX Elite Training

October 7, 2014

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A week ago, I received an email from Todd Schumlick, the creator/owner of PerformX Racing. I did a short training program with him last winter. This year, I have been selected to join his Elite Training program.

Why is this a big deal? One can’t simply go up to this man, throw some money at him and expected to be taken under his wing. With Todd training guys like Aaron Gwin, Steve Smith, Brook Macdonald, and Sam Blenkinsop, he doesn’t have the time to train just anybody. In his email, he said that he has a reputation to uphold, and that he’s fortunate to be in the position to pick the “best of the best”. You can imagine how that made me feel, right? Pretty awesome. I will be going up to Whistler/Pemberton at the end of the month to do some testing and to learn new movements and exercises in the gym. I’m really looking forward to this training and how it will help me next season!

Here is a Pinkbike article that talks a bit more about what Todd and his athletes get up to.

Todd Pinkbike

In Biking, Cardio, Getting Faster, Psych Prep, Strength and Core
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What NOT to do in an XC Race…

April 17, 2014

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As you can see, trying to wheely across the finish line when your rear brake doesn’t work and while being clipped in doesn’t work out the best…

In Biking, Cardio, Getting Faster
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New Road Biking Trail

December 16, 2013

After a short downhill ride on Seymour, my dad, brother, and I went exploring for road biking trails that we could ride. I was finding that riding on the roads with all the vehicles wasn’t really my thing and that I wasn’t going about it the right way. I didn’t like the vehicles flying past me and the roads around our house aren’t the flattest. There are quite a few hills which isn’t good for what I want to do now, which is build a base endurance. I will achieve that by going for long “easy” rides on relatively flat terrain for long periods of time. Later on in the spring I’ll go riding on the hills and also do some sprint training.

We heard that there was a good road biking/walking path literally right behind our house, so after a short drive, we thought we found where it started. After we got home, I washed my DH bike, changed from my downhill gear to my road bike gear, and went out to try and see if it was what we were looking for. It was perfect. The trail is 10 kilometers long with only 2 or 3 minor climbs and I can do the full 20 kilometers (there and back) in under 50 minutes which means I can keep my average speed 23-24 Km/h. I am working up to being able to ride 50-60 kilometers in one ride, so this trail is the perfect road bike training ground. It is also a very beautiful ride which helps distract me from how cold it is.

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In Cardio
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New Road Bike!

November 15, 2013

I recently got a road bike! Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Levi, you ride downhill. What the heck do you need a road bike for? You should be ashamed of yourself. You can’t get better at riding over rocks and roots on a skimpy road bike! Are you gonna wear the funny lookin’ spandex suit too? Downhill kits look way better! Don’t even get me started on the wheel size. 29ers? Psh!! You might as well ride cross country. DH all the way!” Well, if it was a few years ago, I probably would have agreed with you, but road biking is one of the best ways to build my base endurance for downhill biking.

Notice the cute lookin' spandex?

Notice the cute lookin’ spandex?

After changing the pedals to Shimano SPD’s and adjusting the seat height, I hopped on and went on my first road ride. I decided that I would try to go to my friends house who lived relatively close, plus it was the only place I really knew how to get to. I never realized how much I took an engine for granted. There is a long hill not too far from our house, and I decided that it would be a good thing to train on. I made it about 3/4 of the way up before I had to stop. The second time, I broke it up into “stages” where it got steep and where if flattened out. I also tried to go slower and put my multiple gears to use. I made it all the way up the second time without stopping. That hill has been a necessity in my daily rides and I ride it faster every time. I actually have found that it’s harder to come down because some idiot decided that it would be a good idea to put a stop sign at the bottom, so I can’t just let the brakes go. Oh, well, I guess I’ll just try my luck and hope I don’t become a hood ornament.

In Cardio
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