Sweet Spot Training and VLaMax with Tom Bell

Part 2 of our conversation about cycling training!
00:00
00:26 I don’t hate sweet spot, I hate the overprescription of it
1:33 When would Tom Bell Prescribe Sweet Spot? what is Sweet Spot training good for?
Over unders
Overly structured BLOCKS (?)
Working the systems versus just arbitrary blocks
4:00 Crit training; don’t get too specific
4:35 Athletes enjoy sweet spot
4:51 LISTEN TO THIS
5:40 Muscle Fiber types
6:35 can you polarize too much? Crossing over and using all muscle fiber types (this is why is prescribe TEMPO riding!)
Training the in between fibers.
8:20 Tempo vs Sweet Spot
8:50 Sweet Spot for consistent pressure on the pedals
9:53 Looking at Lactate Threshold
12:40 VO2Max work; don’t slide down to Sweet Spot
14:30 Sweet Spot final notes. Not for FTP increases
Well rested for VO2Max
15:43 Sweet Spot is overly fatiguing but hard to see when you’re always riding at Sweet Spot
17:30 Sweet Spot for Long Climbs on big gran fondos
21:05 When the RPE goes up, that doesn’t mean GO HARDER!
22:32 The Marketing of VLaMax
23:00 Hyperfocused on one metric
the availability of the metric for us not in a lab
25:00 How does Tom Bell utilize VLaMax, if at all?
27:00 Practical value from VLaMax
Measuring lactate ACCUMULATION vs PRODUCTION
The method to testing: Vo2max test
33:53 The method Lactate threshold testing and variables that affect the results
Very protocol specific. Diet affects lactate.
34:48 MOXY Device SmO2
I love how brits pronounce Capillaries
35:50 Wrapping it up, VLaMax and how to utilize metrics in the real world! Step away from the algorithm!
37:35 Putting metrics before the performance…Tom drops some knowledge here!!!!
42:00 Final Thoughts!

[@jasonhopkins6357]

I wish you’d let Tom speak more. Great this

[@EVOQBIKE]

Thanks for the feedback 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@philadams9254]

This is a really good discussion and Tom is one of my heroes. Thanks man

[@EVOQBIKE]

Tom is great, thanks for checking it out Phil!

[@Elmahry48]

Beautiful podcast 👏

[@EVOQBIKE]

Thanks for listening Abdu!

[@markusseppala6547]

Enjoyed this, thanks.

[@EVOQBIKE]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@williamdonayre]

Thank you! 🙏

[@EVOQBIKE]

thank you for checking it out!

[@adriantan205]

Thanks

[@EVOQBIKE]

No problem! thanks Adrian!

[@frj73]

I hope all my athletes' competitors take note of what Brendan says 😅

[@EVOQBIKE]

ouch! thanks for stopping by.

[@PepIM85]

Is possible
A summary/conclusion please?my English is not good 🙏

[@EVOQBIKE]

sorry there is no specific summary available, but check out our blogs: www.evoq.bike/blog

[@Jan-df7dl]

Why always make it partly a discussion of Polarized vs sweetspot vice versa. I think sweetspot can have a place into a polarized approach. For example for lowering VLA max.

[@EVOQBIKE]

hey Jan, great comment! we didn't mean to exactly do that, as I have other videos discussing how both can fit into a plan. Polarized doesn't mean "no sweet spot", just not a fan of the repetitive nature of lots of "sweet spot plans". So it's more "lots of sweet spot" vs polarized I guess! too much SS won't lower vlamax IMO though as you're more glycolytic versus riding more endurance!

[@lucasrodriguezfontan8451]

Man, you really talked too much, like a lot your podcasts, but poor Tom, we could have listened to him way more.

[@EVOQBIKE]

thanks for the comment. and the jab. noted.

[@andrewaustin3327]

Have you ever used Xert?

[@EVOQBIKE]

i haven't!

[@aussiefreediver]

Classic example of the difference in cultures between Americans and the British.

[@EVOQBIKE]

maybe a burn? Either way, cheers mate.