Personal Enhancement Team – Tad Hughes

 

As 2017 comes to a close,  I look back at the people I have been so lucky to work with.  After hearing, “I can’t to do it without you Tad,” I remind myself I am part of their “team,” their personal enhancement team or P.E.T.  Regardless of your individual goals or where you fall on the competitive barometer having an off-the-bike network to improve your overall health, comfort or injury recovery is critical.  To better understand the theory behind this I ask that you think of your body and flexibility as a traditional window blind.  The strings holding it together represent your muscle tension, the frame your skeleton and the horizontal slats your pelvis. If you pull the strings evenly the blind rises evenly, but what if one string is higher or tighter than the other? Then the blind is crooked and uneven and perhaps the slats are slightly turned.  Given that scenario, how could you ever be comfortable or perform at the best of your ability – not to mention the increased intrinsic risk of injury? In most cases a professional bike fit can alleviate and correct for several issues however many need to be solved off the bike. P.E.T. findings are often shared, adjusted and corrected based on one segment’s complementation of the other with the single unified goal of serving the needs of the client.  Meet 5 people you should know.

 

  1. Full Time Bike Fitter/Biomechanist

Everything should start with a professional bike fit, as biased as that may sound.  This will create a baseline and alleviate some issues while hopefully leading to the root cause of your issue(s) whether they are comfort, power or rehabilitation. Anytime you get a new bike, or make a major modification to any one contact point (saddle, shoes, handlebar), it’s time to get re-fit.

 

  1. Cycling Coach

Many will say “not for me” but if not you then who?  Don’t think of utilizing this service as a deficiency correction, but as a structural guide to help you achieve your goals.  A coach will add structure to your riding program and give you the accountability needed to pursue your goals.  Like bike fitters, coaches will largely fall into two categories – Coaches (static) and Physiologists (dynamic).  Coaches tend to be more advice driven and derive plans based on your heart rate or “PER” (perceived exertion rating).  Physiologists will often have advanced degrees in clinical exercise, kinesiology and other biomedical fields offering years of practical experience.

 

  1. Massage Therapist

Many folks chronically neglect the engine. Our hard earned money is often spent on shiny machined bits for the bike rather than on ourselves.  Every good crew chief knows that the focus goes to the power plant not the chassis.  Massage is often thought of as “relaxing” or a “reward” rather than a constant in your training program.  I often get calls from folks that have issues (usually knee) from muscular imbalances that occur due to lack of muscular maintenance.  Often the pain is not the culprit; most hamstring pain is a result of an overly tight quadriceps muscles. Think of the mini-blind again.  If the quad pulls the pelvis (slats) forward then the hamstring will always be under duress. Starting a massage regimen early can sometimes be the key to unlocking hidden performance and comfort.

 

  1. Physical Therapist/Chiropractor

Thought of by some as the root of all evil, these professionals often get a bad rap and are misunderstood.  This may stem from the complaint of ongoing treatment and not fixing the issue but it is often not as simple as that.  Your issue won’t go away on their own yet exercises or adjustments to correct your actions will aid your progress in skeletal and muscular alignment.  Often the root cause of pain, especially in the lower back, can be attributed to a leg length discrepancy. The correction of this and relay of the PT/Chiro findings back to the fit department are paramount to the way you feel on and off the bike.

 

  1. Dietician/Nutritionist

I was once told in jest that cycling was just a really expensive eating disorder, and while humorous, there is a sliver of truth in that statement.  Weight can be the single most self affected multiplier of health or performance in regard to your training program. Most returning clients are surprised to find that post consultation that they are not eating enough, and the timing of what and when they eat is off.  Managing blood acidity levels and inflammation become important factors for recovery and overall health after years of leaching the calcium out of our bones.  Having a plan or finding foods and strategies that parallel your training/life schedule is the main goal.
Maintaining awareness of your program in your everyday life will greatly benefit you and your riding over time. Better levels of stretching, strength and focus on muscular health with small substitutions in the right format will begin to add up. Control what you can control and limit your losses. Starting your next ride better hydrated, rested and flexible may start you down the road to your best season ever and closer to obtaining your goals than ever before. Enjoy the ride.
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jerry gerlich
jerry gerlich
6 years ago

The combination of training, ergonomic, recovery and nutrition strategies creates holistic a synergistic improvements in cycling.