Will Frischkorn is an ex-professional cyclist who rode with the
Slipstream team and has competed in Le Tour De France, a race considered
the pinnacle of the cycling world and ranks with the top endurance
events in the world. Will was named US National Champion in the under 23
division and has been known for his outgoing personality, teamwork and
tactical knowledge while racing. I recently had the opportunity to chat
with Will and gain his insight into training for the world's largest
stage. A recently retired professional cyclist, Will resides in Boulder,
Co., considered the Mecca of endurance sports, and runs a gourmet
cheese, meat and wine delicacy called Cured. You can visit Cured and possibly chat with a world class athlete at 1825 B Pearl St. Boulder, Co. 80304 or online at CuredBoulder.com
Q. First, could you give us (the general public) an idea of how intensive of a training regiment you endured when working with Slipstream and preparing for the big races, like Le Tour?
A. Cycling is a particularly specific sport and one that for European racing requires some crazy hours in the saddle. A typical week of prep is in the 28-30 hour range with 4 big days, 5-6 hours each, 2 days of recovery (2 hours or so of easy riding) and 1 day in the 3-4 hour range but with short, high intensity effort as a focus.
Q. How was the finish line?
A. The feeling of crossing the line in Paris is like no other for a cyclist. It's what you dream of as a kid and the energy of the Champs is truly incredible.
Q. When training or racing did you utilize certain fitness technologies to monitor and track your current physical state and progression levels?
A. Because of the fixed nature of riding a bike, Cycling is a sport that is prime for performance monitoring. In addition to a heart rate monitor, almost everybody uses a power meter (a strain gauge equipped device in the bottom bracket) to have instantaneous display of exact workload and power output. You essentially have a little computer on your handlebars that gives you all of your current information like speed, distance, time, temperature, power output, etc, and then the ability to download all of that data to analyze the effort post ride - all easily shareable with coaches even if they are a continent away.
Q. If so, what fitness technology applications do you find most effective in your training regiment?
A. Power monitoring is by far the most effective tool a cyclist has at their disposal. Heart rate is prone to drift caused by any number of factors, be it temperature, level of fatigue, or hydration, and it also has a lag from the time you start the effort until it catches up. Power is instantaneous and reflects exactly what is being done at any given moment.
Q. Are there any new fitness gadgets or applications that you personally suggest, or any application ideas to create the perfect athlete fitness gadget?
A. SRM was the original power meter producer, but there are countless now and more and more entering the market daily. Pairing the SRM with a Garmin cycling computer using the ANT+ pairing feature makes for my ideal cockpit.
Q. With the significant surge of fitness gadgets hitting the market, do you believe demand will last and progress or is this a fitness tech bubble waiting to happen?
A. There is certainly an endless stream of toys hitting the market and while there is a place for many, I think a bit of a bubble is in the wings waiting to thin out those that aren't quite up to snuff.
Q. Do you believe personal exercise and health applications and gadgets will improve our nation's health outcomes and help citizens become more informed and active participants in their health?
A. I'm amazed with some of the incredible everyday tools available now, even to just track how much you walk at work. Sometimes at Cured I'll toss on pedometer and see how far I walk over the course of the day, just from behind the cheese counter to the wine shop to the front register. Amazing. For many people out there anything that can be a motivator, even if it doesn't provide hugely informative data, is still a huge net-positive.
Q. One last question, any tips for those who are looking to improve their riding skills or endurance capabilities?
A. Riding a bike is pretty simple. Ride. A lot. And have fun with it! With limited time I also always encourage people to look at a small amount of high-end intensity training as a part of their routine. Even just one day a week of smashing yourself up the steepest local climb a couple of times will help you make overall gains that much more quickly.
cheese, meat and wine delicacy called Cured. You can visit Cured and possibly chat with a world class athlete at 1825 B Pearl St. Boulder, Co. 80304 or online at CuredBoulder.com
Q. First, could you give us (the general public) an idea of how intensive of a training regiment you endured when working with Slipstream and preparing for the big races, like Le Tour?
A. Cycling is a particularly specific sport and one that for European racing requires some crazy hours in the saddle. A typical week of prep is in the 28-30 hour range with 4 big days, 5-6 hours each, 2 days of recovery (2 hours or so of easy riding) and 1 day in the 3-4 hour range but with short, high intensity effort as a focus.
Q. How was the finish line?
A. The feeling of crossing the line in Paris is like no other for a cyclist. It's what you dream of as a kid and the energy of the Champs is truly incredible.
Q. When training or racing did you utilize certain fitness technologies to monitor and track your current physical state and progression levels?
A. Because of the fixed nature of riding a bike, Cycling is a sport that is prime for performance monitoring. In addition to a heart rate monitor, almost everybody uses a power meter (a strain gauge equipped device in the bottom bracket) to have instantaneous display of exact workload and power output. You essentially have a little computer on your handlebars that gives you all of your current information like speed, distance, time, temperature, power output, etc, and then the ability to download all of that data to analyze the effort post ride - all easily shareable with coaches even if they are a continent away.
Q. If so, what fitness technology applications do you find most effective in your training regiment?
A. Power monitoring is by far the most effective tool a cyclist has at their disposal. Heart rate is prone to drift caused by any number of factors, be it temperature, level of fatigue, or hydration, and it also has a lag from the time you start the effort until it catches up. Power is instantaneous and reflects exactly what is being done at any given moment.
Q. Are there any new fitness gadgets or applications that you personally suggest, or any application ideas to create the perfect athlete fitness gadget?
A. SRM was the original power meter producer, but there are countless now and more and more entering the market daily. Pairing the SRM with a Garmin cycling computer using the ANT+ pairing feature makes for my ideal cockpit.
Q. With the significant surge of fitness gadgets hitting the market, do you believe demand will last and progress or is this a fitness tech bubble waiting to happen?
A. There is certainly an endless stream of toys hitting the market and while there is a place for many, I think a bit of a bubble is in the wings waiting to thin out those that aren't quite up to snuff.
Q. Do you believe personal exercise and health applications and gadgets will improve our nation's health outcomes and help citizens become more informed and active participants in their health?
A. I'm amazed with some of the incredible everyday tools available now, even to just track how much you walk at work. Sometimes at Cured I'll toss on pedometer and see how far I walk over the course of the day, just from behind the cheese counter to the wine shop to the front register. Amazing. For many people out there anything that can be a motivator, even if it doesn't provide hugely informative data, is still a huge net-positive.
Q. One last question, any tips for those who are looking to improve their riding skills or endurance capabilities?
A. Riding a bike is pretty simple. Ride. A lot. And have fun with it! With limited time I also always encourage people to look at a small amount of high-end intensity training as a part of their routine. Even just one day a week of smashing yourself up the steepest local climb a couple of times will help you make overall gains that much more quickly.
To learn more about fitness and health technology, including tips and reviews from the pros, visit Living Healthe @ http://www.livinghealthe.com
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