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Road Cycling Academy Podcast

Road Cycling Academy Podcast

Ryan Thomas & Cam Nicholls 85 Episodes Aug 26, 2026

Interviews with top performing cyclists and industry experts in the fields of coaching, advanced training techniques, and human physiology. The purpose of this podcast is to learn and understand what makes high performing individuals tick, digging deep into their ingredients to success both on and off the bike.

Episodes

How Much Strength Training Do Cyclists Actually Need?
How Much Strength Training Do Cyclists Actually Need? Aug 26, 2026 14:59 Summary: How much strength training do cyclists actually need, and could doing too much in the gym be interfering with your riding? For recreational and amateur cyclists balancing training with work, family and limited time, strength training can easily become overcomplicated. Long gym sessions with multiple exercises, sets and repetitions may create unnecessary fatigue, making it harder to comple
The Most Important Cycling Graph You're Probably Ignoring
The Most Important Cycling Graph You're Probably Ignoring Aug 26, 2026 18:27 Summary: Do you know your best five-second, one-minute or five-minute power, or are you basing almost all of your cycling training around FTP? For many recreational and amateur cyclists, FTP becomes the number used to set training zones and measure progress. But one number can't necessarily tell you where your strengths and weaknesses sit across everything from a short sprint to a sustained effort
Why More Group Rides Won't Make You Faster (Incl: latest 2026 Research)
Why More Group Rides Won't Make You Faster (Incl: latest 2026 Research) Aug 24, 2026 19:43 Summary: Why can you keep doing the same group ride every week and still get dropped in exactly the same place? For recreational and amateur cyclists, simply doing more group rides can improve fitness and experience, but it may not address the specific weakness that's causing you to lose the wheel when the pace suddenly increases. In this episode of the Road Cycling Academy Podcast, Cam Nicholls i
How Pro Cycling Teams Are Testing Durability (& What We Can Learn)
How Pro Cycling Teams Are Testing Durability (& What We Can Learn) Aug 18, 2026 26:24 Summary:  What is cycling durability, how do professional cycling teams measure it, and could it be more important than your FTP or VO2 max? In this episode of the Road Cycling Academy Podcast, Cam Nicholls is joined by RCA coach and exercise physiologist Ben Treble to unpack emerging research into one of cycling's hottest performance topics: durability and fatigue resistance. Fresh from the Scien
The Latest Science on Carbs for Cycling: How Much Do You Really Need?
The Latest Science on Carbs for Cycling: How Much Do You Really Need? Aug 12, 2026 29:23 How many carbohydrates per hour do cyclists actually need — 60g, 90g, 120g or even 150g? Professional cyclists are consuming more carbohydrates than ever, with reports of Tour de France riders pushing towards 120–150+ grams of carbs per hour. But does more carbohydrate actually mean better performance — and should recreational and amateur cyclists be trying to copy the pros? In this episode of the
Tour de France Cooling Secrets: Should Amateur Cyclists Be Paying Attention?
Tour de France Cooling Secrets: Should Amateur Cyclists Be Paying Attention? Aug 4, 2026 50:28 What can recreational cyclists learn from the cooling strategies used by the Tour de France peloton? In this episode of the Road Cycling Academy Podcast, Cam Nicholls is joined by RCA coach and exercise physiologist Ben Treble to unpack the science behind cooling strategies, heat acclimation, hydration and performance. With the 2026 Tour de France being one of the hottest on record, riders were se
Train to Drop Your Mates (The Ultimate Group Ride Workout)
Train to Drop Your Mates (The Ultimate Group Ride Workout) Jul 28, 2026 13:14 If your goal is to beat your mates on the weekend bunch ride, this might be the most effective workout you can add to your training. In this episode, Road Cycling Academy founder Cam Nicholls and Head Coach Ryan Thomas break down one of their favourite interval sessions for recreational and amateur cyclists. Rather than targeting a single training zone, this workout combines VO₂ max efforts, sweet
Is your Zone 2 training actually in Zone 2?
Is your Zone 2 training actually in Zone 2? Jul 21, 2026 13:59 One of the biggest mistakes recreational cyclists make is relying on estimated FTP numbers from Garmin, Strava or Wahoo to determine their training zones. If those estimates are wrong, your Zone 2 training could be missing the mark—and limiting your aerobic development. In this episode, Road Cycling Academy founder Cam Nicholls and Head Coach Ryan Thomas discuss a simple "bro science" method that
The Bike Fit Upgrade Nobody Talks About
The Bike Fit Upgrade Nobody Talks About Jul 15, 2026 19:54 Are cycling insoles worth it, or are they just another expensive upgrade? In this episode of the Road Cycling Academy Podcast, expert bike fitter Neill Stanbury sits down with cycling podiatrist Nathan White, founder of Cobra9, to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of bike fit: what happens between your foot and the pedal. While many cyclists obsess over frame geometry, saddle position and
Cycling Hip Pain Explained: Labral Tears, Bike Fit & Prevention
Cycling Hip Pain Explained: Labral Tears, Bike Fit & Prevention Jun 17, 2026 09:23 Hip pain is one of the most common issues cyclists face, but the source of the problem isn't always where you think. In this episode of the RCA Podcast, Cam Nicholls sits down with expert bike fitter Neill Stanbury to discuss one of the more serious causes of cycling-related hip pain: hip labral tears. They explain how poor bike positioning, pelvic asymmetry, hip impingement and repetitive movemen
Thinking About Hiring a Cycling Coach? Here's What Actually Happens
Thinking About Hiring a Cycling Coach? Here's What Actually Happens Jun 17, 2026 37:39 Thinking about hiring a cycling coach but not sure what's actually involved? In this episode of the RCA Podcast, Cam Nicholls sits down with RCA coach and sports scientist Ben Treble to pull back the curtain on the coaching process and explain exactly what recreational and amateur cyclists can expect when they start working with a coach. Whether you're training 6–12 hours per week, struggling to i
Want to Climb Faster? Here's How to Train for BIG Climbs
Want to Climb Faster? Here's How to Train for BIG Climbs Jun 16, 2026 30:11 Are you planning a cycling holiday in Europe, tackling iconic climbs like the Alps, Dolomites, or Swiss mountain passes? In this episode of the RCA Podcast, Cam Nicholls sits down with RCA coach and data science specialist Ben Treble to discuss exactly how recreational and amateur cyclists should prepare for a climbing-focused cycling trip. Ben breaks down the key physiological factors that determ

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