The Cyclist's Training Bible

Then, a few years ago, I bought this book. Most books on training are aimed at people with all the time they need to train. This book takes a real work perspective and allows you to make the right decisions bearing in mind all the limiting factors, from the physical to the simple fact that most ordinary people have a limited time in which to train.

So, with the focus this book gave me, even though my time was more limited than ever, I trained to the best of my ability and resources and then a raced a handful of races in my category. Needless to say, I was placed in most races and got enough points to go up a category straight away. For this simple fact, I highly recommend this book to everyone!

Next year, I am going to try Triathlon.. needless to say, I am buying Joel's triathlon training bible too!


Takes the effort out of planning a training program.   August 31, 2001
 50 out of 50 found this review helpful

Joe Friel has produced an excellent training guide for the competitive cyclist. All aspects of training are covered, from specific on-the-bike drills to cross training and nutrition. The information is structured in an extremely user friendly format making the creation of a personalised year long training program simple and informed. The book contains the latest in sports science research like using lactate threshold pulse rate instead of maximum pulse rate as a training focal point, special emphasis on rest and a very interesting introduction to the 'neolithic diet'. The only problem I found with the book is that it often leaves you craving more information on a given topic than it contains. Fortunately, all the chapters are backed up with a comprehensive reading list.


A definitive guide to plan your training and racing season   January 7, 2001
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

This book describes how you exactly should go about planning your racing and training season. All with tables, plans and suggested practices, and journals. Wonderful!

The book is based on periodization and divides the training into six different areas (strength, speed and endurance are the main ones). The season is also split into several phases. Based on the time of year and your weaknesses and strengths you set up a yearly plan. The whole point with this plan is to peak you performance on a scheduled time. Out of some tables you choose different exercises for a weekly plan. The exercises differ in intensity and volume. But Joe explains all this.

Although I am just an amateur road cyclist I highly recommend this book for any cyclist who wish to follow a better plan and improve their performances in races. Hell, even if you just interested in structured endurance-training, this book is a good read. When you examine your written journal after a while (I recommend making an electronic one) you can easily see what kind of improvements you have made and what kind of exercises suited you best at the different stages.


simply the best   May 20, 2000
 14 out of 17 found this review helpful

This book is the best I have look at for training, it gives you so much information about how to train like the pro's,eat,rest and general fitness, from reading this book my 25 time has been a big improvement,just from changing my training plan. A must for the up a coming cyclists