With the Tour of California rapidly approaching, Freddie Rodriguez (Davitamon-Lotto), took the opportunity on Friday to meet some of the Bay area's junior cycling elite at the CompuTrainer MultiRider centre in Endurance Mill Valley. As the rain poured down outside, Rodriguez talked about training and racing at the top level, and went for a spin on the CompuTrainer in the dry indoors.
Talking to the 20 junior racers assembled, Rodriguez explained the benefits of indoor training for the serious cycle racer - which he noted, except in times of injury, is best used as a key supplement to outdoor training, not as a replacement.
"I remember as a junior I was pre-selected for the national team for the world's, but I got injured in an accident and couldn't train outdoors," he said. "So I rode an indoor trainer for a month before the world's. I had one of the best results of my career (Rodriguez finished with a silver medal).
"Since then I have understood the value of indoor training. if the weather is cold and rainy I don't feel I need to train outdoors. You increase your chance of illness and injury, and you generally don't ride as hard in those conditions."
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read any 5 articles for free in each 30-day period, this automatically resets
After your trial you will be billed £4.99 $7.99 €5.99 per month, cancel anytime. Or sign up for one year for just £49 $79 €59
Join now for unlimited access
Try your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
