So how did Stefan go from being a non-contender in 2002 to the podium in 2004? Stefan's last placement at a World Championship was 18th! What he did differently this time to earn himself a bronze medal at the 2004 world's was to take a cue from his country's speed skaters. The German Speed Skating Team has long held cycling as an integral part of their training. Stefan said he had a fresh surge of energy at the start of the season which for him began in May. "I started doing bike training with the speed skaters...between 70 and 110 kilometers a day". That's roughly 40 to 70 miles per day! Now an average Class C cyclist will go between 10 - 11 MPH so you can about figure how much time Stefan spent in "the saddle" last spring.
Being practical, we see the last vestiges of summer all but gone as fall is now here. This means new strategies for working out, outdoors. First of all you'll want training clothing that can do double, even triple duty. Workout wear that will take you from the road to the ice. One of the latest fabrics on the scene for this application is Tactel otherwise known as sueded supplex. This material has great wicking quality while feeling like soft suede against your skin. One x-training set I tested in this material was by Athleta. We tested their Warm-up Hoodie made of 90% tactel nylon and 10% lycra. This cool weather topper allows your skin to breathe and I found that I didn't need to take it off as soon as I broke a sweat. I stayed quite cool and dry. When I was fully warmed up, I tied it around my waist. With the front zipper, it was easy to get over my bicycle helmet. It has two invisible zippered pockets in front which is great for stowing house keys. Very versatile, it is topper I use most. I teamed it with Althleta's Spaghetti Tank which color coordinates with their hoodie and is made of the same material. The built in shelf bra was comfortable but surprisingly supportive. Best of all, both pieces felt like butter against my skin. Team this duo with your favorite skating pants and you're ready to get on the ice after cycling. Visit Athleta at http://athleta.com or call 888-322-5515 for their latest catalog.
