Hi Reader,
Most athletes I know who've made the move from triathlon to gravel will tell you the same thing.
They thought their fitness would carry them. It didn't — at least not in the way they expected.
Dave Schell has spent 15 years coaching cyclists through some of the most demanding events on the calendar, ultra-distance gravel and mountain bike events like Unbound 200, Leadville or the Glorious Gravel events in the UK. Before that he spent seven years at Training Peaks as coach education manager. He understands where endurance athletes go wrong when they make this transition, and this week he joined me on this week's podcast to talk about it.
In this episode we talk about:
- why FTP is overrated for long-distance racing — and what actually decides your result after eight hours in the saddle
- the skill gap most triathletes don't know they have, and why fixing it delivers more free speed than another training block
- the mental game of ultra-distance events — letting go of expectation and taking whatever you have in the moment
- why consistency is a more powerful lever than any training methodology
One moment that stuck with me. Dave was talking about a rider with a 350w FTP — strong, riding at the front — but losing time in every corner. One skills day delivered more progress than months of chasing power numbers would have.
We often optimise for the thing we can measure, not the thing that's actually holding us back.
Listen to the podcast here: Your FTP Won't Save You at Mile 150
Speak soon, Simon
P.S. Dave's business tagline is "carry water, chop wood". The work never changes. You just keep showing up and doing it. Worth sitting with.
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I really appreciate you being a part of my tribe.
Thanks for reading and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Simon Ward
Health, Wellness & Performance Coach
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