Training and Nutrition for Endurance Cycling and for Furnace Creek 508
and Other Death Valley Cycling Events in Particular

All Articles by Chris Kostman, unless otherwise noted 

The 508 Training Camp: CORPScamp Death Valley

AdventureCORPS presents CORPScamp Death Valley, our annual cycling lifestyle training camp based in Furnace Creek and featuring up to 400 miles of epic, one-of-a-kind cycling in and around "Mother Nature's Greatest Sports Arena," Death Valley National Park. Come join Chris Kostman and the folks at AdventureCORPS along with fellow athlete-adventurers from around the globe for five fabulous days of cycling and camaraderie in beautiful, one-of-a-kind Death Valley! The adventures will include riding the route of the Spring Death Valley Century, the route of the Fall Death Valley Century, to the summit of Townes Pass, up to Danté's View, and more!

The 508 Preview: Death Valley Century and Double Century

AdventureCORPS presents Death Valley Century and Double Century: Come Ride Death Valley by Moonlight! Join us in March and October every year for incredible, one-of-a-kind 100 mile and 200 mile cycling events in Mother Nature's greatest sports arena, Death Valley! The field limit is 300 riders total and it always sells out. The Spring and Fall editions feature greatly varying routes, giving the adventurous cyclist two awesome opportunities to explore and enjoy one of American's greatest National Parks. With full rider support, roving SAG vehicles, killer cycling jerseys for purchase, and impossible-to-get-lost routes with very little traffic, there's no better place to ride a century or double century cycling event! There's also no better way to preview the middle section of the 508 route!

508-Specific Insights from Race Veterans
	"A Bird's-Eye View of the 508: Runner-Up, Champ, Crew, and Why/How-To Perspectives" — a compilation of reports by Janet Osprey Christansen (PDF, 23 pages with lots of photos and excellent insights!)
	"Guide to the Furnace Creek 508 for Women Less-Than-Brazenly Self-Confident" — A women's guide to successful preparation and completion of the 508 by Janet Osprey Christiansen, 2nd place solo woman in 2003 and the solo woman champion in 2004.
	"Preparing for and Racing in the Furnace Creek 508" — Paul Skilbeck tells of his Furnace Creek 508 win in the two-person team category after only two months on a CompuTrainer. His team (Red Kangaroos) won the two-person category outright and set a new course record in the 40+ age group.
	"The Red Kangaroo and the CompuTrainer" by Paul Skilbeck
	"Emily O'Brien" — This story by Janet Osprey Christiansen tells the tale of 2005 Furnace Creek 508 fixed-gear rider (and RAAM qualifier) Emily Archaeopteryx O'Brien
	"The Scoop on How To Do It" by Steve Beaver Born, 1994 solo champ and 1999 runner-up
	Furnace Creek, the story..., by Timothy S. Kinkajou Kinkeade, 1997 finisher, and crew member Pat King with many photos NOTE: If you read only one story about the 508 and how to do it, read this one!
	The Insider's Guide to the 508 by Mike Whale Wilson, two time solo and one time team finisher
	Hints on Supporting a Cyclist by John Hawk Marino, race founder
	Equipment List by Beth Dingo Dawson, two time solo finisher
	SET-UP OF VEHICLE LIGHTS AND INTERIOR: Bill Osborn of Team Onager fame has a really great website with a few diagrams and descriptions for creating amber lights, setting up sound systems, and general vehicle information.Everybody should check that out now! (But don't be intimidated if your support vehicle is not that fancy!)

Nutrition and Hydration for Endurance Sports
	"The Pre-Race Meal" by Steve Beaver Born
	"The Importance of Protein for Endurance Athletes" by Steve Beaver Born
	"Hydration: What You Need To Know" by Steve Beaver Born
	"The Hammer Nutrition Fuels: What They Are and How to Use Them" by Steve Beaver Born
	"Electrolyte Replenishment" by Steve Beaver Born
	"The 10 Biggest Mistakes Endurance Athletes Make and How You Can Avoid Them" by Steve Beaver Born
	"Proper Caloric Intake During Endurance Events" by Steve Beaver Born
	"Superior Recovery" by Steve Beaver Born

The AdventureCORPS Way of Life
	"Going the Distance—and Beyond" from The Alaska Club Magazine. Extreme distance runner, Badwater veteran, and triathlete Christopher Bergland says that teaching your brain to associate exercise with happiness is the secret to sticking with it. Author unknown.
	Planet Ultra: It's Just an Attitude
	Pain and Suffering: a Blueprint for Mastery
	Fuel for the Finish Line: Eight Lessons to Get You There
	A Plea for Eating with a Purpose
	Cross-Training for Life: the Way of the Outdoor Athlete
	The Way of the Outdoor Athlete
	A Day in the Life of an Adventure Athlete
	The Seven Pillars of Athletic Performance: Efficiency in Action
	A Fitness Warrior's Guide to Daily Life: 70 Things to Do or Know on the Path to Excellence
	Super Human Potential: domain of the illuminati or of the common folk?
	Pondering Peaceful Warriorship: A Conversation with Dan Millman

Training for Cycling
	Training Specificity: Who Needs It?
	Century Training for Mere Mortals
	Train for a Century in 100 Hours
	Bike Set-Up for Century Riding
	Endurance Cycling: Five Mistakes to Avoid
	Living La Vida Ultra: Five More Steps on the Endurance Path
	Training for a Double Century (1988)
	Getting Started in Ultra-Marathon Cycling
	Coach's Corner: Mixing It Up in the Off-Season
	Coach's Corner: Cold and Wet Weather Riding
	Coach's Corner: Building Speed and Endurance
	Coach's Corner: Improve Time Trialing Technique and Speed
	Coach's Corner: Develop Hill Climbing Ability
	Coach's Corner: Bike to Run Transition Efficiency
	Coach's Corner: Riding in the Heat
	Coach's Corner: Improve Pedaling Technique and Efficiency
	Riding into the Wind, by Nick Gnu Gerlich

Technique and Training from www.RoadBikeRider.com
	How to Hold Your Own on Fast Club Rides, by Fred Matheny
	How to Ride in a Group, by Fred Matheny
	How to Ride in a Paceline, by Fred Matheny
	How to Survive Road Hazards, by Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka
	How to Deal With Bad Dogs, by Fred Matheny and Ed Pavelka
	How to Perfect Your Riding Position & Technique, by Ed Pavelka
	Three Essential Techniques for Roadies, by Fred Matheny
	Three Advanced Techniques for Roadies, by Fred Matheny
	How to Find Time for Cycling, by Fred Matheny

Cycling as Lifestyle
	A Warm Welcome to a World on Wheels
	Of Dreams and Decisions in the New Year
	Ultra Marathon Cycling, Pakistani Style
	When Style Was King
	Scorching Road and Trail (AKA gears and brakes are a crutch!)
	To Live and Race in the Undiscovered Country (i.e., how to become the next Greg Lemond)
	Moustaches and Pineapples: Bridgestone's Grant Petersen Speaks Out
	Stoked on Tandems
	Freds: a Scholarly Treatise
	How to Find Time for Cycling, by Fred Matheny

All-Terrain Cycling (some people call it "mountain biking")
	Mountain Bikes: Who Needs Them? (Yes! "THAT" article!)
	A Rebuttal to Close-Minded Mountain Bikers
	Mountain Bikes: We Need 'Em!
	Any Bike, Anywhere
	Wholistic Cycling: An Off-Road Primer
	SCOOP: Darwin Speaks Out on Bicycle Evolution

Indoor Cycling Training Articles

 

Many More AdventureCORPS Training and Lifestyle Articles