Is Your Saddle Actually Comfortable, or Have You Just Accepted the Pain?
If you’ve ever told yourself saddle discomfort is “just part of riding,” it’s time for a reset.
You don’t have to suffer through numbness, chafing, or shifting in your seat for 3+ hours. In fact, doing so could be quietly limiting your power, endurance, focus, and even your recovery.
At Mach1 Performance, we believe comfort isn’t a luxury—it’s a performance advantage.
Why Training Smarter (Not Harder) Wins in the Long Run
By Roston Nordell, Mach1 Performance Devo Rider & Intern
“More pain, more gain” is the mindset fueling countless amateur and recreational athletes. But that mentality isn’t just unsustainable—it’s flat-out wrong.
Chasing fatigue isn’t a performance strategy. It’s a fast track to burnout. Real, lasting progress happens when you apply the right kind of stress, at the right time, with just enough recovery to adapt and grow.
Your Competitors Are Suffering in the Heat—You Won’t Be
Heat is one of the most underestimated forces in endurance racing. But it’s not just a challenge—it’s a performance opportunity. The difference? Whether or not you trained for it.
At Mach1 Performance, we help athletes turn heat into an edge. Here’s how.
To Your Inner Critic: Rewiring Your Mind for Peak Performance
If you’re a competitive cyclist, chances are your biggest critic isn’t your rivals—it’s you.
At Mach1 Performance, we get it. Holding yourself to high standards can be a powerful driver of growth. But if left unchecked, that inner voice can also lead to burnout, low self-worth, and self-sabotage.
The good news? You don’t need to silence your inner critic. You just need to retrain it.
Overtraining vs. Under-Recovery: Know the Signs Before You Burn Out
It sounds counterintuitive—but if you’re always training fast, you may actually be holding yourself back.
One of the most common mistakes cyclists make is going too hard on their easy days and not hard enough on their key workouts. At Mach1 Performance, we call it what it is: gray-zone purgatory.
So, what’s the fix? Strategic, consistent, low-intensity riding—also known as Zone 2 training.
Is Riding Slow the Secret to Getting Fast?
It sounds counterintuitive—but if you’re always training fast, you may actually be holding yourself back.
One of the most common mistakes cyclists make is going too hard on their easy days and not hard enough on their key workouts. At Mach1 Performance, we call it what it is: gray-zone purgatory.
So, what’s the fix? Strategic, consistent, low-intensity riding—also known as Zone 2 training.
Power Meters: The Best Investment or Just an Expensive Confidence Killer?
They’re everywhere—on cranks, pedals, hubs, and even built into the conversation at your local group ride. Power meters have become a standard in cycling tech. But are they truly worth the investment, or are they turning your training into a numbers game that undermines your confidence?
A Proven Supplement to Boost Your Cycling Performance: Sodium Bicarbonate
When you're chasing peak watts and podiums, every detail matters. At Mach1 Performance, we’re always looking for science-backed strategies to help our athletes perform their best—and one powerful but often overlooked tool is sodium bicarbonate.
More than just baking soda, this common compound has serious research behind it when it comes to buffering fatigue, increasing sprint performance, and helping you push through high-intensity efforts.
Electrolytes: Are You Wasting Money on the Wrong Hydration Mix?
You train hard, fuel smart, and track every watt. But if you’re overlooking your hydration strategy—or buying a fancy mix loaded with unnecessary extras—you could be flushing performance (and money) down the drain.
Do This One Thing Before Your Next Big Race: Carbo-Loading Done Right
You train hard. You eat well. But if you're not sleeping deeply and consistently, you're leaving watts on the table. Sleep isn’t just “recovery”—it’s a performance enhancer, hormone regulator, injury-preventer, and your most underutilized training tool.
ZZZs = Watts: Assessing and Improving Sleep for Peak Performance
You train hard. You eat well. But if you're not sleeping deeply and consistently, you're leaving watts on the table. Sleep isn’t just “recovery”—it’s a performance enhancer, hormone regulator, injury-preventer, and your most underutilized training tool.
Unlocking the Power of Macronutrients for Cyclists
Nutrition is your foundation. Whether you’re crushing long climbs or cruising recovery miles, fueling your body with the right macronutrients can unlock performance gains, boost recovery, and help you feel stronger—on and off the bike.
Keep Your Training Motivation High: Cultivating Intrinsic Motivation
Let’s be honest—motivation doesn’t always come easily. Cold mornings, busy schedules, and low energy can make even the most dedicated athlete struggle to show up. But the key to long-term consistency isn’t external pressure or willpower—it’s intrinsic motivation.
It’s All in the Blood: Lab Tests Every Endurance Athlete Should Know About
As an endurance athlete, you already know performance is about more than just training volume and watts. To truly perform at your best, you need to understand what’s going on under the hood—starting with your bloodwork.
The Caffeine Cycle and Endurance Sport Performance
Caffeine is one of the most widely used (and often misunderstood) performance tools in endurance sport. While it can give you a mental and physical edge, using it without intention can quickly backfire—especially when it starts interfering with sleep, recovery, and your body's natural rhythms. Here's what you need to know to use caffeine wisely.