Cycling Science

Finally, the authoritative resource that serious cyclists have been waiting for has arrived. The perfect blend of science and application, Cycling Science takes you inside the sport, into the training room and research lab, and onto the course.

A remarkable achievement, Cycling Science features the following:

• Contributions from 43 top cycling scientists and coaches from around the world

• The latest thinking on the rider-machine interface, including topics such as bike fit, aerodynamics, biomechanics, and pedaling technique

• Information about environmental stressors, including heat, altitude, and air pollution

• A look at health issues such as on-bike and off-bike nutrition, common injuries, fatigue, overtraining, and recovery

• Help in planning training programs, including using a power meter, managing cycling data, off-the-bike training, cycling specific stretching, and mental training

• The latest coaching and racing techniques, including pacing theories, and strategies for road, track, MTB, BMX, and ultra-distance events

In this book, editors and cycling scientists Stephen Cheung, PhD, and Mikel Zabala, PhD, have assembled the latest information for serious cyclists.

Stephen Cheung, PhD, is the science and training editor for PezCycling News, focusing on translating latest scientific research into practical guidance for both cyclists and coaches. He coauthored Cutting-Edge Cycling (Human Kinetics, 2012) and has written more than 100 articles that cover respiratory training, altitude training, precooling and fatigue in the heat, hydration, optimal cadence, pacing strategies, jet lag, supplements, hypoxic stress, and the reliability of exercise testing protocols.

Cheung holds a Canada Research Chair in environmental ergonomics at Brock University, where his research focuses on the effects of thermal and altitude stress on human physiology and performance. The author of Advanced Environmental Exercise Physiology (Human Kinetics, 2010), Cheung helped to establish the sport science support network for the Canadian Sport Centre in Atlantic Canada and has consulted with world champion cyclists along with the Canadian national rowing and snowboard teams on specific sport performance projects. He has also served as a cycling official and as a board member of the Canadian Cycling Association. Cheung lives in Fonthill, Ontario.

Mikel Zabala, PhD, is director of the Cycling Research Center in Granada, Spain, and editor in chief of the Journal of Science and Cycling. His research interests are cycling performance and doping prevention. He is a senior lecturer on the faculty of sport sciences at the University of Granada, teaching students seeking advanced degrees in cycling. He has authored numerous scientific papers about cycling and training and coached a number of international professional cyclists, serving as performance director for the renowned MOVISTAR professional cycling team since 2012.

Beginning his career as a professional motocross rider and amateur bike racer, Zabala still competes as a masters cyclist. In 1999, he began working as a coach for the Spanish Cycling Federation and later served as manager of Spain’s national mountain biking team. He currently works with the Spanish Cycling Federation as a project director, coordinating their doping prevention efforts. In 2013, he was named director of teaching and research for the Spanish Cycling Federation.

"Cycling Science combines Stephen Cheung's immense knowledge about aerodynamics and training with the findings of the sport's top researchers and experts. If you want to know what it takes to ride faster, this is the book for you."

—Daniel Lloyd, Presenter at the Global Cycling Network, Former professional cyclist

"Cycling Science taps the leading minds in cycling training, fitness, and technology. A landmark work, it's beyond comprehensive and a must-have for anyone who wants to truly understand our amazing sport."

—Selene Yeager, USA Cycling certified coach, Bicycling magazine columnist

"Stephen and Mikel are known throughout the world as experts in the world of physiology, and they have brought together the world's experts for this book. An incredible compilation of knowledge that is sure to improve your cycling!"

—Hunter Allen, CEO and founder of Peaks Coaching Group, Coauthor of Cutting Edge Cycling and Training and Racing With a Power Meter

“Cycling Science is an informatively authoritative resource composed of contributions from 43 top cycling scientists and coaches from around the world that will hold immense appeal for both amateur and professional cyclists. A perfect blend of science and application, Cycling Science takes the sport into the training room and research lab, and then out onto the course. The 40 major articles comprising Cycling Science feature the latest thinking on the rider–machine interface; information about environmental stressors; a look at health issues; help in planning training programs; the latest coaching and racing techniques; and strategies for road, track, MTB, BMX, and ultradistance events. While unreservedly recommended for both community and academic library Contemporary Sports collections, it should be noted for personal reading lists that Cycling Science is also available in a digital book format.”

—Library Bookwatch, August 2017 Midwest Book Review

“The [Cycling Science] editors are both world-leading cycling scientists, Cheung in Canada and Zabala in Spain, and for their 40(!) chapters, they’ve recruited an extremely distinguished list of scientists from around the world. It covers all aspects of human physiology, bike design, training, racing, health, and so on. If you’re a cyclist interested in the science of your sport, I’d rate this pretty much a must-buy as a reference tome.”

—Runners’ World