Blog Archives

Episode 13 of Pedaling Squares with Metta Endurance

Posted by Chris Carville On August 16, 2023 at 10:43 am

I was familiar with the Rogue Racing Project for years.  I generally knew about Micheal Seiler because he was the evil genius behind a novel brand of bike racing team.  So, when I hung a shingle and got on Instagram for “marketing reasons” I followed him as “bike.zen.”  From there I started following him and Holly Brenner on Instagram at “mettaendurance” which is their coaching business.  You can find Metta Endurance here on the web and here on Facebook.

And then a strange thing happened, I saw Michael in the wild and nowhere near his home base in Kentucky.  I was warming up on a trainer in a parking lot at Acrisure Stadium (aka Heinz Field) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for a time trial and was pretty sure his in-person appearance matched his Insta-appearance, but he was not kitted up.  Instead, he had an athlete that was apparently racing the same event and warming him up.  I didn’t want to fumble an introduction just in case I had the wrong guy, so I left him well enough alone.

Why am I sharing this story with you?  Because as I sat on my trainer, I was struck by this thought:  If I am right, and that person is in fact Micheal (he sure looks like him), he drove over eight hours and spent two nights away from home just to get his athlete ready to race!  So this guy was either the Real Micheal Seiler who was investing a large chunk of his week in one of his athletes or Micheal had a doppelganger.  If he was the real deal, I was impressed with the investment of time and energy he placed in his coaching business.

In the end, Michael did not have a doppelganger.  I found him after the race and introduced myself, confirming that I was not crazy, and invited him and Holly onto the podcast.  Micheal and Holly graciously accepted my offer and we talked for over an hour about their coaching business, how it started, where it is going, and how it is different.

If my anecdote about Micheal is any indicator, Metta Endurance is different.  So tune in for an hour and learn how!

Pedaling Squares, Episode 5: John Gatch, Cofounder of Two Johns Podcast

Posted by Chris Carville On April 27, 2022 at 7:30 am

In this Episode of Pedaling Squares, we talk with John Gatch.  John Gatch is a lifetime bike racer, bike mechanic, race promoter, race director, francophile, world traveler, EMT, husband, and father.  We talk about all of the above and get some intel on his VO2 Max – you will be impressed.  As an aspiring Podcaster, I was able to pick his brain about his podcast, Two Johns Podcast, which he co-founded with “John K.”, his long-time riding and racing mate.  The Two Johns Podcast is, to my knowledge, the longest-running Cycling Podcast on the interwebs.  Enjoy!

 

Pedaling Squares, Episode 4: Mitch Graham of Biowheels Fit Studio, Retul Master Fitter, IBFI Level 3 Fitter

Posted by Chris Carville On March 29, 2022 at 9:05 am

Numb hands?

Neck Pain?

Knee Pain?

If you have any of these symptoms on your bike, you should consider a professional bike fit.  If you are uncomfortable on your bike, you won’t ride it.  Or, you will ride one of the other bikes in your garage or basement.  After all, the correct number of bikes is N + 1.

You might even find an extra couple of watts with a professional bike fit.

That is where Mitch Graham and Biowheels Fit Studio come in.  Mitch is a Retul Master Fitter and IBFI Level 3 Fitter.  Join me for a conversation with Mitch about all things Bike Fitting!

Pedaling Squares, Episode 3: Peter Wimberg, Cycling Coach, USA Cycling Level 1 Coach, USA Triathlon Level 1 Coach, Certified Personal Trainer

Posted by Chris Carville On February 23, 2022 at 9:10 am

Pedaling Squares Through a MAMIL’s Life is a Youtube Channel about endurance sports, from a Master (er, middle-aged) Athlete’s perspective.  My focus is that of a MAMIL or a middle-aged man in lycra.

It is February.  December and January tend to be about setting racing and fitness goals – usually from the comfort of our couches. February through November (if you race cyclocross) is about execution.  But if you don’t have A PLAN to execute, you are never going to achieve those goals.  And goals are very, very individualized.  If we had the engine to race at the World Tour level, we would know that by now.

Endurance sports are about rounding us out as busy people with spouses, children, jobs, and extended families.  Our goals should reflect that reality.  Most of us did not race the World Tour (or compete in other professional sports), but we should still chase a dream or two outside of work and family life.

What is the best way to realize those athletic dreams?  Hire a Coach!

A Coach will individualize your training program, tailor that program to your goals, and mentor you along the way to achieving them.

And that is where Peter Wimberg comes in.  When he is not running a successful landscaping business, and when he is not playing the drums, and when he is not training and racing himself, he is coaching loads of endurance athletes which includes a MAMIL like me.  Peter does not need a lot of sleep.

You can find Peter’s coaching website here and his blog here.

Please enjoy an hour or so of our conversation about structured training, improving fitness as a Masters’ Level Athlete, and achieving individual goals in Episode Three of Pedaling Squares Through a MAMIL’s Life.