Train Right DVD

Harp

Does anyone have an opinion on the Chris Carmichael Train Right Sprinting DVD ?

Or any of them for that matter ?

I'm looking to improve my road racing next year and thinking some sprinting training would help.
Or, what should I do to better my sprinting ?

Thanks.

disgruntledgoat

I have the Power, Climbing 2, Time Trial and Road Race DVDs and they are pretty good, as the coaches say, they'd work for anyone so you wont grow out of them as you get fitter, they also rely on cadance and percieved effort to allow them to fit around your own power/HR zones.

The Road Race one i did for the first time last week and it was brutal, the hardest turbo session i've had.

My major criticism is the incessant babble of the coaches and the cheesy music. I find that once you've done the workouts a few times so you know what's expected of you, you can put a CD on and turn the sound down. Plus some of the terms they use to describe levels of effort seem to be interchangable.

Carmichael: "This is good! Everyone is giving it their all! I'm giving it my all!"

Goat: "No you're not, you're pacing around in a polo shirt shouting at me."

LangerDan

Generally, wot Goat said. I have only the TT and the road-race simulation and the latter is the better of the two. Its certainly more varied and you don't have to put up with Carmichael's "I think I've just caught my nuts in the spokes" voice.

mhuk

I do the CTS Hill Climbing routine. Watched the DVD twice, wrote down what I needed to do and am glad I don't need to watch it (him) again.

V-twin

I've got the Carmichael Cycling Fitness DVD and although not as good as Gladiator (R. Crowe) for entertainment value it is prolly doing my cycling more good. I'd echo the general sentiments that the banal commentary gets tiresome ("...you should be bleeding from your elbows!") but the approach is good and it has helped me.

I think I'm spending too much time on the turbo watching this DVD :roll: I know which of the studio riders is coasting and what their names are....

disgruntledgoat

V-twin wrote:

I've got the Carmichael Cycling Fitness DVD and although not as good as Gladiator (R. Crowe) for entertainment value it is prolly doing my cycling more good. I'd echo the general sentiments that the banal commentary gets tiresome ("...you should be bleeding from your elbows!") but the approach is good and it has helped me.

I think I'm spending too much time on the turbo watching this DVD :roll: I know which of the studio riders is coasting and what their names are....

I like the fat guy on the Power DVD... When asked how he's faring he replies "I'm gonna go see a priest tomorrow" and Coach Jason's face drops. Take THAT with yer Bradley Wiggins hairdo.

V-twin

But there are some little gems....

[scene: riders finish an intense two minutes and are in recovery before the next interval]

Trainer (in southern drawl): So how'd the power interval go?
Rider on turbo: I feel better during recovery..
Trainer: Yeah, it tends to work like that.... (d'uh)

disgruntledgoat

V-twin wrote:

But there are some little gems....

[scene: riders finish an intense two minutes and are in recovery before the next interval]

Trainer (in southern drawl): So how'd the power interval go?
Rider on turbo: I feel better during recovery..
Trainer: Yeah, it tends to work like that.... (d'uh)

To be fair to coach Jason, he recovered well.

"You don't need divine intervention to complete a power interval! You just need to commit to the intensity!"

There's a bit in the TT one where Carmichael is giving it some waffel about how he's getting a sweat on just watching the riders do the intervals and one of the lasses gives him a playful flick with her towel. Every time i think "Ey up! What's going on there then?"