Podcast: Strength Training for Mountain Bikers with Alex Ackerley
In this episode, I sit down with Alex Ackerley, a passionate mountain biker and owner of Mountain Bike Strength Coach. Alex holds a degree in sports science and has a background in high-performance rugby and personal training. Today he specializes in mountain bike performance, injury reduction, and longevity in the sport. He works with riders from around the world, both in person and online.
In this episode, we explore:
Why strength training should add to your riding instead of competing with it
How to build a routine you'll stick with, even in the middle of riding season
Building explosive fitness for high-intensity trail sections
Why full-range strength work can do more for mobility than stretching alone
Staying mobile and looking after your joints as you age
Training today to keep riding into your 70s
Lifting and riding on the same day, and what to do in the week before a race
The biggest myths about strength training for mountain biking
The mental shifts that changed Alex's riding
We also cover questions from our Mental About MTB Telegram community.
You can learn more about Alex and try his free rider assessment at https://mtbstrengthcoach.ca
You can listen to the episode here or by searching 'The Mind Mountain' on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube.
Until next time - happy trails. - Jake
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