Best Coaching Tech Of 2024
The amount of tech in endurance sports is just exploding, and 2024 was an exciting year for Tempo. In some ways, I used more technology this year, but in general I was more strategic and used it where it counted. We are moving into a world where the ability to listen and understand another human being will be more valued than ever, especially when it's then reinforced with data analysis and technical feedback. This is especially true in coaching and bike fitting, where my “eye” and experience watching human movement over 25 years of endurance sports can often be much more effective than a high-speed camera, taking in and processing a huge amount of information each second.
Here’s a few pieces of tech or platforms that I appreciated in 2024!
INSCYD metabolic testing
INSCYD rolled out lots of upgrades in 2024, with the educational component getting bolstered tremendously with great courses on physiology from a real-life coaching perspective, as well as the testing protocols getting an upgrade. Every rider in the Tempo Crew appreciates ramp testing, as opposed to the standard three minute.CP interval. There are a ton of new features coming out in the new year, including LT1 modeling and more durability and resilience metrics. INSCYD field testing is replacing quarterly lab testing at a fraction of the cost, but more importantly, it helps model intensities and training strategies based on a riders unique physiology.
CORE Sensor
I’ve been interested in these sensors for a while. Some people disparage them as an overpriced thermometer, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. Paired with a quality heart rate monitor, it gives insight into the physiological response to environment and intensity in real time at a whole other level.
Heres a great study by Ronnestad on heat interval training. The top three male finishers in IM Kona probably aren't wrong.
The Athletes Food Coach
This diet app is an effort of the Visma Lease-A-Bike team, and it's what they use with their professional riders. I had to sign an agreement that I won’t coach any competing World Tour riders :-) I like how focused it is on endurance sports, and the integrations this year with Strava and Training Peaks have been huge. It still needs more refinement for US-based riders, but adding the global database was huge. This app really helped me log and understand my changing dietary needs in the last year, in many ways encouraging me to eat more on the hard days, but also be more mindful on the easy days.
Training Peaks Virtual in the Tempo Kit
Training Peaks
Training Peaks made HUGE strides this year with the introduction of the new Strength Training builder tool powered by Train Heroic and the acquisition of Indie Velo, now Training Peaks Virtual.
There are over a thousand exercises in the library, plus paired videos, plus the upcoming strength logging features. The Tempo Crew now has one less platform to navigate, and logging is much more seamless.
I’m all in on Training Peaks Virtual. There's a Tempo Team Kit available in the Teams section, and I’m hosting weekly rides on Fridays with our own branding. I immediately canceled my Zwift membership, saving 250.00 a year. I LOVE the automatic syncing with an athlete's training zones and weight, and the workout syncing is much better, with the workout selection front and center when you log into the app. I’m looking forward to improving the racing experience, along with my new Wahoo MOVE trainer with wireless protocol.
I’ve been a coach using Training Peaks since 2003. This has been their best year for upgrades in a long, long time.
Gebiomized Saddle Pressure Mapping
Gebiomized has made the list the last couple of years. If anything, I’m more interested in the technology than ever before. Seeing the real-time pressure and movement patterns for a rider is huge when it comes to saddle selection, and a dialed in rider with zero issues when they leave the studio.
Addressing comfort and stability in the contact points of a bike fit is fantastic. Look for more expansion into foot and grip pressure mapping and analysis in 2025.
Shockwiz Suspension Tuning
The Shockwiz system will likely be replaced in the next couple of years as SRAM pushes Flight Attendant on the new bikes, but for now there's no system for consumer tuning of a suspension system like it. In some ways, it’s more the power of data accumulation after each run, and the ability to see the effects of a change in settings, than the actual level of data shown, if that makes sense.
Pair this with a quality bike fit and sag settings in the studio, and you’ll always have a great set of numbers to go back to as you experiment.
Wrapping This Up
These platforms or devices definitely raised the bar in 2024. I’m STOKED to see what 2025 brings to the table!