Lance Armstrong Program: Performance Program 7 Weeks to the Perfect Ride by Lance Armstrong, Chris Carmichael, Peter Joffre Nye

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Table of Contents

Read an Excerpt

IntroductionI discovered cycling as a youngster growing up around Dallas. Too young and too small to drive a car, I could still go anywhere I wanted for miles and explore new places on a bicycle. I delighted in the thrill of sharp acceleration downhill, felt the wind in my face, rejoiced at the force on my arms and body from leaning around corners at speed, and thrived on the euphoric sensation that a good workout and honest sweat delivers. I loved riding in the countryside, past fields of bluebells, and smelling the flowers, or ozone in the air before the rain fell. Perhaps the greatest appeal came from exerting control over how fast and where I could go. As a Texan, I tried playing football, but it wasn't for me. For several years, I swam competitively, and ran track and cross-country. From there, it was a short step to competing in triathlons. But what I really loved was cycling, and I quickly connected with bicycle road racing. I liked the sense of friendship and community that comes from riding with others. Every bicycle racer, from Category 5 entry level up, dreams of winning the Tour de France. Recreational cyclists have dreams, too, such as completing a challenge ride like a century or the Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. Meeting my coach, Chris Carmichael, in 1990, when I had more ambition than skills, started me on the road to success. He helped me realize my dream f actually winning the Tour de France. Chris, who is wise as a tree full of owls, impressed upon me the value of patience. I had to learn the principles of training, sharpen essential skills (from pedaling more efficiently to shifting and braking), and master techniques such as cornering and sprinting. These all take time to become second nature. How much time? Well, that depends on as many factors as there are individuals. Overall, there is no quick fix. Popular TV infomercials promise great results with 15-minute workouts just three times a week. In reality, it takes commitment and motivation. Throughout the 1990s, except for the year I took off to recover from cancer, I worked full-time at cycling. Yet I had entered the Tour four times between 1993 and 1996, and finished only once. You could say that it took me a decade to win the 3-week 1999 Tour. Early in my career, many "cycling experts" had typecast me as a 1-day racer. They said I would never win a major multiday race like the Tour de France. My victory supports the belief that anything is possible if you are willing to stick to your dream and keep trying. Realizing a dream, such as mine of winning the Tour, takes patience. Given time and persistent application, we can all improve. That is what Chris told me back in 1990- and he still tells me that. He says the program is not so much winning as riding better now than before. Of course, learning how to train and improving my skill shave made my cycling safer and more enjoyable. Everything in this book is based on my experience, and is meant to help not only elite riders but casual cyclists as well. I still love to go for a spin under the open sky, smell the flowers, hear the birds, and feel the wind on my face. So come on, get your bike and join me for a ride. Lance Armstrong