Base Building for Cyclists: A New Foundation for Endurance and Performance [Paperback]

Thomas Chapple (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 28, 2006

Cyclists of any age, experience, skill, and talent level can reach their full potential as both athlete and individual by training their bodies and minds for athletic competition. Ultrafit coach Thomas Chapple shows how with this practical guide. Based on the idea that success depends on the extent to which cyclists build their foundation of aerobic fitness, or their "base," for the road ahead, the book explains step-by-step how to build a bigger aerobic engine, work up to higher volumes, and make significant improvements in strength, endurance, and speed.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Thomas Chapple is a licensed elite-level USA Cycling and USA Triathlon coach. He has personally competed at the national level in downhill mountain bike racing, and regionally in road and track.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: VeloPress (November 28, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 193138293X
• ISBN-13: 978-1931382939
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,765 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #68 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Individual Sports > Cycling

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cost effective book to achieve long term results, January 9, 2007

By 

CanadianBiker (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Base Building for Cyclists: A New Foundation for Endurance and Performance (Paperback)

Don't buy this book if you're short sighted and want to get faster next month. Do buy this book if you're a student of the sport of cycling, and the associated physiology. Friel's Bible dedicates several chapters to offseason and base preparation, but Chapple builds on this and expands it to an entire book.

Sound, detailed and correct. This isn't a "cycling for dummies" type book where you open it to a given page, do some canned workout, and magically win your next Cat 4 race.

Start reading it after Thanksgiving, plan through the holidays, and execute.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book unlocks the keys to racing success!, December 26, 2007

By 

Mohican - See all my reviews

This review is from: Base Building for Cyclists: A New Foundation for Endurance and Performance (Paperback)

AWESOME!!! Thomas Chapple shows that he is a very skillful teacher!Base Building is right on the money! It takes you through step by step of creating a stronger, healthier, and fitter bike racer. The logic behind the concepts are sound and based on science. The style of writing is understandable & witty. You will feel like Thomas is having a conversation with you. It's like having your own highly qualified coach with you whenver you need him. I still find myself referring to the book often. I have read many different cycling books and this is the only one that dedicates in itself to the most important step of training: the base period. Thomas sheds considerable light on a topic few really understand, he makes very applicable to the needs and expectations of each rider. If you bought only one book on training this should be the one. After reading "Base Building", all of the previous books that I've read on training for cyclists make alot more sense to me. Well Done Thomas!

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource for endurance training, February 29, 2008

By 

Nadine (Emeryville, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Base Building for Cyclists: A New Foundation for Endurance and Performance (Paperback)

I'm training for my first 200 mile ride this May and wanted to find a guide to help me maximize the small amount of time I have to train. This book is easy to read and follow, and I'm really seeing results. The material covers race training as well so it would be useful for people who want to train see gains for racing. The most difficult part is keeping the intensity low because it's my natural inclination to want to push it to the max.

On a recent 100 mile ride, riding at a lower perceived exertion rate than I ever have, I finished slightly faster than last year, *and* feeling refreshed. I credit all the base training I did this year following the plan in the book with my success.