Certainty, or: Why Science Informs But Proves Nothing
There are a few words and phrases that keep popping up in my new book FASTER, and I thought I’d take some space to address them: indicate, probably, reasonably certain. Their importance and prevalence...
View ArticleEveryone has a plan until they get punched: Strategy, Superstition and Theory...
Ever seen a bike in the transition area with a little bell hanging off the frame? They’re known as “gremlin bells,” and as you might guess from the name, they’re meant to ward off “evil road spirits”...
View ArticleAsk the Scientist: Am I a hopeless swimmer?
Best. Question. EVER. One of the best parts of writing Faster has been the conversations it’s started. I have not only received questions from several athletes, but stories of their own personal...
View ArticleGood art can illustrate complicated concepts.
For me, one of the most engaging and educational parts of putting FASTER together was the art. Early in the process my editor decided that it would be better to use infographics rather than photographs...
View ArticleAsk the Scientist: How much slower are clip-on aerobars?
Q: “I’m a competitive 25-29 age grouper who has placed in the top 10 overall in all of my races within the past two years. That being said, I just sold my tri bike and upgraded to a nicer road bike (w/...
View ArticleHow Running Is Like Angry Birds
I recently did an interview with Richard Diaz for his Natural Running Network podcast. He began by asking me about efficiency in running, and I first gave an overview of the forces involved and how...
View ArticleCheating the Wind: The Physics of Draft-Legal Racing
Unless an event’s rules specifically allow it, drafting is illegal in triathlon. Draft-legal races are much more popular in Europe where the triathlon culture is more entwined with road cycling. It’s...
View ArticleThinking Inside a Smaller Box: How Current No-Draft Rules Penalize Honest...
In my last post I discussed the advantages of riding close to someone else’s rear wheel and how such considerations influence strategy in draft-legal races. Those aerodynamic benefits are also the...
View ArticleEvil Twins, Triathlon’s Draft Box, and Race Day Interval Workouts
In last week’s post, we learned that the triathlon rulebook specifies an unnecessarily wide gap between two triathletes riding their bicycles. Science talks about things in terms of space and time, and...
View ArticleAsk the Scientist: To Glide or Not to Glide, That Is the Question
FreeTriSpeed got this reader question from Ken V. on swim technique. Do you have a question on the science of triathlon? Ask the Scientist! “Great website and book. Your work is both technical and...
View Article