In this conversation, Owen Cole shares his journey as a mountain biker and coach, focusing on the unique challenges faced by student athletes in endurance sports. He discusses the importance of balancing training with school commitments, the significance of recovery, and the need for effective communication between coaches and athletes. Owen emphasizes the value of structured training, including intervals and skills development, while also addressing the dynamics of team practices. He offers insights into how young athletes can push their limits through racing and the importance of bike handling skills. The conversation concludes with Owen discussing training plans tailored for NICA racers and the adaptability of these plans to individual needs. Thanks, Owen! Find him on IG here: https://www.instagram.com/owenrcole/NICA Training plan: https://www.trainingpeaks.com/training-plans/cycling/mountain-biking/tp-510047/nica-mtb-training-plan Chapters: 00:00 Welcome 00:34 Owen's Background 03:23 Challenges of Training While in School 08:02 Structuring Training for Young Athletes 14:00 Balancing Team Practices and Individual Training 19:06 Skills vs. Power in Mountain Biking 25:24 Group Rides for Skill Development 26:43 The NICA Training Plan 28:48 Listening to Your Body & Customizing Plans 👋🏽 If you're new to the channel, welcome! Check out some other training resources below, like our new TrainingPlans Store! Training Plans Starting at $19! https://www.evoq.bike/training-plans 🚀TrainingPeaks Store Programs: https://tinyurl.com/TP-Store 💥Ketones, Delta G Tactical: https://www.deltagketones.com/EVOQ20 CODE Brendan for 15% off 😈 Lactigo: www.lactigo.com/brendan MORE WATTS and LESS BURN Full Blog With Training Tips: www.evoq.bike/blog Subscribe to Our Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ggRc4n Follow Along on Strava: https://www.strava.com/pros/5889 EVOQ Training Packs: https://www.evoq.bike/training-packs Airofit: https://www.airofit.com/?sca_ref=476545.3AVnm3vdGW Best Chamois Cream: https://www.hellobluecbd.com/, Code Brendan Cordyceps Mushrooms: https://shop.realmushrooms.com?ref=62 Best shades: https://www.julbo.com/en_us/ Calorify: https://calorify.com Discount Code EVOQ Donate to EVOQ.BIKE for all the Free Content: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=U3YMCAUEMQ4PC --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/evoqbike/support