Colby Pearce has been a Steve Hogg Certified expert bike fitter for the past 10 years and has worked with elite athletes and WorldTour teams, including EF Education First. He is also an elite cycling coach and has been passing along his wisdom to the riders he coaches for decades. Pearce’s repertoire of knowledge spans 30 years, five continents, hundreds of races, and countless miles in the saddle. The minutiae of cycling and riding technique are just part of the story that Colby shares. Alignment with nature, foundational principles of health, and treating the sport as a practice are some of the philosophies he shares. Cycling in Alignment features a diverse guest list, including those who may or may not be familiar names in the cycling world. Prepare to have your belief systems shattered.
Episodes
2 hours ago
2 hours ago
Post Script to Finding Dead Space - Ep175
A few more thoughts on finding dead space can be found in this podcast, amongst some random movie quotes, poorly delivered jokes and esoteric analogies. Standard Operating Procedure in my universe. I hope this helps expand on the idea of finding “dead space” in your riding, life, and relationship with sport.
3 days ago
3 days ago
Finding Dead Space – Ep 174
In this walking podcast I discuss the concept of finding dead space in the breath, and in your life. This is also known as equanimity, or being content with the present moment as it is. It’s a concept that has utility for athletes, as they are often rushing from thing to thing, and this rushing is often a consequence of the mentality that they are not inherently enough.
“The best athlete wants his opponent at his best. The best general enters the mind of his enemy. The best businessman serves the communal good. The best leader follows the will of the people.
All of these embody the virtue of non-competition. Not that they don’t love to compete, but they do it in the spirit of play. In this they are like children and in harmony with the Tao.”
Tao te Ching, Stephen Mitchell translation
Monday Aug 18, 2025
Monday Aug 18, 2025
RPE is Fundamental - Ep173
Riders use P as a goal and think it is an objective. It is not an objective, it is a measure of output. It is an artificial construct, a mathematical calculation.
The objective of training is physiological load: SAID principle. It does not matter how many watts you do, what matters is, did you load the system appropriately given the context of your training?
The objective racing is not P. It is speed. In mass start racing, it is speed at the right time. In time trialling, it is also speed at the right time.
RPE is primary to power in the hierarchy of relationship to the sport of cycling. Unfortunately, many modern riders misunderstand this. We might say their entire relationship with the sport is upside down.
In this walking podcast, I discuss the proper relationship of Power and Relative Perceived Exertion.
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
Tuesday Aug 12, 2025
The False Glorification of Suffering - Ep172
The culture in our sport often glorifies suffering as though it were a badge of honor or something to aspire towards. This is incorrect. In this walking podcast, I explain why. Thank you for listening. Smash and subscribe!
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Wednesday Jul 30, 2025
Shame - Ep171
In this walking podcast I talk about the insidious emotion of shame and how it can multiply.
I also talk about the lunar cycle and how it is related to our breathing a bit. More to come in future talks no doubt.
And I was visited by a frog which is a fortuitous event. Obviously.
Don’t worry, all of this gets tied into cycling and your relationship to sport. But I don’t mention FTP or grams of CHO, even once.
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Wednesday Jul 09, 2025
Nathan Hass: SBTGRVLRDX - Ep170
What the heck does NHSBTGRVLRDX stand for?
Why, it stands for Nathan Haas Steamboat Gravel Redux of course. I thought that would be obvious.
I am sure you will be captivated stupendified by our post race banter on the 2025 Steamboat Gravel race, where vowels are so 2018.
Fun was had and gravel cornering shall be discussed.
Enjoy.
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Wednesday Jul 02, 2025
Nathan Haas: Cycling is like Fishing - Ep169
In this episode of Cycling in Alignment Nathan Haas and I drive to Steamboat for the SBT GRVL race. As a former World Tour professional and seasoned gravel veteran, Nathan has some great perspectives to offer on the newest addition to the cycling world. In cased you missed the memo, this is gravel [no, e-bikes don’t count].
We do speak a bit about the upcoming SBT race, and also take a bit to unpack Nathan’s analogy that in fact, cycling resembles fishing in many ways.
I won’t spoil the analogy by giving away all juicy bits in a social post, go listen to the podcast you lazy sod.
All humor aside, I am sure you will enjoy Nathan’s thoughts, as he is indeed a philosophical and reflective person.
“I see you have found a sense of humor. If only just a sense.”
Friday Jun 20, 2025
Friday Jun 20, 2025
A Centered Experience - Ep168
In this walking podcast I tie together the concept of physical center with energetic center.
By understanding this relationship, it helps us keep the perspective that sport is training for life.
I hope this collection of thoughts is helpful in your evolution as a person and athlete.
Monday Jun 09, 2025
Monday Jun 09, 2025
The Great Illusion: Dr Scott Frey and Brent Bookwalter - Ep167
In this episode my discussion with Dr Frey and former World Tour rider Brent Bookwalter is about training the mind to better handle the demands of sport. Rather than simply leaving race day flow state or a high level of motivation to chance, Dr Frey has developed tools that athletes can use to condition their minds in a way that cultivates a state of high performance with intent. Brent has used many of these tools and proven their efficacy.
The conversation may offer the audience a perspective on how it is possible to train in more ways than simply pedaling harder.
To find out more, search Dr Scott Frey and you will find his site.
Links:
Cerebral Performance Instagram ►► https://www.instagram.com/cerebral_performance/
Brent Bookwalter's Instagram►► https://www.instagram.com/brentbookwalter/
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
The Coin Part 2 - Ep166
In this walking podcast I unpack more about the concept of The Coin and the influence of our emotional state on our riding and racing.
In medical QiGong, we understand that the emotions reside in the organ system. If we are unaware of this, it can be problematic. The first rule of athletics is to Know Thyself and this means understanding your own emotional state. Witnessing emotions is the first step in claiming agency over your adult life. Without the willingness to look at our own emotions, we remain a child. There are many children walking the planet in adult bodies. Those who do not learn from the past are condemned to repeat it.