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
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Monday Aug 19, 2024
Michael O'Brien We Are Kintsugi - Part 2 - Ep141
This is Part 2.
This episode is a discussion with cyclist Michael Obrien, who had a transformational life experience in 2001 when he was hit by an SUV while riding his bike.
We speak about the Japanese form of pottery known as Kintsugi, in which a broken bowl or vessel is repaired, and the glue is layered in gold leaf. Rather than attempting to conceal old wounds, traumas or fractures, this method seeks to highlight the returning to wholeness that happens in the process of healing.
I am sure you will enjoy our discussion which centers more on philosophy, meditation and tribal relations than cycling performance, directly. However, as you know, health is the foundation of optimal athletic performance.
Links:
Michael's Website ►► https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/
Michael's Podcast ►► https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/kintsugi-podcast/
Tuesday Aug 13, 2024
Tuesday Aug 13, 2024
Michael O'brien We Are Kintsugi - Part 1 - Ep140
This episode is a discussion with cyclist Michael Obrien, who had a transformational life experience in 2001 when he was hit by an SUV while riding his bike.
We speak about the Japanese form of pottery known as Kintsugi, in which a broken bowl or vessel is repaired, and the glue is layered in gold leaf. Rather than attempting to conceal old wounds, traumas or fractures, this method seeks to highlight the returning to wholeness that happens in the process of healing.
I am sure you will enjoy our discussion which centers more on philosophy, meditation and tribal relations than cycling performance, directly. However, as you know, health is the foundation of optimal athletic performance.
Links:
Michael's Website ►► https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/
Michael's Podcast ►► https://www.michaelobrienshift.com/kintsugi-podcast/
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Wednesday Jul 24, 2024
Movement is a River - Ep 139
During this walking podcast I discuss the idea that all movement is like a river. I offer that we must direct and cultivate the qualities of the river of our movement with a specific intent, or this river will be wild, untamed, and end up in the wrong place.
I offer this analogy to help people understand that their daily movement patterns impact their movement in sports, and their movement in all of life.
I also offer some practical takeaways to help direct the river of movement into a more optimal fashion.
Movement is a daily practice that requires attention, embodiment and awareness.
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
Wednesday Jul 10, 2024
Saddle Forward! - Episode 138
This walking podcast is a commentary on two different perspectives about forward saddle positions that have been floating around in the intersphere. They got me thinking so I figured I would drop some thoughts on this topic.
The first discussion is around an article Dan Empfield posted on his website slow twitch dot com. I agree with some of what Dan says, and some of it I don’t. I am glad he wrote the article as it helped clarify some ideas in my mind.
The second is a video on you tube on a channel called Peak Torque. This guy has some wid theories about why Pogacar has his saddle so forward and I think he is pretty off base. He also explains why he likes to put his saddle nose down and has been telling other people to put their saddle nose down. There are multiple logical fallacies in his reasoning. I call it like I see it.
I hope you find this discussion useful.
Thoughts? Hit me below. Let’s have a discourse.
Links:
Dan Empfield’s Article ►► https://www.slowtwitch.com/Bike_Fit/Road_Bike_Fit/Have_You_Noticed_Hips_Moving_Forward_in_the_Peloton__8986.html
Peak Torque Video ►► https://youtu.be/9n6nTNiacm8
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Tuesday Jun 25, 2024
Three Attributes of Cyclists - Ep 137
In this night time walking adventure I speak about the three characteristics a cyclist must have in order to express their highest potential as an athlete.
The episode is inspired by conversations with Jonathan Vaughters about what it takes to be good. His list included 1) Marathoner 2) F1 Driver. He has a video about this in our Team EF Coaching education portal.
JV says you have to have a big engine, and be able to drive a bike. I agree, and I would offer a 3rd item to this list: 3D chess.
Meaning: a cyclist can’t just corner like a maniac and drop watt bombs. They have to selectively, intelligently choose when to utilize their strength. This is what differentiates cycling from Marathon running or swimming events: cycling is a sport that is heavily influenced by the size of the athlete’s engine, but it is also influenced heavily by physics and terrain [read: mostly draft effect and hills] which change the weight of the variables that influence performance.
My gripe with many modern coaches and athletes is that they over train the engine and neglect the other aspects. Even worse, they really only focus on one particular aspect of the engine. This makes you one dimensional and opens numerous possibilities for race day failure.
These concepts don’t only apply to competitive elite or World Tour riders; they apply to all riders at every level.
A bit of artwork is included to help you conceptualize these ideas as I am teaching them.
Do you agree? Think I am wrong? Did I miss a major attribute? Comment and let the world know.
LINKS:
Team EF Coaching ►► https://www.teamefcoaching.com
Peter Defty Episode on YouTube ►► https://youtu.be/PrPdlT3apT8
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Tuesday May 28, 2024
Forest Walking in Japan - Episode 136
In this discussion I speak to my audience of somanauts about impressions Japan has left on me and how these concepts can help us in our practice of sport and life.
Wandering through the forest, I discuss cleaning your room, respect for other humans and reverence for nature.
As always, I hope you find this discussion helpful.
Questions or comments? Hit me.
Move with intent, be present, listen to intuition.
Sunday May 19, 2024
Sunday May 19, 2024
Locavore - Episode 135
Today’s conversation is with Craig Taber from Locavore Delivery. Locavore works with the highest quality farms across the front range of Colorado to deliver meat to your doorstep.
We speak about the relationship between scale and environmental impact in an economically driven market, the convenience of Amazon, and the boundaries and belief systems people put around meat. Craig unpacks some of the misunderstandings around store bought meats and the challenges of being a consumer who shops at modern super markets.
We offer some practical takeaways for shoppers and some philosophical nuggets about health and wellness that you will hopefully find insightful for you and your family.
About Locavore: “We offer pastured meats from a growing community of local ranchers that really do things the right way. We are proud to offer farm tours to all of our suppliers on a regular basis, so you can see for yourself how we do things. That is a level of transparency that mail order meat companies just can’t offer and a level of quality that grocery stores can’t touch.”
Links:
Locovore Website ►► https://locavoredelivery.com/
Locavore on Instagram ►► https://www.instagram.com/locavoredelivery/
Wednesday May 08, 2024
Wednesday May 08, 2024
The Cold is my Teacher - Ep134
Grandpa Pearce is here to tell you a walking story again. The story is about cold.
Cold can teach you a lot about yourself. It is an opportunity to work with the breath and to have an alternative means of generating a focused state.
It also brings about an experience of equanimity following the event.
Do you work with cold to enhance your durability or health? What has your experience been? Share in the comments.
As always, thanks for listening.
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
Wednesday Apr 24, 2024
Dr. Allen Lim: All About Salt - Ep133
This conversation with Dr Allen Lim covers a broad range of topics including heat stress adaptation, handing up water bottles and driving busses when you have a doctorate, salt and the sodium - potassium balance.
Tuesday Apr 16, 2024
Tuesday Apr 16, 2024
Go For A Walk - Ep132
This episode of Cycling in Alignment is about the most fundamental pattern of human movement: Walking. Old school cycling would command that riders stay off their feet but I would offer that this is an old ideal that should be lit on fire and kicked off a cliff.
Walking is an absolutely essential aspect of the human experience and one that is easily taken for granted. Without proper gait patterns, many basic movement are compromised and at best daily life becomes impractical; at worst, it becomes impossible.
Cycling makes us bad walkers but lots of walking will help your cycling.