Cycling and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Misconceptions

THE 5 MOST COMMON CYCLING TRAINING MISCONCEPTIONS aka Why Your Group Ride Isn’t Actually Making You Faster

Hey, I love cyclists. I am one. But I also coach a lot of them—and let’s just say I’ve seen some patterns. Somewhere between chasing Strava segments and debating tire pressure for the 47th time, a few training myths have embedded themselves in cycling culture like a rusty chain link.

So let’s clear the air (and maybe save your FTP while we’re at it):

❌Misconception #1: “The group ride is my training.”  I get it. Group rides are fun, social, and sometimes just the push you need to get out the door. But if your weekly plan is: Tuesday hammerfest, Thursday hammerfest, Saturday death march… you’re not actually training. You’re racing in disguise. Training = structure. Riding hard because your buddy surged on a climb = ego management gone wrong. (Don’t worry—we’ve all done it.)

❌Misconception #2: “More volume always equals better fitness.” 

This one's sneaky because yes, endurance matters. But just stacking miles without purpose is like pouring water into a bucket with a hole in the bottom. At some point, you’re just tired, not fitter. Quality trumps quantity. (And your future self will thank you when you don’t need a 3-hour nap after every ride.)

❌Misconception #3: “If I’m not exhausted after every ride, it didn’t count.” 

FALSE. Training isn’t about seeing how wrecked you can get—it’s about smart stress + smart recovery. If every ride ends with you sprawled in the garage questioning your life choices, you’re not training. You’re just digging a hole. Want to actually get stronger? Embrace the recovery rides. Yes, I do mean pedaling at embarrassingly low watts. Bonus points if you smile.

❌Misconception #4:. “Zone 2 is boring and doesn’t do anything.” 

This one hurts my soul. Zone 2 is where the magic happens, folks. Mitochondria, fat oxidation, aerobic base—all those trendy terms that people throw around that simply mean it is making you more efficient. If you skip Zone 2 because it’s not “hard enough,” you’re basically saying no thanks to endurance, metabolic efficiency, and long-term gains. So yeah… boring? Maybe. But powerful? Absolutely.

❌Misconception #5: “Intervals are only for racers.” 

Nope. Intervals are for anyone who wants to improve, period. They build power, teach your body how to suffer strategically, and give you actual gears to shift into on race day. Whether you're racing crits, chasing Ironman dreams, or just want to crush the local climb without imploding, intervals are your friend. (Your painful, sweaty, results-producing friend.)

❌BONUS Misconception: Judging your rides by speed or MPH

This one just wont die!! Speed is not a TARGET, speed is an outcome of the effort you put out (Watts) and the resistance variables that impact you as the rider (wind, aerodynamics, rolling resistance etc. etc.) Speed can vary dramatically in different conditions or on different bikes, but pay attention to YOUR EFFORT and your watts on any given ride and you will maintain proper training intensity and make huge progress! Training and racing is not about chasing a specific speed on the bike, it is about hitting your effort and power targets and the speed takes care of itself.

IN CLOSING: TRAIN SMART, NOT JUST HARD Riding your bike a lot is great. But if you’re always winging it—or just following whoever's fastest in your group—there’s a ceiling to your progress. Smart training is about intentionality. Sometimes that means hitting hard intervals, sometimes it means taking a day off, and sometimes it means ignoring your group chat’s invitation to “easy ride” that’s never, ever easy.

If you’re tired of spinning your wheels (literally and figuratively), hit me up. We’ll build something that actually works.

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*Time Trial Tuesday posts are intended to be short primer posts to get you thinking, but they are also challenges for myself to see how quickly and simply I can get the topic across to all of you. I give myself 5 minutes on the clock to write each one. No filter, No editing, Just the thoughts in my head..... Scary.

About Nick Farr

Nick is the owner and Head Coach at P3 Fitness and has been a dedicated triathlete and runner for over 20 years. With a passion for endurance sports, Nick brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to his coaching, specializing in triathlon, running, and cycling. As an accomplished athlete and certified multi-discipline coach, he has guided countless athletes to reach their personal bests and achieve their goals. In his role as a Triathlon coach at P3 Fitness, Nick is committed to helping each individual unlock their full potential through tailored training programs and expert guidance.