The New Cycling Metric That Explains Why You Get Dropped episode artwork

EPISODE · Jul 23, 2026 · 13 MIN

The New Cycling Metric That Explains Why You Get Dropped

from The Roadman Cycling Podcast · host Anthony Walsh

Why can a rider with a lower FTP still drop you when the road kicks up? The answer may lie in a second, often overlooked energy system. In this episode, Sarah breaks down Functional Reserve Capacity and dynamic FRC—the “battery” that powers attacks, surges and hard accelerations. We explore how this metric can explain race blow-ups, failed interval sessions and poor pacing, while helping everyday cyclists use their limited energy more effectively when it matters most.Go check out our FREE Skool community, it's got amazing tools in there and a thriving community of cyclists - https://www.skool.com/roadman/aboutOne of the tools you will have heard Sarah chat about in this podcast is Training Peaks. Without this platform we can't get into the detail required to pricesly train within zones. If you want to go and check out this incredible training tool go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bit.ly/4qWyEKK⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use ROADMAN – 20% off an annual TrainingPeaks Premium subscriptionHEXIS I've used HEXIS all throughout this season to lose weight all while fuelling training rides and racing. Hexis is used and trusted by high performance organisations around the world to personalise and periodise athletes’ and teams’ fuelling and recovery strategies. To get 25% off Hexis go to https://www.hexis.live/ and use code ROADMAN⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Parlee Cycles ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠"Whether it's a tough day, a gruelling training session, an epic road trip or sitting on the side of the road, exhausted and wondering how you'll get to the top... The answer is regularly to just get back in the saddle and ride. Ride The F...ing Bike. RTFB!"Go check out their amazing bikes at https://www.parleecycles.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠4Endurance⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Pro level fuel, made accessible. Myself and Sarah trust 4Endurance for all our fuelling needs. Their reange is HUGE and won't break the bank. Go check them out here https://4endurance.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BIKMO⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bikmo protects you and your bike fromtheft, accidental damage, race-day disasters, and even baggage claim shenanigans. Yourhelmet, GPS, and other kit are covered too. Got more than one bike? Of course you do – you get 50% off each extra bike on the same policy.Protect your ride before it’s too late – head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Bikmo.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get covered. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠POC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠POC’s new Amidal brings aero performance, cooling, and safety together, with Mips protection, deep ventilation, and a cleanly integrated rear Knog light.Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠poc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to check out the Amidal and see why it could become your go-to helmet for every ride.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VITTORIA TYRES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Make choosing your next gravel tyre simple with Vittoria’s terrain-based range, from fast-rolling options to grippier tyres for rougher rides.Head to Vittoria.com to find the tyre that matches the terrain you actually ride.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jul 23, 2026

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