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8. Burning Matches - Cycling Back from the Bottom
33:11||Season 2, Ep. 8Burning Matches Cycling Podcast Ep-21 Dr. Sandra FlemingCycling Back from the BottomYou can be even stronger and faster than you were before.That’s what Dr. Sandra Fleming told me not long after I was wondering if I was ever going to ride at a competitive level again. And I will add that she has been the driver of making it happen.I was already working through the challenges of my divorce from mid 2024 when some extreme new stresses hit me all at once from late 2024 and culminating in the Spring of 2026. I thought I was finally through the biggest challenges of my life, but then my health crashed. Finally able to get out of survival mode, my body just shut down and I lost all energy.I could barely get out of bed, much less ride. In June 2026 I started on a program to protect my health, get the rest I needed, start restoring my system, and began new protocols that included monitoring my biofeedback and following a strict program of rest and recovery. After June, July and August in recovery mode, my body is finally starting to come back, especially the past couple weeks starting around mid-September.I’m finally feeling like I’m actually RIDING and it feels so great. Making it even better is to have hope for my cycling future thanks to Dr. Sandra. This episode continues telling that story, adding the perspective of Dr. Sandra. This is the second in that series and you can see the first episode here:Cycling Thru Ups & Downshttps://youtu.be/gPAAaufsIAk?si=8VDjDf4TGzuD9wSU Dr. Sandra and I will now be meeting regularly to give updates on my progress, both from my perspective and hers as the doctor guiding my program.I hope this episode helps other cyclists navigate challenges and find hope when they are going through a rough patch either on or off the bike or both.Oh, special note: I’m not doing 200-mile races, but I appreciate Dr. Sandra’s impression of my capabilities : )Title and end credit song:The North of California by The Guide to Fast Livinghttps://open.spotify.com/track/7Ml8DDrduQFbQpeMyympyr00:17 Improvements for All Ages01:15 How a Life Challenge Can Improve Your Cycling02:01 Meet Dr. Sandra Fleming03:22 Kurt’s Health Challenges04:21 Dr. Sandra’s Perspective04:30 Point 1: HRV + VO2 Mismatch06:11 Point 2: The Sum of All Stresses08:22 Point 3: Underfueling + Energy Availability09:29 Point 4: Inflammation/Chronic Stress10:37 Homocysteine11:16 Point 5: Nervous System Overload12:40 Turning Down the Volume13:04 Recover Capacity is Trainable13:35 The Junior Bike Racer Mentality15:12 We Have a Plan16:01 What Happened to My Body?17:30 The Hardest Part is to Slow Down18:00 Kurt’s Therapeutic Riding Program18:54 The Gray Zone19:41 The Hierarchy of Leverages (5)19:50 1. Training Load Reduction20:24 2. Fueling21:29 3. Sleep: The Highest Yield21:56 4. Targeted Micronutrients22:28 5. Nervous System Regulation24:02 You Can Be Stronger & Faster 25:24 Pace by Data27:30 Paying Attention to Your Body28:00 Saying No is Hard but Doable28:53 Discipline + Balance30:16 The Right Data31:34 Every Piece of the Puzzle Matters32:20 A Better Approach LinksDr. Sandra Fleminghttp://drsandrafleming.comPrimal Trusthttps://www.primaltrust.org/Red Peloton Bike Racing Team in Northern Californiahttps://redpeloton.comPresented by Alien Feedingshttps://alienfeedings.com/
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7. Burning Matches - Cycling Thru Ups & Downs
04:44||Season 2, Ep. 7Burning Matches Cycling Podcast Ep-20 Cycling Thru Ups & DownsThis is my first episode back after a few months.My health took some rough turns as I navigated some extremely challenging times.I had to put my cycling on hold and am now on a therapeutic program to get my health and ultimately my cycling back on track.It is within these “setbacks” we can often find great steps forward.I have been learning many great things in this time off the bike that I am confident will make me better than ever on the bike.I’m working with an amazing doctor, Dr. Sandra Fleming, who is helping guide my health with a focus on my cycling performance. In addition to more episodes interviewing the many great people in the cycling world, I will be providing regular updates on my cycling progress with Dr. Sandra’s medical perspective.LinksDr. Sandra Fleminghttps://DrSandraFleming.comGroup ride footage courtesy of Chris Dieter from Cycling Sonoma:https://www.youtube.com/@cyclingsonoma6543Episode is our group ride in one of my favorites, Chilena Valley, on March 14, 2026.https://youtu.be/L_-mZYEXl3s?si=HTV7IwAAlEkafvqs
6. Burning Matches - Even Faster at 40+
16:11||Season 2, Ep. 6Burning Matches Cycling Podcast Ep-19 Duchy Cycling CoachingEvent Faster at 40+Keep it in the Day!The Duchy cycing coaches are back with more awesome insights on how riders 40, 50, 60+ (they’re even helping riders 70+) can go faster on their bikes.There are some just classic themes from this episode:How to Come Back from a SlumpAbandon the Numbers!The Sum Total of All Stressesand my favorite: Keep it in the DayHere’s to all us Busy People Trying to Ride Our Bikes Fast.This is Episode 3 of 3 with Duchy Cycling Coaching, a highly recommended coaching company that focuses on cyclists 40+, but younger riders can learn a lot from Duchy.https://www.duchycyclecoaching.comThe Duchy coaches are former European pros and their insights on what helps older riders are extremely valuable.Huge thanks to Will Harper, Duchy founder, and Alex Sanković, a Duchy Coach.Title and end credit song:The North of California by The Guide to Fast Livinghttps://open.spotify.com/track/7Ml8DDrduQFbQpeMyympyr00:33 Focus on Fueling01:53 Nigel’s Story on Fueling Benefits04:15 The Duchy Process05:10 Eating More on the Bike06:00 Fuel Yourself on the Bike06:25 We Need Coaches07:00 Coming Back from a Slump07:13 Abandon the Numbers08:48 Keep it in the Day09:58 Stop Comparing Yourself10:52 Just Go Out and Ride12:05 Your Body is Your Temple13:07 The Sum Total of All Stresses14:35 Busy People Trying to Ride Our Bikes FastLinksDuchy Coaching Websitehttps://www.duchycyclecoaching.comDuchy on Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/duchycoaching Duchy YouTube Channelhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLOLaqAuYc7GI7y2IQG1YgQ
5. Burning Matches - Fast at 40, 50, 60+
16:10||Season 2, Ep. 5Burning Matches Cycling Podcast Ep-18 Duchy Cycling CoachingFast at 40, 50, 60+This is Episode 2 of 3 with Duchy Cycling Coaching, a highly recommended coaching company that focuses on cyclists 40+, but younger riders can learn a lot from Duchy.https://www.duchycyclecoaching.comThe Duchy coaches are former European pros and their insights on what helps older riders are extremely valuable.Huge thanks to Will Harper, Duchy founder, and Alex Sanković, a Duchy Coach.
4. Burning Matches - Duchy Cycling Coaching - Older Cyclists Need to Train Differently
22:44||Season 2, Ep. 4Burning Matches Cycling Podcast Ep-17 Duchy Cycling CoachingOlder Cyclists Need to Train DifferentlyI’m trying a bit of a new approach with this episode. I’ve got a full hour with the coaches at Duchy Cycling Coaching, but am breaking it up into 3 shorter episodes. This is episode 1 of 3.I don’t even remember how I got on the Duchy email list but I am SO happy I did. These guys have absolutely game changing advice to help you be a faster cyclist. Even more importantly their advice will give you perspectives that will help you take a much healthier approach to your riding and enjoy it more.I’ll add that even though their coaching is focused on older riders 40, 50, and 60+, younger riders should pay attention. You can get a lot wrong as a younger rider and still be fast.But a lot of these tips could give you a real competitive advantage.Huge thanks to Will Harper, Duchy founder, and Alex Sankovic, a Duchy coach.Duchy Coaching Websitehttps://www.duchycyclecoaching.com
3. Burning Matches - Dennis Verity - You Never Got Off the Bike
05:51||Season 2, Ep. 3Burning Matches Cycling Podcast Ep-16 - Dennis VerityYou Never Got Off the BikeHappy Birthday to my stepfather Dennis. On your day I wanted to take few moments to recognize you with two cycling anecdotes that represent many ways you had brought a great presence to my life.One important thing I need to correct: at the Hilly Hundred in Indiana my stepfather actually rode 55 miles that first day. I misspoke as it was the second day that was only 45. Incredible!"Lanterne Rouge" is the name for the person in last place in a bicycle stage race (a multiple bike races over multiple days where the overall time and/or points by the end of the race determine the winners.
2. Burning Matches - Just Get On Your Bike
03:54||Season 2, Ep. 2This is a slightly different episode as it's just me, Kurt Hoffmann, with an update on Burning Matches cycling podcast as of February 27, 2026."Cycling Has Been My Salvation Always" is my favorite line from the episode. I cannot tell you all the times I have been so low or lost, but somehow getting on the bike changes everything every time. I remember one time in particular during the past couple years I was so utterly depressed. It was a depression unlike anything I had ever experienced. It just would not stop for an entire year. One day laying on the couch I just said to my self: GET ON YOUR BIKE. You have to get on your bike.And I did. I put no expectations on myself except to pedal. Maybe ride to the end of the block, maybe a mile. As I kept going, through Montgomery Village, a tiny momentum found it's way and then I was in the Montgomery neighborhoods, that great tree in the middle of the road, kept going into Howarth, onto Channel. I was barely there just spinning around 12 mph, but it helped to just keep pedaling. I was making my way through Oakmont when I saw two riders coming the other direction. As they got closer I recognized them. It was Mike and Natalie from Red Peloton! I was so grateful to be riding with them. Just being with two teammates had me feeling better in minutes. Mike asked me if I was up for a sprint to light pole in the distance. Man, that felt so GOOD!!!There was a similar afternoon recently where I found myself dead again on the couch from the weight of it all. I had posted how down I was online and saw there were messages from my teammate Clint and Mark Tucker. From those encouraging words I returned to my own mantra: JUST GET ON YOUR GODDAMN BIKE! I was processing it all when a call came through from another Red Peloton team mate Brett. He was checking in on me as he had heard about my post. For some reason that broke me and I was in tears. We had a long talk and one of the things he said was, "You are resilient! You'll get through this!"That phrase stayed with me in the days and weeks following. I was so happy to get out on a ride with Brett, Clint and Brian that Saturday. We all needed it. To so many people on the road, whether we had a great talk, or just spent some time quietly riding by each other, you have no idea the difference you made.I hope you enjoy this episode.