– If you haven’t heard Behind the Barriers TV will be live streaming USAC CX Nationals. Watch it there next weekend!

– Speaking of… good luck to all Chicagoland and MidWest CX racers heading to Austin, TX next week where it looks like you’ll be racing in shorts and maybe arm warmers!

– This spring, Craig Abrams will be conducting the second round of a study on the effect of core strength training and VO2max in cyclists.  He is working with Josh Friedman, owner and coach at ATP Race Consulting and Neil Krulewitz, medical student at the University of New England in Portland, Maine. The first round of their study, which they conducted this past summer was very successful.  Abrams saw trends in the data that suggest a correlation between core strength and both power output and VO2max.  He plans to repeat the study in early April, and would like to recruit as many cyclist as possible to participate.  Because he are using calculated VO2max, individuals can complete the study anywhere they have access to a power meter and the open road (or trainer). The researchers believe they have some great insights on the horizon for cyclists everywhere. Sign up here: http://nkrulewitz.wix.com/vo2max-study

– And finally… Happy New Year!