Source Endurance

Rest days aren't wasted days. They're part of the training. As athletes, it's easy to feel like more training always means more progress. But recovery is where your body adapts. And knowing when to back off is an important part of becoming a stronger athlete.

In this short video, new Source Endurance Coach Ava Hachmann talks about the importance of rest days and why we shouldn't overlook the mental side of training, either.

A sustainable training plan should support your life, not leave you feeling burned out, guilty, or like you have to earn your rest.

Ava discusses balancing physical and mental recovery Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Before you consider setting goals for next season, or buying a coaching plan, come talk to us. For free.

You can talk through your goals, ask questions, and learn how custom coaching works. We'll help determine what your next steps could be, and which coach might be the right fit for you.

No pressure. Just a conversation about where you want your cycling to go in 2027.

🔗 Schedule your free consultation here: source-e.net/coaching-consultation

If you've spent the summer racing, it may be your time to start thinking about the transition to CX.

Some of the big U.S. races on the calendar this fall include:

🚴 **Rochester Cyclocross** — Sept. 19–20
🚴 **Virginia's Blue Ridge Go Cross** — Sept. 26–27
🚴 **Charm City Cross** — Oct. 3–4
🚴 **Kings CX** — Oct. 17–18
🚴 **Boulder Cup** — Nov. 14–15
🏆 **USA Cycling Cyclocross Nationals** — Dec. 9–13, Fayetteville, AR

And if you're making the jump to CX, don't forget: cyclocross fitness is only part of the equation.

Cornering, line selection, barriers, dismounts, remounts, riding in mud and sand, and knowing when to attack are all skills you can learn and practice.

Looking for a coach to help you prepare for your CX season? Book a free coaching consult and let's get you on your way to a great CX season! https://source-e.net/coaching-consultation/

VO₂ Max and lactate threshold testing can give you a much clearer picture of your physiology, and that information can make your training more precise.

VO₂ Max provides a measure of your aerobic capacity, while lactate threshold testing helps identify the intensity where lactate begins to accumulate. Together, they can help you and your coach:

📈 Establish a meaningful performance baseline
🎯 Set more precise training intensities
💪 Identify areas where you have room to improve
🔄 Track physiological changes over time
🧠 Make smarter, data-driven training decisions

This isn't just testing for elite athletes. It's for anyone who wants to understand their body better and get more out of the work they're already putting in.

Fall testing dates are now available, but space is extremely limited. https://source-e.net/performance-testing-vo2-max-threshold-more/

A great coach can turn good athletes into exceptional ones! It's rarely just talent that gets you on that top step year after year.

That's why we want to give a big shoutout to Coach Taylor Warren for his work this summer with all the junior racers at the two USA Cycling camps he directed.

Well done Coach, hope you get to enjoy some time off before ramping back up in the fall.

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your fitness is take a break.

If you’ve been racing and training hard all summer, now might be the perfect time for a mid-season reset. Especially if you still have late-season races on the calendar or you’re planning to transition into cyclocross this fall.

A well-timed break doesn’t mean losing all your fitness. Done correctly, it gives your body and mind a chance to recover while preserving the fitness you’ve worked so hard to build.

The key is knowing when to step back, how much recovery you actually need, and how to get training back on track afterward.

The Importance of a Well Timed Mid-Season Break It's believed that the emphasis of a successful training is the intervals, volume and improving FTP. Really, the key is well timed periods of rest.

If you are racing Gravel Nationals in a few weeks, don’t let hydration be the reason you don’t finish.

The 2026 USA Cycling Gravel National Championships are coming up September 12 in La Crescent, Minnesota, and if you’re planning to toe the line, now is the time to make sure your hydration strategy is race-ready.

Dehydration is one of the biggest contributors to DNFs in long gravel events. As Coach Adam Mills explains, even relatively small amounts of dehydration can have a significant impact on performance. And by the time you feel thirsty, you’re already behind. 📖 Read Coach Adam’s full breakdown on dehydration and gravel racing:

Dehydration Drives DNFs at Gravel Races - Summer of 2023 was the hottest on record forcing competitors in gravel races to adapt their existing strategies or wilt in the summer heat.

Waiting until October or November to think about next season can mean missing an important opportunity to build a strong foundation. Coach Zack shares how the off-season is the perfect time to recover, address weaknesses, set goals, and create a plan for what comes next.

So when should you actually start training for next season? The time is now.

When To Start Training For Next Season And Why Now. The time is now. As coaches and athletes, fall or early season is training season and this is the most exciting time of year. We can look back at last season and be objective in looking at the data and seeing what worked and what didn't. We can sit down and map out the

Please join us in welcoming Coach Ava Hachmann to the Source Endurance coaching staff!

Ava brings an impressive combination of racing experience, academic expertise, and a genuine passion for developing athletes. She grew up racing with Durango DEVO, went on to compete at the elite domestic level, and captained the Fort Lewis College cycling team for four years.

Ava has coached athletes at the collegiate level, in MTB and CX programs, road racing, and women just starting out on the their cycling journey. She's also been coaching athletes and teaching skills clinics for years, and holds a B.S. in Molecular Biology with a concentration in Human Physiology.

Welcome to the team, Ava! 👏 https://source-e.net/our-coaches/ava-hachmann-bs/