What's new
Tempo MCP can now help you build strength training blocks that fit your cycling plan. Connected assistants like Claude and ChatGPT can use your existing calendar, available equipment, injuries, season timing, and concurrent-training rules to shape sessions and place them around rides.
Plans progress across a block instead of holding the same sets and reps throughout. When race season approaches, it can shift from building strength to maintaining it, and it tapers heavy lower-body lifting before an A race.
Why it helps
Strength work can support cycling performance, but poor placement can leave your legs flat for the rides that matter. The new protocol keeps heavy lower-body sessions at least 24 hours away from quality bike work where possible, while giving upper-body and core work more flexibility.
It also avoids promising outcomes the evidence does not support: strength training can improve cycling efficiency, anaerobic power, and time-trial performance, but it is not presented as a shortcut to a higher FTP, VO2max, or threshold.
How to try it
In Tempo on the web, go to Settings → AI Assistants and connect Tempo to Claude or ChatGPT using the hosted MCP setup.
Try asking:
- “Build me a 12-week strength block for the off-season.”
- “Add strength sessions to my plan without wrecking my interval days.”
- “I’ve got VO2 work Tuesday and Thursday and a long ride Saturday — where do my lifts go?”
- “I only have dumbbells and a bench at home. Can you still write me something?”
- “My left knee flares up with deep squats — work around it.”
- “Race season starts in six weeks. How should my lifting change?”
- “Will strength training raise my FTP?”
Note: Tempo MCP requires a Premium subscription.
Example
Ask: “My legs felt flat on Tuesday’s intervals. Is the lifting getting in the way?”
Rather than immediately reducing lifting volume, Tempo first checks whether the strength session is too close to the interval day and recommends a better placement.