diff --git a/scripts/convert_videos_to_images.py b/scripts/convert_videos_to_images.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d8e82deef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/convert_videos_to_images.py
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+"""
+Convert video dataset to image dataset for faster training.
+This pre-extracts all frames from MP4 files to PNG images.
+"""
+
+import argparse
+from pathlib import Path
+import logging
+import shutil
+
+def convert_dataset_videos_to_images(repo_id: str, root: str | None = None):
+    """Convert all videos in a LeRobot dataset to individual image files."""
+    from lerobot.datasets.lerobot_dataset import LeRobotDataset
+    from lerobot.datasets.video_utils import decode_video_frames
+    import torch
+    
+    # Load dataset
+    dataset = LeRobotDataset(repo_id, root=root, download_videos=True)
+    
+    total_frames_processed = 0
+    
+    for ep_idx in range(dataset.meta.total_episodes):
+        logging.info(f"Processing episode {ep_idx}/{dataset.meta.total_episodes}")
+        
+        for vid_key in dataset.meta.video_keys:
+            video_path = dataset.root / dataset.meta.get_video_file_path(ep_idx, vid_key)
+            
+            if not video_path.exists():
+                logging.warning(f"Video not found: {video_path}")
+                continue
+                
+            # Create image directory  
+            img_dir = dataset.root / f"images/chunk-{dataset.meta.get_episode_chunk(ep_idx)}/{vid_key}"
+            img_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+            
+            # Decode all frames from video
+            # Get episode length to decode all frames
+            ep_length = dataset.meta.episodes[ep_idx]["length"]
+            timestamps = [i / dataset.fps for i in range(ep_length)]
+            
+            try:
+                frames = decode_video_frames(video_path, timestamps, dataset.tolerance_s, dataset.video_backend)
+                
+                # Save each frame as PNG
+                for i, frame in enumerate(frames.squeeze(0)):
+                    img_path = img_dir / f"episode_{ep_idx:06d}_{i:06d}.png"
+                    # Convert tensor to PIL and save
+                    import torchvision.transforms as T
+                    to_pil = T.ToPILImage()
+                    pil_frame = to_pil(frame)
+                    pil_frame.save(img_path)
+                    
+                total_frames_processed += len(frames.squeeze(0))
+                logging.info(f"  Extracted {len(frames.squeeze(0))} frames to {img_dir}")
+                
+            except Exception as e:
+                logging.error(f"Failed to process {video_path}: {e}")
+                continue
+    
+    logging.info(f"Conversion complete! Processed {total_frames_processed} total frames")
+    logging.info(f"You can now use download_videos=False to use the extracted images")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Convert LeRobot video dataset to images")
+    parser.add_argument("repo_id", help="Dataset repo ID (e.g., 'kenmacken/record-test-2')")
+    parser.add_argument("--root", help="Local root directory", default=None)
+    
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+    
+    logging.basicConfig(level=logging.INFO)
+    
+    convert_dataset_videos_to_images(args.repo_id, args.root)
diff --git a/src/lerobot/policies/rlearn/configuration_rlearn.py b/src/lerobot/policies/rlearn/configuration_rlearn.py
index 9a1d41f17..2967a1e64 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/policies/rlearn/configuration_rlearn.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/policies/rlearn/configuration_rlearn.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ class RLearNConfig(PreTrainedConfig):
     # Performance optimizations
     use_amp: bool = True  # Mixed precision training for speed boost
     compile_model: bool = True  # torch.compile for additional speedup
+    video_backend: str = "pyav"  # Use PyAV for faster video decoding (vs torchcodec)
 
     # ReWiND-specific parameters
     use_video_rewind: bool = True  # Enable video rewinding augmentation
diff --git a/src/lerobot/scripts/train.py b/src/lerobot/scripts/train.py
index 2203bae2b..a034e21dd 100644
--- a/src/lerobot/scripts/train.py
+++ b/src/lerobot/scripts/train.py
@@ -86,6 +86,58 @@ def _add_video_decoding_timing(dataset):
         instrument_dataset(dataset)
     else:
         print(f"Warning: Unknown dataset type {type(dataset)}, skipping video timing instrumentation")
+
+
+def _add_video_frame_caching(dataset, cache_size=1000):
+    """Add LRU caching to video decoding to avoid re-decoding the same frames."""
+    from functools import lru_cache
+    from lerobot.datasets.lerobot_dataset import LeRobotDataset, MultiLeRobotDataset
+    
+    def instrument_dataset_caching(ds):
+        if not hasattr(ds, '_query_videos'):
+            return
+            
+        # Store original method
+        original_query_videos = ds._query_videos
+        
+        # Create cache key from timestamps and episode
+        def make_cache_key(query_timestamps, ep_idx):
+            # Convert to hashable tuple
+            key_parts = [ep_idx]
+            for vid_key in sorted(query_timestamps.keys()):
+                ts_tuple = tuple(round(ts, 6) for ts in query_timestamps[vid_key])  # Round to microsecond precision
+                key_parts.append((vid_key, ts_tuple))
+            return tuple(key_parts)
+        
+        # Create LRU cached version
+        @lru_cache(maxsize=cache_size)
+        def cached_decode_frames(cache_key, ep_idx):
+            # Reconstruct query_timestamps from cache_key
+            query_timestamps = {}
+            for item in cache_key[1:]:  # Skip ep_idx
+                vid_key, ts_tuple = item
+                query_timestamps[vid_key] = list(ts_tuple)
+            return original_query_videos(query_timestamps, ep_idx)
+        
+        def cached_query_videos(self, query_timestamps, ep_idx):
+            cache_key = make_cache_key(query_timestamps, ep_idx)
+            return cached_decode_frames(cache_key, ep_idx)
+        
+        # Bind the cached method to the instance
+        import types
+        ds._query_videos = types.MethodType(cached_query_videos, ds)
+        ds._cached_decode_frames = cached_decode_frames  # Keep reference for cache info
+        
+        print(f"Added video frame caching with size {cache_size}")
+    
+    # Handle both single and multi datasets
+    if isinstance(dataset, MultiLeRobotDataset):
+        for ds in dataset._datasets:
+            instrument_dataset_caching(ds)
+    elif isinstance(dataset, LeRobotDataset):
+        instrument_dataset_caching(dataset)
+    else:
+        print(f"Warning: Unknown dataset type {type(dataset)}, skipping video caching")
 from termcolor import colored
 from torch.amp import GradScaler
 from torch.optim import Optimizer
@@ -243,7 +295,13 @@ def train(cfg: TrainPipelineConfig):
     torch.backends.cuda.matmul.allow_tf32 = True
 
     logging.info("Creating dataset")
-    dataset = make_dataset(cfg)
+    # Pass video backend to dataset for RLearN optimization
+    dataset_kwargs = {}
+    if getattr(cfg.policy, "type", None) == "rlearn" and hasattr(cfg.policy, "video_backend"):
+        dataset_kwargs["video_backend"] = cfg.policy.video_backend
+        logging.info(f"Using video backend: {cfg.policy.video_backend}")
+    
+    dataset = make_dataset(cfg, **dataset_kwargs)
     
     # Add video decoding timing for RLearN debugging
     if getattr(cfg.policy, "type", None) == "rlearn":
@@ -432,6 +490,12 @@ def train(cfg: TrainPipelineConfig):
                             if recent_decodes:
                                 avg_video_decode = sum(recent_decodes) / len(recent_decodes)
                                 print(f"  └─ Video decoding:  ~{avg_video_decode:.2f} ms/call (included in data loading)")
+                        
+                        # Show cache hit rate if available
+                        if hasattr(ds, '_cached_decode_frames'):
+                            cache_info = ds._cached_decode_frames.cache_info()
+                            hit_rate = cache_info.hits / max(cache_info.hits + cache_info.misses, 1) * 100
+                            print(f"  └─ Cache hit rate:   {hit_rate:.1f}% ({cache_info.hits}H/{cache_info.misses}M, size={cache_info.currsize})")
                     except Exception:
                         pass
                     
diff --git a/test_video_backends.py b/test_video_backends.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..57b092151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test_video_backends.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+"""
+Quick benchmark to test video decoding speed across different backends.
+"""
+
+import time
+from pathlib import Path
+import torch
+
+def test_video_backend(video_path, backend_name, num_frames=10):
+    """Test video decoding speed for a specific backend."""
+    try:
+        from lerobot.datasets.video_utils import decode_video_frames
+        
+        # Create timestamps for first N frames
+        fps = 30  # Assume 30fps, adjust if needed
+        timestamps = [i / fps for i in range(num_frames)]
+        
+        # Time the decoding
+        start_time = time.perf_counter()
+        frames = decode_video_frames(video_path, timestamps, tolerance_s=1e-4, backend=backend_name)
+        decode_time = time.perf_counter() - start_time
+        
+        frames_decoded = frames.shape[1] if frames.dim() > 1 else frames.shape[0]
+        ms_per_frame = (decode_time * 1000) / max(frames_decoded, 1)
+        
+        print(f"✅ {backend_name:12} | {decode_time*1000:6.1f}ms total | {ms_per_frame:6.1f}ms/frame | {frames_decoded} frames")
+        return decode_time, frames_decoded
+        
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"❌ {backend_name:12} | ERROR: {str(e)[:50]}...")
+        return float('inf'), 0
+
+def main():
+    # Find your video files
+    video_dir = Path.home() / ".cache/huggingface/lerobot/kenmacken/record-test-2/videos"
+    video_files = list(video_dir.rglob("*.mp4"))
+    
+    if not video_files:
+        print("❌ No video files found! Check the path.")
+        return
+        
+    test_video = video_files[0]
+    print(f"Testing video: {test_video.name}")
+    print(f"File size: {test_video.stat().st_size / 1024 / 1024:.1f} MB")
+    print("-" * 60)
+    
+    backends = ["torchcodec", "pyav", "video_reader"]
+    results = {}
+    
+    for backend in backends:
+        decode_time, frames = test_video_backend(test_video, backend)
+        results[backend] = (decode_time, frames)
+    
+    print("-" * 60)
+    print("RECOMMENDATION:")
+    
+    # Find fastest backend
+    valid_results = {k: v for k, v in results.items() if v[0] != float('inf')}
+    if valid_results:
+        fastest = min(valid_results.items(), key=lambda x: x[1][0])
+        print(f"🚀 Use '{fastest[0]}' - fastest backend!")
+        print(f"   Add to your config: video_backend: \"{fastest[0]}\"")
+        
+        slowest_time = max(valid_results.values())[0]
+        speedup = slowest_time / fastest[1][0]
+        print(f"   Speedup vs slowest: {speedup:.1f}x faster")
+    else:
+        print("❌ No backends worked!")
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()