Cycle Coach/ Personal Training?

[aces_up1504]

Cycle Coach/ Personal Training does such a thing exsist in cycling?

People spend £1000's on pounds on bikes in the hope of improvements etc when they in all reality they probably have not maxed out the performance of an existing bike.

Surely a keen cyclist looking to improve speed / endurance would see far greater gains by spending money on coaching / PTs etc

In my other hobby Golf there is always Pro's who can help improve your golf but its seems there is very little or not chat on the Cycle forums about coaching.

Is it generally that something is not done by the average cyclist?

 

[Rob3rt]

Cycle Coach/ Personal Training does such a thing exsist in cycling?

People spend £1000's on pounds on bikes in the hope of improvements etc when they in all reality they probably have not maxed out the performance of an existing bike.

Surely a keen cyclist looking to improve speed / endurance would see far greater gains by spending money on coaching / PTs etc

In my other hobby Golf there is always Pro's who can help improve your golf but its seems there is very little or not chat on the Cycle forums about coaching.

Is it generally that something is not done by the average cyclist?

Probably, because most peoples goals are very simplistic, lose weight, ride a bit further etc etc. If you start talking to ambitious racers where things get a bit more complicated, then you will find more people with coaches, or who themselves have very good coaching knowledge and can self coach themselves, or who get coaching via a club etc.

 

[aces_up1504]

Probably, because most peoples goals are very simplistic, lose weight, ride a bit further etc etc. If you start talking to ambitious racers where things get a bit more complicated, then you will find more people with coaches, or who themselves have very good coaching knowledge and can self coach themselves, or who get coaching via a club etc.

But these are probably the people who would get the greatest gains from it. For an average cyclist there probably would not be a huge gain from a £1000 bike to a £1500 bike in terms of performance. But a £1000 bike and £ 500 worth of coaching would probably show some large performance gains

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Take a typical example: "I want to finish my first century this year"

The secret to this is:

1. Ride your bike to build your base
2. Increase disance by 10% every few weeks as you progress while remembering that rest is as important as activity.
3. Look at your diet re: pre-ride nutrition and post-recovery/overall
4. Carbs are your friend
5. Get out there

I've just saved £500 so now have £1500 to spend on bling!. I really can't see what benefit Joe Average gets in having a coach. Aspiring racers are different naturally.

 

[Hacienda71]

People look on the internet for tips and end up looking at cycling forums.

 

[Thomk]

Why do people use trainers at the gym/golf though? Not because they are aspiring racers/Masters winners. I guess its for a bit of advice and a whole load of motivation & TLC. I think the OP raises a good point.

 

[T.M.H.N.E.T]

Why do people use trainers at the gym?

Because they are there to induct,advise and guide. But it depends on staffing, neither of my local gyms have PT's on staff, they have squads of instructors. PT's do hang around but are mostly with their own clients/touting for custom.

golf though?

It's pretty easy for golfers to pick up strains. Sciatica is pretty common too. Anything to assist/aid/lessen the pain of a days golf is probably worth the hours in the gym, sciatica specific or otherwise.

Not because they are aspiring racers/Masters winners. I guess its for a bit of advice and a whole load of motivation & TLC. I think the OP raises a good point.

Or for general fitness, or for rehab, or for pre-hab (ie: injury prevention)

But it also begs the question. Why would someone who wants to improve as a cyclist, hire a PT? Who unless came from a sport specific coaching background, is even at PT level only going to be offering basic advice pertinent to general health and fitness.

At the same time, would you enlist the services of a coach whilst 6st overweight? Conveniently, the chap above (PT or gym instructor) would probably be better for you in that instance. The latter will be absolutely free and inclusive with your monthly membership.

 

[Sittingduck]

Golf and cycling are very different beasts. You can pretty much cycle and enjoy it, regardless of standard but with golf you have to achieve a certain handicap to play on some good courses and there is also the embarrassment factor of a few other people all watching as you slice every tee shot into the rough. With cycling there are always plenty of other cyclists of a very similar standard and you can see improvements very quickly, with minimal practice, imho.

In other words - you need less help to get good or at least get better at cycling. Then again - perhaps I was just a really sh*tty golfer (when I played)...!

 

[black'n'yellow]

Lots of cycle coaches out there and probably a lot more riders than you might imagine are on training/performance improvement plans. Beyond a certain level, if cycling is something you are committed to getting better at, then working with a coach might make sense.

As TMHNET says, if your goals are fairly straightforward then the techniques for improvement are relatively simple, perhaps even obvious. But if your aim is to perform well in competition, or even if you have an aim to improve in 'non-competitive' areas like sportives, then personal coaching can work.

Info on BC coaching levels & structure here - http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/coaching

 

[aces_up1504]

Some interesting post, but the general thought seems to be that cycling at the average level does not need coaching, mainly because there are less "skill" involved that say other sports to become "good" at it.

This seems to be backed up by the few serious hits its generated in a google search.

In my newbie eyes, there would seem a gap in the market to help people improve technique, fitness etc.

At the moment as newbie, I would consider say £20 per hour, for someone with all the equipment to give me my base line on such as fitness (HR,Power, endurance) review of my ride data via GPS, cadence and technique, followed by personalised plan to move me foward. I think this once a month could really help more than just going out on my own.

Like anything i can read up on the internet whether be golf technique or cycling, but having some one on had makes it much easier

 

[Rob3rt]

Some interesting post, but the general thought seems to be that cycling at the average level does not need coaching, mainly because there are less "skill" involved that say other sports to become "good" at it.

This seems to be backed up by the few serious hits its generated in a google search.

In my newbie eyes, there would seem a gap in the market to help people improve technique, fitness etc.

At the moment as newbie, I would consider say £20 per hour, for someone with all the equipment to give me my base line on such as fitness (HR,Power, endurance) review of my ride data via GPS, cadence and technique, followed by personalised plan to move me foward. I think this once a month could really help more than just going out on my own.

Like anything i can read up on the internet whether be golf technique or cycling, but having some one on had makes it much easier

Yes and no (I think what SD is saying is that with many skill sports you need a minimum level of skill to properly enjoy it, whereas cycling you can enjoy it from the moment you can ride a bike). Basically the average joe will improve and achieve their goals through some very basic concepts or just riding more, their "skills" would improve through riding, and ultimatelly their skill need not be particularly good to achieve their goals, however to achieve peak performance in a competitive event (e.g. move up from being pack filler to podium), you will need to know a lot more about your strengths, weaknesses (something you may not have the knowledge or methods to find out), how these limit your performance in your event of choice, how to address this etc.

IMO, most people who come on here asking for advice about how to climb better, ride a bit faster to keep up with a club ride, complete a sportive etc, the answer is quite simply, ride more. It is just some posters like to give more complicated advice and suggestions where it is not required

I agree some people of a less competative breed may benefit from a coach, but ultimatelly they will be paying a lot for little, so just about the same as spending more on a bike really. Plus we all know spending £500 extra on kit will only make a small difference performance wise, we just convince our selves otherwise or just want it regardless.

Just my opinion though, as someone with just about enough knowledge to self coach myself at my current level (club mates input always helps though).

 

[Cycleops]

Cycling for most people on here is a passtime where they can become fitter and have fun tinkering with their bike. When you start talking about coaching that suggests you are moving up to a competative level and that is what you should consider if that is your goal. Most can see and feel the benefits without help.

 

[aces_up1504]

Cycling for most people on here is a passtime where they can become fitter and have fun tinkering with their bike. When you start talking about coaching that suggests you are moving up to a competative level and that is what you should consider if that is your goal. Most can see and feel the benefits without help.

That's a great post, I guess coming from competitive sports over the years such as football, golf, tennis etc, I have looked at cycling as a sport rather than a passtime/Hobby

 

[yello]

I've often toyed with the idea of finding a coach. Because I don't 'ride smart' to achieve my aims. I do what I believe to be right, and even then lack the discipline to stick to a plan.... basically, I just ride my bike. My 'training' is kilometre accumulation.

Sometimes something that you think is obvious is not at all that. The perspective offered by someone else, particularly someone with years of experience, can be invaluable. They will see things that you don't, will correct (or adjust) things you have thought correct.

Clearly, it depends on your objectives but I'd say that if you're asking yourself the question then you could benefit from someone giving you their answer - whatever level you're at.

 

[Demonclimber]

Some interesting post, but the general thought seems to be that cycling at the average level does not need coaching, mainly because there are less "skill" involved that say other sports to become "good" at it.

This seems to be backed up by the few serious hits its generated in a google search.

In my newbie eyes, there would seem a gap in the market to help people improve technique, fitness etc.

At the moment as newbie, I would consider say £20 per hour, for someone with all the equipment to give me my base line on such as fitness (HR,Power, endurance) review of my ride data via GPS, cadence and technique, followed by personalised plan to move me foward. I think this once a month could really help more than just going out on my own.

Like anything i can read up on the internet whether be golf technique or cycling, but having some one on had makes it much easier

I'd do that stuff for £20 an hour, in fact would even consider £15 an hour