Coaching
Anonymous
Posts: 79,692
Been thinking about coaching but it seems to cost a freakin' fortune!
I happened upon one chap that seems very reasonable though, Gorman Cycle Coaching. Anyone have any experience?
I happened upon one chap that seems very reasonable though, Gorman Cycle Coaching. Anyone have any experience?
0
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Let me know how you get on.
it's good to have somebody to hold you to account when you decide to stay in bed or race your mates for road signs when you should be training properly.
@gietvangent
Or, are you looking for more than that?
Paul
it's a hard life if you don't weaken.
IMO coaching is money well spent, especially if you are time-limited.
I'd much rather spend money on that than shiny bike toys
Neil
"Because the cycling is pain. The cycling is soul crushing pain."
ABCC/BC Tutor, 9 yrs as Police PT trainer, 6 yrs in Sports FE College, 4 yrs private fitness,
Former U23's Asst Nat. Coach, Mtb Leader/Assessor blah...blah...
I run a small cycling facility from home now, accommodation/guided rides etc.
If you go to the butchers, supermarket, fish mongers, you come home with something, ie, you actually have something to see/hold.
With coaching, people don't actually see anything physical, except the written programme.
There's nothing to measure or show, except words!
So, it looks as though there aren't getting much.
But like all recipes, it's the tasting/training that's the "proof of the pudding."
Coaching will only enhance the process, but if you want to be an Olympic champion,
pick your parents carefully!
Like everything in life, it's hard work. All coaching gives you is a direction in which to focus your work.
@gietvangent
Tell Dave Lloyd that, and the other coaches who are making a living from coaching. I even know of a useless coach making a living.
Surely, your faster times is proof enough, staying with people who normally beat you, beating people who normally beat you, doing a longer than normal sportive etc. Whatever your goal, when you achieve it with your coaches help that would be proof.
more energy at the end of a long ride/race for sprint finish, tactically aware blah... blah...
I know Dave - and his riders - plus I've Taught/Tutored and Assessed over 150+ BC Level 2 Club Coaches, and BSCA Mtb Leaders up to around 300 + leaders, from Youth workers, teachers, police/fire officers, parents and even Professional Coaches.
Yes, I agree there are bad coaches around, and you have to be aware of this.
Coaches I've tutored are assessed externally, monitored and updated.
Some are ex-National Squad riders who now want to give something back to cycling.
Riders I've had dealings with have now got an Olympic medal, are on Pro teams etc. Coaching works, but it's not the only answer. think I've done my job well enough.
I can see where your coming from. Speaking from my experience if I had someone advising/coaching me I believe I would have been a lot better. I was totally clueless and didn't stop to think. As a teenager I would ride 100 - 120 miles on a Sunday, which would wipe me out until Thursday, then I would do a run on Thursday and rest up for the club run on Sunday! No one in the club told me any different. I guess that's the difference between athletics and cycling. In athletics there seem to be more structure with regards training at clubs.
Then got into weight training - for the Babes! - at 15. Started Tae Kwon Do at 16 and while at college on day release, visited the library and learned about weights/fitness.
Got me a Bullworker - remember them?- Some Charles Atlas stuff, and then got my 1st Dan in TKD and this led to private fitness job. Learnt loads there but being made redundant went to sports college as mature student. Dozens of training courses/coaching awards then, public leisure facilities, 2 Dan TKD 9 yrs as a Police PTI/Self Defence instructor.
1st Dan Aikido. American Football, XC racer, Enduros.
Triathlons, road riding, then BSCA/BCF/ABCC...Ex Asst Nat Cycling Coach/Development Officer. Now got small cycling business.
BUT, and it's a big but...it all came from My Motivation to improve, get fitter, faster etc.
No one did it for me. You can do it without a Coach, and that was my point.
No one knows you like you do, so with some background basics, it's possible to get to a better level of fitness if the "Principles of Training" are applied.
Look them up, they're the bones to put the flesh on!
There is definitely something to show for it. Improved performance.
But Coaching relies on trusting the Coach, actually then physically DOING the schedule, and giving feedback to the Coach to discuss problems/benefits/the way forward.
It's the ACTUAL piece of paper/e-mail that people don't trust to give up their cash for.
Some see it as not worth it. ( Buying a lighter bike is what they think will work! ) People with experience of Coaches/Coaching know better.
I've had some amazing coaches, instructors, teachers who made a vast difference and improvement to my 30+yrs in Sports, Recreation and Leisure service industry.
It's the Mind Set that many find difficult to alter, I feel...