coaching - to do or not to do?

[zuludog]

what would be the pros and cons of personal mtb coaching and who are good coaches?

[MyGT]

depends on your goals and time available

[The expat cyclist]

Federer does not have a coach.

Nadal does.

Both are great tennis players...

 

I guess if you can trust yourself to train hard and rest harder, eat right(ish), and go and train when you have to, you don't really need a coach.

 

I have never had a coach or even a training partner. But that is just me.

 

For me a coach will be just another expense.

 

I might add that if you are a complete noob to cycling, a coach might be a good thing to get you started. But if you are pushing past 30, you don't need a coach - just go and read all you need on the internet - try it all and keep what works for you.

[Minion]

I might add that if you are a complete noob to cycling, a coach might be a good thing to get you started. But if you are pushing past 30, you don't need a coach - just go and read all you need on the internet - try it all and keep what works for you.

In my opinion, this is the time when you most benefit from a coach - it's the time of your life when free time is scarce (due to job, family etc.) and you need to use it as efficiently as possible.

 

It is possible to create a good training program for yourself using the internet and books such as the Cyclist's Training Bible by Joe Friel, but I've found that it's easier from an effort and motivation point of view to get someone else to do it and to have an additional person that you must be accountable to for your training. I've also found a huge benefit in having a coach restructure my program to account for injury and the progress (or lack thereof) I make in recovering from it.

 

Whether or not you actually need a coach is a personal choice and would depend on your goals. If you're happy to just keep on riding along, you don't need a coach. If you want to make specific improvements to your cycling (e.g. weight loss; do a sub-3, sub-4, sub-5 94.7; improve your position in the bunch etc.) or if you feel your riding is stagnating, it can help a lot.

[zuludog]

who do you use?

[Mads]

Well I am 44 years old but only started to cycle 4 yours ago. But the problem is that I did not do any other form of exercise(jogging, tennis etc) before that. To start cycling was a very drastic lifestyle change for me. This means I have no previous experience or knowledge that I can apply to what I am doing now. So in the training world I am a four year old child.

 

I tried to read and get information on the internet, but to be honest, there are so much information you need to make a decision that I find it almost impossible. You also have conflicting facts or you need the knowledge to know when to apply what...... and asking fellow cyclist is like opening a can of worms - especially here on the hub.

 

I trained myself from a 24km/h ave to a 22.5km/h. I honestly believe that -in my case - a coach is the only way not to hurt myself even further.

 

Small children need guardians

Edited April 13, 2011 by Mads

[Dubber88]

Good points mentioned above.

 

What I do is pay my sport scientist a fee to work out specific inerval/ periodised programs for my needs/ peeks with regards to important races throughout the year.

 

From there on , it's me , myself and my trainer

[zuludog]

can anyone recommend a coach?

Edited April 14, 2011 by zuludog

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