How important is it to have a coach?

[andydude]

From what I understand doing a sub 3 in the Argus is seriously seriously difficult and no cyclist who achieves this is average! I really want to do this http://www.cadencecycling.co.za/ as they have great coaches and programmes but their location (Tygervalley) and class times dont suit

 

Good luck with your goals!

 

PM me if you want to compare notes regarding training and doing a sub 3 Argus.

[TALUS]

andydude, is this an open invitation. I would love to get some pointers.

[Skubarra]

My 5c, if your goal is to ride at the maximum of your ability getting a coach is a no brainer for me.

 

If its getting a sub-3, no you don't need a coach. I'm more or less in the same situation as you and I managed a Sub-3 in my 3rd year of cycling. Most important thing is to recognise where you need to improve and work on that (you can learn a lot on thehub!). Doing a number of races during the spring/summer like you intend to will be a good indicator of how you are progressing to your goal. Good luck!

Edited April 4, 2014 by Skubarra

['Dale]

If I aimed to ride Elite level and show my strength with the top flight riders in my town, I'd get a coach.

 

 

Otherwise, ride your bike often.

Ride easy when you're have ridden hard.

Ride hard often and interrupt it with lots of rest.

Eat smartly.

Ride with faster guys every now and then and go beyond your limits.

Lose some weight. Very key.

Measure your results against prior results to track progress.

 

Self-discipline and motivation is key.

['Dale]

Uhm, and ask experienced riders about tips, ideas, learnings, and so on.

Most are excited to help.

Don't be macho; ask with respect and learn.

 

Good luck!!!

[VicanZA]

Err my advice to u is to start enjoying the thinks ur new found fitness can bring u, in my first year I rode hard did all my work on MTB, was super keen to do any MTB race got a road bike and had a go at that.

 

New year, new frame of mind, doing all the thinks I've always wanted to do but wasn't fit enough or had problems doing, have run 2 trail runs and a marathon and would like to give the dusi a go.

 

Still ride 5 days a week on the bike as it's what I love to do, but have cancelled my stage racing for otter trail, brakensburg and killi hikes and climbs.

 

It's become more about creating memories with friends and experiencing different thinks in life, it's no longer about how fast I can ride but getting the most out of the experience.

 

I don't think 94.7 and argus are good markers on how strong u can ride they just to big and not stoping and drinking that beer on the side of the road with some guy u don't know seem to me like a wasted opportunity to partake in the good will these events generate.

 

Bit off topic and may not be relevant, so no I don't think u need a trainer not like u gonna win it. Too many race snakes out there already.

Edited April 4, 2014 by VicanZA

[Spoke101]

If cost is a factor or you just want an easy solution try Fittrack.

 

This helped me a lot has it tailors a program for you depending on training time available, level of cyclist or even a specific event and your goal finish time. Then you choose the days you want too train and it gives you a program and then you can manually add your rides or is you have a Garmin or such upload this and monitor progress vs where you should be in your training program.

 

All this for a couple R100 bucks.

[PhilipV]

I believe educating yourself is a good dea.

My bet is to go with Joe Friel and lots of self discipline.

And put in the hard yards, you'll get there.

[Sworks20]

There is only 1 company to use for coaching in South Africa. Science to Sport. www.sciencetosport.com

 

I know a few hubbers use them and I have purchased their online training programs for Argus and now for Sani. I used FitTrack programs before and while those are ok, the Science to Sport programs beat them hands down and I have seen a huge improvement in my riding. Did my 1st Sub 3 Argus from B group this year in the wind compared to last years time also from B. Cut 17 min off my time is harder conditions.

 

For the personal 1 on 1 I know a few Hubbers use John Wakefield and Mike Posthumus with great results. The 2 of them are also racing at the front end of their age categories at either road or mtb or both so they practice what they preach.

[Witkop]

Bla bla bla bla.

 

Unless you have more money than sense (and cannot read) OR you are a pro/elite that needs to squeeze the last out of yourself, you don't need a coach.

 

Most elite/ pros get there by spending a lot of time on the bike. (LA's famous statement "I am on my bike 8 hrs a day") Once they have broken into the inner circle, then the coach is hired to "polish off" the performance.

 

As a recreation cyclist/ competitive cyclist (3hr argus) all a coach will do is invoke guilt in you when you have not done the planned training, this and "fine" you for ill discipline.

 

What you probably need is the following:

 

a more committed training partners who shame you when you don't pitch for a ride.

a more disciplined attitude to food.

time with harder and faster riders for the hard days

time with slower types for you LSD days.

 

In all read a few books on cycling performance, design your own programme, schedule your rides with friends in accordance with YOUR training needs (You have to be a bit selfish about this), and have fun with your friends, but not all at the same time.

 

Consider this

for recovery you ride with your girl friend/ wife/kids or boyfriend

for speed work you go to the "race track" for Wednesday laps and ride hard

for distance you ride with your endure friends

remember to enter some races to race, and you enter some races to train and these you should not race.

never ever under estimate the importance of peer pressure and community.

ext ext ext.

 

also keep a diary to determine the link between training and performance. results vary, and it is good to know what works.

 

good luck on flying solo.

[Sworks20]

Wow haven't read that much pooh in a long time. Recreational or Pro level, having a properly structured training program by someone who knows what they doing will always reap the benefits.

 

Often Pro level athletes are the hardest to train cause they "know everything"

 

Sorry Witkop your post is far from accurate.

[jcza]

If you want to ride far you don't need a coach, if you want to ride fast you need a coach.

 

If you have limited time to train get a coach and make the best use of your time.

[VeloRacer]

Pro/elite riders need a coach for different reasons to what recreational rider would.

 

Yes, Pro riders know what intervals etc but a coach's main role is to manage a pro riders' fatigue. They tell them when to back off so they peak for important races.

 

For recreational riders a coach would help where the rider is clueless and just end up wasting his time and doing junk miles.

[The Anteater]

In all read a few books on cycling performance, design your own programme, schedule your rides with friends in accordance with YOUR training needs (You have to be a bit selfish about this), and have fun with your friends, but not all at the same time.

All of this takes time and effort. If you're already pressed for time, but want to train to a specific goal, then a coach makes sense. Consider this scenario:

 

Say it takes you two hours per month to plan, set up and adjust your program. Now consider that a coach may save you an hour of that. If you're a student on minimum wage, it perhaps doesn't make sense to get a coach. If you're a time-crunched professional charging R1000/hr+, then the time saving from a coach may well be worth it.

[Dubber]

From what I understand doing a sub 3 in the Argus is seriously seriously difficult and no cyclist who achieves this is average! I really want to do this http://www.cadencecycling.co.za/ as they have great coaches and programmes but their location (Tygervalley) and class times dont suit

 

Good luck with your goals!

 

I would recommend these guys in a heartbeat. There's a bunch of reasons, but if I had to pick 2:

 

1: you will improved - fact.

2: (In terms of the Cape Town branch), Tania Raats (coach/trainer) is awsome. This is a lady that has pretty much done it all in terms of performance cycling - you can ask her for advice on all things cycling.

 

No, this isn't a dedicated coach just for you. But you have a power based training program (which in itself is pretty great) as well as having access to a world class cyclist to pick her brains.

[porqui]

Soldier Boy you say "I'm an average cyclist riding for about 2 years (both road and MTB). I race every week or second week during the PPA spring and summer seasons"

 

If you are an average rider you are not going to crack a sub-3hr.

If you do ride as much as you say you do you should have had a sub-3 already.

You are going to have to put a lot into it to take 25min + off your time of 3h25m.

 

It's a mindset change - it's time in the saddle and it is intensity.

 

You don't need a coach - you have got to do it.

 

There are plenty of schedules available on the net for doing a sub 3hr Argus - PPA provides them too and if you stick to any one of them you will get a sub 3h Argus.

 

The moment you go under 3hrs you can consider a coach but not before then.

 

Good luck from an old ballie!

 

And you don't need a fancy bike either.