I always find it interesting when I get questioned and asked for my opinions on the role and relevance of having a cycling coach, especially in the last couple of years when the virtual cycling world has become a fashionable ‘go-to’ for many people.
As frustrating as it can be to answer a question with a question, I would often reply with, ”If you were working with a coach – any type of coach, sports related or not, what would you expect from them?”. This is often enough to set a person’s mind into action whereby they begin to answer their posed question by considering all the elements associated with the term ”coach” as a profession and area of expertise.
So let’s look at a few of these associated elements:
- Analyst
- To Be Accountable
- Communication
- Consultant
- Feedback
- Leadership
- Management
- Mentorship
- Psychologist
- Specialist
- Support
- Teacher
When viewing the above elements, it could look like it has been copied & pasted from the ‘Key Skills’ section of a job description for a job in management. But, regardless of the ‘where’, the important thing is, a cycling coach is required to support every athlete in all these elements, no different to anyone else in a position of responsibility in any other environment.
Often it can come as a surprise, because there can be the preconception that cycling coaches just give workouts, the athlete complete them, and that’s it. But, to use Hunter Allen’s analogy for those ‘coaches’ who work in this way – ”this is a training plan writer, NOT a coach”.
Of course, for riders who perhaps have not trained to any kind of structure before and wish to try training to a plan, or perhaps even constrained by budget, then a standardised training plan with minimal analysis, communication & feedback can be a starting point – and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that at all.
But, for those riders with very clear goals such as wishing to move up racing categories, or training towards your first race or sportive, or perhaps just to improve fitness and be the best you can be, then all the elements that form the expertise and framework of a cycling coach, are absolutely invaluable to not only supporting you towards your goals, but also unlocking and exploiting your true potential by providing unparalleled support to give you the confidence in exceeding what you thought you were capable of.
At Phases Cycling, we use all the elements as mentioned above as the fundamental core principals to ensure an unquestionable athlete coach relationship in order to achieve their set goals through individualised training and unwavering support.
PHASES CYCLING 