Coaching/Training plan recommendations

[Deleted]

Hi,

Could anybody recommend a good coach/training plan to get me through the winter months? Been to Cadence for a consultation, but would be good to hear any other suggestions?

[Jon Puleston-Jones]

Hi Tim

There are lots of options depending on the type of training you want to do, how much time you have and how much you want to spend.

Before you jump in and start paying for a coach it is worth doing a bit of reading and getting a clear idea of your goals, a good place for lots of information and plans is the BC website.

You can then decide to build your own programme, use something like Trainerroad/Zwift/TurboBeat to add structure or get a coach - or a combination.

There have been a few threads on selecting a coach, for example.

Hope this helps.

Jon

[david emery]

take a look a www.todaysplan.com.au/

I believe Trek and Orica are using it. It will create macro/micro cycle plans based on goals and events that you set and uses personalised training build rates, based on workouts/races, to ensure training is uniquely progressive for you. I'll be looking at this for next year if I can find enough time.

My old coaching company guys (PBScience) are in Rio with the Team GB Paralympics now. I can recommend them highly, but not sure they're taking on anymore athletes these days, as they've mostly moved on from the Amateur scene, but I can ask when Rio's done if you've no luck in the meantime.

I don't have personal experience of the Cadence team - Carl is your man for that. I have heard a few negative comments, but honestly that could be unfair hearsay. Carl's results do speak for themselves though.

Aside from goals, training plans, tools and structure - which as Jon suggest's is worth reading up on first, I'd also have good think about what kind of athlete/coach relationship you want.

There are still a lot of old school guys (mostly) out there, with stronger skills as a drill Sergeant or Mr Motivator, who perhaps don't understand the science as well as they'd have you believe. The former may be important for you and the latter not, or vice versa. Some people just want to be told what to do and will happily crack on with it, some want to know the why behind every session.

For me, unless you know what you're doing and have a reasonable understanding of the principles of training and physiology, 12months of coaching is a great investment and learning opportunity - as long as it's personalised, for which you'll normally pay more. Something less personal, should cost much less, but in my view, you'll get far less from it. If the goal is to become self coached, that's worth considering too before making a selection decision.

Other than that - the obvious requirements for a coach inc: use of a tool (training peaks/WKO), analysis of your power data, access to Labs for Lactate testing, regular meeting or phone call etc.

FWIW if you can't commit 8-12 hours a week minimum, I'd probably recommend not to get a coach. There's not enough volume there for a coach to do his/her work.

Another aside, you could probably pick from any number of coaches or online training plans, or even simply follow your instincts to get you from A to B, but the end result may well be very similar, so don't sweat about trying to find perfection. Try to focus on getting something or someone that's right for you.

[Deleted]

Hi David/Jon

Thanks for such in depth replies, lots to think about

Getting rid of a persistent back problem first which Nic @ Velophysio appears to be sorting out

Next steps now would be using (www.todaysplan.com.au/) for a basic frame work, adding sessions from Turbobeat as well as HHV winter sessions to make it a bit more social.

If this is going well and I can consistently give 8hrs plus a week then I will consider getting a coach after Christmas

I am now sold on the more personalised coaching, as I am a person that would like to understand why?

[david emery]

Todaysplan is now used by Sky, so it´s sure to see wider adoption and development.

[Jon Puleston-Jones]

Tim, what are your goals for next season? Are you going to race and if so what will you do?

I'm sure a lot of people are starting to think about next year and what to do over the winter months to prepare, myself included.

[Deleted]

TrainerRoad. Just don't tell anyone else about it

[david emery]

It's brilliant - but falls under the umbrella of tool with downloadable plans. Little or no rider context, save for setting your ftp. Pretty much no progression analysis that you'd get from a coach either

I'd use it with TrainingPeaks, WKO and/or a coach

[Deleted]

Hi Jon,

Plan for next year is to start crit/road racing properly, get to a 2nd Cat level and add a couple of staged races for good measure.

Would great to start a dedicated training group on a Saturday/Sunday to put in the structured miles?

[Deleted]

Tim,

I decided to take the plunge and get a personal coach and to be honest its the best choice I have made. My training is designed around specific goals / races etc, I get a comprehensive weekly training plan, a personal one2one session every week and once a month a have a series of evaluation and progress tests.

All in all it is the best money I have ever spent and well worth it - my opinion obviously

Lou

[Deleted]

Hi All,

Quick update...,,,

Been following Today's plan and find it is great and would highly recommend

At the start I had lowered my FTP a little to make sure that I would be able to take the increase in training.

Question is that when and how often should I test or should I progressively build by 5 watts once every cycle?

Not sure of how much I should be raising FTPduring the winter or just increasing the fitness base?

Let me know your thoughts?