Frequently Asked Questions
About coaching
Who do you coach?
I coach cyclists of different ages, abilities and experience levels. From riders preparing for their first big event to experienced racers chasing a performance goal. You don't need to be a competitive cyclist. What matters is having something you want to achieve and being willing to work towards it consistently.
Do I need to be training for a race?
No.
Your goal might be a race, an ultra-distance event, a multi-day stage race, a personal challenge, or simply becoming a stronger and more capable cyclist. The training should reflect what you want to achieve, not the other way around.
What makes RIDEANDRACE coaching different?
I don't believe good coaching is simply about filling a calendar with workouts.
Training needs to fit your life, your current ability and the demands of your goal. It also needs to adapt when things don't go according to plan. Life stress, work, illness, travel and fatigue all affect your ability to train. The aim is to consistently do the right work at the right time not to complete every session perfectly.
Life sets the ceiling; training works within it.
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Training
How does remote coaching work?
Your training is delivered through TrainingPeaks, where you can see your upcoming sessions and record completed training.
I review your training, look at how you are responding and adjust the plan when necessary. Your feedback is equally important. Data tells me what happened; your RPE and how you felt help explain why.
You don't need to live nearby for coaching to work.
Do I need lots of time to train?
Not necessarily.
The time required depends on your goal, current fitness and the demands of the event. Some goals require substantial training volume, but more training isn't automatically better. The available time needs to be used effectively while leaving enough room for recovery and everything else happening in your life.
What happens if I get sick, injured or life gets busy?
The plan isn't a contract. If something changes, tell me. Training can be adjusted around illness, injury, work, travel, family commitments or unexpected fatigue. The objective is to keep moving towards your goal without turning every disruption into a problem.
What equipment do I need?
You need a way to record your rides and upload your training to TrainingPeaks.
A heart-rate monitor is strongly recommended, while a power meter can provide additional information for structured performance training. Neither replaces your own feedback, however. I use power, heart rate and RPE together to understand how you are responding to training.
Which cycling computers, apps and trainers can I use?
TrainingPeaks works with most common cycling computers, smart trainers and training platforms, including Garmin, Wahoo, Zwift, Rouvy, MyWhoosh and TrainerRoad. The important thing is that your training data can be recorded and shared through TrainingPeaks.
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Choosing a RIDEANDRACE service
Should I choose coaching, a Custom Plan or a Pre-Built Plan?
The main difference isn't your ability as a cyclist. It's how much individual guidance and adaptation you need.
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Coaching → for riders who want ongoing guidance, feedback and adjustments throughout their training.
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Custom Plan → for riders who want a training plan built around their specific goal, circumstances and available time, but prefer to manage the training themselves.
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Pre-Built Plan → for riders who want a structured training plan for a specific goal or event and are comfortable managing their own training.
Can I achieve my goal without coaching?
Yes.
A good training plan can provide structure and direction. Coaching adds another layer: someone looking at the bigger picture, interpreting your training, helping you make decisions and adapting the plan when circumstances change.
The right option depends on how much support and individualisation you need.
How do I know which Pre-Built Plan is right for me?
Choose the plan that best matches your goal, event and current level of preparation. If you're unsure, get in touch before purchasing. I'd rather help you choose the appropriate plan than sell you something that isn't a good fit.
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Working together
What are my responsibilities as an athlete?
Coaching works best as a partnership.
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My responsibility is to provide appropriate training, interpret your feedback and data, and adjust the plan when necessary.
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Your responsibility is to train as consistently as your circumstances allow, provide honest feedback and communicate when something isn't right. You don't need to have perfect training. You do need to communicate.
How important is my feedback?
Very important.
Power, heart rate, pace and other data tell me what happened during a session. They don't always tell me how the session felt or what was happening outside the bike.
Your RPE and subjective feedback help provide that missing context. A coach is working with incomplete information without it.
How much communication will I have with my coach?
That depends on the service you choose. Ongoing coaching includes regular communication and feedback as part of the coaching relationship. Custom Plans and Pre-Built Plans are more self-managed and therefore include less ongoing interaction.
The aim is to provide the level of support appropriate to the service without creating unnecessary communication for its own sake.
What if I have a question about my training?
Ask.
If something doesn't make sense, a session doesn't feel right, or something has changed in your life that could affect your training, let me know. It is always better to communicate early than try to force your way through a problem.
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Still have a question?
If you haven't found the answer you're looking for, get in touch. I'm happy to answer your question and help you decide whether RIDEANDRACE is the right fit for you.