Getting to 300 watts? - Page 3

That's good stuff Dave.

Like Dave said

__________________
Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/

I was on the (apparently false) impression that you could get *la-creme de la-creme* (Dave or Alex - to name these two) for as little as 50/month (basic plans should be ok. they probably go some extra miles with kind and inspiring ladies such as you).

Here up North it costs about this money to train to a gym. Even worst. You'd pay $40/hr to receive a bunch of phony advise on how to do weights in these gyms.

Now that you train with power, I'd say your best bet toward great achievements would be for you to pick a coach with whom you feel comfy, book a full season - from general preparation to competition. You'll probably come to realize that all those great advises you are getting here and on other websites are just the tip of the iceberg. I mention a full year but although it seems to be long, this is a minimum. A coach (even great ones) might need few full cycles before (for instance) being able to tailor perfect seasons including perfect tapers.

Finally, all I can wish you is that you get to diversify your goals (which are often directly related to your passions). Receiving your membership card for the 300w's club is very appealing but winning races is also very fun. Learning to Crit, to do well in road races, learning to get aero in TTs etc... these are a bunch of new passions that a good coach will help you discover. The beauty in having several goals (passions) is that you get to celebrate more often

Alex maybe, but he's worth a lot more than that for actual one on one coaching.

But not me (unless you had some other Dave in mind) I simply spout opinions, share personal experiences and regurgitate stuff I've learned elsewhere, I don't coach cycling.

I've done my time in the recreation industry teaching, coaching, guiding but these days I just participate in forums and focus on my own training and racing.

-Dave

SE sessions should be reserved for anytime you feel the need to move house and have to carry large TV's down the stairs or for when you buy a new fridge...

... apart from that I'd seperate regular cycling session and strength work by about 10 years, unless there's a specific need to isolate and strengthen a particular muscle group.

If you still have enough energy after training on the bike to contemplate extra non-cycling specific training, try going out on the bike in one sprocket smaller (ie 16 rather than the 17)

Looking at the costs that are being banded around for 'good' coaches in California, one hopes that they provide Cervelo/Colnago/Look bikes equiped with Campagnolo Super Record groupsets, a lifetime supply of tubular tires and a really good masseuse - preferably a really hot one.

I have mixed feelings on coaches. Ok, ok, sorry, let me be direct, I have very negative feelings on coaches. Why? Thank many terrible coaches during my earlier years in school for giving me this outlook.

This aside, I am coming to believe that for a beginner, such as me, that there is less of a need in many ways than for a highly trained and experienced rider. For me, I could probably do almost any training now and get fitter, up to some point. For a strong, veteran rider, I suspect training must be highly individual and personal. They must have exceptional coaching to keep improving - I think for me, improvement now is merely consistent training, of nearly any variety, and time passing for it to have the desired effect.

More specifically, I do not know Alex or Dave for that matter though I have gathered that Alex is in Australia. If I ever wanted coaching, then I would have to insist on it being someone local that I could speak to or communicate with regularly, maybe even sit and meet with, instead of just email. My preference but others may not be so specific.

I doubt there are any bonuses given to coaching clients just because they are women....

300watts is, I think more and more, nothing but an entry pass to some good accomplishments (like you say, winning races) rather than some big goal by itself.

Agreed. I have asked for Southern Cal and even in NorCal and the prices range from somewhere between embezzlement to extortion





Dave, you do not give yourself enough credit I think.

Nobody starts of knowing a lot, much less being an expert in a subject. We all learn from others. The question then becomes, what do you make of this knowledge.

Seems you enjoy sharing that knowledge and letting others benefit from it. Calling it 'regurgitating' is a bit of a disservice to your knowledge. The latter of which is enlightening for many of us.

Besides, many of those coaches who cost big dollars are just restating what they learned from others. Some coaches may have genuinely original and novel approaches, but some clearly do not. Doesn't stop them from being mighty pricey for their services...

Nahh, I've got strong opinions and do in general believe in what I post. My point was I no longer attempt to make my living in outdoor sports and athletics. I did that for over a decade and enjoyed it thoroughly but have separated my professional life from my personal pursuits.

I no longer enter into implied or explicit coaching relationships with anyone on these sites. I argue my points, typically give up when it digresses into pissing matches and offer my opinions and beliefs for what they are. That's not the same as a coaching relationship.

BTW, I've also had some lousy coaching experiences with highly acclaimed and nationally recognized coaches but have also found good coaches to be worth far more than they charge. Like anything it's worth finding the right relationship and someone you trust and can work with.

-Dave

There are good coaches, less good coaches and bad coaches. I highly recommend a coach. From where you are currently at, just someone local you can talk to on a weekly basis, who knows you, knows your goals and has some ideas on how to get you from where your at to where you want to be.

__________________
Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/

Yes, I am in Australia.

Whether or not you feel the need to "eyeball" your coach is a personal choice. It's not necessary for many. I coach riders in USA, Europe and around Australia as well as locally. But there are others that need to "see" their coach. That's OK too.

As to rates, well I can't make a judgement call on what people consider value. But consider that:
- this is how I earn my living
- I'll have 15-20 clients max depending on coaching service level (do much more and you aren't coaching effectively)

__________________
Custom Training Plans -- cyclecoach.com -- My Blog -- Power Meter Hire in Australia

... that's local coaching.

Best combination in my opinion, nowadays, for approaching road cycling/racing?
Local club or group in order to share fun time, get some advises here and there etc... Then remote-relation with a coach that knows what he's talking about. Things were much different in the '90s back to when I was full time (under paid) coach. The combination of Wko+ along with the emails has the following benefit: Great coaches are more accessible than ever, cause they can have several clients thus lowering the fees. They can make themselves available to the ordinary 'Joe', at a rate we can afford. Amazing. You web folks not having experimented what it was early '90s can't imagine how lucky you are.

For instance near where I live (Montreal), I can't name one single cycling coach I'd recommend to teach/coach with power. I always recommend RST and the like. The key is to get to know someone you trust. Nowadays, you can read from these coaches, get the feeling of how it may be to get into a relationship with them. I know my style as an athlete would definitely be perfectly compatible with Dave's coaching style. He'd probably my first pick (although I'd have to work little harder to convince him to accept my doe).

The benefits of relying on some external set of eyes will become much more apparent when you do start racing. It has nothing to do with your level as much as to the sort of issues you'll run into, the sort of goals racing will generate etc. You'll find out that we are rarely our best judge. That when things get more complicated and intense, it's good to have someone to help the decision process. Note that I mentioned *someone*, not a bunch of riders expressing their n=1 point of view over some websites. What I mean is that you'd better put your full trust in someone that coaches several clients, than in his clients' point of view taken individually.

From a Californian who is coached by Alex, my recommendation is that when searching for a coach, go with the coach that can most assist you in reaching your goals. Take the local vs distant out of the equation. Training with power lends itself quite well to distant coaching. On the other hand, if you find a local coach that can effectively deliver on all of the 5 "P's" of training and racing with power,

- Physiological (our bodies and understanding the impact of training)
- Physical (the stuff that resists our motion)
- Proficiency (how we execute, e.g. improving skills like team pursuit
riding, or pacing in a timed event)
- Performance modelling (seasonal or ride specific, e.g. PMC, QA, Pacing
analysis and strategy models, taper etc)
- Psychological (and the role of a power meter)

as Alex refers to them, then go with that person.

__________________
Steve Palladino

http://www.kp.org/mydoctor/steve_palladino

http://eteamz.active.com/FightinBoba...=24&id=4591042

I'd trade Performance modeling for Planning which factors in single set/ workout/ weekly/ competition season/ yearly/ etc planning matters. Just a suggestion.

- - -
Failing to plan is planning to fail

Why not just add planning and make it the 6 Ps?

__________________
Hamish Ferguson: Cycling Coach
http://hamishferguson.blogspot.com/

This ain't a bad idea
Planning and Performance modeling aren't mutually exclusive. The only downside to this is that you no longer end up with a round number. 5p or 10p sounds better than 6p. As a coach, I'd sometimes organize pizza/pasta parties

Cheers Fergie