Step up your Performance with TrainSharp Cycle Coaching
Posted Wednesday 12th October 2011 –
Many of us look to buying new kit in the hope that it will help us improve our performance but if you’re serious about stepping up your cycling performance to the next level then investing in a coach may bring much greater long term benefit.
Former elite cyclist Jon Sharples has set up TrainSharp Cycle Coaching in partnership with Sky’s Sports Director Sean Yates and offers services to coach anyone from the novice sportive cyclist all the way up to elite athletes. They work in partnership to encourage novice riders into the sport, and to provide ongoing support for both novice and elite riders, with their knowledge of cycling and the current racing circuit.
TrainSharp’s coaches combine a scientific approach to coaching along with an interest in individual rider’s goals and time constraints recognising that not everyone can spend the 10-12 hours training a week and has to fit training around work and family commitments. Before coaching begins riders’ current level of fitness is assessed using a heart rate monitor or a powermeter. From the results, each rider’s training zones are calculated and used to build individual training plans. These plans relate to each rider’s fitness, goals and the cycling discipline. Training plans are then structured to allow for other demands on rider’s time and to maximise the time available to spend on training.
TrainSharp’s coaches can work with SRM powermeters to assess riders’ performance against their training plans and to see how they perform during competitions. TrainSharp’s Head Coach Sharples said: “It is vital to know how you are able to perform during a competition, irrespective of the outcome; we can then see what you did right, or where we need to make changes.”
Yates coaches elite riders and Sharples splits his time between novice and elite riders. Sharples said: “I’m especially keen to help riders who are new to the sport and want to achieve in the saddle, but lack the belief that they can.”
Commenting on Sharples’ coaching role Yates said: “Sharples combines a proven cycling ability with the skills to share his cycling knowledge with novice and elite riders alike.”
TrainSharp is based in East Sussex but coaches riders throughout the UK and even further a field, using Skype and email so that riders can remotely access their training plans and maintain regular contact with their coaches.
For more information – www.trainsharpcyclecoaching.co.uk
