RICH

Having reached my mid-forties and a keen road cyclist for a couple of decades I never had the benefit of any formal coaching. In the past, I have experimented in an ad hoc manner with structured online training plans that were generic in nature.

Earlier this year I wanted to maximize my fitness for a four day cycling camp, taking place in Girona in late May. I came across VPCC on Instagram and Simon’s practical and thoughtful advice resonated with me. It was inspiring to see someone of a similar age that is dedicated to improving the fitness levels of cyclists that may otherwise think they are in decline. I decided to take a leap of faith and set up an initial video conference with him to see if there was a good fit, as I believe it’s important to have a good connection.

Having discussed my aspirations with Simon, we agreed to structure a bespoke eight week plan to optimize my cycling fitness for Girona. What was really refreshing is that Simon wanted to understand my fitness targets beyond just cycling. As a keen runner he was able to build in some running sessions, all manageable within my modest weekly total training time. He also accommodated a current functional fitness class I do and built an additional specific strength session, whilst recognizing my time limitations.

I followed the plan through Training Peaks, which synced seamlessly to my devices. The other benefit of joining the VPCC community was the nutritional advice and support through various thought leadership articles and links. I tweaked my nutrition and was able to build strength and power whilst maintaining my optimum weight to tackle the climbs I would face.

Fast forward eight weeks to Girona and my first test was a climb up the famous Rocacorba. Feeling confident from my training plan I was able to push without overexerting. Getting to the top in a torrential downpour added to the sense of achievement. My cycling computer announced I had increased my FTP - this showed an amazing 15% improvement from my baseline at the start of the VPCC training block. I continued to improve over the weekend and genuinely felt in the best form for years.

I would certainly recommend Simon to anyone that hasn’t used a coach before or wants to optimize their current training plan. The coaching gave me increased accountability, provided genuine thought leadership in nutrition/training and accommodated my other commitments. Thank you Simon. - I'm looking to what comes next on the bike.

RICH