Originally Posted by
Racer Ex
If you're someone who can deal with structure and discipline, the right coach can accelerate your improvement and keep you from making mistakes. The mistake part might be more important than anything else, especially if you're an older athlete where you recover much slower from injuries and over training.
As an older guy, getting a coach also removes the trial-and-error part. I'm not kicking the bucket anytime soon, but at 61, I don't have time to BS around trying this and that - I started back with cycling four years ago, so I don't have a life's worth of miles in my legs. I don't mind paying someone for his/her knowledge if it helps me. In my case, it's been a big help in getting me fitter and faster.