MattMuney

I would like to switch my cycling coach.


The one I currently have is not bad, but he seems to lack the coaching experience and to really help me reach the level of racing I want to be at for the 2008 season. It seems that my coach does not take coaching seriously enough, and he is a little unreliable. I have some people that my teammate is helping me get into contact with, however I don't know how I can really tell my coach that I am switching to someone else.

I mean, I have definitely had a good season with a few wins and a couple podiums and top 5 placings in new england junior races. It's not as if my coach hasn't played a role in my success, it is just that I feel he has not trained me hard enough- I definitely could have done better in my late season.

For training, he always gave me short sprint workouts or intervals that really did not help me develop power over longer periods of time. A teammate and ex-pro told me that If I do not stop working with this coach immediately, I will never be competitive on a national level...which is really where I'd like to be next season.

So.... the question is: How can I break it to my coach that I want to switch to someone who takes cycling a little more seriously and is experienced coaching at the national level? I definitely want to be firm, but not offensive as he is a local guy who I will still see occasionally. What do you guys think?

YMCA

A good coach works with you. Let him know your thoughts on the program and what you think you ought to be doing. If he doesn't understand, you know your answer.

I work with guys all the time, but expect them to give me feedback. It's a two-way street.

Bob Dopolina 

+1.

Talk with him. Give him his shot. If he can't deliver thank him for all the help he has given you and tell him that you felt it was time to move to the next level and hope that he wishes you luck.

If you're going to race in the big boy world you need to step up, be honest and make the best decision that you can that will take you where you want to be. If you want to ride nationally, as a juniour, I assume you have further aspirations so this becomes a business decision. Approach it this way and I would hope that he would be proud to see you move up and do well and to have helped develop a promising young man.

JBS103

I recognize your name from the Tour de Greenwich. Did you race that this year?

Definitely talk to him first. He can't fix what he doesn't know about. If you approach him, I'm sure he will make the effort to make things work. If that does not help, maybe it is time to move on. However, you will get him upset if you just leave him cold.

Another thing you may consider would be to purchase a training book if you haven't already. I just began Friel's bible and he stresses self-coaching and at least a basic knowledge of how and why things happen for a competitive athlete. By no means do you need to follow his plan word for word, but it might give you some incite and perspective as to what your coach is doing and why. But maybe that is just me, I find that side of the sport interesting.

Oh and don't listen to the ex racer guys just tossing around gossip unless you really know them and trust them. You can see how opinionated we cyclists can be. BF is a prime example.

Good luck. Keep at it.

MattMuney

Yes, I did race the Tour de Greenwich. I started in the mens U39 category and fell off the back as they all attacked that extremely steep hill (somewhere around the 10 mile mark....) Finished in 55:00, I was totally gassed from trying to stay with them. I didn't really gauge my effort well-I was killing myself trying to stay in the front group. My team mate who fell off the back earlier than me passed me after I got dropped from the leaders and I couldn't even hold his wheel. Still took second in the junior category, though.

Anyway, I will try to talk to him...
I guess the best way to judge it is to compare his plan to another potential coach's plan and see which one is most ideal. I haven't seen what program he was going to put me on for this winter yet... but I am not sure if it will be all that different than last year's.

I do trust the guy that told me to look for a more serious coach, though. He used to race as a pro domestically and has known my coach for a long time...he feels that there are others who could have me on a more intensive plan. For the past couple months I haven't really been getting the results I wanted, so I think it is time for an entirely new coach or a seriously revised regimen.

JBS103

Yeah, Burying Hill road. It's lovely having to sit up right at the base when someone drops a chain right in front of you. I was in a similar situation. Of course as soon as you get to the top of that little dash, if you don't hop on someones wheel, the group is just gonna pull right away on the downhill. If you can't find a wheel immediately, you have to wait for someone to come by and pick you up later.

Unfortunately I also got hung up in a little crash at the last sharp corner. I think I finished a minute or so behind you. Better luck for both of us next year, hopefully.

Racer Ex 

Stop with the "moral dilemma" already. It's a business relationship. Like who does your dry cleaning.

ElJamoquio

The only 'moral dilemna' is the justification for you not giving him feedback.

Coyote2

Given that your BikeForums username seems to be your legal name, I suggest you simply send him a link to this thread.