Is online coaching worth the fees?
06-23-09, 07:52 AM
#1
Maximus
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Is online coaching worth the fees?
I posted this before in the general road cycling forum, but didn’t get any input.
After “just riding” for a couple of years, about 9 months ago I hired a coach and started training following a program. I made modest progress, but I learned a lot in the process; I also read a couple of books on training.
I’ll be going overseas (New Zealand) for 6 months, and don’t want to lose any ground.
Is online coaching worth the fees, or can you get similar results on your own with self directed training?
Input from online coaching users would be appreciated.
After “just riding” for a couple of years, about 9 months ago I hired a coach and started training following a program. I made modest progress, but I learned a lot in the process; I also read a couple of books on training.
I’ll be going overseas (New Zealand) for 6 months, and don’t want to lose any ground.
Is online coaching worth the fees, or can you get similar results on your own with self directed training?
Input from online coaching users would be appreciated.
06-29-09, 03:21 AM
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would your coach be willing to work with you via email at a more basic level for a reduced fee? I'd start there.
06-29-09, 12:49 PM
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I've had an online coach now for almost two years and it has moved me from a Cat 5 rider to almost Cat 2. I wholeheartedly believe in it more than any other expense of cycling.
07-01-09, 04:27 PM
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Wow, I am impressed. Do you mind sharing more information? Like what to look for in a coach, etc.?
07-08-09, 11:09 PM
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Maximus
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07-09-09, 12:24 PM
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I kind of decided that I wanted a coach after speaking with my brother and other cycling friends who said that the single biggest "upgrade" you can make to your cycling is getting a coach. Since I was already in USA Cycling, I started by searching on their list for someone who was somewhat close by:
https://usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=95
After I found a couple of people, I asked them questions like: 1.) What is their experience? 2.) How much do they cost? 3.) What comes with their coaching services? 4.) How available are they for talking on the phone, meeting, internet chat? After all of those things, the decision kind of made itself.
Since then, our coaching relationship is purely done over the phone and via email. I receive workouts from him electronically and I send him my workout files from my Garmin after each day. After races, I'll either email him a brief report if it was not that important of a race or we'll talk on the phone to analyze the race, strategy, pros/cons, etc. So far, that has worked out very well for me and keeps me motivated. My coach is a Cat 1 racer himself and has a ton of experience.
Other coaching services out there such as Carmichael Training and Plan2Peak are great from what I hear as well, however, probably a little more expensive than the coaching that I am receiving. The biggest thing that I can say that coaching does is it provides someone who you can talk to analyze and meter your progress and ACCOUNTABILITY. If I bag a ride on a rainy day, I feel bad about it or feel embarrassed that I have to report that to my coach. Good luck, stay committed, and your results will come!
https://usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=95
After I found a couple of people, I asked them questions like: 1.) What is their experience? 2.) How much do they cost? 3.) What comes with their coaching services? 4.) How available are they for talking on the phone, meeting, internet chat? After all of those things, the decision kind of made itself.
Since then, our coaching relationship is purely done over the phone and via email. I receive workouts from him electronically and I send him my workout files from my Garmin after each day. After races, I'll either email him a brief report if it was not that important of a race or we'll talk on the phone to analyze the race, strategy, pros/cons, etc. So far, that has worked out very well for me and keeps me motivated. My coach is a Cat 1 racer himself and has a ton of experience.
Other coaching services out there such as Carmichael Training and Plan2Peak are great from what I hear as well, however, probably a little more expensive than the coaching that I am receiving. The biggest thing that I can say that coaching does is it provides someone who you can talk to analyze and meter your progress and ACCOUNTABILITY. If I bag a ride on a rainy day, I feel bad about it or feel embarrassed that I have to report that to my coach. Good luck, stay committed, and your results will come!
07-09-09, 02:26 PM
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Maximus
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I kind of decided that I wanted a coach after speaking with my brother and other cycling friends who said that the single biggest "upgrade" you can make to your cycling is getting a coach. Since I was already in USA Cycling, I started by searching on their list for someone who was somewhat close by:
https://usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=95
After I found a couple of people, I asked them questions like: 1.) What is their experience? 2.) How much do they cost? 3.) What comes with their coaching services? 4.) How available are they for talking on the phone, meeting, internet chat? After all of those things, the decision kind of made itself.
Since then, our coaching relationship is purely done over the phone and via email. I receive workouts from him electronically and I send him my workout files from my Garmin after each day. After races, I'll either email him a brief report if it was not that important of a race or we'll talk on the phone to analyze the race, strategy, pros/cons, etc. So far, that has worked out very well for me and keeps me motivated. My coach is a Cat 1 racer himself and has a ton of experience.
Other coaching services out there such as Carmichael Training and Plan2Peak are great from what I hear as well, however, probably a little more expensive than the coaching that I am receiving. The biggest thing that I can say that coaching does is it provides someone who you can talk to analyze and meter your progress and ACCOUNTABILITY. If I bag a ride on a rainy day, I feel bad about it or feel embarrassed that I have to report that to my coach. Good luck, stay committed, and your results will come!
https://usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=95
After I found a couple of people, I asked them questions like: 1.) What is their experience? 2.) How much do they cost? 3.) What comes with their coaching services? 4.) How available are they for talking on the phone, meeting, internet chat? After all of those things, the decision kind of made itself.
Since then, our coaching relationship is purely done over the phone and via email. I receive workouts from him electronically and I send him my workout files from my Garmin after each day. After races, I'll either email him a brief report if it was not that important of a race or we'll talk on the phone to analyze the race, strategy, pros/cons, etc. So far, that has worked out very well for me and keeps me motivated. My coach is a Cat 1 racer himself and has a ton of experience.
Other coaching services out there such as Carmichael Training and Plan2Peak are great from what I hear as well, however, probably a little more expensive than the coaching that I am receiving. The biggest thing that I can say that coaching does is it provides someone who you can talk to analyze and meter your progress and ACCOUNTABILITY. If I bag a ride on a rainy day, I feel bad about it or feel embarrassed that I have to report that to my coach. Good luck, stay committed, and your results will come!
This is very helpful.
Thanks!
07-09-09, 03:44 PM
#10
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I would add that, on the other hand, self-coaching is very difficult and error-prone. After 14 years of self-coaching, I can speak with some authority on a few, but not all, of the many ways it is possible to screw up one's season or events. Experience is a hard and slow teacher, especially when one only has a single rider to practice upon. One only learns by failing, so if failing is really not for you, a coach might be a good idea.
I never got a coach because I like to be self-directed, results are not as important to me as the money, and I don't race.
I never got a coach because I like to be self-directed, results are not as important to me as the money, and I don't race.
