Interesting. I also raced in the 80's on a Team Miyata, and if "Frankie" is the Frankie I'm thinking about, I raced on his team before he turned pro.

I think the main differences between then and now are technology and communication. It seems like half the Cat5 fields today have power meters. You can get all you need to know about training and racing over the Internet. The trick is learning how to use the tools and information to your best ability, and in my opinion, that takes practice, success, and failure. You need all three. You need to know what you've got, how to use it, and when to use it. Can a coach help you figure this out? A good one can. Do you need one to figure it out? No way. You have to be willing to take risks. Unless you are a pure sprinter or a beast that can ride away from the field solo, races don't always go by the plan.