I’ve been with MBPC for almost 5 years and in 2017 I had a serious accident at the finish of a TT. After this I no longer wanted to race on Dual carriageways. Fast forward to 2018 and under Dan Barnett I hit my targets of podium in the Tour of Cambridge, National Welsh Master TT champion and to win the AG and 13th overall in the Closed Circuit Championships. After a strong winter training for TT’s when it came to spring 2019 I realised I had just lost motivation to race TT’s. I was at a real crossroads as TT is all I’d known. I tried some MTB racing with for something to do but just before going to the team training camp in France I made the decision that I wanted to do the track. We did som

We speak to Dave Clarke of Hybrid Performance Strength and Conditioning as he runs through the importance of a good strength and conditioning routine for cyclists, especially for those that wish to compete at the very top of their game: Be a better athlete, not just a better cyclist This may not be what you want to hear, however, too many athletes focus on trying to find the best cycling specific exercise or programme and in all honesty, it doesn’t exist. When putting a strength and conditioning programme together; concentrate on improving your athletic qualities such as your max strength, power, mobility, stability and local muscular endurance, whilst using movements that compliment cycling

Choosing to sign up with a cycling coach is not a decision to be taken lightly, there are so many considerations to take into account, and what works for one athlete does not work for another. Indeed, for some, having a coach isn’t necessarily needed – if you’re a casual cyclist that simply rides for the coffee and cake provision on your Sunday morning ride for example, having a coach might not offer any added benefits. But for athletes seeking performance gains, it can make a colossal difference on a race season, and many would argue it’s a more significant, and indeed valuable outlay than your bike and kit. After all, without the legs to power you, what benefit does all the gear really off

As a cycling coach it is so easy to focus on the technical details such as speed, power and aerodynamics but an often overlooked and I would argue equally important aspect is the relationship that forms between coach and athlete. In the modern world of remote coaching packages, it is often hard to understand how a good relationship can be formed. I think all of the cycling and triathlon coaches I work with would like to be standing at the side of the road cheering their athletes on or discussing the latest performance over a coffee but often, despite our best efforts, this isn’t always possible within the confines of remote coaching. However, I have found that it is still possible to build a

In 2016 I fancied something new on the bike, to keep my winter varied, and to try new skills. What followed was the most hilarious introduction to cyclocross ever witnessed, I honestly think my wife wet herself laughing at me! All that season I had won races on the road, but I was not prepared physiologically and definitely not from a skills perspective, and that 54th place meant that I had some work to do. The next few weeks will see cross starting across the country, and initially will see riders who have ridden road all year trying to carry form into the winter season, and those riders who specialise in cross starting their year much fresher. Whilst they may be in different places, the sp