Do you need a power meter to train effectively and get faster?

Absolutely not. Plenty of cyclists see the payoff from training intelligently without ever using a power meter.

If you can get faster and stronger without a power meter what’s the use in buying one?

There are a number of benefits from riding with a power meter, I’ll list the ones I see as being the most important.

A power meter…

• Precisely quantifies the intensity of your training and racing. No other training tool can come close
• Standardizes communication between athlete and coach
• Provides a precise method of tracking progress
• Makes training and racing more enjoyable
• Demands accountability from both coach and athlete

I don’t have the funds to pull off a power meter purchase right now, how will we go forward with a training plan?

If you’re a local rider I would have you borrow one of my power meters to establish a benchmark of your current fitness. Using this as a starting point we would use either heart rate or RPE (rate of perceived exertion) to establish your training zones and build your annual training plan.

The internet is an endless resource of free information on training. Why would I need a personal cycling coach?

Depending on your goals and objectives as an athlete, making an investment in a coach might not make the most sense for you. Having said that, here are some services a coach can provide:

• An objective perspective on your training and racing
• Highly detailed and individualized training plans for your specific goals and objectives
• An in-depth understanding of different training methodologies and the underlying science behind athletic performance
• Access to the most current research in the field of exercise physiology coupled with an ability to distill this information into new and innovative training strategies
• Insight and experience to effectively manage setbacks in training including injury, illness, lack of motivation, or unexpected life commitments

I’ve looked around and seen that cycling coaches charge anywhere from $50 to $500 dollars a month. What’s the reason for this huge price range?

Coaching is generally priced on two primary factors

• Experience/educational background of the coach
• Contact/individualization for the athlete

First, the more experience a coach has the more wealth of information they are able to apply to you as a client. Second, the more individualized contact you have with a coach, the more time a coach invests in you as an athlete. These two factors are the biggest contributors to what you can expect to pay for coaching.

The first thing I would suggest is to thoroughly research the coach you’re interested in. Examine their professional qualifications, take a look at their educational background, and talk to former and current clients.

After you’ve done some research compare different coaches and what they offer. Email, call, ask specific questions. If you follow this approach you should end up with a coach that best meets your needs and gives you a great chance to reach your potential as an athlete.

How can an online cycling coach be effective?

Technological advances in cycling computers and fitness devices have completely changed what is possible from a cycling coach/athlete relationship. All of my athletes log into a personal account and upload each ride and race file into a personal calender that also serves as a training log. Through this same system daily workouts are delivered which are viewable online and across all mobile platforms. As a coach I am able to view each ride and race and offer feedback and direction no matter where an athlete is in the world.

While it is a luxury to be in the same local area to interact on a regular basis, it is certainly not a requirement for maintaining an effective coach/athlete relationship. If you are in an area where you are unable to hire a local cycling coach, online coaching might be a great option for you. In short, you’re not going to miss a beat with online coaching.