Felix English writes about his own coaching journey, and how to choose your first coach.
“I got my first personal coach when I was around 14 or 15 years old.”
My first experience of working with a coach was at Preston Park, when I first started riding. Looking back, I feel very lucky to have had the club so close by – the balance of skill, fun and fitness riding was the perfect combination to keep things interesting while improving in all areas of the bike.
I got my first personal coach when I was around 14 or 15 years old. I was fortunate to be part of the British Cycling Talent Team, which meant I had a BC coach setting my weekly sessions.
I really enjoyed the added structure to my weekly training. The amount of training I was doing didn’t necessarily increase, but having a session to follow after school was fun – being naturally super competitive, I loved the sessions that pushed me to beat previous bests. However, as much as I enjoyed the structured training, I always made sure I had time to ride with friends at the weekends.
Overall, the added focus to my riding definitely helped me achieve results at higher levels, but I believe it’s just one part of the overall picture. I continued racing and training at Preston Park, enjoying myself and learning from everyone around me – which I think played just as much (if not more) of a role in helping me progress to higher and higher levels.
I think it’s important to honestly consider whether you think you’d enjoy it. I grew up racing with friends who wouldn’t have enjoyed the structure of having a coach, but I loved it – so I think it’s a really personal decision. Trialling this kind of thing can also be a great option – if you’ve got it in your mind that you’d like to give it a go, try it, but don’t feel like you’re locked in. Give it a go for a month, and if it’s not something you’re enjoying, stop and go back to whatever you enjoy most.
Another important aspect of finding a coach is speaking to a few people and finding someone who’s right for you. You want someone who understands your schedule, your priorities outside of cycling, and ultimately listens to your feedback to help develop a plan that’s personalised for you – one that helps you reach the goals you’ve set and enjoy the process along the way.
Finally, in my eyes, coaching shouldn’t just be about a training plan. If you’re interested in racing, having someone who can offer advice on things like tactics, race preparation, and managing pre-race nerves is equally important.
