skills coaching - group riding & cornering

​I had a really good day last Sunday (25th October). I really like really good days…

I ran the first ‘Introduction to circuit racing’ session at Stourport for those riders aspiring to give the Mamil Cycling ‘Woolly Mamil’ winter series in January and February 2016 a bash. Of course, it’s useful for any rider who needs to improve their technical skills, not those just entering the series.

We cut down the Stourport circuit for coaching purposes. It means I can keep everybody in sight and give them feedback on their group riding skills. We used the ‘top’ 180 degree corner nearest the club house to practice and improve cornering technique. Honestly, if you can get around that at race speed you can apply the same principles to pretty much any corner you need to tackle.

We had a mixed group of men and women, including a youth rider and a National Vets road race champion. It’s skills focused so physiological differences don’t matter – in fact it makes it more fun and a better learning experience.  Similarly, there was a split between riders who focus on time trials and road/circuit races. Fair play to the testers – it something I enjoy as a discipline and I’m constantly surprised that riders will happily pay two grand on a disc wheel to go faster but won’t invest an hour of their time  learning how to go around a corner, which would, of course, make them faster. Personally, I’d do both!

We had a great bunch who felt free to share their experience and feedback.  Without fail, every rider progressed with the common theme of technique improving confidence which supported better technique we gave them more confidence... you get the picture. We were also blessed with a warm dry day which doesn't always reflect the reality of racing, but put a smile on everybody’s face.

The class of October 2015 are below. If you’d like to join us for the next session on 15th November, please drop me a line here or take a look at the Coaching page on the Mamil Cycling website here and use the contact form. Group size is limited to 16 – that way I’m able to give you some proper individual attention – so spaces are limited.

Like I said, a really good day…