Jamie Pine (Twickenham)
“The advice and support I received from Ben has been invaluable. This year was my first year racing so had no clue about what to expect. Ben helped me prepare and execute a clinical plan to go from Cat 4 to Cat 1 in 1 season. Throughout the year Ben gave me advice on my training plan to get me in the best physical and mental state to tackle each race, and depending on the race we also talked to tactics needed to achieve the best possible finish. We made use of ‘training peaks’ software where Ben uploaded my training plan and where I could then upload my activity so that we could remotely monitor my performance and optimise accordingly
Ben was available to talk to at any time, and not only helped me with my physical ability, but also gave me advice on other aspects of cycling, such as bike maintenance and wheel / tyre / gear selection for specific events. All of this contributed to the success I experienced this year.
Like any form of training, it’s not all easy going and is down to the individual on how hard you can push your self based on the goals that you’d like to achieve. I feel fitter and stronger on the bike now thanks to the plan and support given. I already looking forward to next season knowing that Ben will be on point to guide me in the right direction.”
Victoria Box (Bath)
“Having ridden the Etape two years running I was looking for a new challenge in 2011 when I decided to ride the Marmotte.
Following a slow start to the year with surgery on my shoulder, I wanted to get back to my old fitness levels but also improve my time rather than 'riding to get round'.
Ben offered a great service, focusing my attention on the smaller things that collectively really made a difference. It was really a matter of doing the right training with greater effect. Pushing a bigger gear and re-assessing my bike position were crucial to my improvement this year. As a female cyclist, I do think it's easier to stay away from the big ring (as that's for the guys!) but this basic tip really changed my cycling this year. Using Training Peaks also helped me monitor my rides and keep up the motivation. In addition to this, Ben was realistic when working out the training plan and available at any time to talk through a ride afterwards. ”
