There’s now a website listing all the coaches registered with the Association of British Cycling Coaches. Which should make it really easy to go and sort out your own personal coach.

Following a training plan from a magazine or one you’ve developed yourself may work for some people, but nothing keeps you on track more than the training experience and motivation of your own coach. A personal coach will develop a training plan that takes into account your own aims, abilities and current fitness levels and should help to motivate you while acting as a buffer against overtraining.

As well as providing a list of approved coaches, the site is a place to stop off for coaching articles, book reviews, relevant sports science papers and news items. The tone and content signals that the site is road oriented, but most of the information is useful to all riders/trainers without disappearing up it’s own lab tests.

If you’re interested in becoming a cycling coach yourself this site points you in the right direction, giving details of what you need (including coaching courses) and links to other useful resources. Go and have a look at www.abcc.freeserve.co.uk if you think you train hard enough!

But if that’s all a bit too hardcore/expensive for you don’t worry, our very own Coach Potato will continue to provide tips every Tuesday to stop your
training plan going off the rails.