It was the week before Labor Day, a month before I was supposed to ride a double century at the MS Breakaway to the Beach. I had just returned from a ride with several riding buddies...or I should say from a ride watching several riding buddies disappear in the distance. I had ridden very little in August due to a travel schedule, but I had put in over 3,000 miles before that. With that sort of record, I figured I should be back on the bike with no problem. But here I was, bonking after 20 miles of 13-14 mph average. Friends were dropping back to help me get home--that make me feel even worse. It was so bad I went to my doctor for a check up He said I was in great shape (oh, yeah, lose some weight) and could ride circles around most people my age (69 and counting). Problem was I didn't want to ride with people my age, I usually rode with folks younger than me and wanted to keep doing it.
I had done some Winter Training Series sessions at TotalCyclist which had helped me a lot, so as a last resort, I gave Chad a Call and said, basically, "Help me." Chad told me that I could get my mojo back in time for the MS if I was willing to put in the work and to drag my butt and my bike into the training center the next day. Getting there was the easy part. Chad cranked up the Computrainer and the music. I could go into the whole pain cave thing, but suffice to say, it was hard (and at times, painful) work. Chad set the threshold high and picked tough programs (still hate the shark fins) but was helpful and encouraging. Keep in mind bikers, this is not spin class. This is training based on good research...at least that's what Chad tells us as he whips us into shape. Must be true, seven sessions later, I actually began to think that the MS double century was possible.
The ride started in the rain and fog, but three hours into it, things started to clear off, but by lunch break I was getting a sunburn. Our group was putting right along and I was staying with them. About mile 90, I was the one who dropped back and pulled a buddy to the end. Felt great. Sunday was a repeat of Saturday except for the wind(ugh) but we hung together to the end and had some good beer to celebrate.
If this overweight, Medicare card-carrying rider can do a double century at 16+ with a month's worth of Chad and Total Cyclist training, think of what a real cyclist could accomplish..... You will never regret the work you put in at Total Cyclist and I promise you will forget the pain and remember the rewards.
Jim is my coach
He is the one for me
When we started
I was riding 13.3
I love my coach
He is divine
Because today
I rode 16.9
Sometimes he yells
“Just pedal! Don’t look down!”
I must admit sometimes
that does make me frown
He says I can tell him
He is a pain in the rear
But how could I do that
Now that I ride in the big gear
He says he is proud of me
That I am making big strides
That I have to work hard now
So I can enjoy those Hawaii rides
So thanks be to Jim
Who every day I call
He is the best coach
The greatest of all
Love ya Jim. Thanks for all you are doing to help me.
Robynn Moraites
Chad/TotalCyclist,
I wanted to write to express my gratitude for being such an amazing coach! When I first signed up with you, you told me you would not just make me faster, but that you’d also be a life-coach. At that that time I really wasn’t interested in a life coach, I just wanted to be faster! Despite that you gave me both and looking back I realize I couldn’t have one without the other! After all, while I want to be as competitive as possible, I’m not just an athlete, but also have a demanding job in corporate America, am a newly-wed and I’m in grad school. You were able to incorporate all parts of my life into effective training and within a few months I’ve increased my threshold (i.e. speed), have gone from a Cat 3 to a Cat 2 racer and have done my first NRC races!
Chad,
I had coaches before and I would be lying if I would say that they were not good. But I always missed something... With you and Totalcyclist I got that something I was missing. That is a great coach and friend and group of people, who are like a family once I enter the doors of Per4mance Training Center.
Not everything in being a coach is training, but you also need to have that human element, where you get to know and understand the athletes life on and off the bike. The bottom line, its all about communication between coach and athlete and Totalcyclist definitely has all the aspects which are needed, to support the athlete the way he can achieve his maximum.
Now after five months of focused and detailed work with TotalCyclist, even though I was a pro for four years already before, I made huge progress. I am 4kg lighter and better in shape than ever before at this time of the year.
Looking forward to the future with you guys
Aldo Ino Ilesic (European Pro Cyclist/TotalCyclist Coach) Ptuj, Slovenia
I wanted to say how fun and challenging it is to work with TotalCyclist. I am Professional Fitness Competitor and avid cyclist. I appreciate all the strength training fun, the skill work on the bike and the energy in the training center. All that, combined with assistance inside the Fitness industry, helped me achieve my goal: getting my Pro Card in Fitness! I look forward to becoming the TotalCyclist and many more fun (painful) workouts in the Training Center!
Laura/Chad/TotalCyclist,
Laura, I'd like to Thank You personally, Total Cyclist, and Chad for helping me with the ORAMM.
Finished in 6:56.07...... Crushed my 8 hour goal and beat my time from last year by an hour and 35 minutes. I think that qualifies as a pretty damn good testimonial to the plan you put together. Thanks for the Help.
A big smile on my face,
Garrett Hyer (Kick Butt Mountain Bike Racer)
In my case, having a coach was something unheard of. As someone who inherited the “do it yourself" mentality, I used to pretend to not want a coach. Taking some credit for turning pro with very little directional training, I did ride professionally for three years before realizing that my skills did not meet the requirements of a successful athlete and college student.
15 hours of college enrollment and a 50-race cycling schedule was a new venture to me, and I wanted to be great at both of them. Per4mance Training directed me in ways unknown to many athletes (myself included), and taught me ways to succeed not only on the road, but in the classroom as well.
I would like to extend a big Thank You to Coach Tim, You, and Total Cyclist for the services provided to Team Type 2. The coaching, knowledge, and guidance that Tim provided to 8 guys who had recently got into cycling was fantastic.
I got rave reviews about Tim from all 8 riders before the start of RAAM, which I thought was great. As they say, "the proof is in the pudding," and when those 8 crossed the finish line 7 days, 7hours, and 23 minutes later, Tim's ability to coach, guide, and lead were all proven beyond any question.
I have had more and more people come to me saying "I thought they would fail, never thought they could do it, surprised they lived, was positive they wouldn't make it past the mountains.
I began to race my bike at 23, I realized and recognized my need for structure and training as my own poorly designed workouts were a complete waste of time. I could compete in category 4/5 races but had no clue what it is I was doing during a race or for preparation before. After an intense training exercise at Per4mance Training now known as Total Cyclist, I realized that structure, direction, and a coach was what I needed. I told coach Chad Andrews, owner of Total Cyclist that I needed a coach who was tough, honest, direct and to the point, and most importantly someone who was not going try and be a directed friend
Chad began coaching in December of 2008.
Needless to say its almost 3 years later, I'm now 25 years old, a Category 1 racer, racing for Global Bike (the best elite cycling team in the SE), a Total Cyclist coach and most importantly I am now a friend to Chad Andrews and the Total Cyclist community.
Chad, thank you for everything we have been through, everything you have done for me, and I look forward to what is to come in the future.
Coach/Athlete Trey Miller
Hey Coach, First off I want to thank you personally for EVERYTHING that you have done for me and helped me through. I feel that you are 90% of what i needed to come as far as i have. This past weekend was an awesome experience in learning how to be professional on and off the bike. It gave me an in-depth insight to how different cycling can be or has to be in order to take it to that next level. I had a general idea of what kind of a commitment comes with becoming a professional cyclist before a came to this camp. However, once i left this weekend i realized how little Iactually knew about becoming pro. I never realized everything that goes into a pro's lifestyle, and this weekend opened my eyes to it. Cycling is my passion. I strive to succeed in cycling and be the best that i can possibly be. I'm not going to stop reaching until Icannot physically move my legs anymore.
Will Hoffarth (Pro Cyclist) | Harrisburg, NC
Leadville! We did it. I want to thank you for all of your hard work preparing me for this epic race. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey and will always treasure the result. When I walked into your office in February with my Leadville acceptance in hand, I was a little freaked and overwhelmed. I had just signed a lease to open a new restaurant and was wondering how to get it all done.
Through balanced planning and dedicated execution, the result speaks for itself. Most importantly, I was able to maintain my focus professionally, my commitment to my wife and family, and grow as a new bike racer. I’m already seeking my next challenge and look forward to having you by my side.
Chad Hollingsorth | Dad, Father, entrepreneur, Bike racer
I have two more comments, and here's the first one.
I owe a huge thank you to my coach Chad Andrews at Total Cyclist. He's the one that helped get me into shape these past two years - a pretty tough task - and he did an amazing job. I love working with Chad. He takes time to get to know how you ride, how you operate, what motivates you, and how to wring every last bit of effort out of you to give you great gains in ability.
Chad helped me move from a sport rider to an expert rider through training on speed and endurance as well as nutrition and other aspects important to racing and riding strong. He gave me a great structure of training so that as an amateur I was able to fit in realistic training hours with a full time job; and also race in the hardest stage race in the country - the 7 day Trans-Sylvania Epic. Photo: © Trans-Sylvania Epic
Laura Gleason (Expert MTB) NC
Hi Chad,
I wanted to say thanks for all the wonderful offseason training both you and Dan have provided me this year. By far this has been my best year with the best average finishes in my racing career. I owe a large part of that to the total cyclist program that really helped me overcome a plateau period in my career. With worthwile and targered training, and Dan Shelby's expert coaching insight, I have found the edge I was looking for and I'm glad I chose your organization. I would recommend it to anyone looking for the next level.
Rick Pyle Elite Masters MTB racer
When I began the 2010 season I was already a good athlete, but throughout the season my coach Thad has turned me into an amazing athlete. During every prior season I would win one or two races in my category but I had never won a pro/1/2 race. In 2010 I won SIX pro/1/2 races, each time by attacking the race and making the race myself to come across the line with my arms in the air.
Every time I won a race this season I immediately wanted to call my coach and thank him because I knew it was because of him that I won. Thad has not only given me advice on but also off the bike and made me the athlete I am today.
You and Thad really know what you are doing. Thanks Chad seriously for all your support and advice over the past few years.
Spencer Gaddy Cat 1 Racer
Pretty amazing how things work out, uh? You go from a full on professional cyclist/national champion to making minimum wage at a coffee shop. And what's even more amazing is that out of all the people I know in the cycling world not one person had any interest me once my knee was blown out. . . Except you, were the only one, you stuck around for me, you made that simple phone call, that just said "hang in there buddy." You never gave up on me! Thank-you! Thank you very much! I'm serious Chad, I mean it, a real heart felt Thank You!
Keith Norris U-23 National Champion (Pro Cyclist) | Miami, Florida
Hello Chad, I rode a 21:41 last night at the speedway, in tougher conditions than the 21:42 I rode on April 9. My average last year was 22:20. No question in my mind what has caused the improvement. I have my lap times tracked by the chip, and laps 4-6 had traditionally been my slowest. Now I am hitting my groove on those laps as I feel the leg strength from the training kicking in! I signed on with you this year because I saw how Lenny's times improved last year. My other friends who only go hard on group rides can't understand how I improved so much this year. They say I must be more disciplined about training, but that's not really true. All I have to do is to to show up at your place, talk some junk with my training partners and hammer to whatever program you have for us that night. Real complicated. Thanks again to you, Jim and Peter for running a fun program that produces results. Sincerely, Rich Gerardi
Rich Gerardi (Team USA Duathlon World Team Member) | NC
After a year or two of sub-par racing, with way too many DNFs, I started working with Per4manceTraining.Immediately, I was able to learn a different view to my training. Also immediately, I began to get results. I took 4th place in my first race of the year. I reached all my goals for the year, including winning the NC State Criterium Championship in the Cat 1/2, upgrading to Category 1, and racing competitively in the Criterium National Championships. At the end of a long year of top 10 and top 15 finishes, I ended the year out with a big 4th place, behind 3 pros including George Hincapie. Guidance through my training and learning to use my power meter to maximum benefit from Per4mance Training has made an enormous difference.
Ben Faulk (Cat 1) | Charlotte, NC
Here is my testimonial for the Total Cyclist: 4 yrs ago when I did St. Anthonys Tri in St. Pete, I finished 24th in my AG. Sunday I won my age group. I ran about 30 seconds faster this time, but took off a whopping 17 minutes off the bike! I am a wee little example of what your training can do for multisport athletes. Thanks Chad!
Susan Airheart | Charlotte, NC
As a cyclist who is seeking the right balance between family, work, community activities, and personal fitness, I have found that working with Chad and the Per4mance Training group has maximized the time I have on the bike and provided clear results. Physically, I made noticeable progress this year with fewer hours of training. That speaks directly to Per4mance Training's methodology and having a good working relationship with my coach. Mentally, I feel focused and strong, despite all the things going on in life.
Chad tracks my rest and stress levels and modifies the plan as needed, which is critical to avoid overtraining/undertraining, burnout, getting sick, etc. And that is one of the most important aspect of working with Per4mance Training: simply turning over the training to your coach who will track, monitor, and tweak the plan, leaving you more time to do other things instead of crunching numbers and wondering what to do. As life gets more complicated, having a coach actually simplifies your life.
Spencer Lueders (Cat 1 and Founder of 24 Hours of Booty) | Charlotte, NC
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