I was looking at the British cycling coaching courses in view to doing them. Really for something new to do and learn with the possibility of doing something with it on the side of my career in the future.

Has anyone done these before and if so what did you think and did it lead anywhere afterwards? To become a cycling coach do you need to be a professional or elite rider, rather than just a keen cyclist, before moving into coaching otherwise people won’t even consider you for coaching duties?

Just a few thoughts I’m having as it’s time to think about something different other than a career in management information in the finance sector, which I’ve done for 10 years now (I’m 34).

Either that or any other suggestions in the cycling industry which people can suggest might be enjoyable and easy to get into! (Like I say it’s just a few thoughts at the moment!)

I’m booked to do the British Cycling Mountain Leader Course at Whinlatter in April. When I did the core skills a few months ago (which was good) they suggested I may want to do the leadership course. I guess I’m sort of average skills wise but I ride a lot, am reasonably fit and enthusiastic. I’ll let you know how I get on!

CTC and the other cycling training providors also do cycling coaching courses,somehow we need to get more kids on bikes and safely

BC Level 2 ‘General’ lets you coach up to a certain level across the disciplines, then you need to get a Level 2 discipline specific, then Level 3. Only with Level 3 are you really covered to coach an individual rider from a ‘performance’ standpoint. So, you’d have a fair amount of work to do just to get to Level 3 (I think the Level 3 itself is a year)

Even then, I’m not sure the Level 3 is enough to be offering pro-level / paid coaching. I’d want to see either a sport science degree or some very good real world experience of working with riders or riding themselves (or both) to be paying a coach

If you want to help younger / intermediate riders on a volunteer basis (with your club?) the BC courses are superb though. I’ve done L2 and just done Level 2 Cyclocross. You don’t need to be an awesome athlete to coach, you just need to be a good coach (if that makes sense)

Happy to help further if I can….

Rich

rtedgeAThotmail.com

Finishing level 3 road and TT. The level 2 course teaches you to coach small groups and is very worthwhile. This provides a foundation to bolt on new disciplines. Level 2 disciplines are sufficient to coach professionally, and I have been paid a pittance to do so. The level 2 mountain bike course is highly rated.

I’m no elite rider, indeed coaching is not about being elite. Some experience helps but is not essential. Whatever path you take will make you a better rider. Just get used to spotting howlers as people ride by.

Being an elite rider isn’t an indication of being able to coach. Knowing your stuff is key and being able to communicate is way more important than your skills on the bike

Having an ability to teach and convey information is way more important than outright skillz.
I was a British Cycling Level 2 Coach and currently an IMBA Level 1 Guide (no L2 courses near where I live). Both made me a far better rider and far more able to help others with their riding technique.

Ok this all sounds great and really positive comments there. Would be good to get into something new and along with the volunteering aspect get into a different area of the sport and give something back to get some satisfaction etc (which lacks in the day to day job hence looking at this!). I had a look at cytech mechanic courses but they seem pretty pricey and don’t get the best reviews for content and being worthwhile and I think the coaching thing will be more fulfilling.

What you also need to think about is how you will use it?
I think you HAVE to start with Level 1 now the most basic level more about teaching you how to teach/coach. You used to be able to jump this phase if you could show you had teaching experience. As mentioned you do the general level 2 course first but to qualify you have to go away and physically plan and coach 6 x 1hr sessions and evidence this. So you need to be in a position to do this, whether with a small (3-5) bunch of mates or a club. Have you got a cycling club with a junior section? This is perfect. I do my coaching with Junior triathlon club and I do the bike specific stuff.

I’m very much like you, having spent 12 1/2 years as a copper know want to get into sport so looking at using my coaching more. I need to do some specialisms now and plan is CX and MTB. There is a serious shortage of female MTB coaches so that’s my USP 😉 plus having ridden mtb for 20+ years and raced at a National level I have some experience to fall back on. As said though it isn’t about being an elite rider, it’s about knowledge and communication skills. If you can’t communicate well then it isn’t a good start!

I love it though get great satisfaction from coaching kids and seeing what they can achieve.

Good luck and more than happy to answer more questions.

Our local kids mtb club will support volunteers financially with qualifying as coaches, first aid etc. If you are keen to help out you may get courses/qualifications for free.

Has anyone done these before and if so what did you think and did it lead anywhere afterwards? To become a cycling coach do you need to be a professional or elite rider, rather than just a keen cyclist, before moving into coaching otherwise people won’t

A friend of mine went from being a self employed builder to being lead coach at the lee valley velopark which took him about 4-5 years.
He was not an elite cyclist though had raced BMX, downhill and track. Has private clients with success at national level.
Writing it down makes it sound easy but it took a lot of time and effort including running weekend sessions at Herne hill/unpaid volunteering and a fair bit of study and working for British cycling in between (they pay peanuts)
So if you apply yourself anything is possible.
One thing I will say as an outside observer is a degree is not essential but an open mind is, a lot of coaching seems to be recycling old ways and ideas, those who see it as a reactive process rather than just repeating what you learned by rote seem to prosper.

No. Not many elite/pro riders want to be coaches. Or are even suited to it. They are massively genetically gifted in the first place. So what performance/diet/fitness advice can they give a 10 year old, or a slightly overwieght keyboard warrior? “Yeah, i found 300 miles a week at 20+ mph was good enough”.

And the time it takes to do each level is mindbending. As are the hoops you have to jump through.

I’ve been coached by an ex world champ/serious big hitter and FWIW i suspect he was only acting as team coach as a favour to the headline sponsor. Looks good to have big names on the team management.

He was bloody useless.

Edit:- Except for the motorpacing, he rode a good scooter……

That’s me signed up to level 1 today. Online part comes out Friday so looking forward to learning something new.

One thing I noticed for level 2 regarding the riders to coach is that it says the following:

“The opportunity to coach. You will be required to independently plan and deliver six hours of coaching. If you do not have riders to coach you must not enrol on the Level 2 qualification and should attend a Level 1.”

Does this mean that they can hook you up with people to coach for the level 2 part if you do the level 1?

IIRC you can get a group a mates together and just use them, it can be something really simple like slow speed riding and track stands. That’s what my friend did. It’s not about leading a group,of newbs down some sick gnarcore descent or doing team pursuit rotations on a track

As above, you can coach friends in a park. I ran sessions in a school. Others run youth sessions. Level 2 technical skills are pretty challenging and most club riders would get something out of the sessions. The “riding in contact with another rider” session is always interesting

Does this mean that they can hook you up with people to coach for the level 2 part if you do the level 1?

no, it means they expect you to sort that bit out yourself, and if you can’t then don’t waste time even applying for level 2. You need to be able to coach subjects in order for your coaching and coaching plans to be assessed. See TiRed’s school and Munqe Chick’s Triathlon kids club.

As crashtest and others already said. If you go to BC website you can search Level 2 coaches in your and it provides their contact details so message one locally and see what clubs are out there. I know many clubs are aching to get more experienced coaches to help and assist. Doesn’t have to be a cycling club, so I do the bike part of a triathlon Juniors club.

What are are you in?

I’m not a member of a club but going to be joining up to road and mtb club locally so options there and if not I’ve got couple of mates and folk at work that would be keen so won’t be a problem. If it is I’ll be posting on here again looking for folk! But if it’s only a few you need will be fine.

I completed my Level 1 recently and will be signing up for the Level 2 soon. Whereabouts are you based?

I’m in Edinburgh. Level 1 online comes out tomorrow and days are in Glasgow. I think I’ll be doing level 2 in Edinburgh that starts straight after it as I can’t make any of the other Scottish level 2s this year,mainly due to sportives.