Dear Coach:

On Saturday, I competed in a local championship road race that included 800 feet of climbing per 7-mile lap. It is the hardest road course in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The toughest hill is within the first
mile: 300 feet almost straight up after a 60+ mph descending approach. In addition, the heat index at the 8:00 a.m. start time was over 80 degrees with high humidity.

I raced in the 42-mile (6 laps) Masters 50+ race. There were 22 starters. At stake were BAR points for the first 20 finishers. (I had made a pledge to my team at the start of the race season that I would score at least one BAR point by the end of the season.) So, my task was to pass two riders and finish the race. Last year, I withdrew after two laps.

This year, after only nine months on your program, I not only finished the race, but finished in 16th place, which was good for five BAR points!

According to the race report, the dropout rate in the other categories
(except the Masters) was close to 70 percent. Other than some thigh
fatigue, I suffered no distress from the race. In fact, I rode the balance
of my day's mileage (40 miles) three hours later at a pace equal to my race pace.

Thank you so much for your excellent training program. I think I am going to have to set some ambitious goals for next season...

God bless,

Jim DeGoey

Coach Carl,

I was talking with Jim DeGoey today (one of your athletes) and he was raving  about his improvement since he started working with you. I've been reading  your website on and off for the past 6 months and I have to admit - I'm very  impressed. How does one go about hiring you on as a personal coach?

PS - I work for a regional sports magazine in Washington, DC and the racing scene here is really exploding - our magazine might be a good vehicle for you to get some more clients (however, you might be overloaded already!).

Any information would be appreciated.

Ben Landers
MetroSports Magazine

Dear Carl,

Here is my latest update. One of my goals was to post a 56 min. 40k TT. I was meeting that objective last Saturday but was blocked by a car for about 20 sec. going 20 mph (slower riders in front and opposite direction traffic). I was having the ride of my life but ended up posting a 57'04" time -- losing 3rd. place by 1 sec. and losing 2nd. place by 8 sec.

I am leading the overall IN race series in the TT category for Cat. 4 racers and my time should hold up for the season. I do have 2 more attempts to get my 56'. State of IN/KY district TT event is held 7/21 and I am in very good form to repeat as a state champion.

So far, your training program has been great and I am also having fun using the crit and circuit races as hard training rides. Will send you another update later...

Larry Myrvold
Senior Vice President
Duke Realty Corporation

Carl,

About your new ebook...662 pages! Wow. This is not like anything else I ever seen. To be able to write about so many aspects of cycling shows you really know your stuff.

Anyone should easily done 4-5 books out of this.

Med v'liga h'sningar

Steafn Thander
Sweden
 

Coach,

Just a note to let you know that I found that your recommended speed work practice has been most helpful in recent crits. It makes the races a lot more fun when you can do more than just hang on for dear life at the back of the pack.

Thanks,

Ryan Christbaum

Coach Carl,

I thought I would drop you a line to inform you that after five years of
racing inactivity, with your coaching help, I was able to place second
in the Ohio State Criterium championships in my age group.

Not bad for my third race in over 5 years. I really believe in your program and have made great progress following it. And best of all, I don't feel overtrained either physically or mentally.

George Trissler

Carl,

The book is Fantastic!

I Especially liked the tools, the action reaction graph and the clothing log. I really needed it, last year's winter was the worst in 30 years they say.

The training log is perfect it has everything you need. The event Logs will come in handy as I am the senior course Marshall and Official for the region.

"WOW 662 pages of pure cycling enjoyment...this is a Great Book!" (You can quote me on this)

God Bless,

George Ranalli

Coach Carl:

You have the best info I have ever come across on bicycle racing. The other info out there just hints at tactics and then dances around the issues, usually by assuming that you are in prime physical condition and not just ordinary folks.

Charles Harris
San Anselmo, CA

Greetings!

I am a 27 year old living in N. Cal and recently started racing. I felt ignorant to the sport when I began, not knowing it's traditions, cultures, and ethics, but I knew I loved it. Since this recent beginning, I have been reading everything I can, watching racing, marshaling races, and training to compete in the spring/summer.

Being that I started in this sport so "late," I know I have a lot to learn and training to be a fast, smart racer takes time, but I want to do it right from the beginning and establish a strong foundation to build upon.

I have been searching for a coach/training system that will be affordable and fit my work/family life. I am going to take my time reading all of your information, and write you with any questions. So far, I feel as though I have learned more about race tactics in 5 minutes reading your information than I have learned in a year of looking elsewhere.

Thanks again!

James Doyle

Coach Carl,

I feel I have to write and let you know how I've been progressing with your coaching techniques.

I am 37 years old and started cycling recreationally about 6 years ago after many years of almost complete abstinence from exercise. About 4 years ago I bought a racing bike with a view to improving my fitness. I joined a small club and began following a coaching program in a book, albeit tailored to my ability, or so I thought.

I eventually realized I was becoming overtrained all too frequently and when I stumbled across your website 18 months ago, much of what you had to say resonated with my own experiences. So, I decided to give your methods a go. I started in the middle of the on season so it was hard to gauge if there were any benefits, though my performance did continue to improve. Certainly there was a reduction in overtraining problems.

I have since followed your off season program and am now a few weeks back into the on-season. I am truly amazed at how well I am going so early in the season. In March I won my club's early season time trial series when in the past I've never been going well enough to even attempt it. Last week I smashed my own personal best on the club's first weekly hilly 10.6 mile TT course by 41 seconds.I know within myself there's much more to come this year and I'm having to readjust my goals already!

Man, I feel so good. All I need now are some results in a few road races. They start next week and I can't wait. Thank-you very much for your innovative approach and excellent material; long may it continue.

Phil Gray-Blest

Coach,

Thanks to you, I know I am much stronger than last year.

I am not feeling totally wiped out with the significantly higher mileage I'm doing as compared to last year when I would be feeling really tired doing less mileage. Also, on the first fast group ride I was contesting all the hills and sprints on the front with one of the strongest riders in the club who won one of the biggest Cat4 races in the state last year (Badget St. Games).

And on the finishing sprint I totally waxed everyone by at least two bike lengths and this with having left work early to get a little extra mileage in before the group ride even started.  So I know the improvements are there.

Andy