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Going the distance, together

Covering all the aspects needed for a bikepacking event in your training plan offers a better chance of getting to the finish line, where 50% of participants scratch.

However, trying to identify where you need to focus your efforts and how to train efficiently requires a little more analysis than one-day races. This is where I can help. In addition to my qualifications as a Performance Coach, over a decade of bikepacking experience - both successful and scratching - I bring a broad knowledge base to my coaching packages.

Options for training

Train with 1:1 coaching or join one of the Race plans where you can prepare for a race with others who are doing the same race - these plans are for the Mega races on the calendar. The race plans offer online race prep with monthly group calls (at times with a special guest, like Meaghan Hackinen who will answer your questions), all the resources you need to prepare for your race and a community forum for bouncing ideas off of other participants. You can either go with Traditional coaching or start the with Training block before joining a specific Race Plan.

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Traditional Coaching

This is the traditional way most coaching offer 1:1 plans. The planning is tailored to you, delivered via Training Peaks with regular catch up calls (depending on the level of support you need).

I offer 2 levels of traditional coaching

  • Fundamental level
  • Advanced level

These plans help when have more races in your calendar, are looking for performance gains or a higher level of coaching input. This is what in includes:

  • Benchmark your race or set season race goals
  • Benchmark you via testing, questions and historic analysis (Advanced level only)
  • Plan the structure of your season with training blocks targeting your personal goals
More info
Tour Divide

Race Plans

Training for one of the big races - Tour Divide, The Mountain Races, TCR or Via?

These plans are designed specifically for each race, taking into consideration the unique aspects of each race, for instance training and preparing for TCR is very different from SRMR.

The training plan is tailored to each adding in things like strength training, especially for the Mountain Races. 

Race preparation is key in these events, to help with this you will have access to an online platform with resources to help with the planning, online tools to record your preparation and a forum for discussing this with other riders.

These are dual mode plans

  • workouts delivered in Training Peaks
  • resources and race prep delivered via an online platform
  • Monthly group calls with ocassional special guests
  • Group forum for discussing training and race prep
  • Feedback online with the option to purchase 1:1 coach calls

By preparing the training plans and delivering the topics you need to prepare for your race, I can make these plans more affordable. Athletes are given the option to purchase 1:1 support for areas they need to discuss.

More info
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Training Blocks

Between seasons or waiting for a race confirmation? These training blocks give you structured plans with coach overview and feedback to keep you within a structure plan until your race is confirmed. If you are preparing for a Mountain Race, these plans will include strength training to ensure you are ready to jump into a Race plan.

There are two levels of training:

  • Aspriring - for those newer to structured training or with a maximum of 10 hours of training per week
  • Seasoned - for those used to structured training or with more than 10 hours of training per week
  • (Training hours per week vary)

Plans are delivered via Training Peaks

  • delivered in 4 week blocks via Training Peaks
  • Coach monitoring and weekly feedback via Training Peaks
  • Option to purchase coaching calls if needed
Plans are modified to meet your existing training volume and fitness.
More info

Peta McSharry - the coach

Coaching

British Cycling Level 3 

My qualifications come via the British Cycling training, a three year programme, covering skills development, group riding and race tactics, and finally performance coaching. In addition, I'm also a myofasical and sports massage therapist with 20 years of experience, often helping injured marathon runners in getting them over the finish line when training was compromised.

I've been coaching for several years and teaching massage and first aid for over 10 years with a qualification in preparing adult-learning courses.

Bikepacking

Almost 15 years

It's been close to 15 years of bikepacking for me. I was the uncool kid in the race club back when I started bikepacking. Prior to this I raced bikes and completed in many sportives, even taking on a Men's Grand Tour - the Giro D'Italia route - for charity in 2011. My favourite result was 2nd women in the Paris-Roubaix Challenge finishing around 140th overall. I completed 6 L'Etape du Tours with the first one in 2007 and finished Paris Brest Paris in 2015. I dabbled in Cyclocross and a bit of MTBing - but was a pretty terrible at both.

Ethos

Solo, unsupported

Bikepacking takes a heap of self-reliance. My goal over the course of coaching is to enable you to make the right decisions and trust them during the race. There is so much advice and information available about preparing for a race, making the choice that suits you can be difficult. I aim to help you prepare what is right for you and if you can get it right in training, then racing will become that much more enjoyable. I will plan for you, but essentially you need to walk the line alone. Follow the plan and you will get there.

Red Meadow Lake Tour Divide 2022
1 'Riding' through Red Meadow Lake on the 2022 Tour Divide, the leaders took two hours without snow versus 8 hours in these conditions.
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2 Late snow melt turns roads into half kilometre sectors carrying bikes overhead to save the bottom bracket bearings. 
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3 After being held up by a grizzly bear in -5°C, we huddle at 2,000m to warm up before the long descent and freezing ride through Flathead valley.
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4 Oops, that puddle off the top of Elk Pass was a bit deeper than it looked when I rode into it. Saved a full mud bath.
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5 Bivying at the base of Kegeti on the inaugural Silk Road Mountain race. 
Don't take it from me

Words from my clients

From race winning athletes to complete beginners, I've had the pleasure of helping others reach their goals. Here's what they have to say.

Featured riders
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Meaghan Hackenin

Peta believed in my ability to win the women's Tour Divide, this built my confidence along with her attention to the off-the-bike tasks I needed to do to tackle the race.

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Rachel Mendes

From helping select a gravel bike and all the bikepacking kit I needed, Peta prepared a training plan suited to my beginner level and helped me get my head around what I needed to do to finish the Torino Nice Rally.

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Justinas Leveika

I'm uncoachable. Peta blends in well with my adventurous side, planning key blocks of training and recovery between races and brings a consulting style of coaching rather than a prescriptive style. It's great to have someone with this depth of knowledge to bounce ideas off.

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Rob Roy Cameron

The week before the Further Pyrenees Peta stepped in as my coach to help with race strategy. Her Advanced training blocks bring a level of training I've not used before.