Featured riders
Many riders pass through my doors, and while I can't feature them all, here are some you might recognise from the front of the races. You'll also find those new to bikepacking or not aiming for a win.
Justinas Leveika
Justinas and I hit it off over cake at the inaugral Deadend and Dolci race in the Ticino region of Switzerland, just before he headed to do the first of his Tour Divide races. Arming him with some of my own logistical planning for the race, I was able to start working with him after the 2023 Tour Divide with the idea of breaking the Tour Divide record as one of my secret squirrel ideas. He was game and I loved the process of working around his 'uncoachable' style. It gives me the option to be a sounding board for ideas, to listen to ideas that I'm happy to implement with an athlete at this level. I view coaching as a partnership, with both of us coming to the table with an equal standing in how to get the best end result. This is the level I can work at under the Advanced programme where athletes have a good understanding of what works for them and how to enhance this rather than me telling and them listening.
Meaghan Hackenin
I 'married' into the Hackenin team. She knew my husband before me, riding with him on the TransAm bike race. I observed Meaghan's training ethic - it's pretty high - but could see some aspects of race prep and plan development where I could help. I'd seen her mention doing the Tour Divide on her trusted Salsa and thought she could win the race - again part of my secret squirrel project. She loved the idea and it didn't take much to get Meaghan training on the bike, she follows a structured plan without question, so most of my work was analysing training data to develop blocks of training to add to her already high standard. I detailed what bike mechanics she would need to learn to handle what the Tour Divide can throw at a rider. To see her absolutely nail the route as a rookie and to set the fastest women's time on the Grand Depart was pretty special.
Sara Bukies
"Train me so I don't suffer on the race". That's the goal Sara set for the Deadends and Dolci ride. I swear there is more vertical than horizontal in the Ticino region of Switzerland. That's what we did, 'suffer' in training so the racing feels easy. Normally I would suggest leaving all unnecessary items at home for a bikepacking race, but when I saw Sara post a video dancing on the side of the road, to the sounds of a boombox, on the Dolci race, I knew we'd nailed that goal. Not everyone wants to win the race or be efficient, sometimes not suffering and just having a good time is the best goal you can set.Simone Eder
Simone was one of my first clients, and she still enjoys my coaching. She shows that you can train while managing a young family and still achieve great results in races, with many wins and podium finishes. A well-known coach once said, "I try to break my athletes at least once during coaching." I've tested Simone several times to explore my bikepacking coaching theories questioning if a session or a block of training is too hard, I've yet to break her. These training blocks are part of the package I offer to clients returning for a second year, where a solid first year of training leads to more advanced sessions in the second and third years. Thank you, Simone. Don't worry I won't break you, ok well maybe once to see where your limit is.
Rachel Mendes
Rachel didn't own any bikepacking kit when she signed up for coaching and was aiming to join the GravELLE Torino Nice Rally. Relatively new to cycling and totally new to indoor training, we kicked off with discussing the purchases needed to get started. Indoor trainer, systems and the kit needed to do the Rally. Part of the training included a family bikepacking trip with two young children from Bern to Nice over a few weeks. While racing isn't on the cards for Rachel, she picks a mega bikepacking project every year to fit in around her studies and young family. This is a horse you take to water and not only does it drink, it dives in and takes a swim too. So no need to think I only train the winners.Rob Roy Cameron
I love race tactics. When Rob Roy contacted me a week before his race and asked if I could help with race tactics, I jumped in with both feet. Sure, I didn't know anything about him, but after loading up his data into my analysis system and checking out the competition, we formed a plan. He executed it as close to the plan as possible - nothing is ever certain in a bikepacking race. We've gone on to look at key aspects impacting a race and working on those that help attain his goals. Watch this space, Rob Roy is regularly in the top ten of races and is one of those who takes on a busy race calendar every year.