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Performance cycle coaching. Developing athletes through evidence based plans and skills.

28/07/2026

Tonight was the last ever British Cycling British Cycling City Academy track session. It’s been a great few years working with this lot.

Cycling is a generational sport. Most kids who get into it young do so because their parents were into it first. It’s a cultural one too. If nobody around you rides, and the sport isn’t visible where you live, it never lands on the list of things you might try.

The City Academy took both of those barriers down. Free weekly sessions out of the hubs, then a route onto the track. None of it would have happened without the initial funding injection from the Rapha foundation.

The sport is getting harder to get into. Less visible, too. Spaces like this mattered. Free. Somewhere a kid could dip a toe in and try it, or dive in and end up racing the national series, road and track.

Thanks to all those that made these sessions fantastic, the riders, the parents, the volunteers.

Hopefully it isn’t the end for the little group that came out of it.

13/07/2026

Always humbling, no matter how many times you come back.

Have I trained for this? Nope. Running on patience and a few years of knowing how to pace a climb.

But this one’s for my riders heading out L’Etapes this year. You’ve done (or are doing) the work. The blocks, the sweaty heat sessions, the days you didn’t really want to. If I can drag myself up these cols on experience and stubbornness alone, you’re more than ready!

Find your rhythm. Hold it. The top comes.

Saddle up.

01/07/2026

The classic club ten runs on open lanes during the summer throughout the UK, but that’s a little difficult in central London. Which is exactly why a closed circuit works so well.

Four Tuesday nights I spent watching a couple of the youth riders I coach. Seeing them learn the quiet lessons in pacing and effort. Even with almost 90 other riders signing up, they only ever raced themselves, and got quicker every time.

Thanks Lea Valley Cycling Club, see you next year. And well done to all those that raced!

27/06/2026

I wanted a better way to show riders why position matters, beyond pointing at a chart and saying because it’s faster. So I taught the aero tool on the website to draw air around the position you pick.

It’s only two dimensional, not three. A picture, not a measurement. Two versions, illustrative and a live solve cfd.

Much better than waving my hands about on a web call.

Maybe one for your desktop, not a phone browser.

Have a play. Link in bio. Nestled amongst the other aero tools.

saddleupcycling.co.uk/aero

15/06/2026

If you saw a TT bike shaped blur along the high road this morning, that was probably Julia. Fantastic ride out to Mott Street with Julia Gagliardi who made the climb look remarkably comfortable, staying in the extensions all the way to the top.

14/06/2026

Still one more event to go this evening, but so far it’s been a very successful Masters Championships for Yewande Adesida. Plenty of progress across multiple performance markers throughout the week, and to come away with a couple of jerseys as well makes it even more rewarding. Everything is heading in the right direction!

03/06/2026

Asma is leaving British Cycling, which means I’m the responsible one on the City Academy track project now. Terrifying. But it’s ok, they are good kids.

She’s seen these kids come on leaps and bounds from the original BC hubs, to racing Nat Series on the track and the road, and some turning to become coaches themselves.

Thank you for everything. Go smash some projects!

26/05/2026

Session 2. Race Craft. Done.

Through and off. Back to front. Surges and attacks. An elimination race to finish.

The race is information. Patience is a tactic. Commit, all the way. Brave racing gets the chance of more. Train what others won’t. Things happen. Race for progress. There is joy in it.

Two Saturdays of this has been a proper joy to coach. I hope it has given some of you the confidence to pin a number on for the first time. Or to try a tactic you would not have tried before. Or just to see racing differently.

To those who have entered the London Academy GP. Chapeau!

To those still unsure. Give me or London Academy a shout. We will help.

And even if you do not fancy racing yourself. Head down anyway. It is one of the biggest celebrations of women’s racing that London, or the whole of the UK has to offer. They do not get better than this.

Saturday 6 June. 3/4 race and E/1/2/3 race.

Saddle up!

18/05/2026

Thanks to all those that came along last Saturday. And to the expert riders from London Academy. Here’s a little recap.

Eighteen riders. Three hours. A lot of progress.

Another session this Saturday. 2 spots left currently. Race tactics. Moving up, Pace lines, lead-outs, and race simulation.

Get Signed Up to the GP!

Saddle up.

Address

Abercrombie Road, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park
London
E20 3AB

Website

http://saddlupcycling.co.uk/

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