Coaches

Josh Simonds

The Bicycle has a deep rich culture. By embracing handed down knowledge, tradition good science and learned experience you reach your cycling goals. My approach as an Ultra Endurance athlete with extensive experience with racing, nutrition and logistics expert leads to success in multiple fast transcontinental rides, Paris Brest Paris, tandem, Cyclocross, Road, Track and enables me to guide you and coach with confidence. I have worked with power / watts for more than five years and performance analysis for many types of athletes.

Your lifestyle and goals are very important to me. I believe coach and athlete must have mutual trust and confidence to communicate often and freely in support of reaching and CRUSHING your goals!!!

Michelle Grainger

I have over 20 years experience in Coaching and Personal Training, including a University degree/Bachelors degree, coaching licenses, certifications and yearly continuing education courses. I have seen a lot of things change in cycling technique and coaching over the years. One constant in the cycling world has been the need for cyclists of all levels to seek training information. This is why I became a coach. I want to pass along the years of knowledge and experience that I have gained. I feel each person with an athletic goal can achieve athletic excellence. This is why I named my company Athletic Excellence.

There are many aspects of coaching that are often overlooked. I think of a coach as being a mentor. This includes helping in the areas of training, nutrition, race preparation, strength and resistance training, mental preparation and injury prevention.

If had not been for great people like Lon and Susan, I wouldn't have had the successes throughout my cycling career.

Fred Matheny

Fred Matheny has been a cyclist and cycling journalist since the ‘70s. He was the Fitness and Training Editor for Bicycling Magazine and has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books and ebooks including Fred Matheny’s Complete Book of Road Bike Training. He co-founded www.RoadBikeRider.com (RBR) with Ed Pavelka and continues to contribute to the website and weekly newsletter. He began racing in Colorado in 1976 and has won several Colorado State Championships and been on the podium at Masters Nationals. He was on the 1996 Race Across America team that set a 50+ record of 5 days, 11 hours. He has worked with hundreds of riders at PAC Tour Training Camps, Carpenter/Phinney Bike Camps, and Dirt Camp and has coached at every Desert Camp since its inception in 1996. He is also a speaker who has given presentations at cycling events around the U.S. including El Tour de Tucson, the Hotter’n Hell Hundred and to business and professional groups.

PAC Tour riders can get my help training for a PAC Tour event in any or all of 4 ways:

• Buy Fred Matheny’s Complete Book of Road Bike Training from www.RoadBikeRider.com. It provides detailed instructions on how to analyze your strengths and weaknesses then capitalize on those strengths and overcome any liabilities. It also includes sample programs to help you plan your own training.
• Join RBR’s Premium Site for $24.95 annually. RBR's PREMIUM SITE has a searchable archive of my answers to more than 500 questions about riding position, training techniques, bike-handling skills, nutrition, injuries, equipment and more. It includes a special series of articles about position, bike fit and training. Also appearing is my opinion column called Matheny's Musings.
• Membership in the Premium Site allows you to email me directly with any training, racing or technique question. I’ll send you a personal reply within a few days.
• Attend Coaching Week at PAC Tour’s Desert Camp (February 28 to March 7) or the Wisconsin Century Tour (June 13-20) so you can ride with me, discuss your personal training plans and get advice on all cycling subjects.

Jim Langley

Jim Langley lives in Santa Cruz, California with his wife, Deb, two daughters Jamie and Sarah, and their two Australian Shepherds, Kip and Kacie. Jim got hooked on riding when he was 10 years old, and it led to a career in the bike biz. He now works out of his home office as the content director for SmartEtailing.com, a company that helps about 1,000 bicycle shops in the USA and Canada with their websites.

Jim's probably best known for his wrenching and writing. He worked for 17 years as a professional mechanic in shops from New Hampshire to California , and then became the technical editor for Bicycling Magazine, opening a west coast office, where he worked for 11 more years. Jim has also written for VeloNews, California Bicyclist, Inside Cycling and Self, and he's published three books including the best-seller Bicycling Magazine's Complete Guide to Bicycle Maintenance and Repair and his new ebook, Your Home Bicycle Workshop.

Jim maintains an extensive cycling website and blog (jimlangley.net and jimlangley.blogspot.com) where he offers a lot of free and expert cycling help, and he's also a contributing writer for roadbikerider.com. He has also worked as a USCF mechanic and coach, and also as a coach for Team In Training. Of course, when Jim's not working for SmartEtailing, writing or updating his website and blog, he's out riding and racing (mostly the road these days). He also has a passion for cycling collectibles, is an accomplished table tennis player and coach, and has ridden his bicycle every day for over 14 years.

Bob Olsen

I've worked in bicycle shops since 1985 (23 years experience) and have been fitting bikes for over 15 years (Fit Kit Systems Certified). I have worked with area Physical Therapist and Orthopedic doctors on medical fits.

I've owned a shop the last 4 years, and have Serotta International Cycling Institute Certification. Having worked as a mechanic and fitter, I know the compatibility of components that work together for the best fit application.

I have given numerous clinics and classes over the years, including clinics on bike fit at Pac Tour and bike clubs. I've been a RAAM support crew member four times.

Bob Mairs

I have been a competitive racer for over 25 years with success in all road disciplines and several state championship titles. I have also been a veteran of more than 8 years of Pactours so I understand the physical demands of early spring tours and the training required for them. I teach a bike racing class here in MN where we develop group riding skills and comfort in pack situations. I also work with newer riders and racers to structure their training to the demands of racing.

I can be reached at rgmairs@juno.com or phone at 651.228.1793.