{"id":28344,"date":"2019-10-01T12:53:38","date_gmt":"2019-10-01T11:53:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/?p=28344"},"modified":"2019-10-07T15:24:53","modified_gmt":"2019-10-07T14:24:53","slug":"interview-with-a-cycling-coach-paul-edwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.merlincycles.com\/blog\/interview-with-a-cycling-coach-paul-edwards\/","title":{"rendered":"Interview with a cycling coach: Paul Edwards"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Recently, we\u2019ve been thinking a lot about how we can encourage more young people to get into cycling.<\/a> And no one is doing a better job at that than the cycling coaches who are working and volunteering for cycling clubs throughout the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Paul Edwards, a cycling coach from Lancaster-based club Salt Ayre Cog Set. Paul is passionate about mental health and wellbeing. He was instrumental in setting up the Cog Set Papyrus Racing Club, which aims to promote the Papyrus charity. Its goal is to prevent teenage suicide. The club provides an extension to the Cog Set Go-Ride club so that riders still have a sense of belonging after they turn 16.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We spoke to Paul about how he got into coaching, the best age for kids to get into cycling, and how parents can keep their kids motivated. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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How did you first get into coaching?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My children were both attending Cog Set and I was asked if I was interested in getting involved. As my eldest was enjoying racing, it seemed that I was likely to be attending the club for some time, so opted to do my level 2 coaching. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In your opinion, what age is best for kids to start taking cycling seriously?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Seriously\u2019\u2026 interesting word. Fundamentally I believe all physical activity has to be fun if it is to be a long-term love. I think ‘serious’ in cycling means additional training rather than just riding for fun. My instinct is that cycling might get serious around 13 or 14. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reality is that there are kids racing from six years old who want all the gear there and then. There is a bit of an ‘arms race’ towards the really high-quality bikes even at an early age. It isn\u2019t unusual to see 10-year-olds on carbon bikes. This is a serious investment and sometimes that level of parental buy-in can lead to parents thinking a local \u2018Under 10s\u2019 race is the Tour de France. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To relieve the pressure that can be piled on kids, parents have to learn how to see that as an investment in their child\u2019s happiness and well-being rather than a kick-start on their sporting career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What are some of the most effective motivators that help young cyclists stay engaged?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Having fun. Having mates to ride with. Finding a type of riding that suits them, be it racing, journeying, Strava, or just commuting to school. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think for some older teens, the environmental aspect of cycling versus driving is also meaningful. Fundamentally, though, as long as they have fun, they will stay engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What’s a common issue that you see young riders face? How do they overcome it?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Common issues for cyclists tend to be around whether they are riding in a way that they want to, or if they feel they\u2019re being pushed too much by parents, coaches or others. For female cyclists in their teens, body image can become an issue because physical strength is not always seen as an ideal attribute among non-sporty peers. Male cyclists, on the other hand, can get downhearted about not being as competitive as their peers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overcoming it I think is about helping riders to set goals for themselves that are meaningful \u2014 they should be challenging but feasible. I think maintaining an open dialogue in teenage years is critical too. Often by mid-teens, cycling is a big part of their lives and if things don’t meet their expectations, they can feel very vulnerable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Training too much and training when injured is another common issue. It stems from a lack of understanding around physiology. It is about trying to play the long game with cycling and not making the next event or race the be-all. If you ask most cyclists if they would rather reach their peak as an under 16 or in the Tour de France at 28, you only get one answer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We try to encourage riders to do the right things to give themselves a sense of control. We provide them with information about healthy lifestyles, priorities (eg exams), talking, picking three or four races a year that are priorities and treat the rest as training. And finally that all events are opportunities to learn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What would your advice be for parents who want to support their kids in competitive cycling?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n