Arnie Baker Cycling Logo

Arnie Baker Cycling

 

Home
eBooks+
eHandouts & eArticles
eSlide Shows
Order All ePublications
Coaching
Talks & Camps
Other Services
Orders & Problems
Copyright & Notices
Site Search
Resume

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Coaching

I coach beginners to pros; individually, in groups, at camps; in person, via e-mail, and telephone.

 

I generally conduct or participate in San Diego group rides several or more days a week. Visitors are usually welcome, and informal coaching advice is generally provided at no charge.

 

Find a partial listing of coachees

Find information about bike fits and other services

 

Service Standard Intensive Annual Comments

Goal identification

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Review of past training

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Review of cycling psychology

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Self fitness-testing protocols

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Weekly review of training log

Yes

Yes

No

Excel training log included

Review of heart-rate downloads

Yes

Yes

One-time

 

Review of power downloads

Yes

Yes

One-time

 

Contact

Weekly

Unlimited

Monthly

Coachee initiated

All Cycling eBooks (8)

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

All Cycling handouts (>100)

Yes

Yes

Yes

 

Bike fit

Yes

Yes

Yes

By electronic image if out of town

Nutritional advice

Yes

Yes

Yes

Quiz and questions reviewed

Strategy and tactics training

 

 

 

Best in San Diego

Borrego endurance camp

Yes

Yes

If space

December camp. No coaching fee. Other expenses yours.

One-time snapshot report, plan, and recommendations

 

 

Yes

 

Medical history review

Yes

Yes

One-time

Not the practice of medicine, not a substitute for personal physician

Training rides: hard and easy

Yes

Yes

Yes

Average >100 year in San Diego

Stationary trainer class

Yes

Yes

A few

Annual plan: no charge to 6 classes.

Start-up fee

$350

$350

NA

Refundable after one-year continuous coaching

Package fee

NA

NA

$1,350

One-time payable at start.

Monthly fee

$400

$650

NA

 

 

There is a waiting list. I'm more motivated to coach riders who are themselves motivated. The rank order of my waiting list is somewhat dependent upon your interests. If you'd like to fill out a goal sheet and be placed on my waiting list, please e-mail me at .

 

I generally coach at two levels of intensity:
 

1. Standard. I provide weekly to monthly training plans, answer questions, and provide advice. This level of coaching normally entails a weekly training log report, weekly review of heart rate and/or power downloads, and e-mail or telephone conversation. $400 per month.
 

2. Intensive. Unlimited coaching. Typically includes above as well as daily review heart rate monitor or power downloads and twice a week contact. $650 per month.
 

Although there is a monthly fee, not all months of coaching are equal. The monthly fee represents an amortized value. During the course of the year we will have busier times and quieter times.

 

For riders in San Diego, several-times-a-week training rides are generally included.
 

 All of my cycling ePublications (8 books, more than 100 handouts) are included to assist you in your training.

 

There is a $400 registration fee for either level of coaching intensity. This $400 fee is refundable after one year of continuous coaching.

 

Payment is due the first of the month, via check or via PayPal.

 

Alternatively, I can provide an annual plan. I review your past training, current fitness, cycling psychology profile, nutrition knowledge, bicycle fit, and future goals. I outline and submit to you a comprehensive 12-month program to help you achieve your goals. All of my cycling ePublications (8 books, more than 100 handouts) are included to assist you in your training. Once monthly follow-up e-mails or telephone calls are included. $1,350 via check or via PayPal.

 

I also answer episodic or intermittent questions via e-mail or telephone. $100 per consultation which includes same-subject follow-up queries received within two weeks.

 

Hourly consultation, at $180 per hour, is also available.

 

I can also help with more extensive one-time consultations, such as setting up wind-tunnel testing.

 

I and my coaching associates are available for intensive weekend or week-long private coaching in San Diego, CA and elsewhere. Please e-mail us at  for details.

 

My philosophy and training approach? May I suggest you read a copy of my general racing book Smart Cycling published by Simon and Schuster, or HIT (High-Intensity Training) for Cyclists eBook.

 

Here is a partial listing of riders I have coached and coaches with whom I have collaborated. I work closely with several coach associates. These coaches may be a better match for you than I am, or may be available for coaching when my coaching practice is full.

 

 


 

Training Rides

Helmets are Mandatory

 

Arnie generally conducts or participates in the following rides in association with the San Diego racing club Cyclo-Vets:

 
Ride descriptions are below  

Day

Time

Ride Name / Information

Difficulty
1=Easy
4=Very hard

Tue

8:30 - 10:30 AM

Fiesta Island Time-Trial Training

1-4

Beginners welcome

Wed

8:00 - 2:00 PM

Town to Country Ride

2-4

Hilly, fast

Sat

8:15 - Noon

Mission Valley

2-4

Most popular

Sun

9:00 AM - 12:30 AM or
7:30 - 4:00+ pm

Great Western, East County.
Endurance Option

3-4

Hilly, fast. See below.

 


Tuesdays

Fiesta Island

 

Ride Type: Time Trial Training

Start Location: Fiesta Island, Mission Bay, San Diego

Start Time: 8:00 AM

Finish Time: 10:30 AM

Distance: 25 to 35 miles

Climbing: None

Difficulty: What you make of it. Beginners are encouraged to attend.

Riders: 15-30

 

Ride Description:
Fiesta Island is in Mission Bay.

Time Trial Training. The only Cyclo-Vet ride where the use of aerobars is allowed.

Fiesta Island has a 2.5 mile and a 4.0 mile road loop. We generally ride the short laps.

The ride begins with two warm-up laps. Then generally follows two small-group or individual time trial exercises, each of two to three laps. The exercises are designed to improve specific cycling fitness systems--for example, the strength, aerobic, or neuromuscular systems.

A practice 20K time trial is run the first Tuesday of most months.

The group goes for a second breakfast or coffee after the ride at a local inexpensive restaurant.


Wednesdays
Town to Country Climbing Endurance Ride

 

Ride Type: Group Endurance Road Ride

Start Location: Pioneer Park, Mission Hills

Start Time: 8:00 AM Arnie time (7:58 AM)

Finish Time: 2:00 PM

Distance: 65 miles

Climbing: 6,000 feet

Difficulty: Moderately hard to very hard

Riders: 8-20

 

Ride Description:
This ride has been held almost every Wednesday for 15 years.


The rides leaves Pioneer Park (Mission Hills Park) in Missions Hills at 8:00 AM AT (Arnie time, 7:58 AM sharp). Meet at the corner of Washington Place and Randolph. Wednesday ride start location map link. There is good parking and there are restrooms available in the park.


We ride through city streets at an easy pace for about one hour, gathering riders along the way. We pass by the water tower in North Park at 8:16 AM. We ride along Orange Ave., University Ave., and stop at Collier Park on Palm Ave. in La Mesa a little after 9:00 AM.


We then descend highway 94 to Rancho San Diego and begin the 94 climb up to Jamul. At this point the pace quickens.


In its current version, we turn left at Jamul onto Lyons Valley Road, to Skyline, and up Skyline to Lawson Valley Road.


At Lawson Valley we make a left, going North and East for 5 miles until we reach a 1.5 mile dirt-road connector (Wisecarver Lane) back to Skyline. This dirt road section is okay on road bikes.


A couple of miles, mostly downhill, along Skyline to Four Corners, West on Lyons Valley. We regroup at the store one mile from four corners on Lyons Valley Road.

 

We have a snack at the store.

 

We descend down the twisty descent of Lyons Valley Road toward Jamul, briefly ride Skyline, and end our descent down Mexican Canyon to Rancho San Diego, sometimes finishing with a sprint.

 

Finally an easy pace home, though occasionally we are spirited and perform as many as 10 sprints on the way back to Pioneer Park.

 

Bring at least two waterbottles, snacks, and money for snacks.

 

We encourage all riders with sufficient fitness who are interested in trying the ride to join us. Guideline: Riders should be able to climb Torrey Pines (the outside route, from the parking lot driveway to flashing lights) in less than 8-1/2 minutes to feel comfortable in the group.

 


Saturdays

Mission Valley Ride

 

Ride Type: Club Road Ride

Start Location: The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf   Map Link

   Mission Valley -- 1640 El Camino Del Rio North. San Diego, CA 92108

   10415 San Diego Mission Road, Mission Valley

Start Time: 8:30 AM

Finish Time: Noon

Distance: 35 miles

Climbing: 1,200 feet

Difficulty: Moderately hard

Riders: 20-40

 

Usual Saturday Ride Description:
We warm up at 16-20 mph through Mission Valley, and keep a steady pace of 20-22 mph on Morena Blvd. We do a rolling re-group after the Balboa cloverleaf at the foot of Santa Fe. Climb La Jolla Colony is as hard as desired, and we stop for a regroup at Doyle Park on Regents Road. There, the ride breaks up into three or more rides:

 

1. Top Gun ride is flat ride back to the start (31 miles).

2. Carroll Canyon ride includes a trip down the freeway, a ride through Sorrento Valley, and a climb up Carroll Canyon Road before joining with the Top Gun loop (34+ miles).

3. Torrey Pines loop has two variants:
   a. The Gorman Loop-turns left at Sorrento Valley Road...heads for the Coast and back up Torrey Pines, then picks up the Carroll Canyon loop (45 miles).
   b. The Gordy Light Loop. Same as above but picks up the Top Gun Loop after climbing Torrey.

 


Sundays Seasonal

Great Western/Endurance Ride

 

Ride Type: Group endurance/fitness systems training

Start Locations: (1) MacDonald's, Fury & Jamacha, East County

             (2) Pioneer Park, Mission Hills

Start Time: 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM. See below.

Finish Time: Noon to 4:00 PM. See below.

Distance: 45 to 90+ miles (You always have the 45-mile option.)

Climbing: 4,000 to 7,500 feet (You always have the 4,000 foot option.)

Difficulty: Moderately hard to very hard

Riders: 30-40


Formal 2005-2006 Coached Ride Starts October 2, 2005.


2003 Ride Photos

October: Endurance training.

November: 5 Weeks of strength training: Big gears, standing, ILT

December/January: 6 Weeks of aerobic endurance and capacity training:
   Smaller-gear, then larger-gear intervals.

February: High-end aerobic work.

March through September: Less organized. Many of us are racing.

 

Weather May Cancel

Hypothermia is a risk on winter rainy days in the East County.
Greater than 50% probability of rain will cancel the coaching on this ride.
If rains or other conditions threaten, notice for any given Sunday ride is generally placed on the website by 6:15 AM.

 

Ride Description:
(1) Ride the Great Western, leaving McDonald's at Fury and Jamacha (take 94 East to Jamacha) in Rancho San Diego at 9:00 AM, back at 12:00-1:00 PM for coffee and a one-half hour social.

 

(2) Ride from Pioneer Park (Washington Place and Randolph, 7:30 AM) in Mission Hills, via the North Park water tower (Howard and Utah, 7:50 AM), through La Mesa to MacDonald's, meeting up with the 9:00 AM group. Then ride the Great Western. Long endurance group option to return home directly or ride Lyons Valley, Lawson Valley, Skyline, and home. Back at 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM.

 

The Great Western section of the ride is structured. Workouts are for targeted systems training. Training is co-operative rather than competitive. Coaching hints and tips are given at regrouping points. With large attendance (>25 riders) the ride is split into ability groups. Faster riders turn around at regrouping points and ride back to the slowest riders for extra mileage and climbing.

 

After a 5-mile warm-up, there are roughly 13 miles of continuous climbing and then rolling descents. There are three regrouping points. Near the end of the ride there is a race-training section. We have A and B groups for different fitness levels.

 

Gear recommendations: A minimum of a 39-27 is suggested in order to be able to perform the workouts properly.

 

This structured ride is specifically designed to coach and train racing fitness, although you do not need to race to join the ride. It is not a "training ride" in the sense that most racing clubs use the term. Quite unlike rides elsewhere, the ride has specific exercises, multiple regrouping points, and professional coaching provided along the way.

 

We encourage all riders with sufficient fitness who are interested in trying the ride to join us. Guideline: Riders should be able to climb Torrey Pines (the outside route, from the parking lot driveway to flashing lights) in less than 9 minutes to feel comfortable in the group.

 

There is no specific fee associated with the coaching that the club has arranged for this ride. The concept is that those of us who are being coached and race are racing for Cyclo-Vets, the club that trains us. By all means try out the ride. If you wish to continue to participate and benefit from the free coaching and training, you must join Cyclo-Vets. If you are a road or track racer, you must race for Cyclo-Vets.

 

Southern Californian racers of other clubs may join in, with permission, for a fee. Out-of-town riders may join us, at no cost, with permission.



Website and materials copyright Arnie Baker, MD, 1989-2008