{"id":12565,"title":"CX Coaching with Ian Field","description":"We attend a cyclocross master class with Veld Coaching.","content":"

Published in<\/strong>: CYCLOCROSS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

The cyclocross season is fast approaching and the cyclocross calendar is filling up. Time to hone our CX skills. Who better to help us than five times UK cyclocross champion Ian Field of Veld Coaching?<\/p>

I recently interviewed Ian about his life as a professional<\/strong><\/a>. Naturally, when I planned a CX master class for my teammates it was to Ian that I turned.<\/p>

Ian Field of Veld Coaching<\/strong>
\"\"
<\/p>

Power<\/h3>

Watching elite cyclocross riders power up a steep incline is an impressive sight. We rarely see the figures but, for the top riders, it's over 1,000 Watts. Lap after lap. What I find even more stunning is their ability to combine raw torque whilst demonstrating delicate bike handling skills.<\/p>

We mere mortals can only dream of the ability to create such numbers and as we grow older the likelihood diminishes. Our cyclocross technique is something we can work on with a realistic opportunity for improvement.<\/p>

A few seconds a lap gained from cornering faster or remounting quicker make a difference over the course of a cyclocross race. It's probably enough to gain one or two places and perhaps beat a long-standing rival.<\/p>

Cyclopark<\/h3>

Our cyclocross coaching session was held at Cyclopark, near Gravesend in Kent. Our club, GS Vecchi, is dedicated to the more mature rider. As GS Vecchi (Italian for old) is a team of random friends we have always had a very loose geographic centre.<\/p>

With the progression of time and retirement, our base has spread further to include many counties in England, Wales and abroad. The clinic was an opportunity not only to improve our CX skills but also to meet up for the first time since the start of Covid.<\/p>

Ready for the off at Cyclopark<\/strong>\"\"
Cyclopark is Ian Field's local cyclocross and road course. Ian knows it well and it is as convenient or inconvenient as any location for our club members. It also has the advantages of good parking, an on-site cafe and several CX sections already set up.<\/p>

Sadly, it's much-underused outside of the school holidays. It's a shame given it has excellent facilities for both on and off-road riders.<\/p>

A mix of skills<\/h3>

Our group of ten included a mix of a national cyclocross medallist to complete beginner. And from under 16 to over sixty. After the obligatory coffee to provide a gentle kickstart, we headed around the road circuit to warm up.<\/p>

A fiendish course<\/strong><\/h3>

\"\"
Soon we stopped at a fiendish network of course markers and tape for our first session. There was a mix of fast and slow corners, tight turns and the inevitable spiral.<\/p>

I'd like to know why course tape is always placed at a height that ensures, should I run wide, it will naturally ensnare my handlebars.<\/p>

After some instructions from Ian, we were soon whizzing around the course, snagging handlebars and having fun. It was great to be reminded how addictive cyclocross is when you feel the tyres reach their limit of adhesion. It feels so good.<\/p>

Hurdles and off-camber<\/h3>

Next, we were on to the hurdles. For the complete novice, this was probably even more of a challenge. Most of us are reasonably adept at basic cornering but leaping on and off a bike is another matter. No one came to grief and, again, there were chinks of enlightenment and definite improvement.<\/p>

Before long we had progressed to the off-camber sections and a fly-over. Without rain and mud, the off-camber presents much less of a challenge. The techniques, however, remain the same. Even cyclocross regulars found the refresher helpful after such a long lay-off.<\/p>

Welcome lunch<\/h3>

The morning passed quickly and the call for lunch was welcomed as our tired limbs and brains needed a break. It was a further opportunity to quiz Ian about his cyclocross technique and his life as a professional living in Belgium. The unstructured chats were as useful as the more formal CX coaching sessions.<\/p>

We discussed the perennial cyclocross subjects: Which cyclocross tyres should I use? What's the best cyclocross bike? What's the best way to train for cyclocross with limited time?<\/p>

As a cyclocross and road coach, Ian actually spends more time behind his desk, remotely coaching riders to gain fitness improvements. He seemed to relish the time spent on the practical side as much as we did.<\/p>

Afternoon<\/h3>

After a leisurely lunch of sandwiches, cold drinks and yet more coffee, it was time to remount our bikes. We extended our dismounting technique by including running up steps and remounting. Ian demonstrated superlative cyclocross skills by bunny hopping all the way up the steps.<\/p>

Making the steps look easy<\/strong>\"\"
The afternoon session concluded with an introduction to Cyclopark's notorious wall. Our sole under 16 rider just flew up it. For the rest of us, it was an extreme test of our fitness or lack of it. Only one rider fell off although another decided a sharp left turn into the bushes was preferable to the pain in his legs.<\/p>

Ian demonstrates how to bunny hop the steps<\/strong><\/p>

Conclusion<\/h3>

Each rider had paid \u00a325 for the session. In total, we were on our bikes for about five hours. I thought it represented good value for money. Not only did I gain useful insight but I had a lot of fun too. Ian managed to balance the needs of the disparate experience and skills so that no one was out of their depth, nor were they bored.<\/p>

I was surprised to discover that the demand for these sessions is actually quite low. Most of Ian's time is spent providing remote fitness coaching via the internet. It seems a missed opportunity for a club or group of friends to have a rewarding and fun day.<\/p>

I'd definitely organise another group session and, don't tell my teammates, I might book Ian for a one-to-one session.<\/p>

For more information contact Ian Field at Veld Coaching<\/a>.<\/p>

Disclosure<\/strong><\/h3>

Rijden, and its employees, have not received any payment or inducement to publish this review of Veld Coaching. We only publish reviews of products we genuinely like or would recommend.

31 August 2021, Tim Costello.<\/p>

NEVER MISS OUT<\/strong><\/h3>

Subscribe<\/a>\u00a0to get all our latest stories and news. We won't bombard you with special offers. We don't want to send you junk as much as you don't want to receive it.<\/p>

\"e4csubwckhg8szzln5ubes5dpwxwl5bey21wrlfbncih5zeg.jpg\"<\/u><\/a><\/p>","urlTitle":"review-veld-coaching-cyclocross-clinic","url":"\/blog\/review-veld-coaching-cyclocross-clinic\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/review-veld-coaching-cyclocross-clinic\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/rijden.uk\/blog\/review-veld-coaching-cyclocross-clinic\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1629921500,"updatedAt":1704837778,"publishedAt":1704837778,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":61205,"name":"Rijden_2"},"tags":[{"id":1160,"code":"cyclocross","name":"Cyclocross","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/cyclocross\/"},{"id":1275,"code":"reviews","name":"Reviews","url":"\/blog\/tagged\/reviews\/"}],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/kcxyol6w51joqxnezjtx81nbwjdihvezozecqwu4vljf0ttc.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/kcxyol6w51joqxnezjtx81nbwjdihvezozecqwu4vljf0ttc.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/kcxyol6w51joqxnezjtx81nbwjdihvezozecqwu4vljf0ttc.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Cyclocross Coaching with Ian Field | Rijden","metaDescription":"We attend a cyclocross master class with Ian Field and brush up our CX skills with the five-time national cyclocross champion. What did we learn?","keyPhraseCampaignId":64649,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":10415,"title":"Balint Hamvas, top cyclocross photographer","url":"\/blog\/the-impressionist-balint-hamvas\/","urlTitle":"the-impressionist-balint-hamvas","division":61205,"description":"We caught up with top cyclocross photographer Balint Hamvas. During an enjoyable interview, he told me about freezing in the Alps, travelling by e-bike and how he faked his way into professional photography.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/hed6ed0xd68xvkqekrz04yqhwthnw7fc8apax9eqpyodq9c1.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/hed6ed0xd68xvkqekrz04yqhwthnw7fc8apax9eqpyodq9c1.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":10567,"title":"Ian Field part one","url":"\/blog\/ian-field-part-one\/","urlTitle":"ian-field-part-one","division":61205,"description":"Cyclocross professional turned CX coach Ian Field gives the low down on what it takes to live and race cyclocross in Belgium. Part one: \"Come home when you're broke\".","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/z0esxhm8ptynkd2ccmx2d0j6vhz1ahl1o7kheqjmiwaqppei.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/z0esxhm8ptynkd2ccmx2d0j6vhz1ahl1o7kheqjmiwaqppei.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":10597,"title":"Ian Field, multiple cyclocross champion part two","url":"\/blog\/ian-field-part-2\/","urlTitle":"ian-field-part-2","division":61205,"description":"Cyclocross professional turned CX coach Ian Field continues his tale of living and racing cyclocross in Belgium.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ow36svb5jriv2vpimfugw8badnngxxynpxsy14eymngsr9z5.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/ow36svb5jriv2vpimfugw8badnngxxynpxsy14eymngsr9z5.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}