Is your coaching a little rusty?

When you don’t ride your bike for some months the chain will start to rust. The tires will become a little deflated. There will be some dust on the frame.

Before you go for a ride, it would be wise to give it some TLC. Remove the cobwebs. Add some oil. Breathe some fresh air into the wheels.

Well, you could just jump into the saddle without doing those things, but it would be an uncomfortable experience. Clunky, bumpy, and much harder to pedal than if you take some time beforehand.

If you haven’t done any coaching for a while, you will likely also develop some rustiness that requires a freshen up before a new trip.

Where you are in your coaching journey will impact the amount of time needed. More experienced riders will probably have a routine established before they set off. Those with less miles traveled will take a bit longer to figure out what’s needed.

Some things we find helpful include:

• Allowing time for preparation. If you get an ad-hoc request for some immediate or urgent coaching that comes unexpectedly, you may be tempted to go for it, however giving yourself some space to get things ready is a wise decision.
• Have a toolbox available. There may be books, or articles you like to read before a coaching session. Maybe you like to prepare your environment in a different way. You may have a particular notebook that you want to have to hand. Maybe you have some notes from coaching this client previously that you want to go over. Know what works for you and know where to find it.
• Not picking a difficult route. Some coaching paths require a certain level of skill that can’t be picked up without practice. Don’t try to cycle uphill without building up your stamina on less technical routes for a while first.

Of course it’s also worth considering a regular maintenance routine, to prevent the rust building up in the first place. Peer to peer coaching is great for sharpening the saw.

What’s also important here is self-care. Be kind to yourself. To regain balance and confidence there’s a transition period required and it’s important to accept this.

Coaching with ease and finesse comes with practice and experience. But, remember that you do know how to ride.

In order for something to get rusty, it already has to exist. You already have a bike in the shed. It’s there for when you need it, but it will only be ready to go at a moment's notice when you look after it, and keep it in mind.

What do you do to remove your coaching rust?