The Coaching Cycle

Developing Young Riders with Dean Downing

In this episode, I’m joined by Dean Downing (IG: @deandowningcycling), former professional rider and founder of Downing Cycling, to explore his journey through the sport and his approach to developing young cyclists. We discuss: * Dean’s pathway from elite rider to respected coach * How and why he transitioned into coaching * His core ethos for developing young riders into professionals With decades of experience in UK cycling, Dean shares practical insight into long-term athlete development, culture, and building riders for sustainable success.

Strength & Conditioning for cycling with Chris Peden

In this episode, we’re joined by Strength & Conditioning expert Chris Peden (Instagram: @chr1speden) to dive deep into what cyclists really need from S&C. Whether you're a competitive racer or a committed amateur, this conversation focuses on what actually works — and what to avoid. We explore: Best Practice in S&C for Cyclists * The fundamental movement patterns every cyclist should build * How to develop strength that transfers directly to on-bike performance * Simple but effective structures for making S&C sustainable Common Pitfalls & Mistakes * The gym habits that waste time (and what to do instead) * Why cyclists often under-load or over-complicate their training  Progression: How to Level Up Your S&C * How to safely progress load and intensity * How S&C should change through the season * Balancing strength training with cycling volume for maximum progression Chris brings a clear, practical approach to S&C — perfect for any cyclist wanting to improve performance, resilience, and long-term development.

Sports Psychology Strategies with Emily Tillett MSc

In this episode I was joined by Emily Tillett MSc, a Sports Psychologist (in training) with whom I've collaborated a few times to deliver workshops for my coached riders this year. Emily brings to the table a wealth of knowledge within cycling and previously competed within the Great Britain Cycling Team as a junior rider. That experience mixed with her education in sports psychology put her in a great position to discuss sports psychology from the perspective of competitive cycling. We dig into the premise of sports psychology as a whole, how and why riders should access it and introduce some strategies that can start to help riders on their journey to peak performance. You can find Emily on Instagram at @emilytillett_sportpsych -- You can connect with Henry on Instagram at @cyclingcoachhenry or online at cyclingcoachhenry.com

Critical Power & W' Tools with Alex Welburn

In this episode we are joined by Alex Welburn, owner of the Performance Project and PhD Student at Loughborough University researching W' Bal modelling. We dive fully into the weeds of critical power and W', what it is, what it means and how we can use it within cycling performance. Alex is an expert in this area and a lot of his research could be commonplace within high performance sport within a few years especially in time trial performance and pacing strategies. Join us as we discuss this interesting topic, and if you have any questions or want to follow Alex online you can find him here: https://www.myperformanceproject.com/ [https://www.myperformanceproject.com/] Alex's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alexwelburn/ [https://www.instagram.com/alexwelburn/] PP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theperformance_project/ [https://www.instagram.com/theperformance_project/] --- You can follow Henry at the below links: https://www.cyclingcoachhenry.com/ [https://www.cyclingcoachhenry.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyclingcoachhenry/ [https://www.instagram.com/cyclingcoachhenry/]

How To Fuel Your Training with Sports Nutritionist Ellen McDermott

In this episode I am joined by Ellen McDermott of McDNutrition, a qualified and experienced Sports Nutritionist. Ellen talks us through the principles of fuelling your training rides beforehand, how to maintain your energy throughoit and recover effectively after a session.   There are some fantastic takeaways for riders in this episode, so make sure to take notes and enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed recording it!   You'll find Ellen on Instagram at @ellen_mcdnutrition   -----   Follow Henry on Instagram @cyclingcoachhenry