FOREWORD

ALTHOUGH THE GREAT BRITISH Cycling Team is synonymous with the aggregation of marginal gains and leaving no stone unturned in the search for those 100th of seconds that can decide a gold medal, this focusing on the minutiae can only work if all the fundamentals are in place first. Although the top secret high-tech kit receives the bulk of media attention, having worked with the team through three Olympic cycles, it’s getting the basics 100% right, whether it’s training, kit, bike set-up or nutrition, that lays the foundations of success.

This approach of ensuring that all of the key aspects of performance are addressed first is at the heart of Nik’s training philosophy. It’s especially relevant to time starved cyclists who want to maximise the gains available from their limited training time. If you’re out on the bike, in the gym or looking to spend some of your hard earned cash, it’s by applying the fundamentals first that give you the best bang for your buck.

I first met Nik producing training plans and supporting content together for British Cycling and found him to have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the sport. He has a great ability to take complex and technical information and convey it in an accessible manner. However, it was after suffering a severe injury, a ruptured patella tendon, that I really saw both his drive and his application of his training methods to himself.

Having guided him through a lengthy rehabilitation process, taking four months to be able to complete a single pedal rotation on a static bike, and getting him back out on the road, he set himself the ambitious target of competing at the Masters World Track Championships. To not only take part but to win gold in the Team Pursuit, setting a World’s Best Time, is testament to both his ability as a rider and his knowledge in designing and implementing a training plan to take himself to that point.

I’ve no doubt that, if you’re looking to improve your own performance on the bike, following Nik’s advice and applying his training philosophy to your own riding will definitely help you to achieve your personal goals on the bike.

PHIL BURT, FORMER LEAD PHYSIOTHERAPIST WITH THE GREAT BRITAIN CYCLING TEAM