Lockdown with Peter Merritt (TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling p/b trainSharp)

Lock down question and answer with Peter Merritt of TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling p/b trainSharp who works but is currently on furlough and is based in Britain

Lockdown with Peter Merritt (TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling p/b trainSharp)

Brought to you by trainSharp

Lock down question and answer with Peter Merritt of TBW23 Stuart Hall Cycling p/b trainSharp who works but is currently on furlough and is based in Britain

Q: Your last race was and how did it go?
Peter: Roy Thame Cup. Not great, missed the break and finished just outside top 20.

Q: With racing being cancelled, what’s a typical week training wise for you?
Peter: 20-25hrs/week.

Q: How long have you worked with trainSharp & how has your training changed and what are the best things about having a coach?
Peter: I’ve been coached by trainSharp since November 2019. Before joining trainSharp, I had been self-coached for almost a year. Going from that, to having a professional coach was a big step in the right direction. They provide structure, incentive and a personalised training plan from which I’ve seen, and continue to see, great results.

Q: Is the coaching just about numbers and efforts of other parts of the training/racing?
Peter: The coaching is very all-encompassing in that sense. There is, as there has to be, a big focus on numbers and hitting targets, but this is well-balanced with a personal element that takes into account the forms of training you prefer/respond to best, your short/long-term goals and good communication between the riders and their coach.

Q: Enjoy the turbo or avoiding it like the virus?
Peter: I never used to be one for the turbo, but since getting Zwift a few months ago, I train indoor quite a lot.

… continued after advert

Q: What’s the hardest thing for you about the lock down?
Peter: Being apart from my girlfriend has been quite tough. Because we don’t live together, the lockdown has forced us to keep our distance.

Q: Besides cycling, what’s your biggest distraction as lock down continues?
Peter: As a guitar teacher, I’m trying to move some of my students to a different format where the lessons are via videocall. I’m also hoping to attract some new clients who want to use their time in lock down to learn a new instrument.

Q: What’s the bike that gets the most use by you and what is the best thing about it?
Peter: It would definitely be my race bike, the Bottecchia 8avio. It’s a great all rounder that climbs and handles really well. It’s a reliable machine without any of the unnecessary quirks.

Q: What’s the weirdest thing you have seen since this crisis began?
Peter: Nothing springs to mind really. I suppose it’s a bit surreal, and refreshing, riding with so few cars on the roads.

Q: Finally, where do you enjoy riding the most in this country or abroad?
Peter: Took a trip to Sheffield to meet some family shortly before this all transpired. I met up with a friend who’s local to the area and got taken for a ride around the Peaks. It’s an amazing area and a great place to ride.

If you want to be coached by trainSharp then please email paul@trainsharp.co.uk

Brought to you by trainSharp