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
Cycle Division’s Shop
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- TT Result: Lea Valley CC 10
- TT Result: Alltrax 10m TT
- TT Result: Epsom CC 10
- TT Result: Shropshire CCA Championship 10
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl Crit Series #11
- Result: RL360 Isle of Man Youth League Rd 12
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Result: West Thames League Rnd 13
- Result: RCR Goodwood Series #8
- Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits
- Result: Thank Crit it’s Friday 4
- Result: Swindon Summer Race Series 3
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series 14
- Result: National Circuit Series – Guildford
- TT Result: Westerley Cycling Club 25
- TT Result: Ross on Wye & Dist CC 25
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 12.7m TT
- TT Result: Border City Whs CC 25
- TT Result: Ferryhill Whs 25
- RESULT: Salt Ayre Tuesday Series 13 (Lune RCC)
- Result: A Bridge Too Far Road Race
- Result: Lichfield No Frills #3
- Result: Chorley CC UCLAN Series Round 2
- Result: Seacroft Wheelers Summer Road Races
- Result: Junior Road Championships
- TT Result: Mid Devon Cycling Club 25
- TT Result: The Nifty Fifty
- TT Result: East Lancashire RC 10
- Result: King and Queen of the Bowl Crit Series 10
- TT Result: VC Norwich 10
- TT Result: Ross on Wye & Dist CC 10
- TT Result: City RC (Hull) 10
- TT Result: Dan Ward Memorial TT
- TT Result: Bristol South Cycling Club 50
- Result: Banbury Star Festival of Racing
- Result: Mid Shropshire Wheelers Severn Valley Youth Series
- Result: Fete du Velo (Redbourn)
- Result: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- HC Result: Winster Hill Climb
- Result: Mallory Park Youth Road Race League 4
Other News on VeloUK
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2
- Report: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 1
- STARTLIST: Owen Blower Memorial Road Races
- Events: Halesowen Academy Road Race
- News: May Pedal Club Lunch
- RIBBLE PARTNERS WITH THE BIKE FITTERS
- Monday: Witham Wheelers Road Races
- British Stars for Women’s Tour of Britain
- Women’s Tour of Britain Riders 2025
- BIKES: RIBBLE UNVEILS ULTRA-RACE
- Women’s Tour of Britain Routes
- STARTLISTS: 2025 Lincoln Grand Prix
- STARTLIST: The Witham Hall Grand Prix
- Startlist: Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix
- FEATURE: PEDAL CLUB LUNCH REPORT (APRIL)
- 2025 BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS – ROUTES
- STARTLIST: Sloan Trophy (April 27)
- News: Teams Revealed for the Women’s Tour of Britain
- Startlist: CiCLE Classic International
- Sunday: CiCLE Classic UCI Road Race
- News: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage Hosts
- PERTH GRAND PRIX (SCOTLAND)
- April 19: PNE National B Road Race
- STARTLIST: East Cleveland Classic
- Startlists: Witham Hall Junior Two Day (Men & Women)
- Startlist: Totnes-Vire Two Day
- STARTLISTS: Cold Dark Capenwray Road Races
- News: CiCLE Classic – Volunteers Wanted