Better known as NSJ, Nick Smart-Jones is part of the trainSharp team (family) and a passionate part time ultra cyclist based in Sussex, UK who will be joining 80 others to raise money by cycling round the world on Zwift!
Lockdown Q&A with Nick Smart-Jones
Brought to you by trainSharp
Better known as NSJ, Nick Smart-Jones is part of the trainSharp team (family) and a passionate part time ultra cyclist based in Sussex, UK who will be joining 80 others to raise money by cycling round the world on Zwift! More on that in his Q&A below…
Q: Your last race was and how did it go you?
NSJ: Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to race this year what with the poor weather cancelling races and now the lockdown. So my last event of any meaning would have been the RAAM qualifiers back in September! However I’ve covered plenty of miles since then, including a Zwift 24hr this week!!
Nick’s next challenge is just round the corner as he explains “It is not very often I reach out to the cycling community and try and raise money with the sport we all love but I am this week! Following the turbo 24hour I did the other week, and still feeling it in my legs, I, along with 80 other riders will be taking the challenge to cycle the world in a day with Mark Beaumont. https://worldinaday.com/
We are asking everyone to ride, run row this Thursday and donate £1 per mile completed, its that simple! Mark Beaumont holds the world record for circumnavigation around the world in less than 80 days so this Thursday, 80 core riders will be joining him to complete the 18,000 mile journey again but this time in just one day. Starting at 4:00am, each one of us will be covering 240 miles raising money for the NHS charities. Everyone can join in quite simply by hopping on the turbo and be it 5 miles or 50 miles all we are asking is they donate those miles into ££‘s. I will be doing this on Zwift with the core 80 and anyone can join in. To join Mark or I on Zwift, friend me at Nick S.J -trainSharp AW1D
All donations here: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickSmartJones
Q: With racing cancelled, what’s a typical week training wise for you?
NSJ: Training time hasn’t really changed and I’m still trying to put in between 10-12 hrs a week. Unfortunately though it’s all on the turbo, typical now the weather has turned for the better lol!!
Q: How long have you worked with trainSharp, how has your training changed and what are the best things about having a coach?
NSJ: I have been with trainSharp for about three years now. I find having personal coaching really helps to pin point the weakness’s and help to overcome them. The team at trainSharp have been amazing. They really understand the goals and support me to help me succeed. The gains I have seen over the past few years are almost unbelievable. For example, my 400k race times came down by three hours in the first year! and I even managed to shave another two hours off last year…
… continued after advert
Q: Is the coaching just about numbers and efforts or other parts of the training/racing?
NSJ: A good coach should be a friend and someone who really gets you as a person, knows how you tick as much as knowing what your goals are. Yes, coaching is ultimately about numbers and results but 50% of what I do is about a positive mindset too. It’s important that the coaches understand what makes you tick to support this.
Q: Enjoying the turbo?
NSJ: At the beginning of lockdown, I decided that staying at home was the safest way for me to full-fill my training as I would end up covering miles and I didn’t want to be the one who adds to the burden on an already loaded NHS if I was to have an accident, so currently turbo all the way.
Q: What’s the hardest thing for you about the Lockdown?
NSJ: Not being able to get out and train properly. Obviously all racing has been cancelled and I had a big year planned this year.
Q: Besides cycling, what’s your biggest distraction as lock down continues?
NSJ: My wife’s to-do list! Seems to never get any smaller, do they ever, lol. But on a good note, it’s also meant that I have had some amazing quality time with my daughter too.
Q: What’s the bike that gets the most use by you and why?
NSJ: My Scott Foil, probably not the first ‘go-to’ ultra bike of choice but for me I love it. What with the positive handling it gives me, both trainSharp and I have worked a lot on getting the positioning right for me which works for hours in the saddle.
Q: What’s the weirdest thing you have seen since this crisis began
NSJ: When coming back from food shopping with my daughter, we saw a lady out jogging when she all of a sudden stopped and started doing star jumps in the middle of the street! Was quite random!
Q: Finally, where you do you enjoy riding the most in this country or abroad?
NSJ: I’m fortunate enough to live on the door step of the Sussex Downs and not a day goes by when I am not out on the bike and admiring the beautiful countryside, until now. But then nothing beats riding in Europe as it seems the traffic is more tolerant to cyclists and the tarmac much smoother.
Thanks to Nick for that insight into his lockdown and good luck for 2020
If you need further guidance or information about anything turbo or training related, 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
- Crit Result: Otley Support Races
- Crit Result: Dick Evans Memorial Summer Series 5
- RR Result: Midmar Road Race
- Crit Result: RCR FatCreations Goodwood Series 1
- Crit Result: King & Queen of the Bowl Series 5
- Crit Result: LDN/Brother UK Summer Crit Series 4
- Crit Results: CCA Twilight Zone Crits 10
- TT Result: Shropshire CCA 25m TT
- HC Result: 7 Hills CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Crawley Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Yorkshire Cycling Federation 50m TT
- TT Result: Witham Wheelers 25m TT
- TT Result: Cleveland Police 10m TT
- TT Result: Norwich ABC 10m TT
- TT Result: Port Sunlight Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Rotherham Wheelers 10m TT
- TT Result: Northampton & District CA 10m TT
- Crit Result: Lichfield CCC Youth Races 5
- Crit Result: Miltonduff Ladies Day of racing
- TT Result: Kent CA 10m TT
- Result: SCCA & WCTTCA 100m TT
- Result: VTTA North Lancs & Lakes 50m TT
- Result: Salty Summer crit series 3
- Result: Cleveland Police 25m TT
- Result: British Schools Championships
- Result: Reading CC 25m TT
- Result: Chippenham & District Wheelers 25m TT
- Result: Portsmouth Evening Circuits (July 1)
- Result: Paramount CRT Summer Road Race
- Result: Stockton Grand Prix (Mens)
- Result: Stockton Grand Prix (Women)
- TDF: Stage 1 – win for Yves Lampaert
- Result: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Result: Royal Navy & Marines CA 10m TT
- Result: City Road Club Hull 10m TT
- Result: Essex Roads 11.5m TT
- Result: Lichfield No Frills 2
- Result: Team LDN – Brother UK Summer Crit Series 3
- Result: Henstridge Circuit Races 4
- Result: Harvey Hadden Crit Series 5
Other News on VeloUK
- News: Shimano 105 Di2 Ribble Range
- News: Ben Healy wins Irish national time trial
- Events: Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix is back!
- News: Pedal Club Lunch, June ‘22
- Latest Podcast: Brother Cycling UK
- Commonwealth Games: UK Islands
- Commonwealth Games: Wales
- News: British Championships on TV
- Commonwealth Games: Team England
- Startlist: Stockton Grand Prix Women
- Preview: 2022 Cicle Classic Day 2
- News: Mildenhall Cycling Mini-Fest
- News: Scottish CX Champs for Dundee
- Events: Bath CC Women’s Road Race
- Startlist: 2022 CiCLE Classic (Women)
- Startlist Stockton Grand Prix Men
- Startlist: Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic
- Riders: British Road Championships
- 2022 Women’s Tour
- Next Week: Women’s Tour
- New Shoes Anyone?
- News: Sammie Stuart goes UCI!
- News: Brother UK Sponsors Biggest UK Races
- Scottish Team for Commonwealth Games
- Events: BikeStow Three-Day
- Startlists: Junior Road Championships 2022
- Feature: The Pedal Club Lunch May
- Barnsley Road Club Races This Sunday
- Sunday: Proper Northern Road Race Series 2
- This weekend: 48th Totnes Vire Two Day
- 2022 British Road Championships Venues
- TOUR SERIES: Round 3 (Sunderland) (Men)
- Startlist: Tour Series Round 1 Guisborough
- 2022 Tour Series Rider Squads Revealed
- News: Simon Yates to Vuelta a Asturias
- Events: Shrewsbury Sports Village
- News: 2022 Women’s CiCLE Classic Saved!
- Startlists: 2022 Rapha Lincoln GP
- Startlist: Oakenclough RR
- News: ŠKODA DSI Cycling Academy