Gary Hoffman - Gary Hoffman is a former full-time amateur cyclist throughout the continental United States and Canada, who began racing in 1974 and has continued racing as a master in his 30s, 40s and now 50s. In 1976 he was the Virginia State Rd. champion, qualified for the United States Olympic trials, and competed in the prestigious Red Zinger classic stage race. He is the 2007 reigning Virginia State 50+ road champion with over 30 career wins and six state championship titles over a 30 year period.

As a small business owner and father of five children he has learned how to get results while juggling family and business on a busy schedule with limited hours to train and an often reduced racing schedule. He became an early advocate of using a periodized approach to training and is a strong advocate of developing a team approach to racing in amateur clubs. His specialty is road sprinting and believes that every cyclist can and should improve their sprint. While his specialty is on the road and criteriums, he also enjoys racing cyclocross and track racing on the velodrome. In 2007 Gary finished eighth the US Masters Nationals points race at the Trexeltown velodrome.

Gary began training with power in the 2006 racing season after personally observing coached athletes of Hunter Allen and the peaks coaching group motoring away from the field! After experiencing the benefits of using a coach with CyclingPeaks software under a power- trained system in 2007, he has begun to share his knowledge and experience as a USA certified cycling coach with Hunter Allen and the peaks coaching group.

Gary's strengths as a coach are in 1) racing tactics and strategies, 2) training on limited time, 3) using power and a customized and periodized approach to reach unique goals in your racing season and 4) how to work with teammates to achieve group success.

As a rider he is just as often in a team support role as being a designated sprinter and enjoys both. Those experiences are transferable and can be quite useful in the communication process and the development of the athlete who wants to advance more quickly.

Positive Bicycle Racing Team Achievements:

1. Schwinn/BC Wheelers: in the mid-19 70s Gary was one of three teammates to qualify for the US road Olympic trials. He and his teammates traveled and raced to many top three in top five road qualifying events.
2. New England masters racing team: in the late 80's and early 90's, the NEMRT became the #1 Masters team in New England in 35+ events with 10-15+ race wins spread out over 5-6 riders per year including the New England road and criterium championships and one masters national criterion champion, Mark Hagen.
3. Richbrau/ Contes masters teen: in 1999-2000 more than 10+ wins were spread out over 4-5 racers with Gary winning the Masters Omni 40+ then Bar 40+ in this time period.
4. CRC/Extreme masters racing: numerous wins were achieved in the 50 plus category including 59-year-old John Hackett who won the Amphibious Assault criterium, the last race win of his career in a breakaway sprint finish.
5. DC Velo: numerous wins were achieved in the 50 plus squad which became the number one ranked team in the mid Atlantic region. Extensive racing strategy was employed in support of two 50+ Bar champs in 2005 and 2006.
6. Team Natures Path/3Sports: in 2007 numerous wins were spread amongst four racers in the 50 plus category including two road titles, two criterium titles and some brilliant riding in support of Virginia BAR and Omni Champion Dennis Raineer.

Gary believes in setting specific written goals and the power of the mind in athletic achievement. "Mental preparation is equally as important as physical preparation and you have to get yourself into a position to win i.e. you can't start your sprint from 10 positions back at 200 m and expect to pass everyone at the line! Also you can't win if you get dropped from the field, or on a hill or after crashing on a corner. You must learn how to ride in a pack, conserve your energy, and how and when to attack. Above all you must 'believed to achieve', and truly know that you can win in order to win. "

Also Gary believes, particularly in amateur racing, that you must "share the wealth"; that is "give your teammates the opportunity to win at least as often as you would like them to give you an opportunity to win".