Charles "Gary" Hoffman

A native of Virginia I started racing seriously in 1974 and rose quickly to an elite level winning the Virginia state road championship in 1976 and qualifying for the 1976 US Olympic Road trials and participating in many top events in North America including the top race in America, the Red Zinger Classic. Sidelined in 1977 with a back injury I left US elite amateur racing only to return a few years later to local racing including regional road and criterium events. After age 35 I became active as a masters’ road racer-- road and criterium-- developing into a road sprinter, acquiring scores of Masters’ championships, wins and top placings both in New England and Virginia including State championships in road, criterium, cyclocross and track. 

Coaching

My coaching career began after seeing my major nemesis opponent in Virginia go from clueless on the bike to brilliant! I later found out that this athlete had begun coaching with Hunter Allen, who ultimately featured him and his success in the first edition of Training and Racing with a Power Meter. I subsequently joined the PCG Coaching Group and for 10 years I coached many athletes all over the world, from pros to recreational, achieving fitness and competition goals, from losing 20 to 30 pounds, to their first championship victory including scores of wins, podiums and 10 national championships in road and track, in the US and South Africa.

South Africa. For three years I was the program director of a three-day, three-part USA Cycling Beginning Racer Program resulting in numerous USAC athlete category upgrades and wins.  I’ve served as the lead coach in junior and club training camps and currently serve as a volunteer at the Rockville Velodrome from April thru September in: the weekly Junior Development Program and monthly Match Sprint Practice Session and Starts & Flying 200 Sessions. Additionally, my background in strength training allows me to guide the athlete towards maintaining and gaining overall and specific strength gains progressively and applied on the bike specifically to improve performance.

Notable Athletic Achievements

After the several years off competition, I returned to active masters cycling in 2016 and developed a keen interest in track events. From 2017 to the present, I’ve been on the USAC cycling Masters national track podium over 20 times; events including, mass start, time trials, team events and match Sprint. I won 2 USAC National Championships: Points Race in 2018 and the Match Sprint in 2021. Over 5 years, I was able to go from the slowest to the fastest, after barely making the cut in 2016 to being the fastest in the flying 200 in both 2021 and 2022. Also, I achieved 4 medals in UCI Masters Track World competition, including two Silver medals in Scratch Race and Team Pursuit. Additionally, I became a five-time USA IKLF kettlebell lifting Champion and in 2021 a two- time IKLF World Champion, in BOLT and Russian style lifting.

Coaching Philosophy

There's always room for dedicated athletes to improve. Surely there are obstacles to overcome but we first start with a vision--as clear a vision as possible even in the present tense. It’s important to imagine yourself, in the present tense, where you want to be. So defining your goal is the first step. Then we take a deep dive into where you are – an assessment – including a look into your fitness background and history. Then, together, we develop a plan to reach her goal. After the journey begins, we meet regularly to measure your activity and specifically evaluate your progress. Things happen. Life intervenes and so we make adjustments to your plan. If you keep your goal in mind the work required doesn't seem like work. It's part of the journey and the "process" Itself can become the reward.

Working with an experienced coach who believes in you, who encourages and gives you guidance along the way, is an unmeasurable asset. I see myself as a "player coach" who's been through and can relate to the many challenges faced on your athletic journey. With good listening and assessment, I will work hard to pinpoint the necessary adjustments needed to reach your goals--then it’s your job to execute to become your best!

Athlete testimonials:

Coached by the amazing Gary Hoffman, I won 6 national jerseys on the road and track thanks to him! I can honestly say Gary brought out the best in me.  -L.C.

After racing for a couple of years (as category 4), I wanted to give it my all in upcoming competition and decided to call up Peaks Coaching Group. After deciding to go with coach Charles Gary Hoffman I started my training and immediately began to see major gains in my cycling power; (before coaching) at a 30-minute criterium my average speed was 24.1 miles an hour and average power was 212 W; two months later I went back to the same course and my average speed was 26.2 mph and my average watts was 280! After only a couple of months of being trained by Coach Hoffman I saw these major gains! I would definitely recommend Peaks Coaching Group and especially Charles Gary Hoffman!  -B.B.

Six weeks prior to the South African national track championships I came down with severe bronchitis and suffered with chronic asthma. I knew it would be a long recovery — a huge disappointment considering the year I dedicated to achieving my goal of medaling at the championship. With the assistance of Gary and his KettlebellMax™ strength training system he was able to create a workout that would maintain the strength and power I developed during the season without the negative impact on my chronic illness. The week of the championship not knowing what to expect, I went in with fresh legs and an open mind; not only did I achieve my goal of medaling, I became the South African 35+ champion in Match Sprint, 1km TT and 3000 m pursuit; also, I medaled 2^nd and 3^rd place in the 20 km points and the 15 km scratch race respectively. Turns out the additional core strength through KettlebellMax™ and fresh legs was the advantage that I needed!  -A.C.

Thank you, Gary, so much for your time and patience working with me. You took me on as a client when I was a textbook example of lots of hard work with no direction. You explained and applied important concepts for me. Things like periodization, rest and recovery, time management and working towards goals and showed tremendous patience as I am sure I was a pain in the a** to teach. Additionally, you help me identify technical weaknesses and how to go about improving them. Additionally, you talked me through the labyrinth of charts, data and power info that was completely overwhelming to me. Lastly, I would like to say how much I appreciate the support and encouragement you readily gave me when I was frustrated and disappointed. Even when I did not believe in myself, I think you generally did. And now I'm a USA Masters National Champion and hold the national record for 60 – 64 men team pursuit thanks!  -D.H.

In the few short months that I started working with you, I turned consistent pack finishes into consistent podium finishes and I quickly upgraded to category 3. I especially appreciate the detailed analysis and discussions we had over power data — that is stuff that I couldn't have gotten out of a book. You pointed me down the right track by recognizing my strengths and teaching me to exploit them — in 20 years of riding I didn’t   realize that I was a sprinter! Additionally, anyone can benefit from the training efficiency that your coaching provides – with a full-time job and family commitments, I got the most out of my limited time. Most importantly I want to say thanks for taking the time to meet with me and my wife personally to ride the Jefferson Cup race course with us; that interaction meant a lot, especially to her (who wasn’t even a client!} and we went on to nail down husband-and-wife podium finishes, 1st and 2^nd, in our respective races!  -C.P.

Before I started coaching with Gary, I was a win-less, unfocused category 4! After coaching, I became stronger, faster and smarter and began to win races even while moving up categories. I became my race team captain and the strength training that was prescribed transformed me, resulting in noticeable improved power in the core, upper body and legs; also, my race finishes improved in all disciplines! I'm now a category 2 in cyclocross and mostly race Masters and Cat 3 on the road.  -C.S.

Hey Gary, you are a genius! It was my best CX race ever even though I just got second place. I got there early, rode the course several times and had a good warm-up on the trainer; it was 21° but I felt warm. I thought of the race in 3 parts; I started as hard as I could and found myself leading the entire field of about 50 riders. After half a lap I overcooked a turn and crashed. I got back up and was able to keep passing people like crazy. I could see the good guys in my age group, but I crashed again. This time my computer fell off so I just had to rely on my training drills of accelerating as hard as I could out of each corner. I made progress again and in the last lap, I caught my team sprinter and the strongest guy. I was bumping shoulders but could not get around him in the tight turns. We went over the final barriers pretty close. It was a true sprint finish! I beat my teammate by half a wheel to get second. I was pretty nauseous after the race but feel better today. What a good year! 2 State Championships wins and a podium. Thanks for the great coaching!  -CR