John Baxter
Roanoke, Virginia
PCG Elite Coach
PCG Certified Cycling Power Coach
USAC Level 2 Coach
USAC Power Certified Coach
President of Constellation Cycling, a USAC sanctioned member club
Previous Vice President of the Carolinas Cycling Association (CCA)
Previous CCA Coordinator of Junior Programs
USAC Certified Race Director
Collegiate, regional, national and international race experience.
Bachelor of Business Administration, James Madison University
Coaching Focus: Road and Gravel Cycling, Masters, Criteriums, Race Tactics, Cyclocross, MTB, Gravel Grinder, and Grand Fondo. Specialty area includes time-constrained Master’s athletes.
Background
Born and raised in Virginia, I was a competitive motocross racer in my youth and transitioned to ‘non-motorized’ road racing and mountain biking in college. As a beginner racer, I was fortunate to have access to a very supportive cycling club and to benefit from the knowledge of more experienced riders. They essentially taught me how to race my bike. While primarily a local and regional racer, I did advance all the way to a Belgian kermesse team.
My entire family enjoys bike racing, and I can be found at a cycling event somewhere across the country on any given weekend. My wife and daughter are active Road, CX, and MTB racers. I have organized both Road and CX clinics tailored to the specific needs of women and juniors. I fully understand and appreciate the resource constraints that riders face as they approach their training regimen. The ability to fit training in around family, a demanding work schedule, and other priorities is something I have done for years.
Coaching Philosophy
A lengthy racing career has provided me with insight into what it takes to improve as a racer. My strength is recognizing what each racer needs to focus on to reach their goals.
I have been so fortunate to have had amazing coaches and mentors throughout my racing and coaching career, and I want to share that knowledge and experience with others. Being a racer, a coach, and a mentor is my passion. I want to see all athletes succeed. It is extremely important to me that the athletes I work with not only enjoy the process but also feel that their time with me has proven beneficial and that they have become the best that they can be. This is accomplished through a collaborative process of goal setting, planning, and highly efficient work.
I offer a no-nonsense but supportive approach to coaching, providing optimized performance and tailored to the athlete’s individual needs.
