Craig Nunes

  My name is Craig Nunes and I contacted you around 7months ago inquiring about a coach that would be appropriate for my goals and cycling ability.  I am 41 years old and have been racing for 6 years of which 3 of them I have been coached.  I am currently a Cat 2 and wanted to take my fitness to the next level along with balancing a full-time job, wife, and two kids.  You recommended a new coach on your staff, Michael Scherer, and I subsequently interviewed and hired him.

    I am extremely happy with Michael's coaching.  He has a very positive attitude along with a wealth of racing experience which he is able to pass on in meaningful ways.  One example of this is early on I told him I was getting dropped on the local "coffee shop recovery ride".... since they were going too hard for my recovery.  He laughed and told a story about riding with Chris Wherry in Colorado in the early season and Chris would stay within his prescribed power and would drop off the pace.....and later that year he won the US Pro Championships.  Now....I am no Chris Wherry....however the story helped ingrain the importance of sticking to a plan for future goals.  Michael has the knack for doing this on a regular basis.

    My training has also been top notch.  Michael makes adjustments to my schedule when needed because of family, work...etc.  The adjustments are made quickly and without hesitation.  Equally important, when these changes are made he makes you feel it is not a big deal and all would be just fine.  Athletes as you know can be pretty anal about changes which they feel may compromise their training.  Michael never conveys that the changes will compromise training.

    I just completed my first Cat 2 event at the Valley of the Sun Stage Race(Feb 16-18th).  This early season event was planned as good training and my goal fitness period would be middle of March/April.  Too my surprise I felt phenomenal and pulled out a very good TT(left time on the course since I went a bit too conservative) and placed 18th and my time would of put me 32nd in the Pro/1.  The boring high cadence work we did paid of BIG TIME as I was ticking over the pedals so well and passed my 30 sec, 1min, and caught my 1:30man at the line.  When I would pass these guys the sound of my disc compared to their was drastic......it sounded twice as fast.  The next day was a 90 mile road race....mind you I have only raced greater than 75 miles twice.  After 2 laps the 110 field was shelled down to 25 and I was there!  Again my cadence was higher than most on the climbs and kept me fresh.....I finished 10th!   The next day at the Criterium my only goal was to finish and keep my GC placing as I was now 12th.  With 5 to go they announced a $100 prime and coming into the back straight a team had it lined out....I thought it was not so fast so I jumped from about 15 wheels back and hit the two right hand turns before the start/finish straight.....I easily held off the pack and added some $$$ for the drive home.  The weekend was way better than I had imagined! 

    I wanted to write you this note because I am so happy with Michael and he deserves a lot of Kudos!  I can not wait to see what the rest of the year brings.....

  Thanks,  

-Craig Nunes
Rock Solid Cycling
President