Margaret Kilby

  I highly recommend BJ Basham as a Cycling Coach and Bike Fitter. BJ has helped me immensely this 2005 racing season and has brought my training and abilities to a higher level.

  I started using BJ in February 2005. I had used coaches before, but found that they used a “cookie cutter” approach to training.

  From the beginning, BJ tried to zero in on my weaknesses. One particular weakness I have is lack of confidence in my abilities, and being able to calm myself down before and during a race. Even before writing up my first training plan, BJ gave me required reading to help with my pre-race jitters!

  As soon as I received my first training plan from BJ, I KNEW I would no longer get “cookie cutter” training plans. My first training plan was 6 pages! I liked how BJ gave detailed instructions for each workout, explained why I was doing the workout, and explained all the terminology used in the plan (for example, wind-ups and jumps.)

  BJ is extremely knowledgeable concerning training with power. I have a Power Tap, and all my workouts target Power thresholds, not Heart Rate thresholds. Using power in my training has improved my racing immensely. My best race is the Time Trial - this year I bettered my last year Time Trial time by over 1:30 (I received the Silver Medal in my age group!)

  I find BJ very accessible. When a question comes up about training, when I have to alter my training, I get a response back from BJ immediately. For example, last week I decided at the last minute to race in Delaware on Sunday. BJ quickly “tweaked” my training plan to get me race ready.

  Also, I find BJ good at diagnosing problems. He really wants updates on completed training sessions, and will listen and look carefully for any problems. After a race, I will send BJ my Power Tap data file. He’ll analyze it, and consequently explain to me what I need to work on next. For example, my Power Tap data from the Delaware race indicated that I was slowing so much in the corners, that I had to put out extreme power to catch up, which I could not sustain. What to do? More practice on cornering!

  Finally, he helped me set up my new TT bike. BJ did a bike fitting on both my road and TT bikes. But this was especially helpful for my TT bike. I am sure the fit helped with my better times in the TT.

  After working with BJ for the entire 2005 season, I can honestly recommend his coaching and fitting skills to anyone who want to get to that next level of performance.

-Margaret Kilby
Washington, DC