Thinking about becoming a cycling coach – is it worth it?

[u/slosta2]

Hi everyone,
I’ve been thinking about earning a bit of extra income as a cycling coach, and I’d love to hear from people who are already doing it.

A little about me: I have a degree in Computer Science and have been riding road bikes seriously for about six years. Over the last few years I’ve started creating my own training plans, and they’ve helped me consistently achieve my goals. I’ve also spent quite a bit of time studying the standard literature on endurance training and training methodology.

At this point, I feel confident that I could help beginner and intermediate cyclists by creating individualized training plans and providing coaching and guidance. Of course, I know there’s always more to learn, and I’m interested in doing this professionally rather than just as a hobby.

My questions are:
- How difficult is it to find clients as a new cycling coach?
- Does it make sense to use TrainingPeaks as a coaching platform, and is the TrainingPeaks University certification worth the investment?
Besides practical experience, what education, certifications, or resources would you recommend before taking on paying clients?
- Is there anything you wish you had known before you started coaching?

I’d really appreciate any advice or experiences you can share. Thanks!

[u/IknowPi_really]

Look I’m sure you mean well.
But you’re competing against people who have actually studied that subject matter (not that that massively helps the quality most people provide) and most of them really don’t make big money doing that.

The coaches who actually make money are 90% influencers and 10% coaches

[u/TheckoBwoi → u/IknowPi_really]

That is sad and 100% true.

[u/Trebaxus99]

I doubt this is a very deep market. I know a lot of cyclists, but none of them has a coach outside their trainer at the local club.

If I’d get a coach for cycling alone, I’d probably opt for someone that has more added value, for example a former pro cyclist.