A personal coaching & consulting enterprise, forged specifically for individuals with goals in ultra-distance cycling endeavours.
About Acier
Acier was conceived by Samuel Thompson through an enthusiasm for ultra-distance cycling, a curiosity for what it takes to go further, faster, and a desire to help others accomplish rewarding, challenging goals in a responsible, sustainable manner.
Samuel’s curiosity for what drives us to tackle longer distances has informed an open, collaborative approach to coaching which is forged through experience and alloyed with emerging sports science to address the specific, unique demands of ultra-distance cycling.
Responsibility and sustainability are central to Samuel’s values. These are applied jointly through integrating sport sustainably in to each individual’s wider lives and raising an awareness of the impact that participating in often consumable-heavy events can have on our environment. Acier encourages and provides advice on making sustainable, responsible choices at each stage of the process.
How long is ‘Ultra’?
Acier does not view ‘Ultra’ as an arbitrary distance or time figure. Instead, the challenge of ultra-distance is considered as the ability to maintain a strong and consistent aerobic effort for an extended period of time.
Events can range from hours (‘000s km) to days/weeks (‘0000s km), be competitive or non, and comprise a variety of surfaces. This may be a single day Audax ride, a multi-day bikepacking trip or a cross-continent race such as the Transcontinental Race or Tour Divide.
Obstacles to success surpass the purely physical. Logistics, psychology and equipment all play vital roles. Proper preparation for all aspects is crucial.
Acier Foundations
Flexible
A coaching and consultancy proposal shaped to your requirements.
Services adaptable according to required levels of input and budget.
No borders or boundaries. Open to all regardless of location and background.
Individual
We are all unique and respond differently to training stimulus.
Goals and objectives, along with the motivation to succeed, are personal.
Athletes are people first and training is considered within an integrated, whole-person context.
Specific
A focus on the unique, multi-faceted demands of ultra-distance cycling events.
A training philosophy & methodology tailored to prepare you optimally for your personal goals/objectives.
Informed by scientific principles & research, driven by experience.
Acier Services
Whether you require full season coaching, are looking for guidance when preparing for a single event or need advice around a specific issue, Acier can help.
Acier’s services are designed to suit your personal requirements and are flexible according to the level of input.
An introductory consultation is offered prior to committing to the Stainless or Full Season services.
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A premium coaching service offering a superior level of ongoing engagement, feedback and review.
Personalised annual training plan and daily training sessions delivered for individual goal events/objectives.
Continuous review and adjustments made, along with regular communication.
(Minimum commitment of 6 months)
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Defining goals, setting objectives and scheduling events.
Personalised annual training plan and daily training sessions delivered for individual goal events/objectives.
Regular oversight, analysis & feedback.
(Minimum commitment of 6 months)
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Individual coaching consultations, driven by athlete requirements.
Advice offered on a range of issues related to ultra-distance cycling.
All aspects of physical, psychological and logistical preparation can be discussed.
Samuel Thompson
The Coach
ABCC Level 3 Cycling Coach.
TrainingPeaks Level 2 Coach Accreditation.
Chronicler of experiences, both successes and learnings: https://samuel88thompson.wixsite.com/mysite
Proponent of a growth mindset to coaching practices, informed through engaging in scientific research and continuous development.
Proficient French speaker.
The Cyclist
10 years experience of self-supported bicycle touring and participation in Audax UK events:
3x Super Randonneur Award
5x Randonneur 1,000 Award
2021 – AUK Inverness 1200 – 76hrs
2014 – Santanader – Le Havre
2015 – Inverness – London
2018 – Girona – Dieppe
The Racer
7 years experience participating in ultra-distance, self-supported cycling events. Notable results include:
2017 - TransAtlantic Way Race - 2,500km - 9th
2018 - Three Peaks Bike Race - 1,600km - 1st
2019 - All Points North - 900km - 5th
2019 - Around Norway - 3,400km - 1st
2019 - Transpyrenees Race No1 - 1,600km - 2nd
2022 – GBDURO22 - 2,000km / 28,600m - 2nd
2023 - MittelgebirgeClassique - 1,060km / 22,740m – 28th
2023 – Pure Peak Grit (FKT) – 600km / 13,500m – 32h:28m:34s
2023 – Transpyrenees Race No3 – 1,800+km / 40,000m – 6th
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“Samuel has been an inspiration to me in self-supported racing. He’s seen the good bits and the bad, and I’ve learned a great deal from him on both the physical and the mental side of the sport.”
4th TCR No9, 1st Around Norway 2021
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“Samuel has consistently shown that he knows what it takes to perform well in ultra-distance races. His meticulous preparation and planning, both of body and bike, means he is often at the 'pointy end' of multi-day events. I'm excited to see him pass on everything he has learned to riders looking to improve their own performance. I'm confident that aspiring racers can benefit from his thoughtfulness and experience.”
Race Coordinator - Transcontinental Race , Trans Pyrenees Race & The Accursed Race
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“Samuel rode the TransAtlanticWay in 2017 when ultra-distance bikepacking racing was still in its infancy and everyone was on a steep learning curve. He has been one of the leading lights in our sport ever since and I look forward to following him in translating this experience in to success as a coach"
TransAtlanticWay organiser, veteran of TCR, TABR & Trans Siberian Extreme
FAQs
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Finding the right coach for you will depend a lot on what you want to achieve from the process and aligning this with a coach who has the skills and experience to support you on this path.
If your primary focus is on ultra-distance then Acier can offer a uniquely customised service, built upon extensive experience in this domain and informed through applying scientific principles and emerging research to the specificities of ultra-distance.
We understand however that it is not a simple decision to make just by reading a website, so Acier offers a complimentary introductory consultation before any commitment is made to the Stainless or Full Season services. Contact us or email Samuel@acier.cc to arrange.
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No matter your individual ultra-distance goals, Acier can help you achieve them. Even in competitive event, ultra-distance success if almost always determined by internal, controllable factors so we emphasise process goals and mastering those things within our control. So, whether you are undertaking a personal challenge to complete a certain distance for the first time or want to compete at the sharp end of a cross-continent race, Acier is here for you.
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A bicycle.
The rest is optional, but can add a lot to the training process. What can be measured can be improved, after all. A heart rate monitor and/or power meter will help will executing specific training sessions and provide valuable feedback to monitor progress.
Whether you perform your training indoors or outdoors is also your choice, depending on equipment available and personal preferences.
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A basic TrainingPeaks account is available for free and is Acier’s favoured mode of delivering training plans and individual sessions for the Stainless and Full Season services.
For the Stainless service, a Premium TrainingPeaks subscription is included in the price of the package.
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A complimentary introductory consultation is offered before any commitment is made to the Stainless or Full Season services. Just send a message via the Contact page or email Samuel@acier.cc to arrange.
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Firstly, I applaud your originality – we celebrate individuality and specificity at Acier!
To pose that question, send a message via the Contact page or email Samuel@acier.cc.
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