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.

    • 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)

    Find out more

    • 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)

    Find out more

    • 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.

    Find out more

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

  • Contributor to Dotwatcher.cc.

  • Possessor of BSc & MSc degrees, skilled in interpreting and interrogating research literature.

  • 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:

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

  • 2022 - Transpyrenees Race No2 - DNF

  • ​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

  • 2024 - El Piri - 770km / 19,000m - 4th

  • 2024 - Transibérica - 2,700km / 35,000m - 8th

Media References:

DotWatcher: Five Minutes with Samuel Thompson

Restrap: 5 Common Myths About Ultra-Race Training

Cycling Demystified Podcast: Ultra Distance Preparation - Part 1 & Part 2

Bicycling: Century Training Mistakes Cyclists Make and How to Avoid Them

Testimonials

  • "Since working with Sam I can see a clear improvement in my performance. His experience in long-distance events and his specific training approach can supply you with the sessions and knowledge that enables you to progress. This is the first time I have worked with a coach, and I benefit a lot from having a long-term vision of goals and performance. This is really motivating. And Sam does also take care that I do have enough recovery. Something I have always had problems with."

    Lucas Becker

    1st Race Across France 2,500 2024, 2nd The Unknown Race 2024, 1st Trans Pyrenees Race 2023, 1st MittelgebirgeClassique 2022/3

  • "In just 6 months, Sam has taken me from an aging intermittent weekend warrior to a position where I can feel confident in facing the challenge of my first Transcontinental Race. His passion for continuous improvement has resulted in a highly personalised, adaptive and holistic programme which has proved highly effective and also efficient in a time-poor environment. Sam doesn’t just provide a training plan; he offers consistent monitoring and feedback, motivation in terms of accountability and is extraordinarily generous in sharing his detailed knowledge and resources from the world of sports science. Sam is not only a coach, he is a very successful and respected ultra-racer. His experience is invaluable in terms of targeted and specific preparation. With Sam guiding and challenging me, I know there is even more to come . I cannot recommend him highly enough."

    Norman Lomax

    Transcontinental Race No10 Cap #229, All Points North 2024 (oldest ever finisher)

  • “Sam took me on as a complete newbie to cycling training, with an ambition to do a 2 week tour, covering 1,600km. As a runner I’m familiar with intervals, but translating that to a bike was a big shift. Sam was a great mix of tough and supportive. He always provided me with full and detailed rationale for what I was doing - what its intended result was, and how that was a benefit - often including research articles. Coaching was not limited to just cycling sessions - Sam takes a more holistic approach and encourages strength sessions to bolster and support riding. The result of this was that the tour I did was really fun. I always felt great on the bike, and I could enjoy the ride. I’d hugely recommend Sam."

    Oliver Pound

    ‘Complete newbie’ to a 1,600km, 14 day self-supported tour across Europe

  • “Working with Sam has allowed me to benefit from his experience, insight and attention to detail. Not only has he got me in terrific shape physically, he has helped me think through the fine details around fuelling, sleep strategy and my set up. It's this holistic approach that I've really appreciated, and having someone who is knowledgeable to bounce ideas off of has been a real benefit to me. I'm excited to see how I can continue to learn from Sam and start delivering improved race performances”

    David Ayre

    Race Coordinator - Transcontinental Race, Trans Pyrenees Race & The Accursed Race

  • “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.”

    Will Vousden

    1st The Unknown Race 2024, 4th Transcontinental Race No9, 1st Around Norway 2021

  • "Samuel mixes science-based research and theory with expert empirical consultation that only comes with being an active part of the ultra scene. He's given me focus and accountability I need to get physically and mentally stronger in a way that is sustainable and fits around my life."

    Will Ward

    All Points North 2021, Wild West Country 2023, The Perfidious Albion 2024

  • "Train for Trainings sake?! Not with Sam. Every session has a purpose, the reasoning behind the sessions and the follow up reports after the sessions are invaluable. Little gems of advice are always thrown in, helping you to understand why and what you need to get from them. Sam has taken me to some events I would not of even thought of as part of my training program, pushing the boundaries. Questions asked? Hell yeah! But as with all his pedigree behind him he knew I could handle them. Resulting in a big spike in fitness and positive energy."

    Nick Fowell

    2nd Race Joe Barr Unsupported 2024, 2nd TransAtlanticWay 2024

  • "I came to Sam having ridden a number of long distance events over the last few years but never feeling fully satisfied that I trained with sufficient focus or specificity. This has quickly changed since working together - I have seen material improvements in my performance and I now have total confidence that each training session is designed and scheduled with a laser focus on optimising my performance. Equally important to me is that Sam’s approach to my training has always been collaborative and he is very happy to be flexible and adapt to the other demands in my life - this means that training never feels like a chore or that it’s taking over my life! Sam’s impact on my riding has extended well beyond just my training though - he has drawn on his substantial experience to offer me advice on approach and strategy to racing. I recently rode Bright Midnight and felt that, with the benefit of Sam’s advice, I was able to execute my ride better than I ever have before. I finished the race feeling both satisfied with my performance and excited to see what we can achieve in the future. I highly recommend working with Sam (after all, how else are you going to find out what words of wisdom he sends to someone to make them ride through 15 hours of Norwegian rain with a smile on their face?)."

    Jim Armshaw

    Bright Midnight 2024, Transiberica 2024

  • "I first met Sam at TPRNo1 in 2019 when he had stormed to 2nd place and I had just scraped in within the time limit. I was struck by his easy nature and his willingness to share his experience and enthusiasm about long distance racing with me. I went on to complete TCR in 2022, but after a rough year in 2023 where I battled with training and health issues, I decided I needed a coach in 2024 to help me ride the Tour Divide. Sam was the obvious choice - not only was he on top of all the technical aspects of ultra racing - training plans, bike set up, strategy, etc - he helped enormously with my mental side. Dishing out encouragement and tough love when required, he helped me get onto the start line in Banff in great shape and, more importantly, with the belief that I could finish. Ultra racing requires great mental capacity and endurance, and during the tough times on Tour Divide, Sam’s voice often came into my head reminding me to appreciate what I was doing and where I was - something that is easily forgotten during racing. I have had some fairly extreme emotional reactions to long distance racing, and have been challenging to work with on occasion, but I can’t thank Sam enough for his continued support and encouragement despite these challenges and I look forward to working with him towards the next event, whatever that will be!"

    Joss Ridley

    Tour Divide 2024, Italy Divide 2024, TCR No8, TPR No1

FAQs

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

    • 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.

Acier.cc on Instagram

 

Wednesday is a day for sharing at @acier.cc, with recommendations offered up for further reading, listening or viewing on a particular ultra related topic, event or issue. Despite possessing a composition very much ill-equipped for such an endeavour
In many sports we often see suffering, overexertion and pain glorified to an extent that the consequences are largely negative. On the one hand, some may be put off from involving themselves in the first place. On the other, highly motivated individu
💥Friday Favourite Five💥 Every Friday @acier.cc puts the spotlight on an ultra-distance cyclist to find out five of their favourite things associated with this eccentric endeavour. The rules: one sentence to plug yourself and one sentence to answe
Each Monday, @acier.cc tackles a piece of received ultra-related ‘wisdom’ or bro-science with a blunt, sometimes hot, but always reasoned take. Someone recently told me that they felt that by doing a few weeks of strength training in the
💥Friday Favourite Five💥 Every Friday @acier.cc puts the spotlight on an ultra-distance cyclist to find out five of their favourite things associated with this eccentric endeavour. The rules: one sentence to plug yourself and one sentence to answe
Wednesday is a day for sharing at @acier.cc, with recommendations offered up for further reading, listening or viewing on a particular ultra related topic, event or issue. Do you enjoy riding in cold conditions? Me neither. That doesn’t mean i
Reliable research can help to progress performance in a sporting discipline. Understanding the factors that define success can lead to recommendations applicable to us all. Without this, we run the risk of living in an n=1 bubble, perhaps coming acro
The rules: one sentence to plug yourself and one sentence to answer each question (creative punctuation allowed). This week, (re) strap in, our guest may have recently featured on @bikepackingcom, but he has assured me that appearing on FFF is the t
Each Monday, @acier.cc tackles a piece of received ultra-related ‘wisdom’ or bro-science with a blunt, sometimes hot, but always reasoned take. There is precious little research on ultra-distance cycling, even less for self-supported eve
This Monday, @peak_bikefitting tackles a piece of received ultra-related bikefitting ‘wisdom’ or bro-science with a blunt, sometimes hot, but always reasoned take. I often hear it assumed that a bike fit is for people who get paid to cyc
💥Friday Favourite Five💥 Every Friday @acier.cc puts the spotlight on an ultra-distance cyclist to find out five of their favourite things associated with this eccentric endeavour. The rules: one sentence to plug yourself and one sentence to answe
Wednesday is a day for sharing at @acier.cc, with recommendations offered up for further reading, listening or viewing on a particular ultra related topic, event or issue. It’s the time of year when many of us are considering our plans for wha

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