My name is Rob and I am the founder of Hillside Coaching and was set up from the passion I have for Cycling. It started as a child riding my bike around the garden, out on the bike with my Dad and has developed over the years.
My first clear memory of professional cycling was watching Le Tour de France in 1991 and seeing Miguel Induráin, of Team Banesto, take on Greg Lemond (the big favourite) and despite all the doubters he went on and won. This started his journey to dominance at Le Tour de France, with 5 consecutive wins (‘91 to ‘95) & 2 Giro d'Italia’s and ignited a deep passion in me and has ensured I have never missed a Le Tour de France since.
To start a cycle coaching business, share my passion with others, help guide them on their journey and work towards their successes, will mean Hillside Coaching is a success.
My playground….
It all started…
In 2016 I decided it was time to do something new and take on a challenge, that at the time I seriously questioned whether or not I could complete it, the Prudential Ride London 100.
To give a bit of context as to why this was such a challenge I give you exhibit A………
This was where my journey began, one that took me from a 17.5st (111kg) sedentary office worker to an extremely active 11st (70kg) cyclist, who has represented Great Britain twice at the UCI Gran Fondo World Championships (‘18 & ‘19), qualified as a coach and become a part time runner.
The first time I got back on a bike, my passion for taking part in the sport I enjoyed watching came flooding back, the freedom and excitement was exhilarating.
My journey has been definitely been one of ups and downs, but I have never lost my love for being on the bike. I realised in the last 18 month that I have an opportunity to share my experiences and help others realise their goals. It also made me think back to when I was a teenager, the joy I experienced studying PE & Sports Science and how happy I felt when coaching others.
What’s your next challenge?
Qualifications
British Cycling Level 1 Cycle Coach
Active IQ Level 2 Gym Instructor
Active IQ Level 3 Personal Trainer
Active IQ Nutritional Advisor
Member of Register for Exercise Professionals
A-Level Physical Education & Sport Science
HND in Physical Education & Sports Science
Palmares
2016
March 20th - bought my first road bike - Giant TCR Advanced 3
March 20th - First Ride - 23 miles - 17.5st
April 2nd - Cobbler Classic Sportive - 43miles
June 4th - Ridgeway Rouleur Sportive - 89miles
July 16th - Stratford Tempest Sportive - 100miles
July 31st - Ride London 100 Sportive - 100miles - 13.5st
September 2nd to 15th - London to Milan Cycling Holiday - 934miles
October 3rd - Hit by a Car on a training ride, no broken bones but 6mths of physio to resolve lower back whiplash
Total for 2016 = 3,039.9miles
2017
January - Bought my second road bike - Canyon Aeroad CFSLX 8.0 Di2
January - Started light training on rollers as part of physio recovery
February 26th - Rawlinson Bracket Sportive - 60miles
April 30th - Tour de Yorkshire Sportive - 62miles
May 6th/7th - Belgium Cycling Holiday - 115miles
May 13th/14th - London Revolution Sportive - 190miles
June - Change of Diet, started tracking using MyFitnessPal
June - Bought an indoor turbo - Wahoo Kickr
June - Indoor training began using TrainerRoad & Zwift
September 24th - Velo Birmingham - 100miles
Total for 2017 = 5,161miles
2018
January 28th - 1st 200km+ ride - 126miles
February 24th - Zwift National Championships 127th - 43miles
March - Joined Warwick Lanterne Rouge Cycle Club
April 17th - Cotswold Spring Classic Sportive - 65miles
April 21st - Ridgeway Rouleur Sportive - 91miles
April 25th to 30th - Mallorca Cycling Holiday
April 28th - Mallorca 312 Sportive - 200miles
May - British Cycling 4th Category Racing Licence
May 22nd - Silverstone Race Track Ride
June 3rd - Tour of Cambridgeshire UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Qualification Race 36th place & World Championship Qualification - 80 miles 10.5st
June 14th - Ride with Tom Pidcock (UCI Cyclocross Junior, U23 World Champion & Team Wiggins Pro Cyclist)
June 16th - Day in neutral service vehicle at Ovo Women's Tour of Britain
August - Article in Healthy Food Guide, as their "Weight Loss Star"
August 3rd - Crash, no broken bones but shoulder impingement, road rash & tendon damage in left middle finger
August 26th to September 1st - Haute Route Alps 7 day stage race, including individual time trial
September 2nd - UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Varese, Italy 185th - 78miles
September 9th - Royal Leamington Spa Road Race - DNF due to puncture
October 6th - Richard Kell Memorial Series Round 1 Cat 4, Crit Race at Dalton Barracks 13th place - 25miles
October 13th - Richard Kell Memorial Series Round 2 Cat 4, Crit Racing at Dalton Barracks 4th place - 25miles
October 20th - Richard Kell Memorial Series Round 3 Cat 4, Crit Racing at Dalton Barracks 11th place - 25miles
November 2nd - Ride with George Bennett (UCI World Tour Pro Cyclist with Team Jumbo-Visma & 2018 top 10 finish at Giro d'Italia)
November 3rd - Richard Kell Memorial Series Round 4 Cat 4, Crit Racing at Dalton Barracks 7th place - 25miles
British Cycling Racing Results 2018 = 2 top 10 finishes - 7th & 4th = 9 British Cycling Race points
Total for 2018 = 8,040miles
2019
February 16th - ART Winter Crit Series Round 3 Cat 4, Crit Racing at Dalton Barracks 10th place - 25miles
February 23rd - ART Winter Crit Series Round 4 Cat 4, Crit Racing at Dalton Barracks 4th place - 25miles
March - Qualified as a Gym Instructor
March 9th - Milton Keynes Bowl March Circuit Series Round 2 Cat 3 & 4, Crit Racing at Milton Keynes 25th place - 25miles (working for the team to close breakaways and disrupt the front when our team attacked)
April - Qualified as a Personal Trainer
April 11th to 14th - Mallorca Cycle Holiday with Warwick Lanterne Rouge Cycling Club - 200miles
April 27th - Oxfordshire Road Race League, Road Race at Dalton Barracks DNF due to weather conditions - 18/35miles
May - Qualified as a British Cycling Cycle Coach
May 15th - ART 7 Take3 Summer Series Round 2 Cat 4, Crit Racing at Dalton Barracks 1st place - 25miles
May 15th - Category 3 British Licence obtained
June 2nd - Tour of Cambridgeshire UCI Gran Fondo World Championship Qualification Race 34th place & World Championship Qualification - 100miles
June 29th - Coast 2 Coast in a day, Seascale to Whitby - 150miles
August 4th - Ride London 100 with the WLRCC Race Team - 100miles
September 1st - UCI Gran Fondo World Championships Poznan, Poland 103rd - 91miles
September 30th - Blenheim Palace Half Marathon - 13.1miles
British Cycling Racing Results 2019 (24th June) = 3 top 10 finishes - 1st, 4th & 10th = 17 British Cycling Race points, moved from Cat 4 to Cat 3
Total for 2019 = 4,941miles
2020
January 12 - Draycote Water 10km
February 9 - Draycote Water Half Marathon - Postponed due to bad weather
February 22 - Rawlinson Bracket - supporting SADS - 87kms
Races Cancelled due to Covid19
April 12 - Draycote Water Half Marathon (postponed from Feb)
June 5 - Outlaw Bowood Half Ironman
July 12 - Ironman UK
September 6 - Warwick Town Crit
October 11 - Oxford Half Marathon
Totals for 2020 =
5,563miles Cycling
684miles Running
51miles Swimming
2021
April 11 - Moreton Morell Duathlon
June 20 - Outlaw Nottingham Half
July 4 - Ironman UK
August 22 to 29 - Haute Route Alps
September 12 - Outlaw Bowood Half
Totals for 2021 (so far) =
5,984miles Cycling
363miles Running
77miles Swimming