Cyclo-Cross, training and technique, third edition:
Simon Burney. Velo Press 2007. Paperback, £13.99. ISBN -13: 978-1-934030-05-9.
I WAS SITTING in the Departure Lounge of Marco Polo airport,
Venice after the 2008 world cyclo-cross championships in nearby Treviso.
Every lap of the Elite race had been exciting with ever-changing patterns
in leadership. Lars Boom had won the Elites, Hanka Kupfernagel dominated
the women's race. But my thoughts constantly returned to what I'd have
done to redress the somewhat dismal performances of others carrying
their national colours, along with the hopes of their sponsors and supporters.
Focused, cross-specific coaching would have surely helped with their
preparations. The previous evening an American fan had asked if I could
recommend a good book on coaching cyclo-cross. The two I could think
of were useful but long out of print. Anyway, the written word is a
world away from working with riders, analysing their strengths and weaknesses
and combining numerous issues and individual characteristics in order
to optimise results. Moreover, in bike racing education takes numerous
forms and a good book written by someone with experience could help
to avoid costly errors.
At the check-in desk I was joined by an old colleague - Simon Burney.
We shared observations on individuals, the small marginal time differences
between groups of riders as well as performances by national representatives.
We had witnessed impressive skills, speed and exciting initiatives by
the leaders, but with ample scope for improvement by many of those left
trailing in their wake, riders whose repertoire barely extended beyond
'good average'. I passed on my question. From his bag, Simon pulled
out a copy of a new and updated version of his earlier book. I believe
that it should be required reading for anyone participating in cyclo-cross.
It contains a wealth of information, valuable advice and guidance from
a man who is an acknowledged expert in this branch of cycle sport. Simon
Burney, has been a professional cyclo-cross rider, worked as a mechanic
and managed teams around the world: he's a man who has been there, done
that, and probably has a drawerful of T-shirts.
Beginners and cyclo-cross veterans alike should study this book. If
only a fraction of it is absorbed, the rider/ coach will surely be rewarded
by improved performances. Needless to say, no one can guarantee that
the rider will go on to wear a rainbow jersey, but there were many competing
at Treviso who, if they had applied only a few of the lessons this book
contains, might well have been a step nearer to that goal - perhaps
even with one foot on the podium.
Although Velo Press is an American publisher the book is available in
the UK for £13.99 - or from Amazon for less.
Lewis Hall