ride harder academy

Why I started the Ride Harder Academy

After getting hooked on cycling back in 2005 I have become passionate about improving and being the best I can be on a bike. What I have learned from my clients is that we are not “taught” to ride a bike and just assume we pedal and that’s it. With so much information out there, which often contradicts each other, it can get quite complicated and overwhelming. I wanted to make it simple, straightforward and one source of content to follow hence starting the Ride Harder Academy.

What is the Ride Harder Academy?

“Train smarter for better health, longevity, and mental well-being.”

The Ride Harder Academy offers a complete, structured cycling training plan that is simple to follow. Learn to ride efficiently and train smart, so you can be faster on the bike with less effort, freeing up more of your time.

Boost your power, speed, and performance on the bike. Enhance your health, longevity, and mental well-being off the bike.

At Ride Harder Academy, we embrace the train-smart ethos, providing you with all the training sessions needed to achieve your cycling goals while taking a holistic approach to improvement. Our focus on longevity ensures that you not only become stronger and fitter on the bike but also improve your health and well-being off the bike.

Our meticulously planned sessions give you the structure and flexibility to train at your convenience. With the supportive community environment of Ride Harder Academy, you’ll stay motivated and driven. The guidance and accountability from the Ride Harder head coach and team will ensure you stay committed and achieve your goals.


How the Academy started

The Academy launched in 2016 with only 10 members and certainly looked different back then! Initially, this was a 7-month programme but soon found out this was too long to keep members focussed. This soon got reduced to 4 months and now 3 months which has proven the perfect length to be able to complete the initial plan and achieve the desired training adaptations. Since starting the Academy I have helped hundreds of cyclists achieve their goals. I have also introduced an Advanced Academy to follow and build on the foundation that riders have achieved and to allow them to understand more about the training metrics. I also focussed too heavily on just the training sessions and again soon realised that members needed much more than that. This is why I created the Trainsmart Fundamentals to create the full package!

To continue to develop the package further in 2023 I decided to focus on longevity so a large amount of the content has been re-designed with that goal in mind. By default, this will also continue to improve the ability on the bike for many years to come.

Through my personal development and coaching others, I have learned a massive amount about what works and more importantly what does not and I have included it all with the plan saving you valuable time, energy and stress! This takes the decision fatigue and many hours of planning what workout to do, it is all laid out for you so you can just get on with the training sessions.

Why make all the same mistakes that I and others have made in the past?

Why join the Ride Harder Academy?

Investing in yourself is the best investment you can make. It is not a waste of money, what is a waste is buying stuff you don’t need!

The academy was set up to provide support along the way to completing the training plan. Being part of a group and accountable means you are more likely to achieve your goal and thus complete the plan. It has been proven that the people who are the happiest and live the longest are all part of a community with a purpose. It is a great place for support and sharing personal experiences and things that work for you which in turn will help others so it is a win-win!


What you will receive once you complete the plan

You will have completed all the basic skills to become a faster, more efficient cyclist along with the training knowledge to conduct your own structured training plan covering all the physiological systems needed for your individual requirements. Through the train smart principles, you will realise that there is much more to becoming a successful athlete than just the bike sessions and to think outside the box when it comes to becoming faster on the bike. It’s not all smashing yourself on the bike every session! You will be fitter, less stressed and more organised making you not only an improved cyclist but also a healthier, happier person.

How can I join?

So, the Academy is only available to join once a year and is limited to 50 new members so you need to be quick not to miss out! The next intake starts on the 14th of October 2024 and is available to sign up from Tuesday 1st October for just 1 week. Head over a pre-register to be the first to hear when the doors open.


James Walsgrove

My cycling career started in 2005 when I purchased my first road bike and I was immediately hooked. Since then I have completed numerous cycling challenges including Ironman, Lands’ End to John O Groats, Mt Ventoux (all 3 ascents), London to Paris, the BBAR challenge which included a 12hour TimeTrial, Ride London and the Mallorca 312 6 times now.

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