Cycling skills coaching melbourne

Most cyclists learn the same way I did: dropped into a Saturday bunch, trying not to crash. You build fitness fast and skills slowly, and by the time you've worked out the obvious stuff - holding a wheel, taking a turn, descending without grabbing brakes - you've already cemented a handful of habits that quietly cost you watts and confidence on every ride.

Skills coaching short-circuits that. A few hours of focused work on body position, line choice, braking and group craft pays off every single ride for the rest of your cycling life and unlike fitness, it doesn't disappear over the off-season.

Over the past few years I've coached a long list of riders both one-on-one and in clinic settings, from first-time bunch riders through to state-level racers. Those athletes have gone on to step onto podiums, hold the wheel in races they used to get shelled out of, and come back from crashes with their confidence intact. Most importantly, they ride safer in the moments that used to rattle them - a fast descent, a loose gravel corner, the elbow-to-elbow stretch of a sprint finish.

Behind all of that sits the qualifications. I'm an AusCycling-accredited coach as well as an AHPRA-registered physiotherapist, which means the technique work you do with me is informed by how your body actually moves - not just how a textbook says it should. That's a level of insight a non-physio coach can't give you, and it's the reason riders so often see results in a single session that they've been chasing for years.

The skills nobody taught you

Claimable on private health (Code: 500)

These sessions are treated as “on-field” physiotherapy appointments, combining movement assessment, injury prevention, skill development, and rider education in a real-world cycling environment. As we meet on location, an invoice is sent post-session for you to claim on.

Commonly asked questions:

Who this is for?

New and returning riders. You want to feel safe and capable in a bunch, on descents and in traffic, without learning the hard way.

Recreational and event riders. You're training for Peaks Challenge, Around the Bay, a gravel event or your first race, and you want the handling to match the fitness.

Road and gravel racers. You're getting shelled in crosswinds, or burning matches because your cornering is costing you speed. We'll find the seconds.

where are sessions held?

Baseline skills sessions are typically held at the Yarra Boulevard or Teardrop circuit in Kew. These locations provide a safe and practical environment to work on real-world cycling skills including cornering, bunch riding, braking, bike handling, and confidence on the bike.

Session locations may vary slightly depending on the focus of the session, weather, and rider experience level. Full meeting details will be provided upon booking.

Whats Covered?

Body position and bike-body separation. The foundation everything else stands on.
Cornering and descending. Vision, line choice, braking points, weight transfer.
Bunch craft. Holding a wheel, rolling turns, echelons, and what to do when it goes pear-shaped.
Climbing and sprinting technique. Seated versus standing, gear selection, finishing kicks.
Gravel-specific handling. Loose surfaces, ruts, technical descents, bike-packing load.
Race craft. Positioning, reading the wind, knowing when to spend matches.
The mental side of riding. Fear of descending, nerves in a bunch, race-day pressure, the voice in your head on a sketchy corner. Most skills problems are part technique and part mindset, and we work on both. Naming the personal barriers that quietly shape how you ride is often half the fix.

How we work together

1:1 sessions. 90 minutes, just you and the coach, on a closed loop or quiet local roads. The fastest way to progress.

2:1 sessions. Same format, two riders. Ideal for couples, training partners or two club mates working on the same things.

Club clinics. Half- or full-day clinics for clubs, racing teams and event crews. Capped at 20 riders, $1,000 total - split it however your club likes. Built around what your bunch actually needs, whether that's tidying up rolling turns, cleaning up descending, or getting newer members race-ready.

Still have questions?

The baseline difference

Baseline isn't just a coach - it's a physio, bike fitter, strength coach and skills coach in one practitioner. If your cornering is letting you down because your saddle is too high, or you can't hold a position in the drops because of a tight thoracic spine, we'll spot it on the day. That's a level of insight a non-physio coach simply can't give you.

the baseline skills process

01. Intake

Short online form covering your riding history, current pain, goals, and any bike issues. This is read it before you walk in so we're not asking you to repeat yourself.
02. Understand your riding

Every session starts with a conversation around your goals, riding history, confidence level, and the specific skills you want to improve. Whether it’s cornering, bunch riding, descending, or simply feeling more comfortable on the bike, the session is built around you.
03. Assess movement and bike control

We look at how you move on the bike in a real-world environment. This includes body position, braking, cornering technique, balance, line choice, and how confidently you interact with the bike under different conditions.
04. Break skills down simply

Complex skills are broken into manageable pieces using practical cues (ie: the 5 L’s of cornering) and drills that make sense. No ego, no intimidation, and no expectation that you should already know how to do it.
05. Practice with feedback

You’ll apply these skills through guided repetitions and riding scenarios, with ongoing feedback throughout the session. The goal is to create understanding, not just copy technique.