MATT GILBERT

The definition of development.

ACHIEVEMENT HIGHLIGHTS

FTP SCORE IMPROVEMENT

20 watts improvement in 5 months.

FIRST GOLD FINISH SPORTIVE

106km - 3 hours 54 minutes.

tour of flanders

141km - 6 hours 19 minutes.

L'Étape 2017 vs.
L'Étape 2016

Finished 30% higher up the field.

Since incorporating Njinga into my training, I've been able to look at my technique, focus on different muscle groups, train smarter, and improve my nutrition.

Before Njinga

I'd originally started cycling to help with the commute to work and to improve my fitness. Three years into it, I'd done some club riding and enjoyed a few sportives like Wales Velathon, Ride London, and L'Etape du Tour 2016. I had fallen in love with cycling and everything it offered: from the discipline of training and respecting my body, to the fun and freedom of just being out riding. I'd proven to myself that I could be fit enough to take part in some of the tougher cycling challenges and I was proud of that.

The issue was that the simple pride of being able to finish was no longer enough. I wanted to know how much further I could take this.

Njinga is a place where you can learn everything from great stretching techniques to nutrition advice. The team are fully committed to helping you get the best out of yourself and they always have time for your questions.

Matt on our Njinga training camp in Mallorca.

Matt on our Njinga training camp in Mallorca.

Matt on our Njinga training camp in Mallorca.

Enter Njinga

At the beginning of the year, a friend recommended Njinga to me, saying rather cryptically that it'd been a "revelation". Having become so much a part of Njinga myself, I can't think of a better word to describe the experience I've had, and looking back, 

I can't believed I'd trained for so long without knowing the basics of how to Train Smart.

Before Njinga, my training strategy was to cycle as much as possible, with little planning or science to go along with it. 

Since incorporating Njinga into my training, I've been able to look at my technique, focus on different muscle groups, train smarter, and improve my nutrition.

The Impact of Training Smart

Within a few indoor training sessions, I was aware of my exact power output on the bike, how sustainable it was, and what power zones to train in. I could see in real-time the effectiveness of my pedal stroke and how to use both my quads and hamstrings to go further. I could also take the associated heart rate zone data and apply that to my outdoor riding.

After a few months, I took a trip out to the Pyrenees and tackled a big climb using the heart-rate zones to target different sections of the climb. 

For the first time ever, I knew that I had an actual strategy that would give me the best possible time.

And, sure enough, the ride went great.

More Than Just an Academy

The Njinga Academy is supportive in the most incredible ways. 

It's a place where you can learn everything from great stretching techniques to nutrition advice. 

The team are fully committed to helping you get the best out of yourself and they always have time for your questions. They make sure that there are a variety of training sessions and online programmes to choose from so you can target different areas of development and keep things fresh. 

For the first time ever, I trained through the winter, which resulted in huge performance gains when the season came back around again.

This summer, I got my first gold time at a sportive. 

Afterwards, when catching up with a friend to talk cycling, I mentioned that my recent gains were thanks to my coaching. "You have a coach?" he asked. And I had to smile and explain that I have a whole academy.

Matt ready to go on our Training Camp in Mallorca..

Matt at the top of the climb having completed Col d'Izoard - A mountain pass in the Alps.

Matt on our training camp in Mallorca.

Matt with his wife Ali, who he also got into cycling.

Matt on a road cycling holiday.

Matt on a cycling holiday near the beginning of his cycling journey.

I was aware of my exact power output on the bike, how sustainable it was, and what power zones to train in. I could see in real-time the effectiveness of my pedal stroke and how to use both my quads and hamstrings to go further. I could also take the associated heart rate zone data and apply that to my outdoor riding.
WHERE IS MATT NOW?

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A NOTE FROM THE COACH

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– Togo Keynes, Head Performance Coach at Njinga Cycling Academy

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