I started working with Vince early into my professional racing career. I had some talent and a good work ethic but no idea how to put it all to use. Through incredible attention to detail Vince helped me with the proper steps to have continued growth year after year in the sport. By focusing on my weak links through gym work and other cross training methods he ultimately allowed me to reach new levels in my racing year after year. Vince's hands on approach was key to my development as one of the top professionals bike racers in the United States.

Neil Shirley, Professional road racer, Jittery Joes. 3rd USPRO National Road Race Championships, Multiple NRC victories.

"I think every average rider or pro that trains himself is always going to hit a ceiling in their fitness. The structure and purpose for everything Vince put into my winter training helped me to get to the next level of fitness and racing. The gym, hiking and strength workouts gave a wide variety to my training in the winter. As soon as your body starts to adapt to something you change it up and challenge it more. You can get burned out pretty fast in the winter if all you are doing is tons of miles on your bike. Vince’s program has a good balance of variety and challenges. Sticking to what he gives you to do will definitely make you stronger and faster than you thought you could ever be."  ~Kyle Gritters~

Kyle Gritters, Professional road racer, Health Net.  US U23 National Champion 2005, several professional race victories. 

"The winter program that Vince had developed for me was a unique, scientifically supported, tough program. The training took me to a new level of endurance and physical fitness and gave me the base that enabled me to race often and train harder all while recovering like I never had before. Without a doubt a solid winter training program is the building block to successful bicycle racing and Vince's program did it for me."       ~Spencer Spagnola~

Spencer Spagnola, Junior, 2006 California State Junior Time Trial Champion

Mark Scott, Masters Racer, US national Crit Champion 2004, 3 time California state champion, and over 50 individual race Victories.

 
Nadine Bruhn, Professional with Danish National team, Cyclo-cross Danish National Champion, 2004.

You "ROCK"!

 I have been coached by Vincent Fichera for over 7 years now.  When I started with Vince, I was a below average bicycle racer, barely finishing races-sometimes not finishing.  With Vince’s advice and training, I progressively improved and now finish top 10 consistently.  I have exceeded my expectations in bike racing thanks to Vince.  I have won a California State Champion Jersey in 2006 in the 4 man Team Time Trial and I have also won a California State Champion Jersey in 2008 in the 2 man Team Time Trial.  I recently had my highest placing in a 3 day stage race with a 3rd overall at the 2009 Valley of the Sun Stage Race.  Thank you Coach for all you have done for me over the years.

Michael Willams, Masters Racer, 2006 and 2008 State Champion Team Time trial

 I hired Vince Fichera to coach me after spending years self-coaching by reading books from well-known coaches. Vince was able to bring it all together for me. I realized results the very first race season garnering 3 first places and several top 10 finishes. I can attack more often and longer! Vince creates an atmosphere of healthy competition in his group rides. He does a great job tailoring specific workouts to my busy life. Vince changed how I train and made me a killer on two wheels!

Matt Martel Masters road racer
Pacific Power Blue Sky Cycling Team
Corvallis, Oregon

 
In January of 2007 I had the pleasure of meeting Vince while on one of the many Cyclo-Vet group rides in San Diego, California. I was immediately drawn to his energy, passion, and honesty for cycling and how he applied these traits to his day to day living. More importantly I was able to watch, during the ride, as he shared these and other attributes with his athletes to motivate and to give them a constant reality check on their progress. During further visits, I began to see how strong his knowledge was of both the physiological and psychological aspect of endurance training, and more importantly conditioning and nutrition in general.

Whether a committed athlete or weekend warrior Vince has a keen ability to precisely communicate what is needed to attain your desired goals. He also will not tell you simply what you wish to hear but what you need to hear to give you perspective about attaining such goals. It is then up to you to fail or succeed.

I am proud to say that Vince is not only someone that has made me a better cyclist, but above all a better person through his leadership and knowledge. I am honored to call him a friend, and am now enjoying the best fitness of my life.

Jim Hinkley - Cat 4 Racer

As a cyclist and professor of Exercise and Nutritional Science, I have encountered hundreds of training programs and philosophies that upon close inspection rest on little more than personal opinion, shoddy science, or preachy wisdom. Equally, there are numerous programs based on solid physiology but make no adjustments or allowances for the irrational and emotional voices that live in athletes’ heads. Vince Fichera offers a program that is built on a bedrock of solid scientific evidence yet is sensitive enough to adapt to our own fallibilities and nuanced personalities.  He’ll talk with equal knowledge and passion about muscle physiology and energy metabolism as he will about making the perfect French toast for a 6 hour ride in the mountains, or how to keep your chain sparkly clean. The amazing thing is that you will get it and wonder why the heck no one told you this before. 

Simon Marshall, PhD
Former Category 1 Road Racer
Associate Professor, Exercise and Nutritional Science
San Diego State University