Coach Len Pettyjohn
Location:
Vero Beach, Florida
Years training:
50
Years coaching:
48
Cycling disciplines:
Road, gravel
I am a coach because I am a teacher (I retired in 1989 from a career as a college professor). I am obsessed with helping riders get stronger, faster, and safer in all aspects of cycling. My coaching development began with international-level juniors (multiple national and world championship medalists) and amateur-level men and women (multiple national, Olympic, and world championship medalists) and moved to world-class professionals (Tour de France and world championship-level riders). I am now exclusively coaching riders over the age of 50, because I feel I have a deep personal level of experience with older rider performance and recovery (multiple national and world championship medalists over the age of 60).
Beyond coaching I have organized dozens of national-level cycling events. Among my earliest events I created were event/race courses for road bikes that used sections of dirt and gravel in the 1980s and 90s. I was accused by multiple riders of secretly working for the bike industry to destroy wheels and bikes on unsafe and dangerous roads, and I now have a perverse sense of satisfaction that my gravel interest was a precursor for modern cycling.
Events I've participated in:
1984 Olympic Games
1988 Olympic Games
World Championships 1980 to 2012
Tour de France 1989 and 1990
USA National Championships 1980 to present
Athlete Testimonials
To say Len's knowledgeable and experience are deep and broad is a gross understatement. The guy is an institution, as far as I can tell. I'm so thrilled he's in my corner. Post Winter BaseCamp I have NOT been consistent, and know it (work and civic projects and personal life...all nutty). But I'm sure that is so common, and my aim is to reboot with major ride this weekend, with goals set for the summer. Len has been great with steady hand in rebuilding. We trust the base in Basecamp hasn't diminished too much, and I can catch up with major events of the past 2 months now over. Excited to work with Len going forward. - Clark W.
I am so happy with how Len communicates with me and just "gets" me. We have learned how to work together and it's definitely paying off. He is such a knowledgeable coach and a great person. I trust him explicitly! - Shirley C.
Len is an amazing coach. He is far and above my previous cycling coaches. My progress continues to go up, and I am the fittest I've ever been for my upcoming races. I have really enjoyed working with Len and hope to continue our partnership for a long time. - Wrenn H.
Len is outstanding. Incredible coach. I feel like I hit the jackpot meeting and working with him. I don't ever want another coach. He totally gets an athlete's mind set. He makes the works doable yet challenging. He has brought me from doing the same thing everyday to slowly and in a progressive way increasing my work load. I totally believe in the approach he is taking. The caliber of training I am getting is outstanding. Can't say enough great things about him. Look at where I started and where I am now. It is all Len!!! - Mary Z.
I could not have asked for a better coach! Len has a depth of knowledge that is simply amazing, this stems from helping create the sports physiology lab in Boulder, and his continued studying to stay current in the area. BaseCamp taught me some fundamentals too, development of the battery of aerobic endurance, and the turbo of anaerobic performance. But Len gave me new skills equally important, like teaching me how to drink and eat on the bike without stopping! All from our coaching calls because he would see the pauses in my workouts. He follows my workouts and makes comments in TP, or texts or calls after a significant ride. He makes recommendations on equipment and clothing too that are useful. - Michelle S.
Recent Athlete Achievements
Mary Zengo earned fifth place in her class at the 2024 Florida state time trial championships
Wrenn Herman won second place in the 2024 Florida state time trial championships