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BASECAMP COACH

Len Pettyjohn

My cycling career is a series of steps from grass roots amateurs to world class professionals and back to working with older (50+) masters and recreational athletes.

Vero Beach, Florida
BASED IN
50
YEARS TRAINING
40
YEARS COACHING
Road, gravel
DISCIPLINES
COACHING PHILOSOPHY

MY APPROACH TO COACHING.

My coaching philosophy is a multi-layered approach to teaching athletes how to reach higher power, achieve faster speeds, and maintain a high level of fitness. A major focus of my coaching is an emphasis on safety and bike handling skills. It's not enough for an athlete to climb mountains faster; it's even more important to descend safely at high speed. 

THE FULL STORY

ABOUT ME AS A COACH.

My baptism into training for racing began in graduate school, where I rode my old clunker bike to classes. As a lifelong athlete, I was shocked at the number of riders I could not even remotely follow. Fortunately the local bike shop at the University of Wisconsin took me aside and outlined a weekly riding and training program. As I improved with a new, first-class bike, I entered my first race. Within the first few miles, I was shot out the back and found myself upchucking my pre-race meal on the course. 


That was the beginning of a progression from hobby to avocation and finally vocation. I was driven to learn and apply evolving training methods at the highest level of the sport. I literally drove a number of coaches, pro team directors, and medical professionals to annoyance with my quest to refine my knowledge. The payoff was coaching and directing riders to national, world, and Olympic championships. Over the course of thirty years, my big three results were Greg LeMond's Tour de France victory in 1989, Alexi Grewal's gold medal in the 1984 Olympics, and my Coors Light team that won over 500 races worldwide from 1089-1994. 


When I retired from the professional realm, I was recruited by Hunter Allen to join a small group of cutting-edge coaches who were working with power meters for amateur and masters racers. Part of that process was an introduction to Tim Cusick, who joined Hunter in refining modern coaching methods. Within a short time, Tim left Hunter to form what has evolved into BaseCamp. Tim took Scott Moninger, Brig Brandt, and myself along as the initial coaches into what has evolved as the leading coaching company in the world. As a lifelong athlete, I remain hooked on the challenge and coaching methods for my own benefit, as well as how to pass on my knowledge to BaseCamp athletes.

THE RÉSUMÉ

MY PROUDEST ACHIEVEMENTS.

Although I was completely focused on top amateur and professional racing, I was able at times to enter masters-level races on my own with a reasonable level of success. My highest level was a Cat 2 road rider, but my biggest prize came in masters racing with a national championship. I don't have an accurate number, but I've won at least 50 masters races. Some additional background is my education and non cycling activity; I earned a PhD in Geography and reached full professor status over 20 years of teaching at the college level. I loved the academic realm and really loved my teaching role, but cycling and coaching evolved to an obsession. The beauty of my cycling progression is I am able to continue teaching and passing on my knowledge to an ever expanding group of lifestyle athletes. 


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

IN THEIR WORDS

ATHLETES ON COACH LEN

Len is the epitome of a GREAT coach. He is knowledgeable, caring, and knows just what to say and do. I have had some major injuries over the past year but he got me through them and I'm as strong, if not stronger, because of him. I cannot begin to say how much his coaching has helped me not to mention his friendship.  - Shirley C.


For 2 years now, I've had Len in my corner. It's been life changing. Weekly calls have been hugely supportive, and I can barely comprehend my excellent luck in having such an incredibly seasoned pro on my side.  - Clark W.


I am surprised and impressed by how much progress I have been able to make working with Len. I've gotten to level of performance that I hadn't expected. Cycling has also gotten more enjoyable as I've learned more about how to ride and I am now enjoying challenging rides that used to be off-putters.  - Keith R.


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 RESULTS

LEN'S ATHLETES, ON THE PODIUM.

TRAIN WITH COACH LEN.

​Want to train with Len? Click below to get started or schedule a free consult with Coach Kathy: 20 minutes, no card, no pressure, just a conversation about your goals and how a season with Len could look.

Coach Len Pettyjohn

Len Pettyjohn, BaseCamp cycling coach
Len Pettyjohn, BaseCamp cycling coach
Len Pettyjohn, BaseCamp cycling coach

Location:

Years training:

Years coaching:

Training disciplines:

Vero Beach, Florida

50

40

Road, gravel

My baptism into training for racing began in graduate school, where I rode my old clunker bike to classes. As a lifelong athlete, I was shocked at the number of riders I could not even remotely follow. Fortunately the local bike shop at the University of Wisconsin took me aside and outlined a weekly riding and training program. As I improved with a new, first-class bike, I entered my first race. Within the first few miles, I was shot out the back and found myself upchucking my pre-race meal on the course. 


That was the beginning of a progression from hobby to avocation and finally vocation. I was driven to learn and apply evolving training methods at the highest level of the sport. I literally drove a number of coaches, pro team directors, and medical professionals to annoyance with my quest to refine my knowledge. The payoff was coaching and directing riders to national, world, and Olympic championships. Over the course of thirty years, my big three results were Greg LeMond's Tour de France victory in 1989, Alexi Grewal's gold medal in the 1984 Olympics, and my Coors Light team that won over 500 races worldwide from 1089-1994. 


When I retired from the professional realm, I was recruited by Hunter Allen to join a small group of cutting-edge coaches who were working with power meters for amateur and masters racers. Part of that process was an introduction to Tim Cusick, who joined Hunter in refining modern coaching methods. Within a short time, Tim left Hunter to form what has evolved into BaseCamp. Tim took Scott Moninger, Brig Brandt, and myself along as the initial coaches into what has evolved as the leading coaching company in the world. As a lifelong athlete, I remain hooked on the challenge and coaching methods for my own benefit, as well as how to pass on my knowledge to BaseCamp athletes.

Although I was completely focused on top amateur and professional racing, I was able at times to enter masters-level races on my own with a reasonable level of success. My highest level was a Cat 2 road rider, but my biggest prize came in masters racing with a national championship. I don't have an accurate number, but I've won at least 50 masters races. Some additional background is my education and non cycling activity; I earned a PhD in Geography and reached full professor status over 20 years of teaching at the college level. I loved the academic realm and really loved my teaching role, but cycling and coaching evolved to an obsession. The beauty of my cycling progression is I am able to continue teaching and passing on my knowledge to an ever expanding group of lifestyle athletes. 


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

Len is the epitome of a GREAT coach. He is knowledgeable, caring, and knows just what to say and do. I have had some major injuries over the past year but he got me through them and I'm as strong, if not stronger, because of him. I cannot begin to say how much his coaching has helped me not to mention his friendship.  - Shirley C.


For 2 years now, I've had Len in my corner. It's been life changing. Weekly calls have been hugely supportive, and I can barely comprehend my excellent luck in having such an incredibly seasoned pro on my side.  - Clark W.


I am surprised and impressed by how much progress I have been able to make working with Len. I've gotten to level of performance that I hadn't expected. Cycling has also gotten more enjoyable as I've learned more about how to ride and I am now enjoying challenging rides that used to be off-putters.  - Keith R.


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
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