No matter what you are training for Kevin works hard to help you achieve your goals. Kevin believes in working with riders to build from the bottom up, building strength rather than tolerating discomfort.  It’s often thought that cycling training is just hopping on a bike and riding as hard as you can. Not so, self-professed fitness gurus!

KEVIN LIVINGSTON

Kevin Livingston, founder of Pedal Hard, is a former professional rider. His racing and training career spanned 14 years where he completed 9 Grand Tours that included 6x Tour de France. After a break from competition, he is back at it again. In recent years, he has started training and competing in Ironman triathlons.

Kevin has worked to hone his craft as a coach for the last 18 years. His specialties are training with power and heart rate, scientific testing and analysis, bike fit and cycling technique. While these numbers and metrics are valuable, his coaching style is very intuitive and based on his experience training and racing over the years. He enjoys seeing his athletes progress and overcome obstacles to meet their goals.

Outside of cycling, Kevin serves as the competition director for Tour of Utah and a committee member of the Texas MS 150 charity ride to support the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Kevin also enjoys playing (ice) hockey in his free time.

Career Snapshot:

• Team Telekom, 2001-2002

• US Postal Service, 1999-2000

• Team Cofidis, 1997-1998

• Team Motorola, 1995-1996

• Team Saturn and US National Team, 1992-1994

The making of pedal hard

An older brother in need of a riding partner led to the start of Kevin’s road cycling career. They dug up a rusty 10-speed from their family’s garage, dawned their coveted 7-Eleven jerseys and were off. Kevin grew up 30 miles west of St.Louis. The hills created by the river bluffs along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers suited his climbing ability and it wasn’t long until he began competing in 1989 in the juniors’ category and found his way onto the USA National Team. Twenty eight some odd years in the sport; 13 of those coaching and 15 years in competition- 8 professional years as a member of teams Motorola, Cofidis, U.S. Postal Service, and Team Telekom. 6x Tour de France Finisher and total of 9 grand tours with 2 of those being a Giro d’Italia and Tour De France back to back in 2001. Kevin was also the USA National Amateur road champion in 1994.

Training with power is Kevin’s specialty. Sixteen years of training with a power meter he was one of the pioneer riders to use power in training in the late 90s. “It’s a matter of scaling the training to each individual athlete’s ability. This is where they are going to make the most gains. The same principles of the Pros apply to other abilities as well”. Kevin believes in a careful approach to intensity and increasing fitness based on your goals. “An athlete that wants to race will need to get to the point where they can handle a race like load. Another’s goal might be weight loss and standard of life and yet another wants to conquer a monumental climb of the Tour de France. Our philosophy at Pedal hard is about the athlete”. In a technical age of power meters, heart rate monitors, speed/rpm sensors he believes the art of “feel” can be lost and works hard to coach athletes to get in tune with their bodies in order to take it to another level. “Recovery is a key component of your training program. Why do all the work if you don’t then take the time to adapt to the training and reap the benefits.”

Pedal Hard has been the home for professional, personalized, and goal-oriented cycling training for over ten years. Learn how to ride with top efficiency using metrics such as power, heart rate, and cadence, and make the most of your training time. Pedal Hard also offers personal and online coaching, fitness testing and bike fitting. Get ready for the best cycling training you’ve ever experienced!