Rickey Wray Wilson

Background

In the 1980’s, my wife of over 40 years, Mary Kay, and I took up cycling while living in Seattle.   My initial focus was on mountain biking. I have always been very active with and continue to be involved in local cycling clubs, race teams, and charity events, including serving as ride director for many years for one of the largest charity rides in Texas. 

In 1990, I transitioned into participating in ultramarathon cycling competitions that culminated in two successful Race Across America (RAAM) finishes.  Due to career demands, I stopped cycling altogether, gained close to 100 pounds, and felt completely miserable.  This led me back to casual social and club cycling, and then onto road racing with Team Bicycles, Inc., a local Texas team.

Upon turning 60, I joined Team GeriAtrix, a racing team comprised mostly of racers in their 60’s and 70’s.  With their teamwork and support, I won 1st Place in the 2014 Texas Bicycle Racing Association (TXBRA) Texas Cup Championship Series, Road Discipline, Masters 60+, along with podium finishes in road races and time trials.
 
My desire to optimize cycling performance and fitness, led me to power training and a growing interest in understanding how to analyze the available data, in 2007 I began using, power meters, WKO+, and then Training Peaks.  Training with a coach and participating in many performance camps and clinics have been invaluable in helping me to improve as a cyclist, and in learning the value of coaching and understanding the metrics of power training. 

Coaching Philosophy

Teaching, and helping others to improve, has always been my passion.  My goal, after retiring from a 40-year career in railroad management, was to merge my cycling interest with my passion for teaching.  My training with a coach was a motivator in pursuing the education and certifications needed to become qualified to teach others.  My life and career experiences have provided me with a deep understanding of athletes who are seeking the optimal work/life balance.  Having been extremely overweight, I also have a deep, personal, understanding of the additional challenges that this places upon your quest for improved fitness.  Initially, we will spend time to thoroughly understand your current fitness level and desired goals.  We will study your unique work/life needs and challenges that could impact your training.  From there we will work together, as a team, to design the optimum workout schedule and follow your progress as you improve and reach your fitness, event, and race goals.

Notable Achievements
 

• 1991 UltraMarathon Cycling Association (UMCA) - City to City tandem record, Earth to Venus, Texas
  
• (440 miles, 1day 3 hours 9minutes)
• 1993 UltraMarathon Cycling Association (UMCA) - Cross State, Texas, tandem record
  
• (835 miles, 2days 10 hours 25 minutes)
• 1992 Race Across America (RAAM), Solo Mixed Tandem (Under 50), 2nd place
  
• 1995 Race Across America (RAAM), Solo Male (Under 59), 9th place
  
• 2014 TXBRA Texas Cup, Road, (Master’s 60+), 1st place
  

Athlete Testimonials

I am turning 50 years young this year and road biking is a big part in my work-life balance.  For more than 2 years now, I have been trying to train better and smarter in a cycling studio to enjoy even more my bike rides.  My FTP increased over the last two years but I was still not totally satisfied about the method I followed and the feedback and advices I received.  When I started working with Rickey, it became clear that I had found what I was looking for.  We started discussing my goals, the number of times a week I was willing to train to determine the best training plan for me.  On top of that, all these data that I had been collecting for years on Training Peaks became clear information on how I was progressing and how the training plan would help me reach my best fitness for my events.  Having Rickey as coach is a real pleasure and is very motivating.  I am becoming a stronger and more confident rider while not overtraining and feeling tired at work.  I am looking forward to enjoying the MS150 in May and the Ardechoise end of June.  Thanks Rickey to be so passionate about coaching!  - Jacques Renaux, Fort Worth, TX

I have known Rick for a long time now and I can endorse him wholeheartedly.  We have been riding together for years and Rick is passionate about cycling.  As much as Rick loves cycling he is truly enamored with the science behind performance. He is committed to training with power and understands the benefits that can be gained from applying Hunter Allen‘s principals and techniques.  He has utilized his knowledge of periodization, interval training, race simulations and adequate recovery to maximize my potential.  Rick has introduced me to competitive racing and coached me to several successful results. This year he has implemented a structured annual training plan which I am confident will yield in more good results. Before Rick transitioned to full time coaching he had a very successful business career and he employees those management and business skills to enhance his coaching programs. As is Rick’s standard procedure, he gives 110% to anything he does, and coaching is no exception. - Bill Marshall, TX

View Rickey's athletes' accomplishments