My name is Joey Bacala. I often get asked what type of coach I am. Am I a ‘tough love’ type of coach? Always positive? I believe that every human is infinitely complex and deserves to be listened to and supported thoughtfully in ways that help them thrive. Therefore, I think it’s appropriate to let these athletes tell you what it is like to work with me. My hope is that at least one of the following testimonials will provide a relatable perspective.
I am grateful to have had some great coaches throughout my life, from playing Little League and high school sports, to racing National level cycling events. Great coaches encompass more than the ability to coach an athlete towards success in competition. They guide them through life, finding tricks to keep the sport fun, safe, positive and most importantly, maintaining the delicate balance of training with all the variables of life and life’s challenges. Joey Bacala excels at all these attributes. Joey’s love of the sport shines through all his athletes. His experience, knowledge and application of sports science and physiology allow him to optimize each athletes potential. However, an even greater power of Joey, is his application of the art of coaching each athletes spirit, positivity and enjoyment as a whole. I full heartedly believe this was my advantage, my edge to winning my most recent US National Championship. Joeys art as a coach, kindness and compassion not only apply to competition, but simply keeping my sport fun. I am honored to be a Self-Determined Athlete.
-Mindy C
2021 Masters National Champion, Time Trial
Through Joey’s coaching I have developed a healthy attitude and perspective with my sport. Before training with Joey I was haunted by increasing doubts and self-imposed pressure to perform, to improve- and I was astray because of my narrow definition of improvement. Joey has helped me identify and formulate for myself what cycling means to me. He has coached me to a perspective that views my cycling as my own personal stage for continued self-discovery.
This is the centerpiece of the success I have enjoyed this year. The training and help with nutrition are components of my increases in fitness, but none of that would bear half the fruit it has without a balanced, autonomous, self-directed attitude towards my sport.
My renewed perspective on cycling also transfers to how I approach other aspects of my life, such as my career and even my parenting. I have learned to see obstacles and hurdles, no longer as reflections of some inadequacy on my part, but rather part of the natural landscape of living a life full-filled. Rather than fear or deny those obstacles, I recognize them, stare them straight in the eye and say, “Bring it, show me what I’m about to learn next”.
That’s what being a Self-Determined athlete means to me.
-Ana S.
I began my cycling journey about 10 years ago during a transitional period of my life and I was immediately hooked. The improvements to my physical and mental health were evident, and the cycling community welcomed me in. Health and performance improved quickly but it wasn't long before my fitness plateaued. I read training articles and asked people I knew for advice, but I was not able to get to the next level.
I met Joey from Self-Determined Athlete a few years later and noticed he was as enthusiastic about cycling as anyone I had ever met. I discovered that much of what I was told over the years was not right for me. There are a lot of opinions out there and people selling gadgets and potions promising results, so it helps to have someone knowledgeable on your side.
Joey understands the science behind the training. He was an early user of INSCYD which provides lab quality testing to see my unique athletic profile. This allows Joey to give me a truly individualized training plan that is not just a copy-and-paste set of instructions. Within these workouts I can apply a certain amount of autonomy because I understand the principles behind the training. It's important for me to understand how and why I am doing something, and the expected result to perform a task effectively. I think that's what makes me a Self-Determined Athlete.
-Michael B.
Joey’s coaching keeps me on track to achieve results above and beyond my expectations cycling and way beyond anything I could accomplish on my own. The secret to the success isn’t just in the tailored workouts but rather lies in his masterful and intuitive knowledge of my strengths and weaknesses personally, professionally, and as a cyclist. With Joey’s coaching I somehow manage to perform better at work, in my marriage and on the bike. Rather than cycling taking away from these other important parts of my life, it actually makes me better in these other areas. Joey is a wholistic coach that understands the relationships between all facets of an athletes life and uses this knowledge and his genuine compassion to make you better.
-Aris S.