Testimonials - Exceed Coaching

Rachel Larner

Rachel is a Personal Trainer specializing in Home Training, Core and Flexibility :

If you are looking to improve your skills on the bike, to increase your cycle fitness..if you want to race and enjoy racing because you are fit enough to play the game and not just hang on panting…if you want to ride like a Roadie,and be the best Cyclist you can be then Karl Murray is the coach for you.

In 3 years of training with Karl, I have learnt to Race. I train effectively  to both maximise my strengths and eliminate weakness. I  ride intensely when I need to and to recover properly. I have learnt to make the most ofsituations where  I am defeated on the day, but can learn valuable lessons from the experience. More importantly I have learnt how to Win. If you are willing to listen to the wealth of knowledge that has come from a long and successful cycling career, and put your time and energy in to following Karl’s training programs, you will share the same exciting results that I have experienced since starting with Exceed Coaching, Lower HR with effort, increased speed, placing regularly in Club and one day Races, fantastic experiences on multi-stage Tours, and the pinnacle for me, A Double National title in Time trial and Road race 2010  ….I could go on and on.Karl’s passion for riding is infectious…and he genuinely cares for the wellbeing and success of those he coaches.

As a Fitness Professional myself, it is a joy to come across such a dedicated Coach.

Rachel Larner

Ben Evans

I have been coached by Karl since December 2007.The benefits of being coached are immeasurable.There are 2 important points:Firstly, Karl is a great guy.Secondly, my results, which are measurable, speak for themselves:

ROAD RACE EVENT                 2007 (No coach)        2008 (Coached)
Tour of Northland                      22nd                           3rd
Club Nationals (M1 Road Race) 18th                          Bronze
National Level Club Racing        B Grade                    A Grade
Club Handicap                        Break                          Scratch
Hell of the North                      16th (2006)               Winner
Tour of New Caledonia           -                              18th
Auckland  1000                       -                              7th
Taupo-Napier Classic            -                              9th
K2 (Elite)                                 -                               7th
NPS                                         -                               5th

Nick Lovegrove

I began focusing solely on bike racing in March 2008 after 2 years of triathlon and have been an Exceed Coaching client since June 2008.

As I have a fairly demanding full time job and other interests, it is important for me to get the maximum benefit from the few training hours that I have available during the week.  Karl’s programs are designed with this in mind and his coaching (which includes advice on nutrition, gear selection and race day tactics) have taken me from B grade to A grade with the odd podium placing along the way.  I would not have been able to progress to this level as quickly as I have without Karl’s coaching.

I think that bike riders at any level would benefit from the services of an expert coach and I highly recommend Karl, especially if you have limited training hours available.

Nick Lovegrove

Cindy Taylor

After many years of doing triathlons and time trials on a conventional road frame, and on the advice of a fast and famous friend, who told me “if you are interested in going faster, buy a proper TT frame”.  Well!  In April I got the frame of my dreams, and TT bars, set everything up to emulate the road frame position I had been having reasonable success with, and yep!! Uncomfortable and bloody slow, I was devasted, and  as I was going to the World Olympic distance Triathlon champs in Aussie in September, decided on seeing an advertisement in the VO2 max magazine, by Karl Murray, and knowing of his achievements in cycling, decided that he was the man! if any to get a bikefit from.

Time was short, and Karl did, what for me mentally was pretty radical, higher seat, new seat, (I was pretty attached to my existing one), cleat position changed, and new and different TT bars, which actually were nicer looking than my first choice, but extremely functional, allowing me to have options on the positions, which is a biggy as I have an old knackered shoulder, that only goes to limited range. Well!, that seat height made a huge difference to my power output, the ugly seat  became comfortable and perfect and painless for the position I needed, and the bars were the most comfortable I have ever been in an aero position, the shoulder was happy and I knew I would be able to do half ironmans and longer tts  with no shoulder pain a huge thing for me!. Karl was quick and efficient, saving money where possible, and fussy, and  as I am fussy with the finishing touches, this was great, and my husband breathed a sigh of relief.

I did as many races, duathlons and road tts on the new frame, to get totally happy with it, and although  initially dubious had really great bike splits, this made me feel very  optimistic towards my race in Aussie, and really looking forward to the bike leg.As it transpired I had one of the best races of  my life, with an excellent bike split that had me off the bike 5 minutes ahead of the next competitor. I ended up with Silver after leading for more than ¾ of the race, pity Karl couldn’t do run fits!!!!!

His advice on nutrition helped me along the way too, and during the race, and I had thought I knew enough already!

Anyone thinking of a bike fit should go and see Karl, it has been worth the money and travel, and saved so much in all other ways.

Cindy Taylor  of Te Puke