James Hey
The Visionary Behind The Cycle Coach
Meet Founder & Head Coach James Hey, the driving force behind The Cycle Coach—a transformative cycling initiative with a global impact. Formerly an enthusiastic amateur road cyclist with numerous Ironman finishes and national age-group representation, James turned his passion into a mission to create positive change.
In 2018, equipped with British Cycling Coaching qualifications, James established The Cycle Coach. Initially centered around Learn to Ride programmes for children, the initiative quickly broadened its scope. It formed partnerships with schools, introducing extracurricular cycle clubs. With James serving as a Level 3 Coach, The Cycle Coach implemented inventive initiatives, consistently enhancing the cycling experience.
Overcoming Pandemic Challenges
James launched various initiatives, including Learn to Ride, SMART Rider, Beginner Bike Maintenance, and The Cycle Coach Awards. Post-lockdown, The Cycle Coach flourished, providing diverse opportunities for young cycling enthusiasts.
Visionary Approach
James' visionary approach experienced a significant leap with the launch of the GCSE Cycling Programme. Recognising the need for a third sport option to enhance pupils' practical performance in GCSE PE across the UK, he developed a dynamic 6-hour programme for Road and Track Cycling. This groundbreaking initiative not only offered an exceptional solution for a third sport for GCSE PE Pupils but also acted as a catalyst for positive change with the goal of introducing young people to the sport of cycling.
Beyond the school gates, James was appointed as the Head Coach of the Afghanistan Cycling Team, where he encountered the unique challenge of nurturing a competitive cycling programme in a nation where the sport is still in its infancy. Despite recent restrictions imposed by the Taliban, James collaborated with a team of nine Afghan refugees, guiding them to the Asian Road Championships and the UCI World Championships in 2023. A particularly poignant chapter unfolded as one of the female athletes became the first from her country to represent Afghanistan at the UCI World Championships. Team GB acknowledged James' exceptional efforts, offering him an Olympic Scholarship to pursue a Certificate in Advanced Studies in Cycle Coaching at the UCI Headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland.
