John Ledford

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Coach John Ledford is fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and ready for in-person coaching.

If you have regional, national or world level aspirations on the velodrome, mountain bike, or road, Associate Coach John Ledford of Valley Center (near Escondido and San Diego), California, can help make them a reality. John specializes in track cycling, weight training for cyclists, and injury rehabilitation, drawing on his experience as a USAC Level 1 Coach, Certified Athletic Trainer, and Strength and Conditioning Coach.

John’s athletes appreciate his detail-oriented style and academic background in exercise science, which he uses to explain what one needs to do for racing and training, both on and off the bike. More than 20 of his athletes have won national championships as junior, collegiate, masters or elite racers. He has coached more than 60 athletes to over 250 medal winning performances at nationals, as well as multiple athletes to medals at master’s worlds. He coached the University of California San Diego cycling team for eight years, including 2nd and 3rd place team finishes at Collegiate Track Nationals. His experience extends to working with multiple professional cycling teams as a soigneur, including the USA Cycling National Team at multiple training camps, three UCI World Cup Events, and the 2003 Pan American Games. John knows the ins and outs of elite level cycling and can help riders negotiate that sometimes confusing world.

John began racing as a freshman in college, earning a top 5 finish at collegiate nationals, and more recently garnering three top-5 finishes at master’s nationals. While in Southern California, he won nine masters district championships and 21 total top-3 medals. He was also the promoter of the SoCal District State Championships at the San Diego Velodrome from 2003 to 2014.

John knows how to care for an athletic body through injury or the rigors of routine training. Starting as a Certified Personal Trainer and Massage Therapist, he returned to school to earn his Bachelors’ Degree in Pre-Physical Therapy and then a Masters’ Degree in Biomechanics, at San Diego State University, following up with a Strength and Conditioning internship at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, California and Athletic Training and Strength and Conditioning internships with the San Diego Padres. He went on to teach at Grossmont Community College, managing Strength and Conditioning programs for nine years and to work as a Certified Athletic Trainer and kinesiology, biomechanics and exercise physiology instructor at San Diego Christian College. John helps athletes take excellent care of their bodies to ensure a long and productive athletic career.

Returning to northern California in 2014, he again picked up one of his earliest favorite activities, archery. He has competed at state and national championships, with a 4th place in his age group at states in 2017.

He has a passion for guiding athletes to reach their potential and looks forward to the opportunity to help cyclists accomplish their goals.

Events: General Cycling Fitness, Gravel Grinders, Half Marathon, Handcycling, Ironman Triathlon, Learn to Ride, Road Racing, Track Cycling

Services: Bike Fitting, Clinics/Camps, Consultation, Learn to Ride, Skills Training, Training Programs

Specialties: Beginning Racing, Criterium, General Fitness, Master Athletes, Return from Illness, Return from Injury, Return from Overtraining, Road Skills, Senior Athletes, Senior Games Coaching, Student Athletes, Tactics, Track Skills, Training with Medical Issues, Women Athletes, Working Athletes

"I have had the pleasure of knowing John Ledford for the last nine years. He was my bicycling coach and I improved my race times each year. I also captured to Southern California/Nevada Pursuit State Championships under John’s tutelage... he also helped my Time Trial racing, helping me achieve a PR." ~Bob K.

“When I started training with John, my mentality began to shift and my performance improved right away. Training and performing at the Elite/Professional level, required a coach that understood me as a person and an athlete. John fit that description and also became my friend. The training regimen fit with my schedule and when I had a scheduling conflict, John was easy to talk to and rearrange my schedule as needed.
Through his detailed training program, I was able to maintain a balance between my goals in cycling and life. I trusted him with my training/racing schedule and together we fulfilled my goals in Cycling - with multiple Jr. National Championship Titles, U23 titles, and top 5 finishes in Elite Nationals on the Track.
I have been out of the cycling world for a few years, but the discipline and commitment I achieved training with John, has carried over into my career and my role as a parent.” ~Catherine Fiedler-Cook

"John coached me to a national championship (Masters) in the match sprint and other top finishes in Masters and Collegiate track racing. John wrote my bike and weight training program, coached me at the track (he's a great motorpacer), gave occasional massages, and supported me at races. John is very dedicated to his athletes and understands what's needed to remain motivated and succeed." ~Tona