As the main road cycling season draws to a close for another year, it's time to take a breath before working out how to make next year's cycling even better. What pre-season preparations can you make now to ensure you all get the most out of 2017? Whether you are training for road cycling or are continuing to enter cyclocross races in this current season, at TDR Academy we know we can help you in this important stage by aiding your muscle recovery and preparation. 

TDR Academy is a specialist bodywork clinic and mindful movement studio aimed at getting you and your club's bodies to their best. We can provide you with regular Sports Massage sessions and with injury assessment, treatment and rehabilitation when needed.

Let us help you get there.  Check out our website for further details of what we offer - www.tdracademy.co.uk.

Gary Wilson is our qualified Sports Massage practitioner.  Over the past 40 years, he's been involved in cycling, triathlon and running from local right up to international level, including at the 1990 New Zealand Commonwealth Games. He is a founder member of East Antrim Cycling Club and has been involved in many roles over many years. We think it's fair to say that he knows his way around a bike and have lots of advice to offer! 

Gary's own experiences have taught him not only the benefits of self-care, but also of the value of attending regular sports massage. During your consultation, he will create an individual treatment plan with specific stretching advice to help you with your training development and recovery enhancement.

Through sports massage, Gary can help alleviate the stress and tension which builds up in the body's tissues during physical activity.  Where adhesions occur due to overexertion and/or overuse, his massages can help to break down the adhesions quickly and effectively. An absolute necessity to maintaining optimum fitness and performance, and to achieving your 2017 ambitions, whatever your level of cycling. Gary has worked with many top level cyclists, including Stephen Roche at this year's Gran Fondo (pictured here).

Gary's own training involves running 3 times a week, alongside his 3 weekly cycling sessions (totalling around 150-200 miles/week) and in his own words: 

"After a few years of continual calf injuries while running in addition to my regular volume of cycling training, I have found how self-treating has worked for me. Self massage, foam rolling and working with a massage ball have kept me injury free for 10 weeks now, running 3 times per week plus cycling and some stretching. So I believe in the benefits of sports massage and other self-help techniques." 

Want to know more?  The Sports Massage Association offer great advice and explains the benefits of soft tissue therapy.  The techniques used by soft tissue therapists have been developed to ensure effective and efficient results are gained from each massage given. Depending on the application of the techniques, this type of therapy may: 

·        Improve circulation and lymphatic flow 

·        Assist in the removal of metabolic waste 

·        Sedate or stimulate nerve endings 

·        Increase or decrease muscle tone 

·        Increase or decrease muscle length 

·        Remodel scar tissue when required 

·        Assist in mental preparation for sporting participation 

It's also beneficial to people who suffer from many day to day problems, such as repetitive strain injury, sprains, tension, fatigue and used in assisting with preventive treatment and in the later stages of injury recovery.
 
Gary's clients also agree about the benefits that regular sessions have had in helping their performances:

 "As an avid road cyclist I've been attending TDR Academy for around a year for Pre and Post event sports massage. The combination of hard training, club riding and a busy lifestyle, can put serious strain on my muscles and I’ve found Gary's massage techniques hugely beneficial in terms of better flexibility, less muscle tightness and pain with improved suppleness. I have felt really positive results in being able to achieve better power output on the bike and hence improved overall performance."

R. Logan, Northern Cycle Club, Oct 2016

 If you need further advice, treatment or rehab planning for any injuries, I would be happy to assist you with this stage through the use of Neuromuscular Injury Therapy, Sports Massage and Corrective Movement strategies.  Specialised Pilates sessions can also be organised specifically for your Club to aid with improving cycling performance, injury prevention and/or rehabilitation. With 19 years of experience of working with injuries across many sports and lifestyle areas, I will get you back to full participation as soon as possible and combined with Gary's sports massages - we aim to keep you there!

To help you onto the road to peak condition, we're offering: 

·        A discounted price of £40 (normally £60) when you book for 2 x 1 hour sessions with Gary Wilson at TDR Academy, 

·        Please quote the reference XMASCYCLING when booking. The first appointment must be booked in before the end of January 2017 and the second appointment can be a maximum of 10 weeks from the first session,

·       Payment of the full amount is due when you attend for the first appointment.  If purchasing as a gift voucher, full payment is due at the time of purchase.

·        Our only ask as part of the booking is that you like the Tanya D Ross/TDR Academy Facebook page prior and check-in on Facebook when you attend both appointments! Simples!

We thank you in advance and it would be great to hear from you if you would be interested in subscribing to hear of any further offers in the future to help support you.  You can sign up yourself via the website or contact Tanya on 07879415711 or by email on info@tdracademy.co.uk.

Yours in sport and health,

Tanya D. Ross
TDR Academy