Testimonials
Training with Paul has been an extremely positive and motivating experience for me


Sean | Weekend Warrior

Put Your Plans in Sand & Your Goals in Concrete

Local Christchurch Cyclist Reviews

Improved my racing attitude

I enjoy the regular catch ups and group rides with Paul. I also find it to be a very positive environment to be cycling in. Every fortnight I have a meeting with Paul to catch up and discuss whats going well and what isn't going well, what upcoming races I can do and what I should do during the race to try and achieve the best possible outcome.


I feel my riding has become a lot more aggressive. When I first started with Paul I wasn't very good at races with hills, but since being coached by Paul my favourite sort of race now is a hill race.

Meg Barnes | Schools Cycling Athlete

Great banter in the coaching rides

While I had some bunch riding experience before Paul began coaching me, he really honed these skills. Better than that, he took a scaredy-cat descender and patiently gave me tips and tricks that have helped me enormously, not to be the world’s fastest and gutsiest descender, but to be able to hold my own and descend with confidence.


I love the bunch rides and the banter that goes with that. OCC riders care about each other, encourage and support each other, and push each other in a competitive but inclusive way.

Sarah Wylie | Social Researcher

Making riding fun again

I get great tips for riding in a bunch, from being touched/ hit, riding very closely, and tactics for bunch facing. I've also developed a great training program, with great feedback it makes the training enjoyable and worthwhile.


I've improved in all areas, particularly strength and stamina. I've greatly improved confidence and speed downhill - previously a real weakness. Paul has passed on many tips, all of which were very helpful. Also training and practice has made me far more confident in bunch sprints.


Paul provides support and lots of feedback. He organises great group rides and they're great to ride with. Paul makes riding fun!

Bruce Hastie | Pharmacist

The benefits of a structured approach with fun social outings

I enjoy the  structured training but for me the social  aspects of riding are just as important . Being able to go on regular group rides with the OCC crew is the perfect opportunity to practice and learn skills but also catch up with like minded people who share a love of cycling. 



I was always a social rider prior to being coached and entered things more to be part of an event rather than race . I still do that but really enjoy racing and pushing myself . Now that I have more structured training  I can target events that I want to  compete  in and go out and race as hard as I can .

Vicki Martin   Physician & Endurance Racer

Tailoring a Plan to my busy family and business Life

I love the rides we do together, meeting his other clients and getting know them. The fortnightly catch ups are great and so insightful. I appreciate his sense of humour and his ability to tailor the training to fit into my life.


Two years ago I was ready to quit cycling. Today, within the last 12 months I've trained 10-15 hours per week, can easily ride 150k rides,  race on a weekly basis and win (occasionally). I now ride with much more confidence without fear of crashing or blowing up. I have the most top ten placings in the Leeston Racing Series, have placed on the podium 3 times, won a race, and currently placed 2 out of 250 riders in the series. I have a top 20 in the Club Nationals, am 4th in the Canterbury Champs, top 20 in the CTTA Gebbies hill climb. I have now upgraded to training with a power meter which has started to take my training to another level.

Alex Mann | Club Road Racer

Very good at staying in touch

The group rides are most important to me. There's a great bunch of riders from all walks of life, and I get to know some great people.


Paul is very good at keeping you coming along, with plenty of communication via text to get you there. The Zwift rides have been great. The fun aspect is what i enjoy most about Paul's rides, they can be challenging at times but you never feel you are going to be left behind.

Deane Moreton | Business Owner

Adaptable coaching style

I love Paul's willingness to adapt coaching to meet the needs of a paracyclist. I’ve improved my racing results with a big shift up in my 150K Twizel to Timaru Race

Hamish McCullum | OT

Great support

Thanks so much for all your support! You were amazing over the 4 days. You’re a legend! Am eager to set myself a new mega goal now.

Gess | Insurance professional

Achieving what I thought was impossible

Paul has given me a real sense of direction with my cycling.  We have set realistic training goals that fit into an already busy life.  There are times though that I just can’t squeeze it all in, and I have a sense that Paul gets that.  I feel constantly challenged and encouraged by Paul’s determined approach to see me improve.  Self doubt has been a serious hurdle to overcome for me….but already I have achieved distances and times that a few months ago I would never have thought possible.

Julia | Doctor

Wouldn't have made the squad without Paul's coaching

I just thought I would let you know I have been selected for the performance squad for cycling at Loughborough University (there are 7 men and 2 women). They provide us with free strength and conditioning, sports science and physio support.


I did some racing after my trip to the Alps (got my BC license).  This included circuit racing (my technical side to my riding is massively improved even got called a good descender in the Alps), and a national women’s team series race which was brutal but I finished in the bunch even after I punctured and had to race to get back on.


Thanks for all your coaching I wouldn't have made the squad without that experience.

Louise |

I’m now lighter and fitter

Paul, I just wanted to say thank you for your coaching. I am a much better rider than when I came to New Zealand. Not only I am a lot fitter and lighter, I am also a much better rider technically and no longer get so freaked out on the descents.

Louise | Engineer

Thanks for looking after my son

Thanks for the feedback for Brendan.  I have never seen him so pumped!  Not just in cycling but at school too.  You have really motivated him.  Thanks

Dave Whalley | Brendan's Dad

I’ve learnt more in a few weeks than years of training by myself

It’s been a really positive experience working together. My ability on the bike has come up in leaps and bounds in such a short time. I’ve learnt a lot too, about how to train and just what my body can handle – which is more than I’d ever realised. How far I’ve come was highlighted to me the other day when I bumped into an old riding buddy on my hill reps, he nearly choked on his smoothy when I told him I had achieved a 490km week! This has been from following Paul's guidance, so I thank him for everything.


It’s been an interesting few weeks training wise. I’m learning so much especially around my tolerance to training stress, racing and controlling effort. Before I signed up I knew the training methods (it’s easy to read and find out) but not how to use them – or in other words I had the tools to build the house but no knowledge of how to build it.

Cycling can be an expensive sport but the best investment I made was signing up with Odlin Cycle Coaching. In my short time working with Paul I’ve learnt more than in 2 years of training on my own. Paul couples a positive easy going approach with years of elite racing experience and qualified knowledge. But most importantly he expresses a genuine interest in you as a person and what you want to achieve on the bike. Thanks heaps Paul!

Andrew V | Scientist

From C Grade to elite racing

Paul – thanks for the coaching and dragging me up from C grade! I had confirmation that I will start this Sunday’s Benchmark race (round 4 – Tour of Selwyn – 2010)

Glenn | Builder

Fastest Le Race, quickest Harbour Ride

I have never been able to devise training programmes to produce peak performances. Paul has put together training programmes to do Le Race 2009 … it was my best performance. Harbour Ride 2009 was my fastest ever despite harder conditions than normal. So it works.

John | Scientist

16Kg in 24 weeks

Training with Paul has been an extremely positive and motivating experience for me – a 16kg weight loss over a 24 week period. – a very successful rehabilitation/strengthening program for a chronic calf muscle injury. The improvement in my cycling performance has far exceeded all my expectations and I will definitely be back for more!

Sean | Weekend Warrior

A coach that’s committed to my personal goals

Given the level of importance and priority I placed on improving my physical and mental well being, I feel Paul’s enthusiasm, intensity and involvement in training, range of skills and knowledge of personal health are instrumental in me achieving my goals. From the outset, Paul has taken my perception of “what was required” and redirected my focus onto the key aspects of reaching an achievable goal by providing guidance in the types of training, frequency of training, diet and daily nutritional requirements in order to succeed.


Paul’s training sessions are varied yet regulated to ensure we all partake in the required cardiovascular/resistance training mix for our own individual requirements, yet regularly changed or reshuffled to ensure we remain interested and build on previous achievements .Paul has developed my awareness and interest in what and when I eat by providing some sound guidelines in nutritional requirements.

He employs the CSIRO Total Wellbeing diet to provide a well balanced and easily consumed eating plan which comprises our basic food groups, purchased and prepared in simple everyday measures. Recipes and handy hints are continually provided to ensure nothing is bland, difficult to replace should a substitute be required or time consuming to prepare. My diet is now varied, healthy and relatively inexpensive when compared to the more regimented diet programmes and their myriad of supplements.


Paul’s interest in his clients, both in the gym and the sporting/social arena’s and his commitment to ensure we improve to succeed in our chosen goals are reason enough for me to recommend him to anyone seeking personal achievement, a healthier lifestyle or both.”

Brent | Athlete

Skills to ride

I didn’t say explicitly, but I am very encouraged with the descent improvement. Confidence up, I'm tackling some corners without braking for the first time.

John | Masters Racer

Encouragement and prep

Paul. Thank you for the encouragement and the preparation. I could have easily said “too hard” when the nerves kicked in.

Mike |

9Kgs, new clothes and less doctor visits

I have been working with Paul Odlin for the last 12 months and I have begun cycling – quite frequently. I have lost close to 9kgs in weight. I have needed to buy new (and slimmer) clothes, I have reached a situation where I do not need to see a doctor every three months to get a top up prescription for low dose aspirin and cholesterol. I find I sleep better than previously. I have not been as fit as I now am since I was in my 20’s. (and I am now in my 60’s)… I do think that I am going to pass some of those youngsters in the cycling club I have joined. Not long now.

Mike | Retired

Dragged to the next level

Thanks so much for all your input into the whole venture from the Masters Games to last weekend. I wouldn’t have enjoyed the effort half as much if I hadn’t been pushed to another level of achievement.

Ian | Masters and Retired

Share by: