Dan Smith, the SportVelo founder, is an experienced endurance coach with a lifelong passion for endurance sports. He’s been a full-time professional coach for 20+ years and in the sports industry for over 30+ years and has coached a range of athletes from local cyclists focusing on districts to international-level cyclists and triathletes. He is known for his deep expertise in both training techniques based on science and experience, and cutting-edge technical knowledge, including aerodynamics on the road and track.
Coaching Experience
Dan is a Level 1 Certified USA Cycling coach with distinction, and triathlon coach, and he participates in USAT and USAC seminars to stay on top of the most recent science in endurance training. In particular, he has lengthy experience training and coaching with power, starting with CompuTrainers in 1989, plus speed and distance devices (GPS) working with workout analysis Cycling Peaks WKO+ software, and now working with a variety of power meters uploading to TrainingPeaks and WKO4 software for analysis and data-driven prescribed workouts. Additionally, his expertise covers aerodynamic positions on the road and track that optimize the athlete ability and power.
He coaches athletes to successes on the road, triathlon, cyclocross, track, and mountain biking, from strong local triathletes to nationally ranked cyclists. Athletes he coaches have achieved goals such as several district championships and medals, national championship and medals, national records, qualifying for triathlon nationals and worlds, and racing in the Olympic Trials.
Before founding SportVelo, Dan promoted cycling events (road, track, and criteriums) and was a founder of North West Cycling Club in Texas, a USA Cycling Club of the Year. A competitive swimmer in college, he raced as a triathlete after graduation, moving to road cycling 30+ years ago. Starting in the Pro, 1, 2 ranks, he presently competes in the Masters 55+ 1, 2, 3 category. He has competed in track, cyclocross, mountain bike, and road events, such as the National Road Race, the Redlands Stage Race, and other NRC races. As a master racer, he has won local and national races, including winning a National Championship at the 2014 Master 45-49 Scratch race on the track, the 2006 Mt. Hood Stage Race criterium, the 2000 Pescadero Road Race, the 2005 Madera County Stage Race, and the 2005 SuperWeek Lake Front road race. He placed 4th at the 2004 Masters National Criterium in Park City. He won two stages and placed third overall at the 2002 Elkhorn Classic stage race.
Industry Experience
Prior to launching SportVelo, Dan helped build the business at RockShox, Inc. as the Director of Aftermarket Sales, Technical Services and Customer Service. He is a master wheel builder, Barnett Bicycle Institute graduate, and has wrenched for professional road teams in Europe (Paris-Roubaix World Cup race, 1994, 1995, 1996), as well as provided race support for professional mountain bike teams in the US, 1992-1999.