Rider Skills Clinic Schedule 2008
Redding Velo Skills Clinic Schedule for Early 2008
Beginning bicycle racing can be a daunting undertaking. The equipment is of significant investment, the training and preparation takes many, many hours, and the intimidation of being an inexperienced racer at your first race can often impair your real cycling ability. I hate to see entry level riders become discouraged in their first few races, only to hang up their shorts and hock their bikes on e-bay, when much of this disappointment can be prevented by knowing how to ride efficiently in a group, handle their bike, and perform the most rudimentary of tactics. Often times it is the smart rider who prevails over the strongest!
In an attempt to target this group, Redding Velo will be offering a short series of skills clinics. These skills clinics will be integrated into the Saturday group rides. If the weather is extreme, we will re-schedule the clinic for the following Saturday. The January clinics will include relatively slow paced group ride sessions so that all riders can participate. Most clinics should provide useful information to cyclists of all levels. If you are one of the more experienced riders, your assistance as a mentor is invaluable and welcome. If you plan to hammer (which you probably shouldn’t be doing in January), please refrain until we pick up the intensity at the February 16th clinic.
January 5th, 2008- Basic Group Ride Skills and Pace Line Formation (John Waldrop)
This clinic will be incorporated into the Saturday group ride. It will be a basic skills clinic aimed at the rider who may not have much experience with group riding. We will cover safety, terminology, paceline formation, group etiquette, communication etc.
January 19th, 2008- Criterium Practice (John Waldrop)
This clinic will concentrate on group riding in close quarters, practice of cornering techniques as well as criterium strategy and terminology.
February 2nd, 2008- Hill Climbing and Descending Techniques (Terry Tupper)
As most of us know, races are often decided in the hills. We will try to instill some tips and techniques that will keep you with the main group both on the ascent and descent.
February 16th, 2008- Paceline and Chase Group Formation (John Waldrop)
As we get closer to the early season races, it is time to start working on some intensity as well as sharpening our race survival skills. This clinic should do both. The Saturday ride will roll out to Ono where we will organize into small groups, then send some breakaway riders up the road and have the chase group attempt to catch them. This should be fun and painful!
March 8th Time Trialing Workshop (Mentor needed)
As we get closer to some of the local time trials, it is time to start learning TT skills. And what better way to learn than to practice! We will group up at the Millville TT course, discuss some strategy, then run the first practice TT of the season!
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