Toque on Tap: 5.19 - 6.3

Yo..check it. Training and travel have been getting the better of my typing lately as the Omega Hit squad (also known as Benny and The Jets) have been crushing tarmac and breaking hearts all over the eastern seaboard. Today is the first time that I've had a chance to sit down with any energy left over to put some words together...must be the music....




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Wilmington GP: NCC Podium

The course has everything required to make a hard criterium: 3% shallow climb along the main straightaway, bumps and small cobblestones to lose one's water bottles, elevation change to suit the technical rider and weed out the weaker, a long run down to the final corner for the brave and a good-sized crowd for the mid afternoon time slot. Things to expect: run out of water, have to pedal as hard out of corner 8 at 7th wheel as you would at 30th wheel and that in the finale, the run down to the downhill corner 7 will be crazy fast...so save some energy. 

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Wilmington GP: Prologue TT

Blasting out onto the flat surface of the 'car'walk, it's big power time and high speed all the way to the finish line. Get aero! I can feel at this moment just how much I am losing over a TT bike, headwind pushing against my shoulders.  Head ducked down and tucked in to clean up my frontal area, eyes burning out the tops of their eye sockets...just like tucking in a ski race. Oh the good old days....HEY...FOCUS....this is the hard part.. PEDAL and GET OUT OF THE HEADWIND SECTION! But my legs hurt today...ya well you are a professional so you pedal no matter how you feel.  The two tight changes of direction at the final bridge crossing included trips from sidewalk to sidewalk, lightly kissing orange traffic cones along the way.
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Wilmington GP: School Visits

We visited three elementary schools during our time in Wilmington. Each group of students enjoyed a 30 minute questions and answer assembly with Tino, Quinn, Kevin, Conor and I. We showed them our jerseys (complete with lunch box pockets!), our race bikes and the super aero Vision wheels. It was a great opportunity to discuss riding safety and share insights into just what it is that we do on a daily basis.

Thank you Wilmington Renaissance Group for setting this up and making us look good!

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Tour de Grove: No Dice

Good Morning!

Since the conclusion of USA Crits Speedweek two weeks ago, my Team Exergy teammates and I have posted up some impression van hours as we’ve traveled across the eastern US in search of good training rides in between our races in St. Louis, MO and Wilmington, DE. With Carlos joining the stage racing squad for the Tour of California, I’ve had the opportunity to take leadership in the finale so although I structured my year’s training for June, I’ve had mid-May on my mind for many months.

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Coffee Drip

A family friend came across this short but well-filmed interview with former mountain biker Dan Gronross filmed by Dan Barham. Gronross is now a 'roadie' and here he explains why. Check it out! Video via Vimeo.

Tour de Grove 2012: Day 1

The word of the day: crashes, or should I say flashes of horizontally spinning bodies and fractured bikes. After picking himself up from a large accident on corner 3 with 6 laps remaining, Quinn watch one rider try to untangle himself who had placed one leg in between the triangle of his bike and the other wrapped up inside the hook of his handlebar.....
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B.I.K.E.S #7: Team Work

Pass the Sea Salt

Spidertech: For Recovery & Travel

As the summer creeps up, this week's Toque Torque Coaching training tip discusses cramping! After a bad episode of cramping at the Sunny King Criterium in Anniston, Alabama, I reassessed my electrolyte education. And after seven cramp-free races at Speedweek, here is are some of the tips I've picked up.

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Global Sports Sandy Springs 2012

2012 USA CRITS Speedweek is over and my Team Exergy teammates and I couldn’t be happier. We showed strongly every day despite changes in temperature, course type and competition to win the overall Omnium, lap leader and U25 competitions, with a close 2^nd place finish to Mountain Khaki’s in the Team Omnium. The last three days of Speedweek were also ranked as NCC events (National Criterium Calendar), increasing the purse and allowing the Division 2 United Healthcare riders to compete. Despite their strong legs after a successful campaign at the Tour of Turkey, Team Exergy was able to hold on with Carlos besting the UHC riders in the sprint finale of two of the three finale stages.

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Need a Coach?

2011 Canadian Nationals

Well you are in luck because as the collegiate cycling season winds up with Nationals this weekend, I have a bunch of openings with the Gran Fondo season just on the horizon!

I have been coaching for two seasons now and have helped a wide variety of riders reach their goals. If you are interested in learning more about training for your next century ride or looking to top up your form before the local race series kicks off, get in touch and we can start right away.

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Electric City Criterium 2012

I think the hardest part of the end of Speedweek is not the transfers or the fatigue of the week’s racing but the change in start times for the final two stages. Our body clocks are pretty set for peak performance between 7-10pm, so starting the race at our usual 3pm nap time makes for a difficult transition.

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Spartanburg Classic 2012

MUSIC

I call Spartanburg the circus. Why? Well first off the entire downtown is closed off with live bands, bouncy castles, a farmer’s market and an entire block of food karts. The total footprint of the event is at least 10 square blocks. Secondly, it was at last year’s edition that I stopped referring to these twilight criterium races as “races”; they were more like “shows”. This is all about entertainment and sometimes I feel a bit like an animal on display but hell, when the spotlight is on you and the announcer is screaming your name, it’s a good feeling and makes the pain the legs melt away...well at least a little.

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Downtown Walterboro 2012

Walterboro, South Carolina. It is day four of USA Crit Speedweek and we haven’t won yet. But we have done everything else: leadout trains, stacked late race moves, won mid-race points primes, controlled the race early, taken the lap leader’s jersey, taken the week’s overall jersey, placed three riders in the top-ten earning pre-race call ups and garnered great praise from the race commentator. But we aren’t here for praise or to do a pretty leadout until a ½ lap to go. We are here to win races and tonight that is exactly what we did.

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Beaufort Memorial 2012

Alright, day three of USA CRITS Speedweek and we are gaining momentum. Seaside in the small town of Beaufort, South Carolina, our morning included short pre-race massages, a spin out to the ocean and of course a pre-race nap! Carlos is closing in on the overall jersey, Kevin is stress free and happy after an awesome performance in the closing stages to claim 2nd in Roswell and I am feeling strong again after winning the field sprint for 4th.

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