Here I go!

Though I have been having a terrific time with the CCY Junior Cycling Team, this summer I am embarking on one of my dreams: riding across the US by bicycle.

The CCY Juniors have gotten to know the local cycling community, and I am confident that the will be well taken care of. But I will miss them terribly. They're a lot of fun to tease. :)

So anyhow, keep an eye on these kids! Will ya!

Meanwhile, you can keep track of my adventures on my personal blog, http://anadventurecalledbicycling.blogspot.com and soon I will also be posting at www.trekbikes.com under Women > Women Who Ride.

Garrison Cyclocross Clinics: Success!

Over the last two weeks, we held four cyclocross clinics for Garrison Middle Schoolers. Each day we met at Rooks Park and rode around a course I (Coach RJ) had set up with irrigation flags (pink on the left, blue on the right!). Each day brought an added challenge!

On the first day, we focused on riding through the volleyball sand pit. On the second day, we added tight grass mazes. On the third day, we added run-ups. On the fourth day, we added barricades (though we had been sneaking them in earlier, too). AND, on the fourth day, we invited the CCY Junior Cycling Team high schoolers to come race with us! First, as we had done at the previous clinics, we timed our lap time three times, trying to beat it each time. Once we had established who was steadily finishing 30 seconds faster than others, we applied handicaps! The finale was a 3 lap race, but the faster riders had a delayed start. It actually turned out to be a pretty tight race! Funny what happens when you have a bunny right in front of ya!

Anyhow, as Micah put it, "CYCLING IS SO MUCH FUN!!!  I LOVE CYCLING!!!!!"

I call that success.

WOW, WENATCHEE!!

Wow. What a great way to end the spring season. 

The Wenatchee Omnium brought an individual time trial, a downtown criterium and an epic road race-- all in two days.

The TIME TRIAL was a flat-ish 9 miles. There aren't usually very  many details to share about an individual time trial, but the boys rode well and came back happy with their efforts. At the same time, they were able to reflect on what they could have done better. We learn every time.

The CRITERIUM was a simple square shape... except that it was on a sidehill, so you got a rip-roaring downhill right turn followed by a jockey-for-position uphill right turn. Fortunately, we've been reviewing corners a bit during practice. :) 

As I (Coach RJ) ran frantically around the course to cheer on my juniors, I saw one of our riders, Silas, and he shouted, "RJ! That was my best corner!!" I was so proud. But I told him to do it again because I missed it! Ha ha! And he did, he really nailed that corner. That took guts. Good work, Silas!

Michael was pretty pumped for the criterium, despite spending the last 10 minutes of his warm up chizillin' on the grass in the shade because it was hot as heck! Michael was right up there, riding with the leaders of the race, sitting in, working a little on the front and trying to ride smart. Then a prime (bonus) lap bell rang right after he'd been on the front. The other riders attacked and he popped. Ah, well. The legs will come! Good work, Michael!

The ROAD RACE was the most epic the kids had ever seen. Even the upper category racers looked at the race course with a shudder. Basically, the course went up..UP.. UUUUP (sneak in a 16% grade switchback) UUUUUUUUUP.. then downDOWNdoooooooooooowwwwn. The kids should be applauded for just FINISHING that course! Well done! You're now men. :) Well, almost. 

Also, a SPECIAL THANK YOU goes out to STEVE KINNAMAN who DROVE US all the way to and from Wenatchee AND treated to us burritos all around for two nights! (And boy, did we need those burritos!) THANK YOU, STEVE!

Another SPECIAL THANK YOU goes out to the VALAAS FAMILY in Wenatchee. Not only were they warm hosts, but they let ravage their food-- and they even helped cook! To top that, Mr.Valaas even donated a bag of old bicycle pedals and dura ace shifters for the team! WOW!! THANK YOU, VALAAS FAMILY! You were a lot of fun to visit with and we thoroughly enjoyed our stay.

Unfortunately-- I do not have any pictures from the weekend. :( I couldn't find my battery charger.

Garrison Middle School Cyclocross Clinics

Coach RJ will be setting sail on her bicycle allll the way across the United States this summer, so she won't be around to coach the CCY team and we have not found a replacement yet (we're still looking!). BUT! There's still time for some cyclocross clinics before she leaves!

For those of you that showed up at the First Meeting at Garrison in the cafeteria, here is our schedule:

CYCLOCROSS CLINICS: 4pm at Rooks Park

1. Wed, May 13: bike fits, shifting, braking, sand pit
   
2. Mon, May 18: grass mazes, dismounts & remounts (& barricades?)
   
3. Wed, May 20: run ups, dismounts & remounts & barricades
   
4. Thu, May 21: w/ CCY Team, RACE!! Prizes!
   

If you are a Garrison middle schooler and were unable to attend the meeting, but are still interested in attending these clinics-- please CONTACT COACH RJ RIGHT AWAY by e-mailing her at bike {at} wwccy [dot] org. Unfortunately, you cannot attend these clinics without a waiver signed!

CCY Cycling Coming to Garrison Middle School!

Very exciting news!

We are working to expand the CCY Junior Cycling team to include middle schoolers! Our first middle school team will be based out of Garrison Middle School. 

This May, we will hold several cyclocross clinics for Garrison middle schoolers. Our last clinic will be a race against each other! And there will be prizes!

Unfortunately, we will be without a coach for the summer (I will be touring across the U.S. by bicycle!), but we will resume regular programming in the fall. At that time, middle schoolers will have the same opportunity to travel and race as or high schoolers do. However, the middle school and high school teams will meet on different days. High schoolers meet on Tuesdays and Thursdays while middle schoolers meet on Mondays and Wednesdays. Occasionally there will be a Friday clinic and, of course, racing on the weekend!

Backpack of Shame

When you show up really late to practice because of your poor planning.. you get to wear the Backpack of Shame and sprint up Kendall hill. It's filled with full water bottles and weighs over 10 pounds. Michael illustrates. :)

Tour of Walla Walla Race Report!

Alright, here's the TOUR OF WALLA WALLA race report!

TOUR OF WALLA WALLA is a stage (multi-day) race that is put on by our very own sponsor shop, ALLEGRO CYCLERY. The tour relies on many, many volunteers-- and that's just what we did on Friday during the men's and women's pro races. Saturday morning brought the time trial up and over 5 Mile Rd hill and screaming down Russell Creek. The boys decided they had raced their guts out-- but that's what THEY think. Wait 'til we have practice next Tuesday. THEN they'll know about their guts coming out! Anyhow-- Saturday night was the much anticipated TWILIGHT CRITERIUM in downtown Walla Walla. Under (not quite as many as we thought there'd be) flood lights, the boys toed the line.. nervously.. at 8:40pm. They survived. And I think they may have even liked it, too. Sunday morning was the Waitsburg road race that bore the infamous and decisive Waitsburg Hill. Bike racing, however, is part strength, part skill, part smarts and part LUCK. The boys didn't have the last bit on their side that day. Both Michael and Alex were taken out in a crash. Alex was surprisingly upbeat about it, since everything had been going so well for him until then. However, the crash did in his derailleur and he was unable to finish. Michael's bike was still running, so he got back on and finished the race-- a great achievement, especially for having just crashed in his second road race ever! We're proud of him for finishing, blood and all. Both the boys are fine and only suffered scrapes and cuts.

So-- that's it! The TOUR OF WALLA WALLA. The HUGE home town race. Blood, guts, and someday some glory.

Next up: THE WHITMAN COLLEGE TRIATHLON. Will the trio: Michael, Alex and Silas BEAT their coach RJ???

If they do-- they win a PRIZE! $10 each to Allegro Cyclery. Hot dog.

Cornering Practice

In preparation for the Tour of Walla Walla, which has an EIGHT corner criterium.. we joined the Whitman women for some cornering practice.
Mia and Roxy from the Whitman team were veterans to the skill and were great resources for all the new riders to learn from! Thank you!

A few pointers on cornering in a race:

• When taking a right corner, your left foot should be down (6 o'clock), your right foot up (3 o'clock). The opposite when turning left. This assists balance and you can also push your weight into your 'down' foot if you need to corner more sharply.
• Cornering at speed is more about leaning than actually turning your handlebars.
• If you are approaching a corner too fast-- use your brakes BEFORE the corner and avoid, if at all possible, using your brakes during a corner. 
• And if you do use your brakes.. use them GENTLY!
• Cornering while in your drops is much easier!
• Apex the corner. Start wide and end wide while cutting the corner. This allows you to maintain momentum.

Another Great Team Ride-- and SLOW RACES!!

Just Another Great Ride

Michael: Can we take this right turn up here?

RJ: Why?

Michael: Well, because we haven't been out for very long and I want to ride longer.

:) I raised 'em good.

Up Old Tollgate Highway

What a fantastic day for a ride! 60, 65 degrees, light breeze, non-stop sun! For a bit more adventure, we drove out to Milton-Freewater so we could venture farther than we ordinarily do.

Orchards, grapes in rows. Pruned neat.
Lower Dry Creek Road rolling up.
Caution over old rail tracks.
Shed extraneous layers, heat.
Hello, miniature ponies!
Tunnel: aWOOO!!
Chit chat dissolves on the climb.
Water break in Weston, Snickers bar sublime.
Chug up old Tollgate highway.
Inhale the view.
Blast back down banked corners.
Sprint for play.
Detour onto Blue Mtn. Sta. Rd.
Crackle gravel.
Butt behind the saddle.
Coast home.
















Don't forget! You can click the "HQ" to see the video in HIGH QUALITY!

Sponsor a GIRL!

The CCY Junior Cycling Team is looking for a business, organization or any interested party to sponsor a GIRLS ONLY scholarship!

Our team is steadily growing along with the amount of bikes we are able to build up (THANKS, JAMIS!), but so far all of our athletes have been BOYS! It's time to give the girls a fair shot.

We would like to award a $300 scholarship (to go toward cycling equipment) to the female that writes the best essay on why she wants to learn how to ride and race bikes.

Are YOU or someone YOU KNOW interested in sponsoring the scholarship? Arrangements can be made to display your business or organization logo on the bike that our winner races on!

Contact RJ at bike wwcy org to inquire!