Schedule and Gila

Good luck to everyone racing Gila this week. Tough race for sure.

My schedule has gotten changed around a bit in the last month with my trip to Joe Martin being canceled, but here's my schedule for May:

April 30th- Tour de Moore (N.C)

May 8^th     Jefferson Cup  

May 14^th   Poolesville RR  

May 15^th   Leonardtown Crit Champs 

May 20^th   Wilmington Grand Prix 

May 28^th   Kelly Cup 

May 30^th   Tour of Sommerville

Come say hi if you are around at these races.

Lessons from Battenkill

 Lessons From Battenkill – Preparing For A Race You’ve Never Done Before

I recently raced the Tour of Battenkill in upstate New York. I have heard legends about this race and was excited to give it a try. I had never done the race before, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to talk about how to prepare for a race that you have never done before.

Race Course Research

If you are lucky enough to be within an hour or two’s drive to the course, pre-riding the racecourse can be a great opportunity for learning. Make sure you print off a course map or turn cues before pre-riding so as not to get lost. When you ride the course, make sure to pay attention and stay alert,  rather than necessarily looking at getting in a good training day. Make special notes in your head about:

• Terrain
• Weather Conditions
• Road Conditions
• Last 5km

Note areas that are harder than others, whether there is a big climb or a crosswind might appear. Know when and where you can move up to place yourself at the head of the field for that section of the course. This would also be an excellent time to come up with your race strategy. Is the race likely to stay together, or break apart? Should you take an offensive strategy and attack, or look to conserve till the end of the race? Decide on good places to attack or to use team tactics.

Scope out the finish. If you want to be in it for the win, this is the most important part of your pre-ride. Ride the last few km’s of the course a few times. Take notes of the turns and places to move up to position yourself well. Ride the last few hundred meters to determine where you will start your sprint what side of the road you want to be on.

If you aren’t able to pre-ride the course, the internet can be your best friend. Many races now post course profiles where you can look at the terrain and turns.

Local Knowledge

If you have friends who have raced the course before, ask them about the race. Good questions to ask are:

• How did the race play out last year?
• Where are the crucial parts of the race?
• Did any external factors (i.e wind or hills) play a part in the race?

Often times you can find race reports from previous years races. Either use a rsourse like GamJams to check out blogs, or Google the race with the words “race report”. These will often times give you insight that you might now have been able to see from a pre-ride.

Check out race results from the previous years. Was it a climber who won the race, or someone who excels in a pack sprint? Did the race finish in a large group, or were there big time gaps at the finish? This is a good gauge as to how the race will play out.

Training

Optimize your training at least a month out. If the race is hilly, it’s probably best to start doing those hill repeats. If it’s flat, you might want to hit the group rides for speed work. If it’s windy, think about doing threshold work as you might be pace-lining in a small group. Structure your training around the racecourse and the results will come.

Adam Switters is a former professional cyclist and currently races for the XO Communications/Battley Harley Cycling Team. He is a USA Cycling Certified Coach and is always interested in helping out cyclists. You can check him out at his website www.SwittersCoaching.com Feel free to comment if you have any other ideas to add to this list.

Integrating Into Your Cycling Community

I recently relocated to the Richmond area from Northern California. As if moving from one coast to the other wasn’t a big enough change, I knew very few cyclists in the area that I was moving to. I was very well known in the cycling communities throughout California, but am a relative unknown here. I thought I would take this chance to journal my experiences in trying to integrate myself into the Northern Virginia cycling region and hopefully act as a guide for those hoping to do the same. This is my journey toward finding riding partners, a team, and new friends.

Find a local group ride

Before you join a team, check out the local group ride. When I first came to Richmond, I joined one of the Spin Mafia rides. Not only will they be able to show you the local cycling routes, this is a great opportunity to meet some of the cyclists in the area. Don’t be afraid to pick their brain about teams, rides, and just make friendly conversation. You can also check out the local weekday cycling races like the Bryan Park criterium series or track racing at the Speedway in Midlothian. Be social and make an effort to get to these events and interact with your fellow cyclists.

Find a team and get involved

USA Cycling has a list of all registered cycling clubs. In addition, resources like Vacycling.org usually have lists of all the teams in the area. Conduct some research on the teams you are interested in (Are they a masters team? Do they promote races? Are they local to your area?), and contact them about joining their squad. If they have monthly meetings, try to start attending, or volunteer to help out with a race that they are putting on. Usually teams will have social nights like Pizza and clothing distribution night, or a pre-race carbo load. This is a great chance for teammates to interact and meet friends off the bike.

Your local bike shop

Develop a relationship with your local bike shop. For me, this was Carytown Bicycles. When you are in the area, stop by, even just to chat. Try to make most of your purchases from the same shop and get to know the mechanics. Developing a friendship with your mechanics will often times help you when you need some bike maintenance in a pinch (don’t abuse this though and make sure to bring them a six pack). Often times bike shops will have social nights where you can meet some of the locals. Carytown Bicycles recently held a wine tasting night and a Pizza Crawl night.  Have a beer (or wine), relax, and talk about how strong Cancellara was at Paris Roubaix.

Social media

Yes, sites like Facebook and Twitter are fast becoming tools for the cycling community to communicate. Use these tools to find group rides and riding partners alike. Post that you are going for a ride and ask if anyone wants to join. You’ll never know who will respond.

I have been in the area for just under a month and have used all of these tips with success. Cyclists are friendly and engaging people. Sometimes all it takes is making an effort. If you are in the Richmond area, look me up on Facebook and hit me up for a ride. I’ll probably be down to go.

Adam Switters is a former professional cyclist and currently races for the XO Communications/Battley Harley Cycling Team. He is a USA Cycling Certified Coach and is always interested in helping out cyclists. You can check him out at his website www.SwittersCoaching.com

Track Racing

Big Ups to Braden from Carytown Bikes for putting on some awesome track races at the Midlothian Speedway. Thanks also to Carolyn Goble for officiating for free just because she loves the sport.

I think this is the 3rd time I've ever jumped on a track bike. We are lucky enough that the track has loaner frames, but unfortunately the biggest size they had was a 54 (I usually ride a 57). I decided to man up and jack that seatpost up and try to git'r done.

I'll be the first to admit that track racing is not exactly my cup of tea. I like to push big gears, I don't like to sprint, I'm terrible at spinning. That being said, I'm using this as a learning opportunity and a chance to increase my sprint some.

Race #1
1 Lap TT
Lol, what a joke for me. Man I can not spin at all, or turn for that matter. I must have been corner 8ft from the inside of the track through the whole last turn. Old man Dan King smoked it and showed us youngins how to really race bikes.

Race #2
20min unknown
Well, I was never going to win a sprint. Took me about 2 laps before I launched with a whole foods rider. We did pretty well rotating and holding off the field and motorin Andrew Troy came up to us a little later. Coming into the bell lap it was still the 3 of us off together. I tried to get the jump on Andrew on the backside of the course and win the race to the final turn, but he held me off on the inside and I was forced to go the long way around. Fail! 2nd place to a mush smarter and faster rider.

Race #3
Points Race
Same strategy, didn't quite work as well this time. I got 2nd in the first sprint and took off, winning the next one out of a small group. My legs decided to stop working after that and I fell back to the main group as riders went off the front. Don't think I scored anymore point after that.

All in all, I had a blast. Can't wait to do this again

New Website is Live

Yep, it's live. Check it out!
www.SwittersCoaching.com

Lots of exciting stuff this year including skills clinics, camps etc. Look forward to more soon.

Roanoke Twilight Criterium

These night races can be tough on the body. I didn't get home till just after 2:30am last night. I'm still pretty whooped writing this race report.

Roanoke Twilight Crit
Pro 1/2
Place: 27

The team came into the race with a strong squad, but lacking a true finisher. The course was tough and fast and we were hoping that the race would break up, which it did. Our plan was to be aggressive and we did a great job of that.

Night crits are an interesting phenomenom. Our race didn't start till 9pm. Luckily this wasn't my first circus and I was used to cornering in the dark. The course was super fast and super short. Most likely we were going to be lined out from the gun.

It took me about 3 laps to make it up to the front of the 80man field and soon after I launched off the front. After dangling awhile, I came back to the fold, and teammates Russ and Jared launched off the front as part of a 7man group that wold end up lapping the field.

Once the group lapped, I dropped back searching for Russ, and brought him to the front of the field and rode tempo. My goal wasn't to line out the race, but rather to keep our riders safe at the front and neutralize any attacks. After a few laps on the front, Tim Rugg and Tim Brown joined me and we rotated for the next 15 laps or so. We started getting hit by attacks and were closing them until Phil Gaimon (who had also lapped) hit us hard. I took a super hard pull to close down the gap and Russ jumped across once I pulled with 10meters of him.

Apparently this caused the pack to blow up, and only 16 riders were left in the front group. Unfortunately I wasn't able to grab the tail end of the group after my big effort and slowly went backward. I got pulled a few laps later, slotting in at 27.

Our riders ended up 4th and 7th, which isn't terrible considering that there were some very good pro riders there. It was a good show on XO Communications to take the responsibility in controlling the race and I was glad to see our guys put in a great team effort.

Adam

Exciting Things

Exciting things to come!!!!
Racing at Roanoke tonight, but expect a big announcement on Monday

Lessons from Battenkill

I've hear legends about Battenkill and I was super excited about this race. 104 miles, dirt roads, good fields. Sounded like my type of race. In retrospect, I think I was a little too excited. I usually do well if I have a big week, followed by a few easy days, but I think I hit it too hard during my big week and came into the race a little overtrained.

Battenkill RR Report
Pro 1 Men
Place: Meh!

On Friday, Keck and I made the 11 hour journey up to Cambridge, NY. It was a long drive, but I was happy to be driving up 2 days early so we could relax the day before the race. We were treated to awesome host housing by our wonderful hosts, Aaron and Amy Mengel. best hosts riders could ask for.

On Saturday, Keck and I went out for an easy spin to loosen out the legs before heading to the race site for a press conference. It was a great little sit down interview with about 5 of us cyclists and Dave Towle, who is the best announcer ever!

We made the decision to drive the course that afternoon, but it's kind of hard to memorize and twisting turning 64mile loop.

We didn't race till 2pm on Sunday so we got a nice relaxing morning at the host house. We managed to watch Paris Roubaix in the morning to get ourselves pumped up and before you know it, it was race time.

I'll make the actual race report nice and simple. Russ, Keck and Rugg were awesome and made it into some good breaks.I on the other hand, was staying safe in the pack and conserving energy. Then I made a stupid mistake. About 90mi into the race, I was sitting a little too far back and some guys got sketchy on a downhill dirt corner. I got gapped coming out of the corner as the pack drilled into a crosswind. With 15mi to go, my race was done. I sat up and rode easy with a group to the line, coming in somewhere in the mid 40's.

What did I learn: Pay attention! Stupid to let myself drift that far back that late in the race
                            Drink! I was definitely dehydrated and had a good layer of salt covering my
                            face at the finish.

Oh well, there are plenty more races to come.

Walton Park Race Report

It's been quite awhile since I have posted here, so I thought I would revive the blog seeing as how I have joined a new team and moved to the East Coast.

I have been racing under the XO Communications/Battley Harley Banner this whole year, including my win at the Cal Aggie Criterium in California, but the Walton Park Criterium would be my first chance to race with my teammates.

Walton Park Criterium
Cat: Pro 1/2
Place: 2nd

I really had no idea what to expect at this race. This would be my first race on the east coast in quite awhile. I was excited to meet my teammates and some new people, and the course looked brutal. Upon arriving, I was introduced to my team by my friends Keck Baker and Charles Hutchenson. I also got the chance to be harassed by Dan King, who is a super nice guy.

As I said before, the course was absolutely brutal. Small course, tight turns, and a good size hill every lap. With the cancellation of the Jeff Cup the next day, the start list beefed up with riders like Joe Dombrowski. I was hoping that since I was an unknown that I might be given some leeway and be able to sneak off alone.

The race started off fast and my teammates Mason Haymes and Jared Nieters established early breakaways which I bridged up to solo a couple of times before getting reeled in. Keck Baker and Jake Tremblay managed to get up the road for a 10sec lead and I could tell the field was breaking apart. After a hard acceleration by Dombrowski, followed by a general slow regrouping of the field, I hit it hard on the left side of the course and bridged to the breakaway half a lap later.

At this point we still had about 32 laps to go in the race. All 3 of us seemed pretty strong and I was confident of making it to the line together. My teammate Keck however had other ideas, and he attacked the break with 28!!! laps to go. I felt bad since I was now obligated to sit on Jake while he tried to chase Keck around. Jake was super strong and props to him.

Fearing we would get caught by the pack if I sat on Jake too long, I finally bridged up to Keck solo and we embarked on a very arduous two person TTT. We managed to hang on till the end with Keck taking out the win and myself slotting in second. Someone took an awesome video of the race and I've posted it below. Yes, that's me with the pink gloves.

 

Anyways, it was a great race and I got to meet some great people. Come say hi if you get the chance next race.