Training Rides
Saturday/Sunday:
The 2010 group ride season has offically begun. We start at Granby Bike Shop near Stop and Shop in Granby. Plan on 8:00 AM on Saturday's. Sunday's are Hit or Miss but expect these to pick up - usually at 8:00 AM.
Note the Saturday ride now starts at 8:00
Weekday Shop Rides:
For weekday ride info, check out Craig's site: http://www.granbybicycle.com
Contact Craig at Granby Bicycle (860-653-4800) for all of your cycling equipment needs.
Monday: Shop Ride @ 6:00 Sharp
Wednesday: Shop Ride @ 6:00 Sharp
Jim's Alternate Ride: Cue sheet - click here
On May 17th, 2009 - Capitol Velo Club hosted a junior race clinic in Farmington with grant money from USAC. The event was brief strategy talks before race simulations. Each race simulation had side by side coaching during the ride from season racers during the mini races.
If you have a young racer (or aspiring racer), you wont want to miss the next one. Check out the pictures and reviews here:
For more info on CVC, check out their site here:
29 PRO SECRETS from http://roadbikerider.com/ . If you like what you see here - check out their site for more tips.
The Russ Files:
Russ’ Training May 31, 2008
Found a new group of friends this week at the end of the trail. The bike trail of course. Follow the Farmington Valley Greenway to its southerly end in Farmington. Turn left and proceed 0.2 miles to the entrance to Tunis Mead Park. Every Thursday and Friday at 9 AM you’ll find Pete’s Peddlers. This is the Unemployment Ride of the south end of the Farmington Valley. For the last two weeks I’ve ridden – at a brisk pace – with a disciplined group of roadies who know the roads and the rules. 40 – 50 miles depending on Pete’s scheduled route for the day. +16 mph average for the ride is common. All in a neat pace line on the busy roads and conversational on the side streets. Rest stops include parks with shady benches and a port-o-potty. So don’t be a stranger and ride the same old loop with the usual suspects. Get the tires pumped up and I’ll introduce you to the South End Gang.
May 9, 2008
It’s been too long since I wrote in my logbook. Not because I haven’t been riding, but because I have. My fixed gear is clean and hanging from the rafters after a messy start to the spring season. Solo on the fixed gear and frozen limbs were the routine on March’s sloppy roads. With those base miles behind me, it was time to share lunch with some old friends. The “Unemployment Ride” noontime Tuesdays and Thursdays at the shop in April was an eclectic mix. Out in 40 degrees on a Sunday morning group ride with Maggie on the trail-a-bike and me on the old steel Trek. Downtown to the new library with both daughters in tow attached to the tandem trail-a-bike – “easy does it girls, keep her steady”. Saturday afternoon shadowing my 10 yr old on his road bike so he can know his true land speed – 22 mph! Last week at noon, I managed to hang onto the triathletes before they turned uphill and dropped be like an empty pack of GU. Later the same day I startled a squirrel on the Flower Bridge and clocked him doing 14 mph before jumped over the rail. I never heard a splash so I assumed he was fine. In Florida, I rode mom’s wind trainer poolside so I didn’t lose any fitness on vacation. Now it’s after school around the block with my kids on my beater bike – newly adorned in bright yellow paint. I’m willing to ride anywhere and with anyone. Just let me grab my helmet and a water bottle.
April - 2008 Florida Training Camp
1/29/2008
I’ve recently taken up residence in the YMCA since spinning in the basement is only for the clinically insane. So it was off to the gym this morning to spin with the Hotty Homemakers. Miner setback, I had to pass on the 9:30 AM spinning class, as it had recently become the “spinning book club”. The only thing I read is the weekly Nashbar catalog and the Velonews webpage. So off to Pilates Class instead. Never been, thought I’d give it a try. I’m forever reading about how some pro racer took minutes off their best time because of the pilates and yoga in the off season, so why not me too. 60 minutes later…HOLY CRAP! WARNING - Pilates is a made-up French word for 60 minutes of abdominal crunches in every conceivable position. Forget rendition, make’m do Pilates. Mad props to the ladies in the spandex this week. If I can manage to bend over and tie my shoes in the morning without crying out in pain, I might think of doing that class again…NOT! I may have to open a book to get back into the spinning class or better yet, I might try the Power Bar Class in the 11 AM slot. I don’t think it’s about the proper mix of carbs to protein in an easy to unwrap snack. But who knows, I’ll try anything once.
Russ files update 9 Jan 2008
Yes, it’s 60 degrees outside but I prefer to ride the Schwinn trainer with the other wing nuts at the YMCA in Granby. Why you ask? Mud, sand, narrow shoulders and iced over bike paths. Give me 60 minutes of shared turmoil jamming to Donna Summer & REO Speedwagon and I’m happy. Beats 60 minutes of bike cleaning in the cold, wet garage after watching my life flash before my eyes on these grimy roads. Don’t misunderstand; I’ll be the f irst to welcome Spring and the rains that wash these roads clear. I’ll be on my cell at noon, bragging to those with day jobs that I’m on Rte 57 East out of New Boston, but not until March at the earliest. Until then, all my babies are clean and neatly hanging in rows from the basement ceiling. So I’ll meet you at the Y to spin or Starbucks for coffee until the roads clear.
12/22/07: Started my winter training today by joining Paul M. and 17 other crazies at the YMCA at 6:30 this morning for the spin class. Too much out of the seat and back down and up for me, but the pier pressure kept my heart rate up. I'm also the unofficial winner of the "name that tune" contest this morning; guessing 5 of the many X-mas songs we rode to. Most were pumped up disco style versions to keep us spinning. Good times. I plan to attend as many Tuesday, Thursday and Sat AM's as possible. Legs were feeling it all day.
IRON-MOM:
/Documents/IM 2006.doc
What does it take do ride an Iron Man or Iron WOman in this case? Read Trish Rivard's account of training for the '06 Lake Placid IM at the above IM2006 link.
Stretching and Flexibility
Some articles to help keep you loose: