COLUMBUS CYCLING CLUB

Promoting Bicycling in the Chattahoochee Valley

For more see www.columbuscyclingclub.org

 

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EBULLETIN (An ‘Almost’ Weekly Cycling Newsletter)

February 25, 2005

Issue # 51 – Race Club News

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1.       MIKE’S BIKES RACING – MEETING UPDATE

2.       WHAT IS A RACE CLUB?

 

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MIKE’S BIKES RACING – MEETING UPDATE

By Annette Santiago

 

The Mike's Bikes Racing Club presented by American Express held its second organizational meeting this past Wednesday evening. Thanks go out to the local Coca Cola offices for their support, the products they provided, and the use of their conference room to host this event.

 

Excitement was high in the room as more than 25 members of the MBR club arrived. A welcome banner greeted everyone out front, refreshments were provided by Coca Cola, race calendars were available, a video of Marco Pantini's last Giro was playing at the front of the room for interested viewers, and the room was lined with fancy goodie bags for all members. Not only was this the first race meeting of the New Year, but it was also the unveiling of the 2005 race uniform. Everyone had been in the dark, as uniform details were kept 'top secret', known only to a small group involved in the design. Uniform orders were placed with our supplier, Verge Sports, in late November, and with the first races of the season rapidly approaching, everyone was eager to see what they would be wearing this year.

 

As members entered the room, they could see a new 2005 race club skinsuit hanging above the member sign in table. First impressions were favorable, and Velo Fashion-Guru, Gabollini Denes, deemed the uniform to be "stylish, bright, and un-Amish like", quite an endorsement from the king of high-visibility cycling clothes. One of the major changes in the 2005 uniform is the color of the shorts. This year's uniform consists of red shorts with sky blue and white side panels, and a sky blue jersey with red and white accents. It shouldn't be difficult for spectators and supporters to pick out the MBR race club in the midst of a peloton or among the background of a mountain-bike race course. All team members received a goodie bag filled with their uniform order, a Powerade towel and water bottle, and details of the sponsorship agreement with Kenda to provide team members with tires.

 

It's not often that we have a chance to see everyone in one room wearing street clothes rather than Spandex. Most of us easily recognize the bikes, and the faces under the helmets, but when we are cleaned up a bit, we can look quite different. Glenn Kalnins began the meeting by asking everyone to introduce themselves - there were a few well-known faces and several regulars, but it was great to see so many new faces. Steve Murray continued by going on to tell the group about this year's sponsors, hand out race schedules, identify targeted team events, and tell everyone about an opportunity to have VO2 Max fitness testing through the Tiger Fit program at Auburn University. For more information on this program, be sure to visit:  http://education.auburn.edu/resourcesservices/clinicandlaboratories/tigerfit.html). Barry Carswell handed out team contact lists, and mentioned that he has generic training plans available for beginner and intermediate level racers. The meeting ended with door prize drawings that included a USPS jersey, several folding recliner chairs, nascar t-shirts and other goodies.

 

Our team is a grass-roots, developmental cycling team dedicated to building the racing and 'performance' riding community and our riders.  We have a great cross-section of the riding community in our race club, and we welcome those who ride only to race, as well as those who are merely exploring their performance abilities. We also have a group who concentrates on the longer distance events - mostly centuries.  All have come together to share skills and improve one another through the camaraderie of cycling.

 

The MBR race club is comprised of road racers, mountain bike racers, and multisport athletes. There is no requirement for performance to be on the race club. There is, however, a requirement to make a commitment to racing or riding century challenges as well as supporting the club. Members of the race team are asked to participate in a minimum of seven events per year. All sponsorship monies will be used to pay 'participation incentives' - these small standardized amounts will allow one to 'earn back' the cost of their jersey through participation. MBR will strive to promote 'participation' as opposed 'achievement'. Participation includes riding events, centuries, and organized club rides, as well as volunteering to help with events.

 

For more information on Mike's Bikes Racing presented by American Express, contact Steve Murray at smurray@tsys.com (706-649-5761), or Paul Hein at phein@tsys.com (706-641-6547).

 

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WHAT IS A RACE CLUB?

By Annette Santiago

 

Have these thoughts crossed your mind?

·    I want to start racing but I don't know if I'm ready.

·    I don't have much experience with group riding.

·    I think it might be fun to race or try to ride a fast century, but I don't know what to expect.

·    Racing seems to be for elite riders, is there really a place for me if I'm not as fast as others?

·    What does it take to be competitive?

·    What kind of racing would best suit my skills and abilities?

·    How do I learn racing techniques without entering a race?

·    Okay, so I know the basics, now how do I improve my riding?

·    Is it possible to learn to race on one's own? Why do I need the group?

 

There's an easy solution to many of those concerns - join a local race club! Unlike a race team, a race club is a cooperative enterprise with the goal of making the regional amateur bicycle racing scene better than ever, and growing a base of local racers from a grassroots initiative, rather than focusing on only elite riders. By joining a racing club, you will learn about the world of challenging century rides, sanctioned racing, licenses, racing categories, kinds of races, and how to race.

 

The theme is really one of improvement through participation, and is perhaps the best motivation for joining a racing club in the first place. By riding with a group, especially a group that challenges but does not overwhelm, improvement is natural and while not effortless, is surprisingly pain-free. Group road cycling requires good technical skills that can only be gained from riding with a group, and fitness comes as a byproduct of simply riding. There is no magic and hence no impossible barrier to overcome. Just do it.

 

The pros to joining a race club are the friends, the competition, the lack of sponsor pressure to perform, the help you can get from other racers, and the nonprofessional atmosphere. You will meet so many people who share a wealth of information with you on tons of aspects of cycling - fitness, diet, nutrition, injuries, racing, touring, and so much more.

 

So, get on the phone to the club or bicycle shop nearest you, ask about local racing teams, go participate, ask questions, and learn. Who knows, perhaps by year's end you will have attempted your first race!

 

For more information on racing in the Columbus area, contact Steve Murray at smurray@tsys.com (706-649-5761), or Paul Hein at phein@tsys.com (706-641-6547).

 

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CLUB CONTACTS AND INFORMATION

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MEMBERSHIP - Membership forms can be found at any of your local bike shops:  Arnold Bicycles, Mike's Bikes, or Ride On Bike Shop or on the website. Please complete the membership form and waiver, attach your check and mail everything to the address on the bottom of the form. If you have any questions about membership or renewal, please contact us directly Annette Santiago (asantiago@tsys.com) or Barry Carswell (706/644-1783) Be sure to send an email note telling us you have mailed your form or dropped it at the bike shop, so that we can be get you added to the e-bulletin distribution list right away, and be on the look out for your membership.

 

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SUBMISSIONS

If you have anything you would like to submit to the CCC e-bulletin, contact Barry Carswell at 644-1783 (daytime) or email at bcarswel@tsys.com, or contact Annette Santiago at 649-5122 (daytime) or email at asantiago@tsys.com