Congrats to our top placers and thanks to all who participated. Another great week of racing. We had a nice group of about 15 riders partake in our short cornering clinic before the race where we practiced cornering and counter steering before the start of the B race. Hopefully this helped those who participated have an even smoother race.

With this aim in mind, we had a separate race for Cat 4’s and 5’s at 6pm and for Cat 1-4 riders at 6:30. After a little pre-race grumbling and chatter, things went very smoothly and everyone seemed to enjoy the format well enough.

B Race

The B race of 30 riders kicked off fast and furious with a first lap prime. Riding on the back of it showed me these B’s were out to race, and enjoyed a nice pace. Eventually a break of 3 got up the road with aboout 5 laps to go and up and coming rider Steve Baltic out kicked his break away companions Rigoberto Rielo and Angel Canter. Yosvani Rosell took the field sprint ahead of Johnathan Stewart.

1) Steve Baltic
2) Rigoberto Rielo
3) Angel Canter
4) Yosvani Rosell
5) Jonathan Stewart

A Race

After a great finish to our first B race in which many new and old riders took to their first race or first race back, the A race started fast and furious. Riders were pushing the pace early and after incessant attacks, the decisive move went with 18 laps to go after a very speedy, tough start. It started with only 4-6 of us but quickly grew to around 10 or so after Mark Stein, Steve Baltic and others bridged up with a monster effort.

I was suffering badly at the hands of my breakaway companions who were much stronger on the day and pulling like mad around me. State crit champions Didier & Pablo Santa Cruz, strong man David Alexanrdou, recent pro ½ podium placer Darren Dowling, returning legend Kurt Phillips and ex-Navigators pro Ken Vida took turns killing us. As a result, the break wasn’t working together very well I was just happy to be there at this point.

After many attacks and reshufflings, Ken Vida an Frank Lopez got away while the rest of us made attempts to either get across, bring them back or hold on for dear life. Ken and Frank ended up staying away after several attempts by our group to bring them back. I made a last pull with 1 lap to go and sat up dead to watch a knackered Darren Dowling take the sprint win ahead of a strong Pablo and Tim Carbone.

1) Ken Vida
2) Frank Lopez
3) Darren Dowling
4) Pablo Santa Cruz
5) Tim Carbone

It was a great outing for our first clinic and B race in only our 3rd week. A good time was had by most and most importantly, we all stayed upright. I am most enthused about the positivity, enthusiasm and excitement I see out there so far each week. Our goal is to keep it up while improving things weekly. I am super grateful for the support, hopeful for the future and looking forward to next week.

Cheers until then,

~JDS

Visit the crit and clinics pages at www.endurofit.com

That’s right. This week newbies to racing or veterans who want to hone their skills can get a free pre-race coaching session with USAC Elite Coach and top local riders from 5:30 to 6pm. It’s a great way to hone your skills and WU for the B race at 6pm.

This week we also start a separate B race for category 4 & 5 riders from 6-6:30pm followed immediately by the A race for 1’s, 2’s and 3’s.

Wed Night Crit

http://www.endurofit.com/Events/Tampa%20Training%20Crit.html

This will help provide opportunity to everyone to get some practice and be competitive. our goal is safety, fun, competition and development. These new additions will be fixtures weekly from here forward. Also be on the lookout for 90 min racing and skills clinics to start this weekend.

Beginner’s Clinics

http://www.endurofit.com/Events/Events.html

This month the 30 min clinics are free of charge as a courtesy to racers locally. Next month we will begin offering full 90 minute clinics on the weekends after the group rides to more fully develop your skills, racing and fitness. Stay tuned for more info.

Look forward to seeing you all there tomorrow.

~JDS

Our first training race was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who participated.

Over 40 riders attended and we even had a small chering section. Over $170 was given out in cash and a good, safe, fast race was had by all.

Check out some of the photos here and stay tuned for more updates.

Race Photos 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1218350&id=1272681420#!/album.php?aid=60635&id=1272681420

C U next week!

~JDS

Hope to see everyone at the first crit of the season this Wed at 6:30 sharp in Woodlands Corporate Business Park. Fun will be had, cash will be won and legs will hurt. Come enjoy the first race of the season with all of your friends.

Check out the FLYER and all of the details at http://www.endurofit.com/Events/Tampa%20Training%20Crit.html

See you there!

~JDS

Check out the video of this finishing kilometers here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meO9ENVsCRc

Awesome victory!

~JDS

Congrats to Ellen McNamara who just completed Boston in 3:34, a personal marathon PR and at Boston no less!

Way to go Ellen!

~JDS

That’s right! Finally! Tampa is going to have a week day training race again. John Gissal and I are reviving the once prolific Tampa Training Crit that used to be one of the best ways to get your race legs on, stay in shape and have fun on your bike during the week.

Once run by BBC leaders Dave and Sheri Stedje and crew, this race helped produce lots of local talent and provided a great community building, grass roots cycling development. It’s our goal to continue that tradition and help further develop cycling at the local level.

The driving force is a desire to have a good week day training race to help sharpen everyone’s fitness, help mentor newer riders to racing and build community. Come one, come all and bring your friends. Spectators and volunteers welcome. It is sure to be a great time for all.

For all of the info, stay tuned and check out the Crit Page at http://www.endurofit.com/Events/Tampa%20Training%20Crit.html

Visit and become a friend of the event at Wed Night Training Crit on Facebook and follow our Twitter feeds at www.twitter.com/@coachjeb

See you at the race!

~JDS

Check out all of the photos from camp here…

Day 1:

http://picasaweb.google.com/102783908451560449971/MarinCamp2010Day1?authkey=Gv1sRgCJmQpuy8tOfu2gE&feat=directlink

Day 2:

http://picasaweb.google.com/102783908451560449971/MarinCamp2010Day2?authkey=Gv1sRgCOOh8-e-6-Wycw&feat=directlink

Day 3:

http://picasaweb.google.com/102783908451560449971/MarinCamp2010Day3?authkey=Gv1sRgCI3wnvDDpsSN2QE&feat=directlink

Day 4:

http://picasaweb.google.com/102783908451560449971/MarinCamp2010Day4?authkey=Gv1sRgCOGnyPCrn5HUlgE&feat=directlink

Day 5:

http://picasaweb.google.com/102783908451560449971/MarinCamp2010Day5?authkey=Gv1sRgCJzIhLf5sPbU0gE&feat=directlink

Enjoy!

~JDS

Check out Adnan’s blog for more camp photos, stories and updates at http://www.aeolusendurance.com/blog/

~JDS

Day 2 saw us riding past the Golden Gate bridge into the Marin Headlands.  Absolutely gorgeous views of the city, bay and surrounding coast line along with one of the steepest descents around.

Campers were provided technique instruction before performing small and big ring sprints uphill, on the flats and down hill against one another for extra motivation. We would regroup afterwards to go over any suggestions we had for them after watching them sprint.

We then broke up the men and women into separate groups and practiced lead out trains, working on delivering their sprinter to the line safely and quickly. We finished by breaking into two teams and racing each other several times to work on tactics and strategies to get their team to the line first. This is a very physically as well as mentally challenging set of drills that helps them become better racers during crunch time. 

We climbed back to base camp and enoyed some coffee at Cibo cafe in Sausalito before heading home for food, a stretching session and much needed naps and massages. Sprint day marks the first day of the beginning of fatigue accumulation which will only be heightened by tomorrow’s race up Mt. Tam.

Thank goodness for great massage therapists and the amazing food we have here at the retreat. Another rgeat day in the books!

~JDS