Still A Newbie

[Zen]

I wish I would've discovered cycling (and TE!) years ago!

me too
(I am digging how my legs look )

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

It's all relative.
I've ridden about 4000 miles since last summer, and I feel like a total newbie lots of times. So many things I cannot do and I am such a SLOW rider! ...But people who are just starting to ride now look at me like I'm from the Tour De France or something.
It's the same with most endeavors- I find the same syndrome in playing music...I feel so lame in my playing sometimes yet others think I'm so "pro".

We tend to be our own worst critics, so you can count on the reality being that you are probably better than you think you are!

P.S. Sandra don't forget for night riding you will need a good steady red light in the BACK as well- not just a blinkie or reflector. Think equally about being seen from far away and not just about being able to see.

[indigoiis]

I just got my first "real" jersey (with three REAL POCKETS!!!) - THANKS to the TE gal who sold it to me - and I tried it on last night and *BING!* I felt not such a noob no mo.

It's amazing, the transformation.

I wouldn't know me, a few years ago. I'd look askance at this girl and be like, ha, ride 15 miles? Yer crrraaaaazy.

I like the noob me.

[jobob]

I've been biking for a few years now and I still feel I have a lot to learn. That's why the bike in my avatar has training wheels.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Yeah so if JoBob, who has ridden almost 4000 miles so far THIS YEAR*, feels like a noob sometimes....then heck we're ALL noobs!!!!!





*on a Rivendell.

[michelem]

I'm with ya, Sara! My physical therapist, located in El Dorado Hills, is going to start up his bike skills clinics again this fall. I'm not sure of the cost, but if you're interested I'll send you more info as I get it. Here is Rob's bio: http://www.bodyconceptsinc.com/staff_kopitzke.htm

And here's what I know about the clinics (minus the November clinic, which is for Cat 4 & 5 riders wishing to improve their racing skills):

Braking and Cornering (Fall Skills Clinic) w/Rob Kopitzke
11:00 - 4:00 PM Saturday 10/20

(the basic building blocks to all bike riding) Taught by Elite USA Cycling Coach, Rob Kopitzke, this clinic is 5-hours with 1 hour of lecture and 4 hours of on the bike skills practice. Riders of every ability are encouraged to participate . . . we all learn something everytime we practice. There are at least six different ways to slow or stop your bike, we will discuss and practice them with emphasis on controlling your bike under unexpected or difficult braking situations. Cornering technique and safety is broken down into steps, each leading to more effective and efficient riding...from slow speed 360-degree turns, "counter-steering" 180-degree arcs to faster slalom turns.


Group Ride Skills w/Rob Kopitzke
11:00 - 4:00 PM Saturday 12/1

(advanced building blocks) Taught by Elite USA Cycling Coach, Rob Kopitzke, this clinic is 5-hours with 1 hour of lecture and 4 hours of on the bike skills practice. Riders of every ability are encouraged to participate . . . we all learn something everytime we practice.Riding in groups with friends should be fun, not nerve racking. Want to ride at 25mph and have it feel like 17mph? Save ~30% of your effort or go ~30% faster by applying the group ride skills you will learn today! This clinic will introduce group ride rules and techniques that will have you flying down the road with less effort, faster and safer...


Or he does the Peak Cycling Series, which starts in January:

The Peak Cycling Training Series
The Peak Cycling Training Series is a group training series for cyclists looking for a new challenge or who want to improve their knowledge, bike handling and fitness.

Members range in ability from brand new riders to nationally ranked athletes and are split into several groups based on fitness. Each group receives a specific daily training plan based on their initial fitness level.

This series runs from January through April each year and includes 6-bike skills clinics of ~4 hours and 5-training presentations with topics ranging from nutrition, sports psychology, strength and flexibility training, training physiology, etc...
In addition all participants receive a video bike fitting, anaerobic threshold test, team jersey and more.

Sign-ups start in mid November each year and end the last Friday in December.

If you see someone in one of our jerseys out on a bike ask them what their experience has been…send us an email if you are interested in joining.

[jobob]

Those clinics look really good.