Still A Newbie

[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.

[northstar]

Sara,

I am right there with you! In fact, I think we started about the same time. I am going to break 1,000 miles on my new bike today and feel like a totally different person. I know that I ask questions that experienced riders would be tempted to laugh at (and I'm grateful they don't, at least to my face) but I also know that I am much more into this and experienced than the average person who gets on a bike every once and a while. As Lisa said, (her perspective on cycling rocks!) it is definitely all relative.

And YES, I love what has happened to my legs, and I think we need to start another thread with pictures of our strong biker thighs. This time I'd actually put mine in there. Without shame. That's personal growth, baby!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

And YES, I love what has happened to my legs, and I think we need to start another thread with pictures of our strong biker thighs. This time I'd actually put mine in there.

Be careful what you ask for:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=4700

Waiting to see some more muscle-y thighs.....

[sandra]

Lisa, I thought you had posted a picture of your thighs!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Lisa, I thought you had posted a picture of your thighs!

Probably not in *this* lifetime.

Too funny- I hadn't thought of that!