CTS Camps?

[tctrek]

Glad to hear the PROS and CONS. I'm not intimidated at all my sales pitches for coaching. I'm a 58 year old recreational rider and not looking for a coach. But if I like the camp, I will go again -- they have another one in the fall and Asheville, NC is gorgeous when the leaves are turning.

Thanks for the info! I'll post when I finish the camp in June.

[li10up]

Glad to hear the PROS and CONS. I'm not intimidated at all my sales pitches for coaching. I'm a 58 year old recreational rider and not looking for a coach. But if I like the camp, I will go again -- they have another one in the fall and Asheville, NC is gorgeous when the leaves are turning.

Thanks for the info! I'll post when I finish the camp in June.

Did you go to the camp? Can we get an update?

[tctrek]

Oh yes, I went to the 3 day Women's Beginners Camp. Although I had been riding for a little over a year, I found it to be incredibly helpful. There were 7 women in the class and we had 3 coaches with us at all times. We spent 5 hours a day on the bike in all types of activities: climbing, descending (technical - steep descents with "S" curves, etc.), pacelining, hand signals, etc.
We also did a field test where they gave us all heart rate monitors and we climbed a 7-10% grade for several miles. Then they downloaded our data and gave us heart rate zones that we should be riding at for Endurance, Tempo, Recovery, etc.

We always had a team car with us, constant fresh/cold bottle of sports drink, all the gels and bars we could eat. We had a mechanics class where we learned every part of the bike. We took our bikes apart and put them back together We flattened our tires, replaced tubes. We had a nutrition class where they gave us ideal ratios of fat/carbs/protein for different levels of training. We got a lecture and documentation on periodization and setting up a training schedule.

It was 3 days jammed packed with riding and teaching, but also it was a very "warm" atmosphere. The coaches are extremely supportive and the women in the group really bonded and road as a team.
We all got Carmichael Training jerseys and road as a team.

I learned more in that three days than I did in a year of riding with DH and small groups.

There was not a big push for purchasing coaching. On the last day, you could ask for an optional 1:1 with a coach and find out about their programs, but there was definitely no pressure to do so. I actually signed up and have been working with a coach for 2 months now. I've increased my average speed from 12 mph to 15 mph in 2 months. I'm now climbing hills that I used to walk up. I ride 6 days a week following her program. I talk to her via email and phone nearly every day and we have a scheduled phone meeting once a week. They also hooked me up with a nutrtionist (included) who helped me to work out my diet so that I was fueling properly for all the riding that I do. I'm currently putting in 8-10 hours per week on the bike. I rode a lot before the coaching, but it was random and I never got any better.

I know I am gushing, but I love riding so much and my coach has really helped me in short time. I'm just excited to see what she will do with me through the winter in preparing me for next season.

I'm going back in October for a private training session with my coach. She'll ride with me and help me with form and especially my gearing and cadence while climbing. She's also going to help me with some back strengthening exercises. I can't wait. Asheville is gorgeous in October when the leaves are changing.

I would recommend this training to anyone that can afford it and likes the idea of having a professional bring you along faster than you can do it yourself.

[tctrek]

Also, I would like to add that during the class nearly everyone was faster than I was.... and a lot younger . But it didn't matter a bit. I always had a coach with me and I was faster on the descents than any of them! None of them were racers, etc. but remember that at that time, my average speed was 12 mph. And there are some very bad hills in Asheville, NC... like the Smoky Mountains!