Teammate Andrew Lanier Jr. and Matt Baranoski (Buck’s County, PA) hamming it up next to the USA Cycling that I’ve been driving all week.
Day 3 – another 4 hours at the track. 30 laps warm-up around 25mph in an 86 or 88 then 10 laps full gas burning most of the riders off, BUT today more stayed on longer than the first two days so we’re seeing progress.
We moved immediately to a Madison paceline warm-up and we’re seeing huge progress with the group of 13 teams of riders and their exchanges. That’s 26 riders on the track at the same time! The chaos is becoming organized! Two - twenty minute sessions with some solid instruction has these kids improving every hour.
Then the fun began. We stayed with our partners and did a flying 2km test. 3 weeks ago I broke my old national record at this distance (the 50+ year old pursuit distance) here at the Springs so this distance is obviously one of my strengths. But, we’re not talking about aero equipment, we’re talking about two riders slinging each other maybe 4 to 6 times in 2km. This is a real test because the higher speeds accentuate any exchange flaws the partners may have. It’s a great learning tool. About 10 of the 13 teams went under my 2:19.661 record with the winning time of Matt Baranoski (15-16 National Omnium Champ) and Colton Barrett (17-18 National Spring Champ) just around 2:08.5. That’s a respectable time, around 57.5kph!
Day 2 – afternoon and we were in the classroom to learn more about the fine intricacies of the Madison and to hear about the USA Cycling Track Endurance Program. We shuffled some kids around and then sat down for a 3 hour dinner with Clay. I am fully supportive of his initiative to improve Madison racing in America. So much so that I’m going to change my Tuesday night format to Madisons. Initial thoughts: Partner match-ups at 6:30pm, Madison warm-up at 6:45pm, two Scratch races, Miss and Out (together), two points races, final Madison, with all scoring done as a team. Feedback is encouraged.
Day 4- its our off-day today so we are planning a ride from the OTC out to the Garden of the Gods, followed by a nap!
Just to give you an idea of the quality of riders attending this camp:
Danny Heeley (CA) – Jr Madison National champion
Ian Moir (CA) – Jr 17-18 pursuit National champion
Matt Barnoski (PA) – Jr 15-16 Omnium National champion
Andrew Lanier (CA) – Jr 15-16 Points Race winner (part of omnium)
Zack Stein (CA) – Jr 17-18 Points Race National champion
John Tomlinson (IL) – Jr 17-18 Scratch Race National champion
Michael Dessau (CO) – Jr 13-14 ITT and RR National champion
Dave Kessler (CO) – Jr 15-16 RR National champion
Yannick Eckman (CO) – Jr 15-16 ITT National champion
Colton Barrett (MN) – Jr 17-18 sprint National champion
And, many more talented athletes! What an honor it is for me to work with these young athletes!
Speaking of young athletes, my 20 year old daughter Thea scored a goal for Fullerton yesterday!
Ain’t life wonderful?
Larry
3 comments:
Great report Larry and it sounds like a fun camp!
I like the idea of more Madison's at Hellyer and incorporating them into your Tuesday nights. I like the "six-day" like format.
I've also been kicking around the idea of trying to do a Hellyer Six Day. Maybe we can end next season with one!
absolutely Brian... let's see how many hellyerites would be up for this(?)
Wally has a Madison Mayhem "omnium" event in SD. Riders switch partners, by chance, for different events, run madison style.
So a strong rider does not get "hurt" in scoring by riding with a weaker rider for one of the events.
Riders must learn to "give" the most of themselves to help each partner they have in the overall evening of racing.
I find those who are not interested in madison are often fearful of their fitness - that they will let down a stronger rider... so they'd rather take their chances in a points race, rather than take part in a madison.
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