Variety

          At different times of the year I am a totally different athlete. My summer is normally dedicated to road and mountain cycling and the fall is my bmx season. These two sports have few similarities other than the fact that they are on a bike. My training is far different, as bmx is explosive and road requires endurance. I have bmx raced since I was 5 and it has given me the bike handling skills to help in all types of cycling. Every year the window of my bmx season shrinks a little bit. Sean is another bmxer turned roadie and I'm sure he agrees it gets hard to train for both. My focus is definitely shifting over to road as I get older. I am not built like the prototypical bmxer, as the professionals are often built like football players. As I get older the competition keeps getting bigger and this makes it hard to keep the same power as I am built like an endurance athlete. I have been transitioning to road the last few years and it's been a natural transition. Bmx has helped my road cycling in many areas. Each one has also helped the other for me. This variation throughout my year and during my road off season is refreshing and fun. I will always enjoy bmxing even though I won't continue it at a high level years from now. These two types of cycling are so different and it's the variety that is so special in my life.

-Christopher

The Transition

     At the end of my 2012 season, I had achieved my long time goal, World Champion in XTERRA off-road Triathlon in the 15-19 age group, as well as Overall Amateur World Champion. Although I had been training to be a triathlete ever since I was 5 or 6, I found that my performance on the bike was superior to that in the water or running. 

    Leading into the 2013 season, there were many people who thought I should continue being a triathlete.  I was even offered pro status, but I knew that my time as a triathlete was coming to a close.  I had decided to focus on cycling.

     When my season started in the Nor Cal High School Mountain Bike series I had no idea that it would escalate to me racing on the National team in 4 different countries.  In the beginning of the season I had not yet decided to focus on mountain biking, so I decided to try out some local criteriums.  I continued to race on the road and on the World Cups including Germany and the Czech Republic.  I then realized I would have to spend more time focusing on the mountain bike rather than on the road for a little while. 

     Although I knew mountain biking would be my main focus for the season, I could not keep myself away from the thrill of racing on the road for half my season until I received the message from Marc Gullickson.  He offered me a position with the Junior MTB National Team in two world cups.   Not long after coming back from my first two world cups, I entered the Nevada City Classic Criterium and won the junior race, then followed it up with Leesville Gap Road Race (elite cat 3/4s) and won the day in a sprint to the line with 4 other men.  Well, after a fourth place finish in the Mont Saint Anne World Cup in Canada, I finished up my 2013 season with Cross Country MTB World Champs in South Africa.

     This brings me to today, finishing my High School cross-country running season with state champs, in which I placed 8th place in the division 2 varsity race and ran a 15:29 5k. My main focus is to have an outstanding season on both the Mountain and Road Bike.  I am so excited and grateful to be a part of the Jr. Team and I am really looking forward to working with my new teammates and coaches.   

Mountain Bike Crash

For those in the mood for a good gory allegory, this is for you.

 In August of this year, after Road and Velodrome nationals, I went up mountain biking at Snow Summit Resort. It has a lift that takes you up to the top all day long and you get to ride down all of the mountain's different trails. I've been going there for 3 years and have loved every moment, even if I did occasionally crash. 

Anyways, it was a normal weekend and I was going down the same runs I always go down, when suddenly OOPS, my right hand slips off the handlebar! The bike skids out of control, rocketing down the hill with no back brake, and BAM, I superman into a bunch of sticks and woodchips. I stagger up and look down at my body. "ARRGGHH" I scream! My right thigh is a bloody mess, an avulsion full of debris and splinters. It looks like lasagna fresh out of the oven. I can't even feel pain because I'm in so much shock. Luckily, there's a group of riders behind me that come to my aid (it is a well travelled trail). One of them have a small medic kit and he tells me to sit down; I do and they call mountain patrol to take me down the mountain. While we we wait for the mountain patrol to arrive, they cover the wound with a thin cloth. The patrol eventually comes with a truck and they have me sit in it. We bump and roll down the mountain with my moans of pain in the background.

 Finally we reach the bottom and my mom drives me to the closet Emergency Room. After we make it to the hospital, I have to wait about 30 minutes for pain killers because there is so much paperwork to be filled out and approved. The nurse tells me to calm down on several occasions because I am freaking out from pain. Then, finally I am allowed painkillers and once I am injected, I immediately feel my eyes become heavy from the relief of the pain. I feel like a cloud wafting off to slumberland.

 They then fully put me to sleep and operate on the wound. After I wake up, I learn that they had surgically removed a medium size stick that had penetrated and broken off in my quad muscle. 

Wow, what an injury! I had to take about a month and half off the bike and struggled with walking for a while. I had to sit around a lot, and all I could think of was riding my bike, or doing anything other sitting around all day like a couch potato. I really came to appreciate what I have during that long road to recovery. 

My first ride back was amazing and I was so glad to be back on the bike. I definitely learned to appreciate my well being and realized that bad things can happen in a blink of an eye, yet can affect you for a long time.

I am really thankful for my parents helping me through this troubling time in my life. My dad literally gave me a shoulder to lean on. 

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Jules

OTC

Before I get started I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays.  After a some what
successful season, I got the opportunity to go to the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista
CA. I have been there before in years past to race BMX, but not for the reason's I was there
this time. I was there for National ID Camp.  I was one of 27 people to get invited and I can
tell you it was a great experience.  Over the five days I was there I got to meet new people,
and meet up with a few of my friends, such as Eric Oien, Nathan Rico, Christian Husband,
as well as my Teammates Nick and Jason.
     
My Dad drove Nick and I down to the OTC, upon arrival we signed in and got our rooms. Some of the guys had to put their bikes together, after everyone had settled in we were to meet up and go for our first ride.  Later that night we had classes as we did every night ranging from tactics, nutrition, usada etc.  Eric's brother Justin Oien showed up to talk to us as he had just gotten back from racing at the JR Worlds.
    
But what we were really there for was to be tested on our fitness and abilities.  Billy,
Barney, Michael had several tests to find out our power to weight ratios and such.  We had
a team race where we were teamed up with other riders to test our racing skills.  That was
some of the hardest racing I did all year, as everyone was trying their hardest to show the
staff that we had what it took to be the best.  These guys are good they are some of the best riders in the country.

Not having ever been to a camp like this I knew it would be hard and boy was it. When all was said and done I had a better idea of what it takes to try to become the best rider one can become.  I had a great time, and feel very grateful to be one of the lucky ones to have been invited. 
    
In closing I would like to say Thank You to Billy, Barney, Michael and the rest of the staff
for everything they did for us. I feel very thankful for being invited to the camp it was a learning experience something I will remember the rest of life.

                                         Till next time
                                                               SEAN


 
    

Basics of a Cyclocross Race

A cyclocross race is probably one of the most intense hours anyone will ever experience. From the wall to wall sprint to get the holeshot at the start to the bike changes to the last lap effort. The sport is extremely physically and mentally challenging. Before the start of the race the officials herd the riders into the start grid. Soon after the whistle is blown and the flood gates are opened; the sea of riders fly toward the first corner, jostling for positions that could decide the race. After the race slows down to a pace slower than a sprint the groups are spread out. In wet conditions the riders have begun to start switching bikes out so that the bike they are on is performing at its best. These bike changes require the rider to ride into the pit and drop one bike then taking another. The exchange requires two bikes that are set up similarly and a strong pitcrew. After the rider has taken the clean bike, the mechanics will work to get the original bike back into racing condition in three to four minutes (when the rider comes back through the pit a half lap later.) In many races, tactics, though not used as much as it in road racing, are a very important aspect a of the race. Typically most of the winning moves of the race take place the last few laps. This is also the time in which the riders are the most exhausted. It takes both the riders' mental and physical preparation to prevail.  Thanks to Team Specialized, the NCCF and all of my other sponsors for the support and encouragement this past year.

Time Management

You might find it ironic that the guy writing about time management is the same guy who's blog post is two weeks overdue. Believe it or not, usually my time management is pretty good. But as you all know, its a hard thing to do. Throughout our lives trying to balance everything can sometimes be an impossible task. Us cyclist have many hours of training every week. We've also got our family, friends, wives, girlfriends, school, and jobs. All of which are very important. I hear it from my friends all the time that school should always be the most important thing on the list, and a lot of the time I tend to disagree. I don't disagree that school is extremely important but I think that in some cases our priorities may change. An example of this is, maybe its around VOS, San Dimas, Sea Otter, or another big race you would like to do well at, should you study an extra hour on that math test or should you take an extra hour on the bike? That's all up to you. But I believe that our priorities change to the occasion and sometimes you need to put back something else to strive in another. If you think of it as an equilateral triangle (where all angles are 60°'s) and you have your social, physical, and emotional health all equally balanced. This would be the perfect example of someone who is giving the same amount of time to each activity, making them 60°'s or balanced. But the life of a cyclist can usually be something more of a 45°, 45°, 90°. I don't know if this is just me, but a minimum of 15 hours a week on the bike doesn't leave a ton of free time. I'm not saying this is a bad thing at all, I love what I do and that's the reason I ride after school, and I wake up early on the weekends and ride. My point is that as cyclist with busy lives we have been taught to manage ourselves accordingly.

Sorry for being so overdue,
Grant McElroy

What I Do It For

In February of this year, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was the week going into the teams first target race of the year, Valley of the Sun, when I found out about this. Fast forward to today, October 26, my moms birthday. As I reminisce on this past year, I realize how much this year really meant to me to be victorious in life. With my mom going through treatments all year long, she still managed to support me with everything I do. It has made me realize that this is another reason why I race my bike. It has taught me to help me face challenges in life just as she has. I thank her everyday for what she does for me. Today I thank her even more for all that she has done for me. Happy birthday mom!

 

-Nick Castellano

My Season In Review

I would like to start by saying thank you to everyone I interacted with during my 2013 season for an outstanding year. I enjoyed every minute (there may have been some seconds that weren’t so great though) of racing and training whether in sub 30 degrees or 100+ degrees.

I want to say thank you to Team Specialized for all of the support and the great memories. We shared the “successes” and the “failures”, the glory and the pain that make cycling the sport we all love.

Thank you to Specialized, Sram, and Zipp for the bikes and components. Thank you to Clif for fueling all of our riding and shenanigans. Thank you to the NCCF for funding it all. And thank you to Larry for making it all possible.

This season taught me many lessons, from teamwork to how to truly put my head down, grit my teeth and suffer to the importance of preparation. Each of these lessons have their own story or stories, which could be whole blog posts in and of themselves, but none of it would have been possible without the support I received from the team, our supporters, and the guy who decided to spend 20 minutes of his day, and create a traffic jam driving behind me and shouting encouragement while I did hill repeats.

The season saw me learn the importance of dedication, humility, flexibility (both kinds), etc. The season saw me get into countless (respectful and half-joking) arguments with my P.E. teacher on any given Monday, when I tried to explain why I couldn’t and wouldn’t run the mile. The season saw me ride on two continents, four countries, and five states. The season saw me ride for over 600 hours and 10,000 miles.

As I enter my offseason and continue to reflect on my 2013 in preparation for 2014 I am excited and intrigued for what lies in store, as I know that 2014 can only be better.

Again, I want to thank everyone that was involved in my 2013 season, especially my teammates and supporters on Team Specialized. Here is to all of the pain, learning, fun, victories, losses, and joy that the 2013 season brought and that 2014 will bring.

See you all during the offseason or next year, I will be wearing the same shit-eating grin on my face and the same Specialized “S” across my chest, so wave, say “hi”, or if you happen to be in a car spend part of your day driving behind me, honking, blasting music, and shouting.

Jason S

Growing Up Stinks

Famous basketball player Michael Jordan said it all when he said, "In reality, I never want to grow up." At 16, I can say growing up sucks. I realized this as I rode the Grizzly Century this year. I've ridden the Grizzly many times before. I first did this ride when I was only 12. I was the little guy surrounded by many young mentors. These mentors were all young, single guys just out for some friendly competition. In 4 years so many things change. Now those young mentors are all married and becoming fathers. I'm no longer the little guy who needs a push up the climb. I'm now the guy to chase up the climb. My parents no longer have to take me to the rides, I'm now driving the carpool to the rides.

Things change, circumstances may change, but somethings will always be. Team Specialized will always be a part of my story. I grew into the person and rider I am today because of Team Specialized. I learned how to have fun both on and off the bike from Larry Nolan.

 I learned how to race with integrity, dignity and competitive intensity from the masters on my team.  I made mistakes over the last 4 years (remember our first Snelling Road Race, Matt?)  but I also shared some of the sweetest victories with my team, the most notable victory  happening in July when Matt and I won the Madison at Track Nationals. Matt and I practiced so much, I thought my arm was going to fall off.

 Besides winning the Madison, the other victory I'm very proud of was when  Matt won the state crit in 2010. We surprised everyone with a leadout out of  the last turn. Matt won and I got 10th. That was the sweetest 10th place ever.

Things may change, but the fact remains that I will be forever grateful to Team Specialized for giving me the opportunity to be a part of a racing family that helped mold me into the person I am today.

More than just the Bike

Cycling entails a grueling work ethic, and countless of hours on the bike. Throughout the year the team travels all over the nation to race, yet what many people may not know, is that Team Specialized is involved with a lot of charity rides. One of the many charity rides that our team is involved with every year is the Cure The Cycle Ride for the Urea Cycle Disorder Foundation. The first time I rode this ride was in 2010 in San Francisco and I was able to ride again with them last August. UCD is a rare disease and the UCD Foundation uses the Cure the Cycle Ride to raise awareness and money for families that suffer from this disease.

The importance of charity rides teaches Team Specialized riders to be grateful for the opportunity to race their bikes, but also to be thankful for the lives they have off the bike. Our life outside of cycling is sometimes overlooked as we spend most of the year racing, but it is just as important to be thankful for the friends and family that support us in whatever we live to do.  

Matt Valencia 

Ending the season, starting the next

   When my 2013 road and track season come to a close, I look back to observe my strengths and weaknesses throughout the season. A strength could be my improvement on TT's and a weakness could be that I couldn't stick on the climbs with Adrien Costa at Road Nationals. I also look back on achievements and if I reached my goals for the season. 

 

   At Road Nationals I rode what turned out to be a great time trial for me, coming in 12th, which is a great improvement from the other TT's I did earlier this year. In the Road Race I rode as best as I could for the team and for myself. I chased down attacks early in the race taking some of the pressure off of our team's climbers. I also paced Nick back into the break after he was separated on the very technical descent.   

   At Track Nationals I was pretty upset when my 200m time was just a tenth of a second away from qualifying for the match sprints. After that I was pretty much out of the omnium so I decided to focus on getting Gage the omnium win and just go for individual wins. I ended up 6th in the points, 5th in the individual pursuit, and Gage ended up missing the omnium win by one point. On the bright side we ended up winning the 3k team pursuit with Chazmichael Morales. 

   Overall my season wasn't great but I had a lot of changes, a new team, a new coach, and just starting high school. Next year I'm hoping for a MUCH better season seeing that no big changes are hopefully going to happen in the next year. But even though my season didn't go as planed I still met some incredible teammates, and had the most fun I've ever had in a racing season!

Grant McElroy

 

  

What a year!

With the racing season coming to an end, I'm taking time to look back.  I've had a very good year, and so has the Team.  I've had my up's and down's but all in all it's been a very good year. I won San Dimas with my teammates taking the next's three placing's.  At Sea Otter I didn't ride so well, but my teammates managed to get on the podium.  I won all my State Championships, then rode poorly at the Punch Bowl race. But for some perspective - we train all year to do great at Nationals.
                   
That's a story in itself, because Larry, Nick, Dad and I drove back to Madison, WI in the team van. It took us four days of driving. In those four long days we learned the art of eating out at gas station's. Nick (the city boy) cracked in the middle of Wyoming, not that I kept it together myself. But we made it to Madison in one piece, thats when all the fun began.
                   
When all the racing got started we had some great and not so great thing's happen.  Matt got hurt in the road race and had to go to the hospital. Gage finished 2nd in the TT and then finished 3rd in the road race with Nick and Jason finishing in the top ten. I won the TT, road race and criterium championships, but not without the help of my great teammate Jules.  He alone set up the move that allowed me to win the criterium, in which he finished in 5th place!

When Nationals finished up Larry, Nick, Dad, and I set out for the long drive home.  It only took us two days of driving to get back to California.  Larry and Nick had a Camp to get to, and I had my Grandma waiting for me. She came out for a family wedding. I don't get to see my Grandma but maybe once a year as she lives in Kansas, we had a great time together.

My teammates Gage and Jack went off to Belgium to race for the USA Team in August.  I checked on their results every day, and wished that was me over there with them. But I am not old enough yet so maybe next year. Gage and Jack and the US Team did great in Belgium by winning races and placing well in their races.

My teammates Gage, Jack, Jules, Matt and Grant all did great at the track Nat's, winning eight more National Championship's, and so did the Master's.

The team and I have had a very good year but none of this could have never taken place without the help of our sponsor's.  So at this time I would like to thank all of our sponsors: Specialized, Openwave Mobility, Clif, Touchstone, Squadra, Smith, Fit Kids, Zipp, and the NCCF who are the ones who make it all possible.  And thank you Larry for all the help you made me a better rider.
              
Yesterday I got my Cat 2 upgrade approved, now I've got my work cut out for me. My Dad say's "now we will see what you are made of".  So through the winter I'm going to be training hard so I can
make this a better team next year.
               
And one more thing - today was my Dad's Birthday, So HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD, I Love You. Sean

Breakaways

Road and Velodrome Nationals had really tough competition in the Juniors 13-14 this year, which made for some great racing! I chose to race in breakaways, which greatly raise the chances of winning, or even getting on the podium. 

Coming into Road Nationals, I knew that there were some phenomenally fast sprinters in my field, so it would be risky to wait and sprint at the end of the road race or criterium if I wanted a place on the podium; I decided to try to get into a break. In the road race, my teammate Sean Mcelroy first went for a break sometime in the middle of the race; The pack must have been really nervous, because they were hauling after him. At the small hill in the course, I laid the hammer down and broke away from the pack, trying to bridge the gap to Sean. There he was, lingering a few hundred meters away, but for some reason, I just didn't have the energy to bridge the gap. I eventually returned to the field and had a middle pack finish of 8th (many riders were dropped). The next day in the criterium, I broke away first, but unfortunately I was caught again. Sean then pounced on the other riders that chased me and he broke away to a solo victory. I learned something about the art of counterattacks that day and was ready to use them in the upcoming Velodrome Nationals.

Velodrome Nationals arrived two weeks later, and I was rearing to win. I was still a little wary of breakaways after my two failed attempts at Road Nationals, so my plan for the 4k scratch race (the first mass start race) was to wait and sprint at the end. When I talked to Larry about it though, he told me that my plan could get me a spot on the podium, but might not be enough to win; he thought I should breakaway. I thought about this, but the memories of my breakaways at Road Nationals still sat fresh in my mind and made me nervous. Then, an amazing thing happened in the 15-16's scratch race; Gage, one of my Specialized teammates as well, broke away to a solo victory! It really pumped me up and I started to fantasize doing the exact same thing in my race. My race began, and I sat back and waited until it was my time to shine. With 8 laps to go, the announcer excitedly spoke, "It looks like Jules Gilliam from Team Specialized has broken away from the field!" A rush of adrenaline shot through my body and time seemed to stand still, but when I came back into reality, I had 2 laps to go. I pedaled and pushed all the way to the line, but was barely beaten by Sandor, who had been one of the top sprinters at Road Nationals. Man, was I disappointed  But, I was also very glad to have made that move; Larry and Gage both inspired me to breakaway in that race. Through all the excitement, I was determined to win the next day in the 10k points race. 

When the race started, my plan was to try to lap the field, so I went right after a sprint when everyone around me was tired; In a way, it was a counterattack. Another rider, Samuel, was up the road a little ways, and when I caught up to him, we both worked our fair shares of effort. Yet, right before the next sprint, I whipped up the pace and dropped him to make sure he didn't lap the field with me (he was ahead of me on points). My tongue felt like cotton from the effort I had given so far. I kept going and pushed away all doubts and worries. Down to 1 lap to go, and I was 1/8 of a lap from the field. I finished without lapping the field, but winning the sprint and getting third in the points race. If I had lapped the field, I would have won on points. Another slight disappointment  but I was so glad I didn't take any chances in trying to win a national title.

I definitely learned the cold, hard truth of breakaways this year; They are risky and don't always work out. But, that being said, field sprints have an even greater risk of crashing, getting boxed in, or just not having the pop in the legs to podium. Breakaways broaden the chances of winning, and are overall much safer. Hopefully someday I will win in one, and that will be my greatest victory yet.

To racing and learning,

Jules

Teamwork

In the past month of racing I have learned a lot about teamwork. Racing at Nationals and the Little City Stage Race, has given me a new knowledge of just what it means to be part of a team.

At Nationals road race, we started the day with 5 riders, all dedicated to get one of us across the line first. We were well prepared as a team and had amazing support from Larry, and our parents. The feeds and ice bag hand ups made a huge difference on the hot day.

The race started and immediately attacks started flying; one would go, one would get brought back, and then another would go. Finally one Garmin rider got away solo, and established a big gap. After we hit the main climb the first lap and the field exploded, 25 guys were left in the front group. We had all five teammates in the mix; having one fifth of the front group put us in good position for the rest of the race.

The next time up the climb our group of 25 shattered yet again, yielding a front group of 6 (with Gage), then Jack chasing solo, then a group of three (including me), followed by the fragmented remains of the peloton. On the descent my group caught Jack, and the two of us worked together relentlessly to get up to Gage so that we could help him fend off the three Garmin guys in the group of six and help chase the one Garmin rider who had been on a solo break since the first lap. Going into the smaller climb on the last lap there was a group of about ten, we hit the hill and attacks started flying, a Garmin guy went across to the man they put up the road on lap one, and the group exploded yet again. This time the front chase group consisted of two Garmin riders, a Hot tubes rider, Gage and me.

The Garmin riders attacked one after the other. At that point there were two choices, let one of the Garmin guys get up the road (putting the first 3 steps on the podium up the road) and hope that either Gage or I could catch them on the climb to the line, or go to the front and chase them down so that Gage could go into the climb as fresh as possible. I chose the later, realizing that this was the best strategy to put a red jersey on the podium. My work was rewarded when I crossed the line and learned that Gage had won the bronze medal. I learned exactly what it meant to sacrifice your own chances for the greater good of the team, and just how rewarding it is to see someone else succeed due, in part, to work that you have done.

At Little City Stage Race (an omnium style stage race), the roles reversed for me. After winning the time trial, I was wearing the leaders jersey going into the afternoon criterium. The whistle blew and Nick attacked on the first lap, riding off the front solo for over half the race. A few laps later, I went with a move by one other rider. Nick slowed up and waited for me to come across, and then rode selflessly to set me up for the win.

Little City was my first time wearing a leaders jersey in a stage race, and I learned from my mistakes. I had a commanding lead going into the road race and Nick was second on GC. In retrospect, given my lead the primary goal for the day should have been defending Nick’s second place. I found myself in an early break with a lower placed rider and should have discouraged the break so that Nick could defend his position. While I’m sure that I will make other mistakes in my racing career, I definitely learned from this one.

I cannot express in words how grateful I am to have been a part of the success at Nationals, and to win Little City with Nick’s help. I am looking forward to continuing to hone our teamwork, so that we can share more successes as a team.

Jason

HOW'S MY DRIVING: (800)COM-PLAIN

I am a cyclist.  I race and ride my bike because I like to eat, I crave the competition, I love the friendships and camaraderie of my team and community.  I'm not in this for freebies or entitlement.

I race with Team Specialized Racing Masters because it is about developing the next generation of cyclists.  It is helping a cyclist grow through the ranks as they not only become better cyclists, but better people as well.  I can only do this by leading by example, and the rewards come from seeing riders I have worked with line up at international professional races, or receive their high school and college diplomas.  Development extends beyond the boundaries of bike racing, and is most importantly an education of character.  I sacrifice my time and my results in order to assist, but it is for the spirit of the sport.  We build friendships and bonds, as well as some great bike racers.  

Recently, I was humbly reminded how much your actions speak much louder than any words or wins.  This is a valuable lesson that I felt the need to remind my teammates, and the cycling community.  I challenge myself, and I challenge you to remember why we do this.  We race bikes and ride bikes, all for the love of the sport and spirit of competition.  Think twice about your actions on the bike, both in and out of competition.  We are all a part of a huge family and every day we represent our sport, our sponsors, and our community.  We have a big billboard on our backs, and we should always try to race and ride above reproach.  Similar to the 1-800-COM-PLAIN number on the bumper of a truck, we have responsibility to honor and uphold our dedication to the sport while maintaining the integrity of our sponsors.  Although, I have struggled with this, I challenge you to remember we all represent a bigger entity.  Let our legs do the talking, and show good character on and off the bike.   

I once had a negative encounter with a motorist while riding my bike to work. It turned out the driver was my scheduled meetingthat morning. Rather than confront the situation with anger, I completely ignored the matter even though the gentleman knew I was the cyclist from the morning interaction. Ultimately, the meeting proved to be very business worthy, we became friends, and I brought about cyclist into our realm.  You never know who is watching, or who you will meet.  

Embrace the community of cycling by respecting your sponsors, fostering development, and living with character.

Iron Man Norm and Strongman Larry Nolan

As most of you know, Junior Road Nationals in Madison, Wisconsin came to a close last week and was locked away in the books. I was not surprised how competitive this years nationals were. The team had a good run coming away with three national titles, with Sean McElroy sweeping the 13-14 race, two podiums with Gage Hecht, and top tens from the rest of us. However, the big surprise of this week was that I realized how strong Norm McElroy (Sean's dad) and Larry Nolan are not only physically and mentally. Norm and Larry drove the 2500 miles to and from Madison, Wisconsin. We started in the mornings and drove as long as we could before it got dark to get a ride in. On the way back, we all agreed to get home ASAP. It took us 2 days to get back compared to the 4 days it took us to get there. On the last day coming back, Norm pushed through the sleepiness and drove through the night while the rest of us were sleeping in the van. Because of his strengths to drive for that long, Larry nicknamed him Iron Man Norm. As for Larry, let's just say he is one strong man. Throughout the whole week, he was constantly doing something for the team. He woke up early for the races everyday, made sure we were all doing well and got us what we needed before and after our races, and stayed up each night at late hours updating team sponsors and supporters via email. With all this business, the man hardly got any sleep/rest and still managed to keep our team spirits high. He is one strong man. So Norm and Larry, thank you for all the hard work and strength for getting me to and from the race. Also, thank you to my parents, all the supporters, and team parents who made this trip exciting and possible for me.
Cheers,
Nick Castellano

Nationals

 I just got back from Road National Championships and what a great week thanks to Larry Nolan and all the parents who made it possible!  Thanks also to Specialized and the NCCF for the equipment this year and to Clif for keeping me hydrated/energized.  I had so much fun with my teammates and racing friends.

The first couple of days my teammates and I rode around, previewing the courses that would be raced in days following. I raced the Nationals TT first and surprised myself with my ride, taking second only to Adrien Costa. The next day we headed out to Blue Mounds State Park for a great road race.  It had the most climbing of any Nationals road race I’ve ever ridden. Within the second lap the field was shattered but I was lucky to be off the front with some of the strongest riders in the race along with a couple of my teammates. As a result I finished the race in third place.

During our day of rest we rode our bikes to Waterloo to see Sean and Jules race. It was good to have a rest day between races and also see our teammate finish with a solo victory. The final day of nationals I raced one of the most intense junior criteriums of my life.  There was at least one attack every lap for twenty-five laps and a few crashes.  I was happy to finish in the top ten after working hard with the team. It will be difficult to beat this nationals in the future, I loved the courses and teamwork we had this year!  Track Nationals, here we come!  -- Gage Hecht

Racing With A Canadian Legend

Hello from Quebec. I'm up here for the Canadian National road and time trial championships. I did the TT yesterday and finished 4th, 15 seconds slower than last year on the same course under virtually identical conditions. I am actually pleased with the result considering the fight I've been having first with getting back from the hip replacement and probably more impactful, recovering from that horrendous crash 4 weeks ago.

The road race was today and at 120 km it was going to be more of a fight just to hold onto the handle bars that long given the nerve and muscle damage and pain in my neck, shoulder, arm and hand that the whiplash from the crash caused. The weather was a bit of a challenge too with rain off and on throughout the race but I bit the bullet and fought it out to the finish.

It was a quality group of racers as every National championship should be. Up here we race in 10 year increments and I am at the very old end of my group, 50 to 59. The quality was exemplified when Steve Bauer showed up at the start line. Imagine that, an Olympic road race silver medalist, a bronze medalist in the world championships, raced in 11 Tours de France, won a stage and once finishing 4th, and wore the yellow jersey for 14 days in 2 of those Tours. He finished second at Paris Roubaix, losing to Plankaert by 1 centimeter in the closest finish ever. He also won a World Cup race in Montreal, once won by Eddie Merckx. Up here he is considered, bar none including Ryder Hesjedal, the greatest Canadian cyclist ever and he was in my race today. Very exciting!

Back to my race. Steve Bauer finished 4th, not even on the podium so that kind of tells you how good this group is. And he is not out of shape, apparently racing in local pro races here in Quebec, Ontario and south of the border in some races in Vermont. I was in a group of 9 chasing two escapees 150 meters up the road with about 13 km to go. The end of the race was peppered with short punchy climbs, generally about 500 meters long, not really in my wheel house. Bauer punched it hard on the second to last of the steep ones, maybe 12 or 13% and I finally cracked. I never quite got back on and finished alone in 12th place, just about caught by a group chasing from behind. I suffered through it as far as the injury pain is concerned and, unlike Sattley where I actually harmed my recovery, I think this one helped. With 2 and 1/2 months to worlds, if I can stay off the ground, I just might be back to my old self just in time. And how cool is it to race with a Canadian cycling legend.

Best, Rob

It's time, the Nationals!

                                           
                                         IT'S TIME , THE NATIONALS

It's that time of the year again summer time . Which means here comes the heat, it also means it's time for the Nationals. You all knew it was coming, as I did too. I have carefully prepared
myself all year for this special event. I have as well as my team targeted certain races, such as
San Dimas where the Team took the top four places, and Sea Otter we didn't win but we took the other two top spots. Jack has recently won State TT, Jason won State Crit, with Jack taking 2nd. Gage has just won State TT in Colorado, Owen won State Crit. Matt won Cats hill Crit., Grant's been
tearing up the cat 3's up in Oregon, Nick's been doing the same down here in So Cal., Jules just
came back from a broken foot and finished 3rd in State RR.
            
I, on the other hand, since the beginning of May, my racing form has started to come around.  I raced State RR, TTand Crit. and was lucky enough to have won. But more importantly, it
let me know where I stand in my own age group, and - I still need work. Also during the month of May the Tour of California came to my town of Palmdale. That was so cool.  I got to get up on stage and meet the top pro's as they signed in.  During Memorial Day weekend we had a team mini-camp up north.  We stayed at Jason's house, a special Thanks to Jason's Mom and Dad for having us. The team raced Mt. Hamilton RR  Jack finished 10th in the pro 1,2,3 race. I finished 3rd in the cat 3 race ,but got droped on the hill climb at the top, and had to fight back on the down hill to get back on. If it wasn't for the help of Jason I wouldn't have finished 3rd.  Thank you Jason. So this race really let me know that I need more work before the Nationals.
            
Which leads us to where we are now.  Although these races have helped my confidence, it has also showed me my short comings. So, my Dad and Larry have been helping me with my training. Every day I continue to improve and every day it get's closer to the Nationals, with the dream of winning the Nationals again.

So see you next time, hopfully a few of us will be wearing National champions jerseys. 

Sean
      
                                                       

Time Trialing Made Simple

For as caught up as we can get in the nitty gritty details of the science and analysis about time trialing, one of the greatest arts of bike racing can be approached quite simply. Don’t get me wrong, you should educate yourself on all the intricacies of the TT and the aerodynamics involved, but don’t forget to spend time in your mental approach and to keep it simple. 

Most importantly, be comfortable on your bike. If you can’t put out power in your position, all the aerodynamics in the world will not make you faster. Maintain a powerful position with a good balance between aerodynamics and power.

Time trialing is all about maintaining consistent power at or around your threshold. The most consistent power will win or achieve the ultimate challenge. Overly eager TTers have a tendency to go out too hard, and not have the ability to kick it up a notch for the finish (e.g., first quarter at 100%, next half 80-90%, and last quarter at 75-80%). For something like PCSD, I suggest going out at 85-90% for the first 5', the next 10' at 95-100%, and ALL OUT for the last 5'.

Make a simple goal at the beginning of your time trial, to build into the effort and once you get up to speed, you settle into your maximum effort for that day.  This is something that is practiced and isn't easily learned by most people. I put messages on my bike to remind myself of my limits for the beginning of an effort, because with the adrenaline and excitement of the race, it is easy to misjudge your abilities. It's just like climbing a hill, everyone feels great at the beginning. It's those who've stayed within their limits that are over the hill first or make it with the lead group. 

Know your limits, challenge them slightly, and read your body accordingly.   Your threshold is what it is, and it may be a little bit better one day than the next, and you are capable of exceeding your expectations, but know when to back off as well. . You are not going to be a superman and crush your threshold for any TT for 10 miles. By exceeding this threshold, you will load your legs and it will have a negative impact on your overall performance and speed. 

This is very easily seen on a power file for a flat course as waves or ripples. A winning file should be a blip at the start, flat or consistent for a majority of the effort, and a gradual linear ramp to the finish leaving no regrets on the road. Time trials are not won on the highest power, they're won or conquered on the most consistent power.

Most importantly, enjoy the challenge of pushing yourself and testing your abilities on any course. Time trialing is about riding as hard as you can for a specific duration, and only you will know what that is.  Be comfortable on your bike, and put out power.  Make a simple goal for the day.  Those that finish the fastest win, not those that start the fastest.  Learn to read your body, and let the time trial come to you.  Good luck!

- Craig Roemer

Back on track

After some horrible rain in March, April, and even May I'm finally getting some real quality track time in. It's always hard when you know your competition has months of extra training time. But that just means when I'm at the track there is no time to screw around. I've been going to the track Monday nights for practice, Thursday nights for omnium racing, and sometimes Saturdays for racing. Last week the schedule came out for track nationals and they took out the points race and changed in to a 2km pursuit, so in the last week I've been out at the track working on my pursuit. I've noticed that from this work on the track that my finishing sprint on the road is stronger, I can time my attacks better and come around guys who used to beat me. I'm also really excited to win our team pursuit at nationals. I think we'll be a really strong team when put together.

Have a good Monday!
Grant McElroy

I Now Understand Why They Hate Us

This last weekend, my mother and I embarked on our usual cycling adventure, same routine, different place. I raced in Davis on Saturday and Pescadero on Sunday. Pescadero was a very eventful day for the locals of Pescadero. There were 3 rides going on, including a race. I finished the hard 100-mile race, and started on our way home. Since I'm going to get my license in a few weeks, I asked my mom if I could drive. We headed home along Highway One where we encountered hundreds of cyclists participating in a charity ride. I followed the riders for 30 miles. For the first time ever,  I felt the frustration that many drivers feel on a daily basis with cyclists. As I was driving, I was forced to put the brake pedal to the floor numerous times because of these cyclists. Their movements were so unpredictable. As my frustration mounted, I realized why so many motorists are so hostile to cyclists. It's nerve racking to have a cyclist swerve in front of your car. It put in perspective of how I should ride on narrow roads, populated by motorists. Ride as far right as possible, use hand signals, always look before changing my line and be predictable. As cyclist's we have to befriend and respect  motorists, if we want them to respect us. After all, we do share the road. Remember next time you are riding, you can be an ambassador for the sport, by riding in a safe and predictable manner.


Jack Maddux

Colorado Mini Classic

Recently I raced in the Colorado Mini Classic, which takes place in Silt, Colorado, a small town outside of Grand Junction, Colorado. There were over 130 junior racers in attendance from all over the US.  A week prior to the race I crashed in the Superior Morgul Classic, so I was still sore going into the weekend. The time trial, on Saturday, was an out and back with a slight downhill on the way out. I felt great during the race. I finished first place with a fifty-nine second lead over second place. I also had the best time of the day. Stage two was a road race. A forty-two mile race outside the town around all the agricultural land of the area. It had quite a few rolling hills on the course. The race was very fast and physically demanding from the end of the neutral start. There were attacks on every hill, but nothing really stuck for more than a couple of miles. On the last hill I put in a big effort to get away and it stuck. I finished with a six second lead over the chase group and a forty-five second lead over the main peleton. The next day was the criterium in downtown Silt, Colorado. It had eight corners and circulated around a park. There was an attack from the start and the field was single-file for the rest of the race. The group broke up quite a bit and with about fourteen minutes left I broke off the front and came close to lapping the field. Overall I won the overall race and had a great weekend at the Colorado Mini Classic.

Patience

Last weekend I raced Devils Punchbowl Road Race in a stacked cat 3 field of solid So Cal road racers. I started the race feeling horrible. The weather didn't help much either since it was in the 100s. That days race was going to need patience with the move I was going to make. Half way into it, I was at the front on the climb thinking "why am I doing this? I'm going to get dropped." I suffered over the top and then boom. A strong attack went. I said to myself "patience, wait til the last lap. Be smart." On the final climb, I set a hard pace and created a gap towards the top. 4 guys bridged up to me, and that was that. We worked well but only another guy and I made to the finish together. I eventually took the win and was able to outsprint my breakaway mate at the end. This special victory taught me a lot about being patient, including pushing through a spell when I didn't feel good.  Thanks for reading.

~Nick Castellano

For the past 5 weeks, I have worn a cast. It has almost seemed like an anchor holding down my athletic soul; I have been very anxious to get it off. I miss training and racing very much and wish to be back on the bike as soon as possible.

Yet, my accident has helped me focus on patience, a very important trait for a cyclist. Larry and Billy helped me realize that rest can be the best thing for a growing junior, and that if I learn to balance enough rest with my training, I will continue to perform at my best. I've been taking my unbroken body for granted lately and this has really helped me perceive just how precious and delicate it is in working order. I have also had more time to spend with my parents and increase my academic skills, such as the trumpet and my grades.

Thank you to everyone who's given me advice and encouraged me to stay positive; it has really helped keep my spirits up. I look forward to riding my bike!

Jules

1-35

Cycling, like any sport, comes with frustration, anger, determination and glory.  This season, I have raced my bike 36 times and have only won once. 36 times where I can say I gave it my all, and tried my best. Even though winning one race so far this season seems to be discouraging, it actually helps put things in perspective.  I know I am on the right path to achieving my goals.

The win came at Cat’s Hill Classic in the Juniors 17-18 Category last weekend. Although it is not the biggest and most important race of the year, it is surely one of my favorites as I now have won this race two years in a row.  This win meant more to me than the last because I was determine to win it the “Billy Innes” way - ride away solo from the field by attacking on the climb, which I did. The win at Cat’s Hill Classic has fueled me to work harder, to never give up and to keep on pedaling.

Last lap attack

-Matthew Valencia