Realities from a Cat 3 race to a Pro 1/2 Race

Towards the end of last season, I made the jump from a Cat 3 to a Cat 2. As a Cat 3, I've always tried to jump into the pro 1/2/3 races whenever I could. I never realized why the 1/2's don't like the 3's until I did my first real Pro 1/2 race at the Brentwood Grand Prix. The speed was twice as fast, fighting for position was extra aggressive and much more important, mostly everyone knew very well how to handle their bikes, and the extra 20 minutes made the race feel that much longer. It wasn't until this year til I realized the big difference. The difference was the length of the road races and the competitors that made for a stacked field. For example, at Poor College Kids big names such as Ty Magner (Hincapie), Stephen Leece (Jamis), and Tom Soladay (Optum) showed up. Being in a chase group with those guys made the race that much harder and faster. Another example could be at this years Boulevard Road Race when the entire U23 National Team showed up. It was a 96 mile race and with all of their guys at the front, the race was blistering hard when they decided to ramp up the pace. It wasn't until after this race that I learned how important nutrition really was. In my cat 3 races I was able to get away with maybe a light dinner the night before, a light breakfast, and a couple of Clif Bars during the race. In Pro 1/2 races I realized that eating is so much more important and it all starts at least 3 nights before the event. I ended up bonking at the end of the race (Blvd) when it mattered most. Eating lesson learned right away and some what the hard way. To wrap this all up, I've realized that there is a huge jump from a cat 3 race to a pro 1/2 race. There is so much more dedication, sacrifice, and pain to hang and be up at the front with the big boys, but it can be done. It's possible.

Keep pedaling,

Nick Castellano

Wet Weather Wonders

This past week California’s driest twelve-month period in recorded history was interrupted. Rain fell almost every day, giving me the choice to either ride the rollers, or ride outside in the rain, or not ride at all. I choose to split my time fairly evenly between the first two. However, this isn’t a story of the mental and physical toughness it takes to ride in the rain or for a prolonged time on the rollers. This is testimony to how brilliant the Sram Red brakes and Specialized S-Works Turbo tires are. Both of these products amaze me with their ability to perform regardless of the conditions.

The newest iteration of the Sram brakes works just as well in the wet as it does in the dry. I can brake just as late, and have the same ability to modulate the breaking as I do in the middle of the hot, dry summer.

The tires are just as impressive. For a thin, low rolling resistance tire, they provide extraordinary grip that encourages more aggressive cornering, and offer remarkable flat protection (because no one wants to have to change a flat in the rain).

The two components combined produce a confidence inspiring setup that will leave you prepared to ditch the trainer and head out on a wet adventure.

- Jason S

Off Season

     Before I begin, I would really like to thank Larry Nolan, my teammates, team parents, and sponsors for a great season in 2013 and I am excited for the upcoming season. Since Cross National Championships and the Specialized San Dimas Camp, I have been off my bike for an off season to recover and focus. In being between seasons I have done some things I cannot easily do during the racing season. The day after 'Cross Nationals I went skiing and night tubing with Campus Life. It was a ton of fun hanging out with some of my friends up on the slopes. In the recent weeks I have started to consistently take flight lessons at the airport near my house. The amount of checks needed to make sure a plane is safe to fly is amazing, from checking for fractures in the plane's fuselage to making sure your seat won't move on takeoff. Overall, I've had a lot of fun during the off season, but I cant wait to get riding again starting with Valley of the Sun.

-Gage Hecht

My first flight