The Last Chapter

     As my final year with Team Specialized begins, I think back on the great memories that I’ve had with the team. I will always remember Larry saying, “Well let me tell you a quick story,” which in reality always lasted longer than I ever anticipated. I will never forget the long road trips we took to get to races, it gave us the opportunity to bond with one another and a chance to reflect on the races from the past. The memories I have with the team off the bike also gave me a chance to be a kid and have fun.

     This last year of my junior career is my last chapter with Team Specialized. As the oldest member on the team, I want to set an example for all of my teammates and be a leader that provides support and camaraderie.  I want to create memories that will never be forgotten and be remembered for not only my accomplishments, but for the impact I made on the team.

     In the next month, I will be making a difficult decision of where to attend college.  But wherever I go, I know that riding my bike will always be a part of my life. 

A more efficient recovery

     As a cyclist, I put a lot of time into recovering after training rides and races. This season, I have dedicated a lot of time to creating the best way for myself to recover. When I come back from a ride on a weekday and have a limited amount of time, it is important to know exactly what I need to do in order to gain all the benefits from a good recovery. I start thinking about my recovery when I am cooling down from my ride, and plan out exactly what I need to do. When I get home, the first thing I do is make a recovery drink, and if I don't have any recovery mix, I drink juiced fruits and vegetables instead. Usually, when I get home from a ride it is close to dinner time, but if I was able to start my ride sooner and get home before its time to eat, I will make myself some kind of sandwich to get rid of my hunger. After I take a shower, I try to stretch for at leased ten minutes followed by a short core workout which consists of mostly push-ups, sit-ups, and planks. This brings me to the most important part of my recovery, which is sleep. I have found that if I get anything less than nine hours, I cannot remain focused the next day, so I force myself to go to bed at whatever time I need to in order to get a full nine hours of sleep. Recovery has become a huge portion of my training, and I have noticed huge improvements in my performance. I'm sure that the time I am putting into my performance now, will positively impact my overall performance for the season.

-Neilson Powless

Specialized Clothing

Thank you Team Specialized sponsors and NCCF for the amazing new kit! From the shoes to the gloves, everything is of fantastic quality and race ready. The jerseys are form-fitting, breathable, and can really pack in the food for longer rides. The bibs have have elastic grip that keeps them in place and they provide maximum comfort. The SRAM socks are very comfortable and go very nicely color wise with the rest of the kit. The Specialized racing shoes are light, stiff, and fast. The smith glasses are really nice and I wear them all the time (to the point where my brother gets jealous). The new helmets look so futuristic and and are very aerodynamic. The hats are very comfortable and fit nicely. Thank you to everyone who helped with this kit. I am very grateful to be provided with such fine race and daily wear clothing. 

Thanks! 

-Jules

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

Cold Weather Riding

        I live in Colorado. The coldest times of my life have been on my bike. I walk outside before almost every ride to check the temperature. Unfortunately I used to not account for the wind chill I would feel while riding, especially downhill. One winter in Durango, we were experiencing basically no snow. I was lucky enough to be able to ride almost every day outside. The temperatures were cold and I usually would wear three layers. I have learned that 3 is normally not enough for these winter months. I wear an under armor, a jersey, a vest, and a jacket now. My face is always the coldest part of my body however. Recently I have started wearing a bandana that covers my mouth and nose while riding. I not only feel warmer, but the bandana makes me look pretty cool if I must say. It's not just being cold while riding that I don't like, it's the experience of warming up that can be excruciating. Often I feel as though my hands and toes are being smashed under a boulder. The blood flow as your hands warm up seems to create a lot of pressure in your hands. Warming up should be a relief from the cold, instead it's almost as painful as riding in it. I bear the cold during these winter months because no matter what - it beats riding the trainer everyday. I know I'm not the only one who can't wait for summer and warm rides!!

-Christopher