All October long, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, purchase Specialized pink handlebar tape for just $10 (a $34 value) or a hot pink KNOG N.E.R.D cycle computer for $20 (worth more than $60) and we’ll donate 100 percent of the proceeds to the Susan G. Komen affiliate. We’ll even install them for free.

We want to raise so much for Komen that there are no limits to how many computers or tape you can buy. We’ll keep donating until (pink) supplies last and October runs out.

Specialized Handlebar Tape- $10

Knog N.E.R.D. Computer- $25

Any enthusiast road cyclist worth his weight in carbon fiber has thought, “I sure would love to spend a few days just…riding.”  Even if you read all the magazines, spend lunch hours skulking around your local bike shop, hit up your local club rides, done a few charity rides, and maybe even pinned on a number at a race or two, when it comes down to it, you just want to ride.

But even the most dedicated roadie, who logs miles and miles along trusted and well-worn routes, longs for the new road.  And for new road cyclists, nothing can inspire and motivate more than seeing what “just riding” for three days can do for your fitness level—to say nothing of your fun level.  We all want new adventures, with friends, on bikes.

I’ve had the very good fortune to do some local cycling trips with Austin Cycle Camp, many to the Leakey, TX area, where we’re again heading this October.*  If you’re looking to do something different on the bike this Fall, or looking to get back to riding regularly after a long, hot Summer, then let me tell you what you can expect with Austin Cycle Camp at Destination: Leakey.

Get ready to roll out with Austin Cycle Camp at Destination: Leakey!

To start with, we’ve again partnered with an Austin original, Bicycle Sport Shop, to provide you with the best mechanical support for the entire weekend.  There’s little need to carry that extra tube, as we’ll have SAG every day as well as a lead car on longer days.  To say nothing of having two professional mechanics to look over your bike each evening.  Most of the time I’ve left these trips with a bike that was in better working order than when it got there!  Thanks, Bicycle Sport Shop!

Each time I’ve gone on these trips I’ve refined my take-along list.  First off, three rides means three cycling kits—bibs or shorts, jerseys, socks, gloves—three of each.  Not to mention extra “just in case” items—rain cover, arm/leg warmers, vest, etc. as the weekend’s weather dictates.  Base layers are great for this area and this time of year as the temps and breezes can make it feel cool on top of the climbs, not to mention coming down the hills.  Three or four bottles are nice too.  Two on the bike, one in the center jersey pocket in case you want a little more before the next scheduled stop, and one for a pre-prepared recovery drink in the fridge for when you get back.  Sunscreen is a must too, even if the temps are cool.  Off the bike, there’s the Frio River itself.  My first trip I neglected to bring board shorts.  My loss as the Frio River is the perfect post-ride cold soak for tired legs.

Quiet country roads with rolling terrain await you in October!

The riding itself is spectacular.  The roads in the Frio River Valley are lightly travelled.  And the cars that do come by from time-to-time are used to two-wheeled traffic as the area hosts some of the state’s best motorcycle riding.  Expect to be able to ride two-by-two and chat with riding buddies—new and old—with ease.  The terrain is rolling, with some good sized climbs thrown in when we roll out of the immediate Leakey area and into the surrounding communities.  Each day there are two ride options.  Every time I’ve been the vast majority if not all riders opt for the longer route.  Makes sense since you’re there to ride!  That means rides of roughly 35, 75, and 50 miles over the three days.  Of course, if you want to grab that SAG, go for it.  This is a cycling weekend, not a “training camp” so enjoy yourself and your riding!

A professional photographer to document your weekend of riding.

If you’ve got a small point-and-shoot camera you’ll want to bring it and stick it in a jersey pocket.  There’s tons of scenic beauty along the ride routes, not to mention great photo ops at the top of the climbs!  If you forget your camera though (like I did last time) you’re in luck.  Susan Beth Photography is coming along for the ride this October.  Susan is a gifted photographer, not to mention a good rider and all around friendly person, so we’re really lucky we were able to get her to come along.

Demo wheels from Zipp Speed Weaponry, the aero wheel masters, for you to try during Destination: Leakey!

If like us you’re a gear head, then you’re really in luck.  The Zipp demo fleet is going to Leaky.  This is a chance to see a nearly full complement of Zipp’s latest wheel offerings.  But not just see.  You’re going to get a chance to ride a pair of Zipps if you like!  That’s right, a set of 303s, 404s, maybe even some super-light 202s, the all-new 101s, or the wickedly fast 808s!  And since the Zipp staffers will be with us, you’ll get all your questions answered and learn how to pick the best wheel for your riding goals and target events.

For food, it’s covered.  No.  Seriously.  We’ve really got it covered.  We’re bring along the biggest BBQ/smoker/grill pit we’ve ever seen as well as a professional chef to run it.  Yes.  A professional chef.   Remember we’re talking about a cycling weekend getaway, not a “training camp.”  So you’ll be hard pressed to drop weight this weekend!  We’re talking smoked salmon, awesome breakfast spreads each morning, gourmet “rolling” lunches, the works.  But it’s not all about mealtime.  Our local, Central Texas Powerbar rep is coming to ride too.  That means on-the-bike nutrition by the leader in endurance sports fuels.  Drink, food, recovery product, all of it.  But it’s not just a gel here or a bottle there.  We’re going to get the low down on how and why these products work and learn a bit about best practices when it comes to on-the-bike nutrition.

Yes, that is a state-of-the-art 58 inch satellite TV on the grill trailer!

Base camp itself is really nice.  Private, fully furnished cabins, with nice finishes, a full kitchen, a flat screen TV, and a DVD player (we’ll bring an assortment of cycling-related DVDs from our library for you to watch).  So if you need a little solitude, you’ll be able to kick back and relax when not on the bike.

This could be you!

This really is a great weekend and I highly recommend coming along.  The vast majority of riders are road enthusiasts—folks that just plain like to ride.  And the group is, traditionally, fairly evenly split between men and women.  Some folks bring riding buddies.  Others come solo though.  We’re not going to Leakey to race, so pull up along side another rider and chat a bit, or go ahead and take a little dig at the front of the group, its your weekend to just…ride.

More details and registration information can be found here: http://www.austincyclecamp.com/destinationleakey.html  Destination: Leakey is half sold out, so we recommend registering soon!

Ian, you make us proud!

Super Squadra Clinic

Bicycle Sport Shop’s Super Squadra headed out to the Driveway last night to share a few of their secrets.  And although there was lots of talk, it wasn’t all talk.  This was a hands-on education for sure, and ended with a really great race.  In case you missed it,  there are a few more Squadra clinics on the horizon, and here’s a recap from last night:  http://supersquadra.net/?p=2581

If you’re ready to commit, then tell us why, and if you haven’t decided yet, then read why other people are committed.  They just may inspire you. Check it all out here: http://bicyclesportshop.com/events/commit-to-commute-pg1678.htm?

Getting a race plan of action from the best team in Central Texas.

You’ve got the bike.  You’ve  got the shoes, and the kit, and the helmet.  Maybe you have some race wheels, a heart rate monitor, or a power meter. Maybe you even have a coach to help you get the most from your body. But you need the right tool for your racing brain too. You need tactics.  Winning tactics.

While the strongest sometimes win, they don’t always. Others may never be the strongest, but it doesn’t mean they can’t win. Regardless of fitness, if you’re in the mix in a race, you need to know likely race scenarios and potential pitfalls. The choices a racer makes in those decisive moments can mean the difference between a podium finish and being pack fill. And those choices don’t advertise themselves—you’ve got to know what to look for. Unlike the Driveway Series Beginners’ Clinics, Super Squadra’s January Tactics Seminar, taught by Ian Dille and David Wenger, took to the classroom and covered how to approach, ride, and finish a race to the best of your ability.

Super Squadra has offered their Tactics Seminars five times over the last three years.  The goal in offering the seminar is to help aspiring and experienced racers alike learn some of the nuances of bike racing in Central Texas.  This isn’t necessarily about how to turn your bike, but rather when to turn, when to accelerate, when to draft, when to attack, and when to sprint.  Since the first seminar over 100 racers have attended and have included category 5 riders like this author, women racers, juniors, masters, and every other experience level you can think of ranging in ages from 12 to well over 60.

The 2011 class warmed up by talking warm up and discussed why you should get on your bike before the announcer says “go” and what you should be doing and looking for during your warm up.  And, did you know there is a difference between warming up for a road race and a criterium?  Yup.  There is.  Included in the warm up discussion was also talk of pre-race meetings.  The stuff of pros only, right?  Wrong.  If you’re lucky enough to ride on a team, you need to plan before the race how it will unfold for each rider.  This is the chance to communicate openly with teammates about fitness, goals, and if applicable, prior knowledge of the course or event.   Easier to do before the race than during, and far better than after.   And if you’re a privateer racer, this is a chance to talk with friends and training buddies who are also in attendance at your race.

From there class turned to positioning.  This wasn’t just “ride at the front and follow every wheel,” but rather a discussion of pack dynamics and how to hold and change position, and where you want to be positioned based on field size.  Since the Tactics Seminar is about getting your best finish, we also talked attacking.  Attacks come “thick and fast” as they say, but the winning moves come at strategic times and places.  This means racing smart and aggressively.  Of course, an attack is not a field sprint—you’ve got to keep at it once you’ve opened a gap on the field.  So we also learned about setting up attacks with and for teammates as well as how hard to attack.  And for those in the pack with a teammate up the road, we learned about blocking.  See?  Cycling is a team sport!

Not all racers are the same.  Nor are all races.  As a result, we also talked about the differences in how to race criteriums, road races, and stage races.  These discussions used real race examples from some of Super Squadra’s favorite events as well as real-life scenarios played out by Super Squadra’s members.  And the class covered post-race happenings too.  Not finish line celebrations, but post-race team discussions, cooling down—emotionally and physically—and getting ready for the next race.

During the day we enjoyed a great burrito lunch, and not only got some good swag from the team’s sponsors, but also received the coveted “Super Squadra Tactical Playbook:  A thinking man’s (and woman’s) guide to winning TXBRA races”.  (I’ll be posting my copy on eBay later!)  The guys from Super Squadra were happy to answer questions during class and hung around to socialize and give more tips out post-class.  I grabbed Super Squadra’s chief press officer, biographer, and sandwich captain Ian Dille, to get a few questions answered.

Do we have to wait another 12 months to learn from the best, or does Super Squadra have something on offer later in this year?

Ian: Well, Daniel, I’m glad you asked! You can come brush up on the technical aspects of bike racing at our monthly Skills Clinics at the Driveway racetrack. These events are designed to instill pack riding confidence, cornering technique, and other general handling skills such as pacelining. Our Skills Clinic schedule for 2011 will be released soon at www.drivewayseries.com, under the “clinics” tab.

I was really surprised to learn about the Dave Wenger special.  Did you really give away all of your tactical secrets?

Ian: Yes, pretty much. Every year when I first go over our tactics manual (a printout of which we give to each Tactics Seminar attendee) in preparation for the seminar, I’m amazed by how much I relearn from it. It’s a great refresher, even for myself, who’s giving the presentation. The tactical principles we instill in our attendees are basically the framework of bike racing. If you can stick to these basic rules, and adjust them to fit varying situations within a race, you’ll succeed far more often. A large part of our success as a team, is that we take our own Tactics Seminar every year.

The truth is, there’s no secret to using good bike racing tactics. The trick is relying on a few basic tactical principles to make the right decision at the right moment. For example, consciously asking yourself, should I follow that move now, or should I wait? Where on the course can I attack most effectively? How do I maintain my position near the front in this technical criterium? You’ll find that racers of similar fitness who regularly make the breakaways or place well aren’t just getting lucky. They’re racing smartly.

Any tips for getting in race shape so that we can put some of Super Squadra’s tactics into practice?

Ian: We get a ton of inquiries from our Tactics Seminar attendees about training, and we always defer them to our teammate David Wenger. David owns the coaching company, Durata Training. He’s the guy the members of our team rely on when we have training questions.

Sadly, we missed the outdoor portion of the class because of the weather.  Even sadder was my post-class trainer ride in my garage.  What’s in store for the rain check ride?

Ian: The purpose of the ride was to give attendees a chance to take some of the tactical principles we taught during the seminar to the open road. It’s one thing for us to explain how to maintain your position at the front of a race, or block for a teammate effectively, and quite another to see it play out in real life. Our intent was to break the attendees up into groups of similar abilities, and then divide those groups into teams, and stage some mock racing scenarios. Unfortunately, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate, but (beyond offering our Tactics Seminar attendees a complimentary pass to one of our skills clinics) we urged them to practice some of these tactical scenarios on their own with friends or teammates. Even during our own team rides, we’ll often practice various tactical situations. For example, we won’t just sprint for city limits signs, we’ll do a lead out drill.

Super Squadra is moderately legendary for its mid-training ride BBQ.  I spotted chicken-fried steak at the Driveway once, and I know how you feel about sandwich construction. Post-seminar there were cookies, chips, and cowboy pops (i.e., beer) on offer.  Is consuming such a diet an approved Super Squadra tactic?

Ian: Perhaps you didn’t notice Daniel, but we also provided NutriGrain bars and La Croix sparkling waters. Heck, even the Sun Chips we served contain 30-percent less fat than standard potato chips. (And they’re delicious! I recently friended Sun Chips on Facebook.) It should also be noted that Chipotle Burritos, which generously sponsored the Tactics Seminar lunch, provide a well rounded, primarily organic, meal. (Portion control is key.) However, our team members have never been opposed to occasionally treating ourselves—that’s one of the main reasons we race bikes!

Like the Driveway Beginners’ Clinic, the Super Squadra Tactics Seminar was really informative.  It covered more than many of us thought, provided insight from truly experienced competitors, and really shined, despite the rain.  Now I’m off to ride to get some fitness, and maybe some BBQ, so I can put what I learned into practice.

Just this week, we’ve experienced temperatures ranging from 30s to 70s.  And although there’s no telling what temps we’ll see tomorrow, there will certainly be some cold days ahead. So how do you prevent a few cold snaps from keeping you off your bike this winter season?

We’ve all heard the right way to dress for comfort on the bike is layers, but what does that mean in Central Texas?  A very general rule of thumb that works fairly well in the winter here is to dress as if it is 10 degrees cooler than it really is.  While your body will produce heat during exercise, ambient temperature as well as wind chill (coming from the breeze in the air as well as your riding) will work against your body’s heat production giving the sense that it is colder than the thermostat indicates, at least until you truly get warmed up and into your ride.  And that sensation can be amplified when you ride earlier in the morning or later in the evening.

The Sugoi Carbon Base Layer, in long sleeve

Base layers such as an undershirt perform the task of pulling sweat off your body and trapping warm air against the skin. A sports-specific undershirt also serves to keep your core warm, which helps regulate overall body temperature. Sugoi makes a Carbon base layer that not only regulates moisture and temperature, but because of the fabric material utilized it repels odors and odor causing bacteria. Paired with such a high-tech fabric are good common-sense features like anatomic cuts, and short sleeve, long sleeve, and long sleeve with zipper versions at great prices considering the performance of these pieces ($39.99 to $59.99).

Specialized's anatomic knee warmers.

Arm, knee, and leg warmers are similar in function to base layers, regulating body temperature and managing moisture transfer, but they have the added feature of being easily removable if the temperature rises too far for your riding comfort. Arm warmers are simply the sleeves off your long sleeves shirts, while leg warmers are what would separate a pair of pants from a pair of shorts, with knee warmers being like knickers in length. Typically warmers stay in place through the use of elastic bands. Specialized’s warmers ($34.99 to $49.99) are a great choice since they are anatomically cut not only making it easier for them to stay in place, but also easier to move in. And since they slide off as easy as they slide on, you can simply stuff them in a jersey pocket.

Peal Izumi's Women's Barrier Elite convertible jacket

Sometimes, even in sunny Austin, the skies turn grey and the rain starts to fall, and that means a common sense outerwear piece is needed. Many choose vests to keep their chest dry and warm, while some prefer jackets for their greater coverage. Why choose? A convertible jacket, one whose sleeves zip, snap, or Velcro off to become a vest are a great choice. Like a base layer, a convertible jacket easily adjusts to changing conditions and relative comfort. Two top choices would be the Pearl Izumi Barrier Elite ($99.99) or the Specialized Defelect ($119.99). Each of these pieces offers the rider two great articles of clothing in one that re also light weight and easily packable.

There are a host of clothing options available to cyclists today, each with a purpose. The best bet is to pair items for complimentary use through layering and then remove and re-apply as the ride conditions require.

RELATED POSTS: The Art of Layering

Never though, have I known the type of pre-race fear I experienced prior to my first cyclocross race at the Dirty Derby sponsored by Bicycle Sport Shop. It wasn’t a lack of pavement that scared me. I’m a roadie by practice, I admit. But at heart I crave fat tires, singletrack trails, loose turns, and bumpy descents.

Heck, as a freelance writer, I regularly contribute to Mountain Bike magazine.

No, it was the actual act of racing a cyclocross bike that frightened me. Did you know cyclocross racers jump off their bikes, at dang near full speed? They run up and over obstacles, like insanely steep hills and foot and a half high barricades bolted to the earth with rebar. Then they have to get back on. (While running!)

It’s like nothing I’ve done on a bike before, and the prospect made me a bit faint. I imagined my feet tangling on a dismount. My face falling mouth forward into a pile of sod. My roadie friends who’d dabbled in the discipline offered me fair warning, as well.

My teammate (and supposed buddy), Phil Wikoff, sent me an email, subject line: “heard you were doing cx.” Message body: “ahahahahhahahahahahahhahahahhahahahha (inhale) ahahahhahahahhahahhahahahah. why?”

Another teammate, David Wenger, a coach for Durata Training whose expert advice I frequently rely upon, asked me, “Do you have any idea how hard cross is?”

“I think it will be fun,” I told him.

“You’re an idiot,” he responded.

Then, as the road racing season wound to an end, and my cyclocross season began in earnest, their caution morphed into a curious support. It made me even more leery.

“When’s your first race?” inquired Steven Wheeler, my pal since 7^th grade. “Be sure to let me know so I can make signs. I can’t wait to see this.”

If they couldn’t talk me out of racing cyclocross, I surmised, they surely wanted to see me bite the dust. So I delayed. The nearly 10-year-old bike David let me borrow needed cranks, and I dragged the process of badgering people for free parts on for weeks.

Finally, my fiancé, Lindy, asked, “Are you doing the Dirt Derby tomorrow?”

“Oh, next week, I think,” I said.

“What?” She said. “I changed my schedule to go watch you race! You told everyone you’re racing cyclocross in September, and it’s nearly Thanksgiving.”

My woman, essentially, called me a wimp. So, the next day, I made plans to race.

“I’m scared,” I texted Dave the morning of my first Dirt Derby.

“You should be,” he replied. “You might die.”

Other than Dave and Lindy, I made sure as few people as possible knew I was partaking in my first cross race. Better to flail in private than fail in public, I surmised. But at the Dirty Derby, I found more friends. There was bearded Tim, the Bicycle Sport Shop mechanic who suggested Rock’n Roll lube. Rick, who’d helped me secure the right size square taper bottom bracket for my 1989 Dura Ace crank arms. And Jordan, from the sales floor, who said, “Dude, with clinchers, run about 40 psi out here.”

I rolled up to the line feeling just a tad more confident. These people had no clue how poorly I might perform. And more importantly, they didn’t really care.

(Plus, there was free beer for spectators and racers alike!)

The gun sounded (er, someone said, “go”) and we took off around the brightly lit moto-cross track. Rather than trying to ride with the leaders, tank it, and cause a massive pile up, I opted to start at the back. The pack quickly dropped me.

But I was okay with that. I picked my own lines and took the dismount zones at my own pace. I sprinted out of every corner as hard as I could, and caught air off some of the larger burms. About 10 minutes into the race, I realized that not only was I not going to die, I was having a blast. Then, I started catching people.

As the official rang the bell for one lap to go, a pair of racers were within a few seconds. I caught one of them shortly after, and we went toe to toe around the second half of the course, banging elbows on the run up. As we rounded the final turn heading for the last set of barriers, right before the finish line, we were side by side.

Lindy hesitantly cheered from the sideline, knowing there was a good chance I’d take the barriers too fast trying to win, and it might end badly.

But my cautious side out dueled my competitive angst, and I slowed, dismounting at a comfortable pace. The other rider sailed through, and beat me to the line.

“Well, did you have fun?” Everyone asked after my cool down lap.

“Yeah,” I said, utterly out of breath. “I’ll be back.”

Even my roadie teammates showed genuine interest in my results.

“Tear it up at the Derby,” Steven texted the next week.

The day starts with a presentation by the top-ranked cycling team in Texas.  The presentation will delineate both beginner and advanced bike racing tactics. Then, after a short break for a complimentary burrito lunch, take to the open road for a hands-on tactics tutorial and some simulation racing. Each 2011 Tactics Seminar participant will go home with Super Squadras acclaimed Tactical Playbook.

Visit www.supersquadra.net for the event flyer, contact information and FAQs.

Schedule of Events
10:30 am Racing Tactics Seminar
Noon Lunch provided by Chipotle
1 pm Racing Tactics Training Ride
4:30 Post Ride Social Hour
Registration details at
www.supersquadra.net

Cost
Tactics Training Seminar: $75
Junior Attendees: $35
For Additional Information
Visit www.supersquadra.net or contact: