Congratulations to Linda Rodgers!

We want to congratulate Linda Rodgers of Auburn on her record setting win at the Arizona Ironman this fall. Not only did she set a course record, she won her age group and qualified for Kona, the dream of every Ironman athlete. Congrats Linda on all your hard work - you deserve it!

Congratulations to Cedric Henley!

Cedric Henley decided to get back in shape this year after a long layoff from training and competition. Well, it didn't take long for him to win his first race, the Turkey Cross cyclecross race in Irvine, CA. Congratulations to Cedric, all your hard work and dedication is paying off.

Weight Control Tips for the Winter

One thing is for sure, a lot of bike racers are concerned about weight control during the fall and winter months.  Cyclists seem to work extremely hard during the season to control their weight. One of their biggest fears is they add extra weight which in turn becomes detrimental to their ability to regain a high level of fitness going into next season. Make no mistake about it; keeping the pounds (or kilos) off in the next 3-4 months is no easy task.  Here are a few weight control tips to utilize as you go into the winter months and those oh so dangerous holidays!

Read on.....

Post-Season Homework

Staying with the theme of homework assignments, let’s discuss what immediate post race season tasks you can do with the goal of improving your overall performance in 2009. In general, there are two aspects of your review: looking back at this past season and looking forward to the next. The review should not be limited to the physical training of the sport. The non-racing season (versus calling it the off-season) is an excellent time to regroup and work on the elements of your game that are lacking. I use the term “non-race”, because as endurance athletes, the non-race season can be just as important as the race season. A lot of productive work can and should be done when racing and recovering is not the primary focus of your program. Here are a few of the many different elements you evaluate and plan for the upcoming months.....

Read the article here....

Grenier Takes the Gold in North Carolina!

Congratulations to Brian Grenier for his win this past weekend at the North Carolina 40K District TT Championships.  This was Brian's primary goal for the 2008 season.   His hard work and dedication paid off.  Congratulations again to Brian and continued success!

2009 Camp Calendar Announced

We've announced the dates for our 2009 camps. Going into our 8th year, we continue to provide all athletes with the highest quality camps and coaching available today. Check out our 2009 camp schedule or browse our website for coaching, nutrition or performance testing services. 

Click here...

Post-Race Homework

The last article we focused on what pre-race “homework” you can do to best prepare for your races. Successful bike racers try to find any type of advantage, however small it may be, to get a competitive advantage over their adversaries. That’s what makes bike racing so unique, in that you don’t necessarily have to be the fittest athlete in the peloton, but a combination of fitness and smarts will put you in position to win time and time again. In this article, the race is over and we will address the types of things you can do after the race to help you and your team get that competitive advantage for future events.

Read the complete article here....

More Upgrades!

Congratulations to both Ron Fritzke - Synergy-Taleo (Elite 3) and Mike Vetterli - Olympic Club (Elite 2) for their recent upgrades in category. Both had specific goals this year. Hard work, dedication and a specific plan got them there. Continued success this year and beyond!

Training Talk Series - Victory Velo (Auburn, CA.) - September 24th, 6:30 PM

AthletiCamps will be giving a training talk series at Victory Velo, one of Auburn’s most popular bike shops. The focus of the first talk will be “Performance Testing and Training.” The focus will be on what athletes can do to prepare for the 2009 season during the winter months. Contact Victory Velo (1-530-885-3986) or AthletiCamps for more information.

Performance Testing in Multiple Locations

Athletes can now get performance tested by AthletiCamps in multiple locations around the country. Our services are available in Rocklin, CA, Orinda, CA and Teaneck, NJ, just outside New York City at the Third Nature bike shop. Please contact us to set up an appointment or for a free consultation as to how performance testing can help you become a better cyclist

Another Good Weekend for AthletiCamps!

This weekend at the University Road Race in Santa Cruz, Susan Lannoo (AthletiCamps) won the Women's Elite 4 race. Congratulations to Susan on an impressive effort. Ron Fritzke (Synergy-Taleo) finished 2nd in his race (Masters 35+ 4/5), which gives him the points needed to upgrade to Elite 3's. This is Ron's first year bike racing and his improvement has been nothing short of spectacular. Congratulations to all our athletes, as their hard work and dedication show every week!

Roemer Owns the Pursuit and Esparto

A big congratulations to Craig Roemer (Team Specialized Racing) for his success this past weekend. Craig won the Northern Cal Master 40-44 district pursuit, while also qualifying for Elite National Track Championships.

He then followed that up the next day with a win at the Esparto ITT, the second event in the California Cup year-end series.

Continued success the rest of the season!

Pre-race Homework

Races are won on many different levels. It’s not just the winning move or the perfect team tactics on the last lap that contribute to a win. It’s the preparation at all levels, ranging from proper nutrition to an effective training plan, that win races. In this article we will specifically address pre-race tactical preparation. We ask our contributing top Masters racers, Dan Martin (VOS Racing) and Kevin Metcalfe (Team Specialized Racing) how they prepare and execute prior to a race to give them the best opportunity for a successful result.

Read the article here....

When You're Hot, You're Hot!

Congratulations to Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) on her win at the NorCal District Crit Championships this past Sunday in Vacaville. Sarah has been on quite a streak lately, winning the Pescadaro RR, Nevada City Classic, Tour de Nez, and now the District Crit Championships! Sarah proves that winning can actually become a habit! Congrats to her and continued success this season.

Nevada City - 2 Wins for AthletiCamps!

The Nevada City Classic is one of the most difficult races in the US. This year's 48th edition of the race saw two of our athletes win their categories. Congratulations to Dan Martin (VOS Racing - Masters 35+) and Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine -Woman's Pro, 1,2). They both won in style, soloing to the victory and coming down Broad street alone and enjoying the moment.

Upgrade News - Congratulations to Reed Maxwell

AthletiCamps would like to congratulate Reed Maxwell (Wells Fargo Racing Team) for his upgrade to Cat 2's. Reed did it in style by winning the Livermore Criterium this past Saturday. Alot of hard work and dedication went into this win which gave Reed the point total he needed to make the leap in category. Continued success to Reed the rest of the year!

Upgrade News - Congratulations to Ken Todd

AthletiCamps would like to congratulate Ken Todd (Specialized-Sierra Nevada) for his upgrade to Cat 3's. This has been a primary goal for Ken this season and we are proud of all his hard work and dedication. Continued success Ken, as you climb the ranks!

New Article Posted on Website - Working with Junior Athletes

For this edition of Pro Shop, we’re dedicating it to junior bike racers and their parents. We are very fortunate to talk with Dr. Aldo Sassi, director of the prestigious Mapei Training Center in Milan, who has worked with thousands of younger athletes through his career. Italians have a different approach to developing cyclists with a strong emphasis on working with younger riders. Dr. Sassi has been at the forefront of training these athletes since 1982. We also spoke with retired professional Roy Knickman, whose impressive resume includes multiple junior and senior national championships, a successful Domestic and European professional career, and a former US National Road Coach for both Juniors and Seniors.

Read the rest of the article here...

Congratulations to Steve Reid!

Congratulations goes out to one of our athlete's up north of the border  in Canada!  Steve captured a double in one weekend by first winning the 90K Bikes on Broadway road stage in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (welcome to Canada!)  This also allowed him to get his upgrade to Cat 3.  Yes, they do race bikes that far north and they are huge bike race fans.  We admire Steve's dedication and wish him continued success this season.

Three Steps to Better Cycling - June Workshop

AthletiCamps  will be leading a cycling workshop spread out over three dates that will teach athletes of ALL levels to train smarter.  Participants will learn their true lactate threshold, heart rate and power training zones and how to apply them to their riding during two on-bike instruction training sessions. 

Step 1 – Performance Test

Prior to the first training session date, sign-up for a private performance test with Bruce at a time that is convenient for you and your schedule.  This specific 30-minute test is one of the most powerful tools available to athletes today to help them focus and improve their cycling, leading to more enjoyment on the bike!  Your test will provide you with the information needed to ride smarter, including your true heart rate training zones.

Step 2 – Training Session #1 - Flat Terrain– 6:00 PM- Flower Farm (Loomis)

This two-hour on-the-bike training session will utilize specific data from your performance test to help you train more effectively on the flats.  Specific tips concerning intensity levels, cadences, and quantity of training will be discussed. 

Step 3 – Training Session #2- Hills – 6:00 PM – Flour Garden (Auburn)

This two-hour on-the-bike training session will also utilize specific data from your performance test to help you train more effectively in the hills.  Specific tips about climbing cadence and technique will be discussed that will allow you to leave this session with a clear understanding needed to become a better climber!

Sign up here...

New Article Posted on Website - The Health Benefits of Cycling

Most frequently, coaches write about training and racing on a bike with the goal of improving an athlete’s performance.  Improving performance on the bike is why we dedicate so much time and sacrifice so much of our busy lives.  Performance improvement is very important and requires an immense amount of time, patience, and effort to attain.  But is it the only reason we ride and train? 

Read on....

Madera Stage Race - Congratulations!

We want to extend our congratulations to both Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) and Jane Robertson (Metromint) on their fine performances this past weekend.  Sarah won the criterium and Jane took 3rd overall in this classic Northern California Stage Race. Continued success in 2008 to all our athletes!

Roemer Takes Santa Cruz!

Congratulations to Craig Roemer (Team Specialized Racing) for winning the Santa Cruz criterium this weekend. Craig has a knack for winning some of the big races here in NorCal. Alot of hard work,  smart racing and good team tactics contributed to his success. Good job Craig and continued success this year!

New Pro Shop Article Posted

One of the great things about being a bike racer is you can compete in a variety of race types at any given time of the season. At all levels, the race schedule is filled with one-day races, shorter and longer stage races and, if you are a professional, the ultimate in racing, three-week grand tours. How should you adjust your training to be best prepared for these different race styles? To help us tackle this question, we asked our old friends Dario Cioni (Silence-Lotto) and Aaron Olsen (Team Bissell) some specific questions about how they focus their training for different types of races. We also asked them how they track their fitness progress through the season and year-to-year.

Read the complete article here...

Workshops Added this Summer!

AthletiCamps has added a new service this summer, Three Step Cycling Workshops. Geared towards any level of rider, the only qualifications are owning a bike, a heart rate monitor, and a desire to improve. This unique service is offered over 3 different dates and utilizes performance testing as a key starting point with 2 follow-up on the bike cycling sessions. Sign up today!

Check out the Workshops here....

Copperopolis - The Harder the Race, the Better Our Results

Copperopolis is one of Northern California's most difficult races. And again, we at AthletiCamps wish to congratulate our athletes for their fine accomplishments this past weekend. Our athletes again proved that hard work, dedication and a belief in our program leads to results!

Jane Robertson defended her title and again won the Master 35+ women's event. Ron Fritzke took 3rd in his Master's event. Dave Levine captured 4th n the Cat 3's and Ken Todd took 7th in the Cat 4's.

AthletiCamps Scores Big at Bariani Road Race

We at AthletiCamps wish to congratulate our athletes on their outstanding performances at the Zamora Road Race on 3/17/08. In the Cat 3 race, 3 of the top 6 finishers were AthletiCamps-coached athletes. In the Masters 35+ 1,2,3 race, 2 of the top 5 finishers were AthletiCamps-coached athletes. We wish to acknowledge these outstanding results. We know how much hard work and
dedication went into your achievements. Good job!

Defying Gravity - Visiting with two great climbers

We've posted a new Pro Shop article on our website in which we ask Chechu Rubiera Team Astana) and Burke Swindlehurst (Team Bissell) some questions about how they approach climbing in their training program.

Read the complete article here....

Our Next Camp: 2/28 - 3/2

There are still a few spaces available for our next 4 day Performance Testing camp. What a great time to get a benchmark fitness level with physiological testing at UC Davis.

Contact us now to sign up!

There's Still Time!

There is still time and a few spots available for our first 4 day camp of the year, starting on Thursday, January 31st.  First stop will be UC Davis Sports Performance, where each athlete will go thrua complete physiological testing assessment.  A great way to start your season, no matter what your goals!

Please contact us at info@athleticamps.com to reserve your space.

Pro Shop - Back to Business in 2008!

Happy New Year! The holidays are history and many riders are back to business in full swing with their 2008 training plan.  It’s time to fire up the first Pro Shop of the 2008 season and ask Dario Cioni (Silence-Lotto) and Aaron Olsen (Bissell) some questions about their early season training.  We can then analyze their responses and see what type of good information we learn from these two experienced pros.

Read the complete article here...