AthletiCamps Cycling Coaching, Training Camps, Performance Testing, and Nutrition

AthletiCamps Gift Certificates - Always the right gift!

2009-12-13T09:26:00.000-08:00

A gift certificate from AthletiCamps is the perfect holiday gift for that cycling fanatic friend or family member. We offer a variety of values to fit your budget. Just click on a value, make your payment, and AthletiCamps will contact and send you a customized gift certificate of your choice!

Purchase your gift certificate here....

Mt. Diablo is Conquered

2009-10-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, the Diablo Challenge, otherwise known as the Bay Area World Climbing Championship, took place. For those few of you who don’t know, Mt. Diablo is a 3300 foot climb that takes place over 10.8 miles. It is one of the landmarks of the San Francisco Bay Area. There were approximately 1000 participants in this mass start hillclimb. AthletiCamps athletes did extremely well in this event, taking 3 of the top 5 spots! One of our coaches, Dave Levine, came in 5th with a time of 48:16. In 3rd place was first timer Jonny Moskowitz at 47:22. And, last but not least, Brad Hillebrandt came in 2nd place with a time of 47:15, just 5 seconds away from first place. Congratulations to these athletes and their cycling coaches, Bruce Hendler and Matt Larson, on their outstanding performances.

AthletiCamps' Italian Trip a HUGE Success

2009-09-25T09:03:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps cycling coaches took a small group of 12 to the commune of Laporecchio in the heart of the Tuscon countryside. Our hosts were non other than Andrea and Gloria Tafi. Andrea of course has won such famous races as Paris-Roubaix and Tour of Flanders. The trip was fantastic, every day packed with great rides in the Tuscon hills, the best food, wine and oil and surprises from our famous host around each corner.

We cannot wait to go back next year. if you are interested, please contact Athleticamps to reserve your spot soon. It's already filling up!

2010 Camp Calendar Announced

2009-09-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps has published it's 2010 camp calendar. Our cycling coaches are truly looking forward to a special year with the goal of helping more and more athletes thru a variety of cycling camps and different cycling training plans.

Interview with the Newest Canadian Master's National Champion

2009-08-17T07:27:00.000-07:00

Here is a great interview with Dan Martin, winner of this year's Canadian National Masters Championships. Again, congratulations to Dan for a great effort:

Read the interview here...

Two New NorCal District Cycling Champions!

2009-08-03T06:23:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dave Morton and Eric Fischer. They both won district road championships on the Ft. Ord course this past weekend. Eric had just returned from Cascade and the U23 nationals up in Bend and his victory comes with alot of hard work and help from his Safeway teammates. Dave targeted this race earlier in the year as a major goal towards achieving his upgrade points Again, congrats to both and continued success the rest of the year.

Sattley District TT Course Paved

2009-07-28T19:31:00.000-07:00

Good news for our district, as our time trial course up in Sattley is finally being paved after all these years. The course has been slowly deteriorating for some time now, having major stress cracks. The pavement project goes from Highway 49 to the Plumas county line. After the county line, the road improves.

Great news and motivation for next year.

Kyle Leto Smokes the SF Triathlon with the Big Guns!

2009-07-14T16:21:00.000-07:00

Kyle Leto competed in the San Francisco ITU Pro race, his very first ITU race and finished 5th overall. Kyle was one of the fastest swimmers of the day, 3rd out of the water. He had a fantastic bike and road the entire course with the Olympic gold and silver medalist from the 2000 and 2008 Olympic games respectfully, Simon Whitfield from Canada. Kyle then had a strong on the run, placing 5th over all at the end of the day.

Kyle’s next race will be the Elite National championships, in Tuscaloosa Alabama, August 22, where he will be competing in the 23 and Under Elites category. As a Pro triathlete Kyle is now looking to earn points via his races in order to eventually qualify and compete at races such as Olympic trails, Olympic games, World Championships, etc. He is off to a great start.

Continued success to Kyle!

Dan Martin Wins Canadian National Championships!

2009-07-06T12:29:00.000-07:00

We would like to congratulate Dan Martin (Safeway) on his victory this past weekend at the Canadian National Championships. It's been a long term goal of Dan's to win this particular race and we congratulate him for all his hard work. Continued results over the rest of the season!

Roemer Wins 2009 National Road Championships

2009-07-02T06:13:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Craig Roemer for winning the 2009 Masters Nationals Road Race championships in Kentucky. Craig made the long trek with this goal in mind and came thru. Continued success. All that hard work and sacrifice paid off!

Marisa Asplund Wins Vail Hill Climb!

2009-06-09T09:00:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Marisa Asplund of Durango, CO. as she won the 2009 Vail Hill climb time trial up the 1400+ foot Vail Pass this past weekend. Keep up the good work Marisa!

Auburn Criterium

2009-05-25T18:46:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to Jane Robertson (Metromint) for her victory in the 2009 Auburn Crit. Jane won a sprint of a four person breakaway in an exciting race on a new Auburn course. A great day for racing and a great victory for Jane and her team!

Susan Lannoo Wins Wente!

2009-05-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Susan Lannoo for her win at the Wente Vineyards road race. Susan arrived at the bottom of the last climb with 5 other riders remaining from the 50 original starters and rode away for the win! As a bonus this gave her enough points to move up to Elite 3's. Congrats Susan! All the hard work is paying off.

Dan Martin Loves Cat's HIll

2009-05-04T14:51:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dan Martin (Safeway) for his extraordinary win at this past weekend's Cat's Hill criterium in Los Gatos. Dan won the Pro event in 2007 and now adds the Master's event to his resume!

Pre-riding a Race Course

2009-04-29T18:09:00.000-07:00

It’s a well-known fact that pre-riding a road race course is one the primary to-do’s of race preparation. Knowing the intricacies of the course is one of those things that coaches request their riders do before any race. Having a good understanding of the course you are about to race can give you a competitive advantage that other riders don’t have. For this article, let’s go into more depth about how you can take advantage of your pre-race ride experience in order to translate that into a better race day result...

Read the rest of the article here...

Announcing the AthletiCamps Race School

2009-03-30T16:07:00.000-07:00

Bicycle racing is a difficult and challenging sport. Riders of all abilities who want to be successful in this sport need a diverse package and skills, knowledge and experience to make the most of their individual physical abilities. Most of a rider’s bike racing education is gained “on the bike” and this leaves many learning opportunities to chance along the way. We believe every rider can improve their racing performance more quickly by participating in a “full-immersion” program of race proven techniques and skills. The goal of each weekend Race School Camp is to flatten the learning curve and teach you the skills and techniques you need to be a more effective and successful rider.

With over 75+ years of combined racing and coaching experience, instructors Bruce Hendler (AthletiCamps owner), Kevin Metcalfe (Team Specialized Racing) and Larry Nolan (Team Specialized Racing) have developed a curriculum that will fill your bag of tricks with things that many riders will never learn in all their years of racing.

This is not a racing fitness program, although you will complete many hours of riding that will certainly benefit your conditioning. When you come to the AthletiCamps Racing School you will learn “how to” race your bike to make better use of the fitness you have and will build in the future. Come join us for a truly remarkable and rewarding experience and let us help you become a more successful bike racer.

Sign up here...

Margraf and Safeway Win San Dimas Stage Race

2009-03-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

With an incredible team effort, Mike Margraf (aka Junior) won the San Dimas stage race this past weekend by .29 of a second! Going into the last day, Mike was 18 seconds down and in third place. There were 40 bonus seconds up for grabs in the final crit. Mike and the team worked hard and got the amount they needed to secure the victory.

Just a great effort! Congrats to Mike for his second San Dimas win in 3 years. He obviously likes the race:-)

Preventing Overtraining with Proper Recovery

2009-03-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

I realize it may seem early in the race season to write an overtraining and recovery article. Well, that is exactly why I wanted to approach this important subject. It’s the end of March, a lot of the country is just getting ready to race (except here in California of course) and spirits and motivation are high. This is the optimal time to discuss this all-important topic, so you can prevent it from happening this year and have a long, successful season. For this article, I took a slightly different approach by first asking a coach, Dr. Aldo Sassi of the world-renowned Mapei Center in Milan, for his perspective and advice. We then took the riders perspective with Dario Cioni, our trusted professional, all around good guy, who just happens to work under the guidance of Dr. Sassi...

Read the complete article here....

Berkeley Hills Time Trail - Martin and Margraf Come Out on Top!

2009-03-11T17:11:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Mike Margraf (aka Junior) and Dan Martin for there impressive Berkeley Hill TTT win this past weekend. Mike and Dan took on a lot of impressive Bay Area competition and came out on top. Continued success for both them and the Safeway team as they go into two great stage races over the next couple weekends: Madera and San Dimas.

Also - congrats do Dan for his win at the Merco Crit the weekend before.

The winning continues at AthletiCamps!

Routines and Checklists

2009-02-19T07:38:00.000-08:00

We are always attempting to think of new topics to explore in our articles to help make our readers better bike racers. Most of the time, we are writing about some physical or mental aspect of training, which of course is necessary and important. This time, we wanted to explore something a little more “off the beaten path.”

Read the complete article here...

Attend Camps - Get Upgrade Points!

2009-01-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

Did you know that by attending one of our camps or clinics, you can qualify for upgrade points? The Northern California district of USA Cycling (NCNCA) allows upgrade points for certain categories. Here is a summary:

For Men's category 5's - Five mass start races of the ten needed to upgrade to category 4

For Men's and Women's category 4's - Three points towards your upgrade to category 3

Currently, this only applies to the Northern California district. If you are coming to camp from out of district, we recommend you contact your USA Cycling district representative and tell them how our district allows camps to count towards upgrade points. They may very well do the same thing, since it's something that is under district control. You can contact us for more help.

This applies to all scheduled AND custom camps and clinics

Also - this is retroactive for the past two years. So, if you attended a camp in 2007 or 2008, please contact us for a certificate.

Member of Facebook?

2009-01-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

We've created a new Facebook group and would love for you to join. You must be a member of Facebook, so if you haven't done so, sign up (it's free) at www.facebook.com and do a search in groups for "AthletiCamps".

Facebook Homepage

The 2009 Cycling Season is Here!

2009-01-08T08:26:00.000-08:00

The 2009 spring racing season is fast approaching and motivation is high with the holidays behind us. Racers of all levels are planning their training and racing schedules for the upcoming season. Let’s start off January with a Pro Shop featuring two of our most trusted (and all-around nice guys) resources for training and racing information: Dario Cioni and Burke Swindlehurst. Dario has moved to the new ISD team and will play a different role as the elder statesman of the group. He will now be able to assume the role of mentor and team leader. Burke will enter his 12th year as a professional with Team Bissell and plans to do all the major US races. For this month’s questions, we talked about early peaks and a general training approach to the year. Burke is doing the Tour of California and Dario’s team is currently also trying to get in the race.

Read the complete article here....

January Four Day Camp - Still Time to Register!

2009-01-03T16:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Our first four day camp of the year still has openings. If you were thinking of attending a camp to help your cycling this year, January is a great time to visit. Please visit our website for more information.

January Four Day Testing and Endurance Camp

New Cycling Workshops Scheduled for May and June

2009-01-03T13:49:00.000-08:00

Workshops are back this year! AthletiCamps will be a leading two three-day cycling workshop spread out over a 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.

Click here to see all the details and sign up now.

Congratulations to Linda Rodgers!

2008-12-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-11-26T14:46:00.000-08:00

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

2008-11-15T07:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-10-03T07:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-10-01T18:09:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-05T06:52:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-08-29T07:44:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-29T07:36:00.001-07:00

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

2008-08-28T06:11:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-08-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

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

2008-08-11T15:40:00.000-07:00

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

2008-07-09T15:51:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-07-09T15:28:00.001-07:00

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!

2008-06-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-16T15:29:00.000-07:00

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

2008-06-07T14:44:00.001-07:00

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

2008-06-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-05-24T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2008-05-21T17:01:00.000-07:00

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!

New Article Posted on Website - The Health Benefits of Cycling

2008-04-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-04-14T10:42:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-04-08T07:38:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-27T08:24:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-03-26T08:05:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-17T08:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-02-25T17:32:00.000-08:00

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

2008-02-20T20:21:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-22T20:31:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-11T06:20:00.000-08:00

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...

AthletiCamps - The Perfect Gift!

2007-12-02T16:32:00.000-08:00

Wondering how to spend your hard earned money on your favorite cyclist this holiday season? Why not give them the gift of cycling with AthletiCamps. We have a wide variety of camp, coaching, and performance testing services that will help any cyclist improve in 2008. Contact us for specific information. We would be more than happy to discuss options.

Have a great holiday season,

The AthletiCamps Staff

Weekend Camp Summary - Incredible!

2007-11-05T07:45:00.001-08:00

Sorry we you missed our last weekend camp. Hope you can make the next one scheduled for January '08! Here is a summary of what happened over the two days:

All athletes went thru Performance testing to determine their unique heart rate and power training zones. We do real lactate testing to help determine these numbers. Most books you read and camps you attend use formulas to estimate these important numbers. Not at AthletiCamps - we put each athlete thru physiological testing at EVERY camp.
We were honored to have Dr. Franco Navazio come on Saturday morning. Franco is a valuable resource and helped the athletes understand many medical components that are applied to sport. Thanks again Franco, we look forward to seeing you at the next camp.
Marlia Braun, our Sports Nutritionist gave 1.5 hour presentation on nutrition and sport. The relaxed, open discussion opened alot of athlete's eyes to the importance of nutrition on the bike.

Detailed review of testing results, overview of performance testing benefits, and training. Serves as an introduction to the training rides over the next couple days.

Great training ride on Saturday afternoon, that focused on recovery from hard efforts!

Sunday saw us do a 3 hour ride in the beautiful foothills. Temps were in the high 70's without a drop of wind. We reviewed specific workouts that all athletes could then go home and apply to their training programs.
The final event was an incredible presentation by Dr. Rob Schott, a local cycling/cardiologist. Rob focused on the benefits of a solid exercise program from a doctor's point of view. Needless to say, everyone was fascinated on how that they were learning at camp not only helps their performance, but also helps them live a long, healthy life.

What an incredible weekend of testing, riding, information and great food!

Hope to see you soon!
Bruce, Owner

Transition Camp a Huge Success!

2007-10-18T15:33:00.000-07:00

This year's Transition camp was a great experience for all involved. Here's the Reader's Digest version of a great week:

Day 1 - Meet and greet in the comfortable Rocklin Park Hotel (http://www.rocklinpark.com/), which is our host hotel for all camps.

Day 2 - Performance testing, bike fitting, pedal analysis, and health check at UC Davis Sports Performance. What a great experience for the athletes! A day filled with an incredible amount of information.

Day 3 - 3.5 hour ride in the lower foothills north of Lincoln. Traffic = zero!

Day 4 - 4 hour ride in the foothills towards Auburn and Meadow Vista

Day 5 - 5 hour ride thru the Tahoe National Forest and some of the most incredible scenery in this part of California (see picture below)

Day 6 - Short 2 hour ride with an emphasis on workouts and recovery tips.

Dinners every night at local restuarants that are known bythe locals, as they are hidden away in small foothill towns....Great technical support....Nutrition...Training program development....and a great persentation given by Dr. Rob Schott, a local cardiologist/bike racer, who gave us a presentation on the health benefits of an good cycling training program.

Wow! What a week!

We hope to see you soon!

Only a Couple Spots Remain for the last Weekend Camp of 2007 - November 3rd - 4th

2007-10-16T16:19:00.001-07:00

For those cyclists who have limited time, but who still desire to improve, AthletiCamps offers a number of weekend camps throughout the year. These two-day camps are focused on determining your individual heart rate training zones through a true lactate threshold test. You will gain a clear understanding of what these results mean and learn how to apply them to specific cycling workouts.

Space is limited - Contact AthletiCamps today to sign up!

AthletiCamps Wins the Iowa Hill Time Trail

2007-10-13T15:54:00.000-07:00

Every September, the Iowa Hill time trial dominates the Auburn area cycling scene. Iowa Hill is a small town outside of Colfax in the foothills on the way to Lake Tahoe. The hill that "guards" this small town is like a shark infested moat that surrounds a medival castle: 1.75 miles at 14.5%. There are switchbacks so steep, that when driving up the road in a car, you can't even see over the hood!

This year, Susan Lannoo won the women's division with an incredible time of 16:33! Congrats to Susan. She worked very hard in preparation for the event and looks forward to the challenge again next year.

The Ever Popular Group Ride

2007-09-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

We've posted a new article on the website about taking part in Group Rides and whether they can benefit your training.

Group rides are plentiful, and can easily be found in most locations across the country. In some places during the summer months, you can not only attend rides on a daily basis, but, you’ll have the choice of different “levels” of rides. We at AthletiCamps are frequently asked whether our athletes should join a specific group ride or not.....

Read the rest of the article as well as many more on the AthletiCamps website.

AthletiCamps Takes 1-2 at the Mt. Tam Hill Climb

2007-09-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps' athletes Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) and Maria Monica (Touchstone) took 1-2 in the Women's Pro 1-2 race this past Sunday at Mt. Tam in Marin County. Congratualtions to both for their fine efforts and success this past season.

Jane Robertson Wins Giro di San Francisco!

2007-09-04T14:04:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jane for her victory at the Giro (Pro 1, 2) this past Monday, Sept 3rd. A NorCal racing tradition, the Giro is one of the top races of the year. What a great way to end the season! Again congrats to both Jane and her Metromint team.

The Complete Athlete - Identifying Your Weaknesses

2007-08-21T08:01:00.000-07:00

In Part 1 of thise series, we defined the many elements of being a successful athlete and called them the “Essential Ingredients.” Now that those elements have been presented, we can address the other side of the equation; identifying your weaknesses or “limiters.”

Read the complete article here....

AthletiCamps Makes the NY Times!

2007-08-19T13:27:00.000-07:00

Nice to see that AthletiCamps made the cut in the monthly New York Times magazine called "Play." A writer for the Times called us about 6 weeks ago while investigating a story and he then went on to list AthletiCamps as one of 4 possible camp destinations. We are honored!

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/sports/playmagazine/0819play-master-side.html

AthletiCamps Adds Two More Performance Tours for 2007

2007-08-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps added two more Performance Tours for 2007. The first will be October 4th - 7th; the second on November 8th - 11th. Performance Touring targets individuals who want more of a cycling challenge than the typical luxury cycling tour can offer. Rides are designed to help bring you to a higher level of cycling proficiency, ranging from 50 - 100 miles per day, with proportional amounts of elevation gain. Participants can obtain feedback on their riding technique, and will be provided with the included on and off bike informal coaching sessions. An experienced coach will be able to further assist you by creating an individually tailored training program should you wish to continue your improvement upon your return home.

For more information about our Performance Tours visit:

http://www.athleticamps.com/cycling/performance_touring/scheduled_cycling_tours/

AthletiCamps Takes Home 3 More Championships

2007-07-29T06:14:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps athletes Monica Neilson (Velo Bella), Jane Robertson (Metromint), and Dan Martin (Safeway) won their respective age groups at the NorCal Masters District Road Championships in Diamond Valley, CA. on Sat, July 28th. Congratulations for their fine efforts as they wear the jersey proud for the upcoming year.

Jane Robertson Wins at Superweek!

2007-07-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Jane won the Point Beer Tour of Alpine Valley Road Race in East Troy, Wisconsin. Overall, Jane took 6th overall in the week long historic event for Pro, 1, 2 women. She also helped her team mate finish 2nd overall for the week. A great week for Jane, a great week for her team (Metromint.)

The Complete Athlete - Essential Ingredients

2007-07-16T12:29:00.000-07:00

As I’ve watched the Tour this past week, I watch these pros in amazement and notice there are many elements that go into being successful in cycling. Because of the nature and number of elements of success, training becomes an inexact science and can sometimes seem more like an art. Over the next few articles we are going to attempt to simplify this rather complex science into usable information that can be applied to your training strategy. In this first article, we will identify the key elements essential to succeed in bike racing. These are referred to as the “Essential Ingredients.” In upcoming articles we will help you identify your weaknesses or “Limiters,” so that you can focus your training on specific areas which will make you a more complete bike racer and better your chances of winning.

Read the rest of this article:

http://www.athleticamps.com/cycling/coaching/id0041/

AthletiCamps at Sharp Bicycles in Lafayette - July 28th

2007-06-30T14:56:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps will be at Sharp Bicycle in Lafayette, CA on Saturday, July 29th to perform lactate testing. Performance testing is the optimal method to determine proper heart rate and power training zones, based on your unique physiology. Call or email us if you have any questions. We would be happy to discuss this process that has benefited so many of our athletes and led them to improvement on the bike.

www.athleticamps.com

Showing Off Our New Kit!

2007-06-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

We rode 45 miles uphill from Auburn to Robinson Flat at 7000ft, just to take this picture of our new kit with this incredible view of the Sierras behind us! And THAT is what is so amazing about this area and why we hold our camps and performance tours here. Who needs France! Come join us and also learn something that will help improve your cycling, no matter what your level or goal.

RAAM has Started!

2007-06-13T05:51:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps is the official training resource for Team Donate Life, whom has entered 4 teams into this year's Race Across America (RAAM). Their primary purpose is to create awareness for organ donation. Check out the RAAM site for online updates and information about all competitors. Best of luck in this unique event:

http://www.raceacrossamerica.org/

You can also check out the TDL website:

http://www.teamdonatelife.com/index.php

Winning Update

2007-06-11T15:14:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps athletes have been busy winning the last few weeks. We congratulate all of them for their hard work and effort:

Clark Foy (San Jose Bike Club) - 1st, Pescadaro RR (Cat 4). Congrats to Clark, as this completes his needed upgrade points to become a Cat 3.

Sarah Bamberger (Cheerwine) - 1st, Pescadaro RR (Women's Pro 1,2)

Dan Martin (Safeway) - 1st, Mt Hamilton (Masters 35+); 1st, Mt Hood Stage Race (Master's 35+)

Camp Alert: Upcoming June 21st Camp Still has 2 Spots Available

2007-06-06T16:30:00.001-07:00

There are still a couple spots available for the June 21-24th camp in Rocklin. Performance testing at UC Davis Sports Performance Lab is first on the agenda, followed by coaching and great training in the foothills. Contact AthletiCamps for more information at:

info@athleticamps.com

Hope to see you there!

Wow!! Way to Go Dan Martin!

2007-05-07T08:11:00.000-07:00

Alot of people would have called Dan's victory at the historic Cat's Hill criterium (Pro,1,2) this past weekend an upset. It was no upset. Dan works hard, plans his season with great detail and tracks his progress with regular performance testing. That is why to those who know and work with him, it was no upset. Congrats Dan on a victory that makes it all worthwhile. You deserve it!

Camp Alert: Two spots remain for this week's 4 day camp

2007-05-04T10:23:00.000-07:00

While climbing one of the many hills at a recent 4 day camp, one of the athletes remarked, "I love the climbs in this area!". I responded with "And what do you like about them?" He responded, "They are the perfect length to improve my climbing skills and the view at the top of the Sierras!!"

Only a couple spots remain to be able to climb in the foothills for next week's 4 day camp starting Thursday May 10th. We begin the camp with performance testing, bike fitting and medical assessment at UC Davis Sports Performance. If you wish to sign up, email or call AthletiCamps:

info@athleticamps.com
1-866- 370-6516

Hope to climb with you next week!
Bruce

Congratulations to Jane Robertson (again)!

2007-05-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Jane (Metromint) picked up her second victory of the year in Sunday's road race of the Madera Stage Race(Cat 1,2,Pro) this past weekend. That victory gave her 2nd place in the overall G.C. Great job Jane!

Performance Testing for Effective Training by Corey Hart M.S.

2007-05-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Assessments are an integral component of a well-designed training program. They can also be used to systematically track physiological changes over a period of time and make comparisons relative to the cyclist’s competitive group. Perhaps the most important purpose of assessments are to prevent overtraining and provide direction for a future training program.

Read the rest of the article here....

Dan Martin Wins La Vuelta de Bisbee

2007-04-30T08:38:00.000-07:00

Dan Martin convincingly won the La Vuelta de Bisbee this past weekend by a 1'+ margin over his nearest competition. After winning the first stage, Dan and his teammates controlled the race and took home the overall on Sunday afternoon. Congratulations to Dan and it's on to the Tour of the Gila in New Mexico!

Another 2007 Wente Winner!

2007-04-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Nick Agate for winning the Wente RR (Cat3) this past weekend. Nick has been working with AthletiCamps for 8 months and his hard work has paid off! Continued success to Nick the rest of the season.

Want to work with AthletiCamps to improve your ability to win races? Contact us at www.athleticamps.com

And the Winning Continues - Clark Foy Wins Wente RR!

2007-04-22T20:51:00.000-07:00

Clark Foy added yet another win for AthletiCamps athletes, winning the 2007 edition of the Wente RR (Masters 35+ Cat 4,5) this past Saturday. Congrats to Clark and his San Jose Bike Club teammates.

Contact AthletiCamps if you are interested in improving your race results or any aspect of your cycling.

More Victories for AthletiCamps Athletes

2007-04-07T16:24:00.000-07:00

Congratulations are in order for three AthletiCamps athletes over the past two weekends. Their hard work and dedication continues to pay off:

Renee Ridgely (picture) - 1st place overall omnium (Elite 20-29) at the Nova Nationals in Arizona.

Corey Brand - 1st place - Hell of the North (Cat 5), Salt Lake City, Utah.

Jane Robertson - 1st place - Copperopolis RR (Women's 30+) - Milton, CA.

Recovery: One of the Basics of a Successful Training Program

2007-04-02T20:32:00.000-07:00

We've posted a new article on recovering from races and hard training efforts. Written for AthletiCamps and PezCycling News, you can view the article here:

Recovery Article

Congratulations to Dan Lam!

2007-04-02T06:28:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Dan Lam for his victory at the Rhonde Van Brisbeen Crit this weekend, as well as winning the overall omnium! One of Dan's goals was to move up to Cat 3 this season. Well, it didn't take long! It just shows that hard work and dedication pay off. Continued future success to Dan this season!

Camp Alert: Upcoming Four Day Camps Are Almost Full

2007-03-30T06:37:00.000-07:00

If you are thinking about attending one of upcoming four day camps, they are filling up quickly and urge you to sign up soon. Dates for those camps are:

May 10-13th, 2007

June 21-24th, 2007

Four day camps are a great way to take part in performance testing, learn to utilize those results on the road, and enjoy some GREAT riding in the foothills of NorCal.

URL - AthletiCamps Four Day Camps

Roemer Wins Santa Rosa Crit

2007-03-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Craig Roemer for winning the Pro 1-2 Santa Rosa Crit this past Saturday, March 24. Craig lapped the field in a break and proceeded to win the race. Thanks Craig for another AthletiCamps athlete victory!

AthletiCamps (almost) in New York

2007-03-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

AthletiCamps will be at the Bicycle Workshop (http://www.bicycleworkshop.com/) in Tenefly, NJ from May 23-30th to do performance testing, clinics, coaching and mini-camps. If you are in the area and interested contact the Bicycle Workshop or AthletiCamps to schedule an appointment. This is our third year in the area and each trip gets better and better!

Who is this Person (on the right)?

2007-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

We ran (or rode) into this person at the Sacramento stage of the Tour of California? Anyone know who this is and what he does now for a living? I'll give you a hint in that he was voted one of the top 50 cyclists of all time....

2007 Victories Continue where 2006 Left Off

2007-03-02T17:23:00.000-08:00

Last year, AthletiCamps athletes logged over 45 wins and many podium finishes in bike races around the country. In this young season, we already have put up 6 victories. Congrats to all of our athletes for their hard work, dedication, and believing in this unique and successful program. AthletiCamps not only teaches you how to train and physically takes you to the next level, but also teaches you what it takes and how to win!

Making the Winning Break

2007-03-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

We've posted a new article on the website written for AthletiCamps and Pezcycling news. Making the winning break in bike racing can be a very difficult chore. I took a subject with infinite possiblities and condensed it into some major points. Special thanks to my old friend Kevin Metcalfe (picture) and Dan Martin (coached) for helping me out with some good info. Here is the link:

Making the Winning Break

AthletiCamps at the Tour of California

2007-03-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

AthletiCamps was involved in this year's Tour of California in a big way. About 2 weeks before the event was to come into Sacramento, I was just planning on going and watching the race. Then, about a week before the race, the Sacramento Bee called to interview me for an article. That started a chain reaction which led me to working for the local KCRA - Channel 3 station by doing live interviews about the race and a 2 hour live webcast with one of their anchors. It was a blast...being right there...interviews great names in cycling. Next year will be even better and we are planning on doing a camp that corresponds with the race.

On another side note, AthletiCamps (Dr. Testa - Director of Coaching) coaches both Levi and Ivan Dominguez...Levi of course, won the overall and Ivan won the last stage.

AthletiCamps Blog

2006-07-03T21:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the AthletiCamps Blog...We are just getting started, so put this in your favorites list and check back often!