[ED] – Want to get fit for summer or learn to ride better, then you might be interested in the blurb below from Vikings Cycling.
John Armstrong, Sian Mulholland, Glenn Doney: These are the most respected coaches in the region, and we’ve got them ALL involved with this years novice program. Add to this MalAdjusted, Simon Scarano (Thialtra) and Michael Hanslip, and we’ve got just about the best lineup possible to introduce you to road cycling in Canberra!
The 2007 Novice Program will run for 8 weeks from the last week in September leading into the Summer Criterium Series. Last year’s program was hugely successful. Many participants formed teams during the criterium season, and others (who had never ridden in a bunch before the program!) have since gone on to becoming regulars at club events, and several even raced in this year’s Canberra Tour.
It’s a great pathway for novice adults to get into cycling and we will equip you with all the skills, information and confidence you need to tackle a bike race.
We expect huge demand for this year’s program, however places will be limited. If you or anyone you know may be interested in participating, please send your name and contact details to Lyndsey. We’ll be keeping interested participants updated as further details are organised.
What you get:
Weekly coached session with supercoach John Armstrong (“JA”), covering everything from bunch riding to race team tactics.
Bonus morning session especially for women, taken by Sian Mulholland.
3. Weekly evening info sessions covering:
? bike fit (MalAdjusted);
? injury prevention/stretching (Simon Scarano/Thialtra);
? smart training and eating (Glenn Doney);
? pathways in cycling for women (Sian Mulholland);
? Q&A on Canberra cycling and racing (with club members and novice graduates from last year).
A 2-3 hour bike maintenance course on a Saturday with Michael Hanslip, covering everything from changing a tyre to adjusting gears.
A full Cycling Australia racing licence till the end of 2008 and membership of the Vikings: this is the cheapest way to get a licence.
What it costs:
We’re still finalising costs for this year, but it will be something in the order of $150. This will cover everything, including your 2008 racing licence. This price will be cheaper for those who already have a CA licence and for some women who are eligible for a Cycling Australia VIP licence.
Who’s it for:
The novice program is for men and women who want to race in the Summer criterium series at Stromlo. You don’t need to start with any great fitness or skill, but it does help if you are reasonably comfortable on your bike (eg. not too wobbly). The Vikings Cycling Club puts its emphasis on friendly competition, paricipation and responsibility, and participants are expected to assume these values.
After the program:
At the completion of the program you’ll be equipped with all the social contacts, knowledge and skills to enter into any club events. However, unlike some introductory programs we don’t leave you there if you want more. In fact the Novice Program is just the first step in our pathway into road cycling which can take you as far as you are interested in going.
1. After the program we’ll form some criterium teams for those who are interested. Last year we formed the Thialtra and ANUgreen cycling teams, and Thialtra actually topped the team points table for some weeks.
2. Throughout the season we run a Criterium intervals session one morning per week at the Stromlo circuit. This is a great way to meet other riders, get your skills up further, practice your tactics and improve your sprinting. The sessions are designed to be fun as well as being a good workout, and the drills are suitable for riders of a range of abilities.
3. If you’re still feeling keen after the criterium season, we’ll be running a 10 week training program for the Canberra Tour stage race. We had a great level of participation in this in 2007, with practically the whole women’s C grade field being involved.
4. The final step, for those that have decided that both cycling and the Vikings are for them is to get involved in the club squad. The squad encompasses the club philosophy of good sportsmanship, friendly competition and participation, rather than having a focus on results. The squad was formed to show that friendliness and personal performance are perfectly compatible ideals.
Pass the word around and tell any potentials to check out the latest info on the TVCC novice page (www.vikingscycling.org.au/novice) and join the novice email list. A bit of a summary of last year’s program and some participant comments can be found here: http://www.vikingscycling.org.au/features/?IntContId=904&IntCatId=27.
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