I just got promo email from the Velogirls about their classes. I've taken two, and even though I've been riding forever I got a lot out of them, and they were fun. I really learned a bunch in the Climbing & Descending class. I'm still not a rocket, but my speed in corners and comfort level have gone up dramatically.

Anyway, they have a new series coming up, and I know some of you crashers and mashers need to take them. I'm posting for my own safety as much as yours. I'll bet you're thinking "Not me," but you're wrong:

http://www.velogirls.com/

Bike Skills 101 - Individual Bike Handling Skills: 8/17 (women), 8/17 (men), 10/26 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 102 - Mountain Bike Skills: 9/13 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 103 - Cyclocross Skills: 9/13 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 201 - Climbing & Descending: 9/21 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 301 - Group Riding Skills: 9/20 (co-ed)
Girls Got Skills - 2-day Women's Cycling Clinic: 9/6-7

Anyone have the agenda for the Mountain Bike Skills class? (there is no info on their web site)

I stink at technical riding and wouldn't mind some instruction.

I really wanted to do the climbing and descending clinic, but I am driving back to SoCal on the 20th or 21st. :(

UD
I just got promo email from the Velogirls about their classes. I've taken two, and even though I've been riding forever I got a lot out of them, and they were fun. I really learned a bunch in the Climbing & Descending class. I'm still not a rocket, but my speed in corners and comfort level have gone up dramatically.

Anyway, they have a new series coming up, and I know some of you crashers and mashers need to take them. I'm posting for my own safety as much as yours. I'll bet you're thinking "Not me," but you're wrong:

http://www.velogirls.com/

Bike Skills 101 - Individual Bike Handling Skills: 8/17 (women), 8/17 (men), 10/26 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 102 - Mountain Bike Skills: 9/13 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 103 - Cyclocross Skills: 9/13 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 201 - Climbing & Descending: 9/21 (co-ed)
Bike Skills 301 - Group Riding Skills: 9/20 (co-ed)
Girls Got Skills - 2-day Women's Cycling Clinic: 9/6-7

Group riding ... hmmm ... I wonder if that has to do with socializing in a group ... or does it mean pack riding? :D

I really wanted to do the climbing and descending clinic, but I am driving back to SoCal on the 20th or 21st. :(

UD

That's funny I am in almost EXACTLY the same boat as you... going back to LA ~aug 25. Are you going to school there also?

That's funny I am in almost EXACTLY the same boat as you... going back to LA ~aug 25. Are you going to school there also?

Yeah, UCI.

UD

Yeah, UCI.

UD

Cool, I go to Occidental in LA. Don't usually make it down to OC to ride, but do on occasion. some nice places (though Irvine itself isn't my favorite ;))

Cool, I go to Occidental in LA. Don't usually make it down to OC to ride, but do on occasion. some nice places (though Irvine itself isn't my favorite ;))

Not my favorite either. heh. I am going to miss working in Downtown San Jose. :cry:

Hmm, 9/13 CX skills class... could be interesting.

Hey, Kster! I noticed you just registered. Anyways, no outline for the clinic at this point. My co-coach and I are developing an all-new clinic. It will be all skills all the time, along with some good resource info for you to take home. It'll be good, I promise.

Cross skills is a great clinic. And I have to say, once I started mtn biking (after I'd already been racing cross for a couple of years), I realized that I could use my cyclocross skills on the mtn bike too, especially the mounts & dismounts.

Hey Spin! I can teach you how to socialize if you'd like......but what we focus on in this clinic is pack and paceline riding, starting from the basics of draft theory, 2-person group riding, holding a wheel, communication, various forms of pacelines, etc. Good stuff.

Hey, Kster! I noticed you just registered. Anyways, no outline for the clinic at this point. My co-coach and I are developing an all-new clinic. It will be all skills all the time, along with some good resource info for you to take home. It'll be good, I promise.

Yup, I've already registered Lorri. I have a roadie background so any help with technical riding on a mountain bike would be helpful. I really have a tough time with:
- going over obstacles when climbing
- riding though very tight switchbacks

Thanks.

Kster, I came from a roadie background, too. Interestingly enough, improving your mtn bike skills will also make you a much better road rider. The skills are all essentially the same, but we can get away with being sloppy on the road.

We'll definitely work on various types of climbs & descents (balance and weight distribution) along with switchbacks (up & down).

I look forward to working with you.

Lorri

Lorri, can you also cover bunnyhopping in the mtb clinic? Thanks.

Hey Spin! I can teach you how to socialize if you'd like......but what we focus on in this clinic is pack and paceline riding, starting from the basics of draft theory, 2-person group riding, holding a wheel, communication, various forms of pacelines, etc. Good stuff.

Cool. I've always wanted to get into a nice paceline, but usually ended up uncoordinated. I'll have to check my schedule to see if it conflicts with the Lighthouse Century or not.

I figured it was on pack and pacelining ... some say I socialize more than ride. :D

Cross skills is a great clinic. And I have to say, once I started mtn biking (after I'd already been racing cross for a couple of years), I realized that I could use my cyclocross skills on the mtn bike too, especially the mounts & dismounts.

True, true. One of my biggest revelations for mountain biking this season.... lower my tire pressure, use to run 35-40psi, now am doing much better with 20-25psi. Same for my road bike, use to run 110/120, now run 90/100.

Besides skills, do you cover training regimens?

yes, to bunny-hopping. we also sometimes teach this in our road clinics.

Lighthouse is the 27th this year & the group riding clinic is the week before on the 20th.

Blast, you are correct regarding stability and not over-inflating your tires. Again, from the roadie (140psi) background, it took me a long time to adapt to lower psi for cross, mountain, and road. We don't cover training in the 4-hour clinics, but I'm happy to put a training-specific lecture/seminar on the calendar for the fall.

Hmm ... in class with a bunch of hawt chicks ...... I don't think I'm gonna learn anything. :rolleyes:

Hmm ... in class with a bunch of hawt chicks ...... I don't think I'm gonna learn anything. :rolleyes:

Just bring Lisa ... that'll solve that problem. :lol:

But that would defeat the purpose of going to a class full of hawt chicks!

Just signed up for the Oct.17th 101 class. Anyone else?

Just signed up for the Oct.17th 101 class. Anyone else?

signing up Cathy (my wife) for one as soon as I get cash. My goal this year is to get her to do a NorCal ride...Keep up and not be a scaredy cat!
Pete

Hey that's my goal too :p
Keep up and not be a scaredy cat!
Pete

decided to do the one on the 17th since I'll be in LA for the rest

Hey Folks. I've been lurking around this board for 6 months but I guess its time to lurk no more. I've heard good things about these sessions around here so I just signed up for the Aug 17th version. Maybe I'll get to meet some of you.

right on! I look forward to meeting and riding with all of you.

just an fyi:

Bike Skills 101 (women) -- Aug 17th -- only 8 spots left
Bike Skills 101 (men) -- Aug 17th -- only 10 spots left
Bike Skills 201 (co-ed) -- Sept 21st -- only 8 spots left
Bike Skills 301 (co-ed) -- Sept 20th -- 17 spots left

I anticipate that all of these classes will fill so if you want to participate, register soon.

https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=351

Hi Lorri,
Are there two separate classes on Aug.17th? If they are, who's going to be teaching the classes?

Hey Rice! The women's class is from 8-12 and the men's class is from 1-5. I'll be the primary coach for both of them.

Lorri

Lorri:

How many people are in a class usually?

no more than 20.

Hey everybody! We've still got a few more clinics on the calendar for this fall:

9/20 -- Bike Skills 301 -- Group Riding
9/21 -- Bike Skills 201 -- Climbing & Descending -- SOLD OUT!
10/26 -- Bike Skills 101 -- Individual Bike Handling Skills
11/08 -- Bike Skills 201 -- Climbing & Descending

All of these are co-ed clinics. Registration here:

https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=351

Last update of the year. Our next series of clinics will likely be in March 2009 (after the rainy season, I hope).

11/8 -- Bike Skills 201 -- Climbing & Descending -- (co-ed) -- morning session sold out. afternoon session is half full
11/15 -- Bike Skills 301 -- Group Riding & Pacelining (co-ed) -- morning session is half full

On-line registration here:

https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=351 (https://www.sportsbaseonline.com/Series.aspx?id=351)

I'm interested in the Descending clinic. As of now, some people say the weather does not look for that weekend. So, what will happen if it's wet? Will be clinic be postponed to another weekend?

Hi Mudworm! I've been keeping a careful eye on the forecast. Given the nature of the clinic, we will cancel in heavy rain and reschedule to another weekend.