Get your 2011 started! From the Dean

From the Dean...

Are you on track for a great 2011?

How do you decide what your goals are? How do you decide what to prioritize? How do you get more energy to tackle your goals once you set them? Do you want to get past what has stopped you in the past? Are you tired of getting dropped and not reaching your goals? If you answer yes to any of these, it is time for Advanced Focus and Motivation (AFM).

Turbo charge your focus for 2011 by choosing strong goals here are some fundamental questions everyone must ask:

#1. What worked and what didn't work this past year. What did I learn?
#2. Goals for next season. What is one or two steps higher than last year? Where can I put them where I will see them each day.
#3. What is my plan so I build on my strengths and get to next Spring as strong, focused and charged as possible.

Now as easy as these 3 steps are, how many of you have already answered them for 2011? This is where I can help. I have been developing my mental coaching skills for 20 years and can coach you to do the same and find out for yourself what reserves of focus, courage and discipline you have to make a big improvement in 2011.

I call it Advanced Focus and Motivation, AFM and it is one of my favorite things to coach, in fact I believe it is the most neglected aspect of training and the one that can make the biggest difference for any athlete. I have done it for Teams, Groups and many individuals with great success including Adrian Hegyvary and the Huskies beginning in 2004. I now want to share it with anyone wanting to improve their mental game and ramp up their rate of progress.

I am doing a free session January 8th at 4pm to kick off the new year at our West Seattle training center. Why? Because the more I teach it, the better I ingrain it for myself and I love to see everyone improving as fast as possible, no matter what your pursuit.

If you are willing to commit to making a change, even if only 1%, Email Me and I will hold a spot for you, Date: Saturday January 8th 4pm - 5pm at West Seattle. Open to the first 30 people.

Thanks for listening, now get a great plan together and go after it 2011 now!

Coach Craig

Amara - "the hill climber"

The Cycle U experience has been a blast so far, since starting a little over a month ago I am already involved in just about everything. I am teaching outdoor classes, doing private lessons, working in the shops and perfecting my mechanic skills.

However, I should have figured that Craig wanted to make me into a climber. Since working here the only classes I have taught have been hill climbing classes or bootcamps. If you know me or my riding style you know that I am a sprinter, I love the track and flat races. Ever since I started racing and riding 10 years ago hills have been a challenge for me. Whether it was weight, power, or mental issues I have never performed well in a race with a hill in it.

Teaching the hill climbing classes have made me realize how much climbing is all in your head. Sometimes in races I will find myself already at the back when a hill is approaching and I have mentally given up before it starts. When I am helping the bootcamp cadets or the other students I am assuming a climbing role and I am actually climbing well and enjoying it. I know that I can climb, I have the muscles and the form I just need to make the connection in my brain that I LOVE HILLS! Too often there is this stigma that you either love hills or you hate them, for too long I have been in the later category. Everything you do has a large mental component and climbing is one for lots of people that is hard. A few things that I am working on is forcing myself to stay in the zone mentally, tricking my brain by making smaller goals up hill, and having positive self talk when climbing.

I don't know if I will be winning any uphill TT's or hilly road races but I can tell you that I will be more mentally prepared for the hills.

Shiv n Dale. Getting ready for Nats.

Dale and his SHIV!

Good luck at Nationals Dale.

Chelan Camp rocked!

Great time, great friends, great riding! (click the title above to see a sample video) Basically a climbing and descending camp with good mileage for the beginner to intermediate rider, with options for advanced. Skills we focused on were: climbing technique, standing climbing, cornering, paceline riding, fast descents, pacing on long rides, nutrition and having a damn good time.

Mark your calendars for May 12, 2011 and join us for some killer riding. It will be inexpensive and some of the best riding you can do in Washington.

Hope your riding lots and having a great early summer!

Coach Craig & the staff at Cycle U

Indoor TT Series Final Results

The 2010 Cycle U Indoor TT Series came to a thrilling conclusion this week, with Martin Criminale (IJM.org) and Jess Cutler (Cucina Fresca) wrapping up overall victories in the Men's and Women's categories, respectively. Martha Walsh (Echelon Gran Fondo/Zteam) and Annie Richardson-Lander (Cycle U) rounded out the Women's podiumn the Men's race it was a clean sweep for IJM.org with Alex Telitsine and Dustin Van Wyck placing second and third.

Check out the full results here to see where you ended up and also check out nightly results from every race of the series. Podium finishers can look forward to some great prizes from Cycle U.

Watch out for these racers out on the roads as they put in so many solid efforts this winter they will be flying!

Indoor Time Trial Series Season - Last Race Next Wed!

As the road racing season heats up our Indoor Time Trial series comes to a close with the last night of racing next Wednesday March 17th. After several months of racing, Martin Criminale and Jess Cutler have a firm grip on the top step of the Men's and Women's podiums (respectively). Many of the other placings are up for grabs as we head into this last race so come on down next Wednesday and get in a last night of fury to secure your spot in history!






Full nightly results and current series standings can be found here

Click here to sign up for next week's race

New team kit!

Time Trial Bootcamp!

Cycle University presents a valuable addition to our curriculum with the inaugural Time Trial Bootcamp February 26th and 28th. Taught by professional cyclist Adrian Hegyvary, this program will cover all aspects of time trialing and short-course triathlon cycling including: training, warm-up technique, course reconnaissance, race tactics, equipment selection, bike fit, as well as a few secrets of the pros.

Students may choose between one or two day courses. Class begins for everyone with a seminar on Friday, February 26th from 6-9pm at the Sandpoint location. This first session is indoors and will focus on the “conceptual” aspects of time trialing, with bike time limited only to fit optimization. Cost for just the seminar is $60.

Sunday’s class takes place at the Frostbite Time Trial on February 28th and offers students a chance to apply their skills in a practical environment. We will spend significant time on the bikes and get a chance to prepare, race, and evaluate performances together. Class begins on site at 7:30am and ends approximately one hour following the last rider’s finish; allow the whole morning. Cost for the whole bootcamp is $140, not including race entry; enrollment is limited to 15, please register early to guarantee a spot: http://clients.mindbodyonline.com/ws.asp?studioid=3476&stype=-8&sLoc=0



Adrian Hegyvary is a time trial specialist with the top-ranked UnitedHealthcare pro cycling team presented by Maxxis. He was a silver medalist at the 2009 Elite National TT Championships and holds numerous course records on time trials throughout the Northwest.

Indoor TT Series Update

The Indoor TT Series is now in full swing with and the competition is heating up! In the Women's series, Jess Cutler (Cucina Fresca) has overtaken perennial favorite Martha Walsh (Echelon) by just two points, while in the Men's series Martin Criminale (Thumbprint Racing) still holds a commanding lead over teammates Dustin Van Wyck and Alex Telitsine.

Standings:

Women
Name Place Total Points
Jess Cutler 1 24
Martha Walsh 2 22
Annie Richardson-Lander 3 15
Tina Zeigler 4 11
Kristen Walker 5 9

Men
Name Place Total Points
Martin Criminale 1 120
Dustin Van Wyck 2 77
Alex Telitsine 3 57
Justin Angle 4 44
Mick Walsh 5 30


Click here for the full series standings and results from every day of racing.

Indoor TT Series Standings

Indoor TT results are now posted through 1/8/10, check them out by clicking here.

We have also tabulated series standings through 1/8, which can be viewed at the above link. Martin Criminale (IJM) is currently crushing the Men's competition with 62 points and 3-time champion Martha Walsh (ZTeam) is leading with double the points of her next competitor. Click the link above to check out where you stand. We're just about halfway through the ITT season so come on down and get those points!

Here are the top three in each division:

Women:
Martha Walsh 16
Jess Cutler 8
Katie Poinier 6

Men:
Martin Criminale 62
Dustin Van Wyck 38
Alex Telitsine 29

Indoor TT Results Week of 12/28

This week marked the addition of our Women-only TT to our Indoor TT race Calendar on Monday nights and the kickoff was a huge success! Results are posted here from last weeks' racing, including the Women's TT on Monday and the 10k open TT on Wednesday.

The series continues with Women's TTs Monday nights, a 10k open TT Wednesday nights and a 10-mile open TT on Friday nights. Click here to sign up!