KH Coaching Update August 2010
Summer riding/race season is in full swing and I have some good things for everyone this month. I have a few open days available and get set for a great Pirelli promotion to be announced soon for next month.
Bike Maintenance:
With all the summer riding, make sure you are keeping up on your bike maintenance. The summer heat really accelerates wear, so keep all the fluids fresh and remember to do a walk around every morning before you ride. I have attached a pre-ride checklist for you to print out if you wish.
Open Dates:
Oct 14th Keigwins at Thill
Nov 1st Keigwins at Infineon
Nov 27th Zoom at Thill
Nov 28th Zoom at Thill
Nov 29th Keigwins at Infineon
Riding Tip:
There I was on our Bike Club’s Saturday morning race ride, getting dropped. Crap….At about the middle point of the ride, there is an intersection where you can either go left or go right, going left is where the big boyz go and where the climbing starts. Going right still has climbing, just less of it and the pace is a bit more subdued, both ways ultimately meet up together at the top of the final climb. I of course, turned left. Not having quite the Alberto Cantador climbing physique, I do my best to hang on the climbs as long as I can. This particular day had a few local pro riders that decided to play with the rest of the pack by attacking at the beginning of anything that was uphill and I got popped off about halfway up the up the main climbing section. My first reaction was panic, I have to stay with them! I need to do whatever it takes to stay with the boyz, although that wasn’t happening with my heart rate only a few beats away from my maximum. So now, my original plan was out the window and I needed to come up with something, fast. I went with the basics, smooth, even pedal stroke, relax my arms and control my breathing to get my heart rate back to a manageable level. I stuck with it and with about a mile to go to the top, an amazing thing happened, the pack started to come back to me. I was even able to pass a few of them back in the final 500 meters.
How does this relate to your riding and racecraft? At this last weekend’s AFM races, I had a few riders I work with get passed or have a poor start, then suddenly go 1-2 seconds a lap slower while they blew apexes, rushed entry’s, couldn’t make a repass and then get physically worn out. When panic mode sets in, go back to the basics! You were riding well before panic set in. At my coaching sessions, we never leave the pit without a plan for our riding. Typically, those plans are working with the basics; apexes, eyes up, use your brakes, slowest point of the corner, get it pointed, when I can get to full throttle and the most important, what’s next. Look for your report cards as you ride. Miss an apex? Slow down and get it the next turn. Didn’t use the entire track on the exit? Get your eyes up to the exit sooner. Want to make a pass? Take advantage of what lasts longest in a turn and pre plan it a few turns ahead. Stick to the basics, keep knocking out the laps and the laptimes will go right back to where they were before panic mode set in.
Ken
