Coach's Corner
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Tales from Track Center Montage
Of all these stories, experiences, and lessons, I developed “race craft” as a skill. By this I mean I learned everything there is to know about running a race as a team. How many staff you need, where and when. What they need to do where and when. What mechanics do, where and when. What parts we need, what the riders need. What to do when X happens, or Y or Z, or ZZZ, an entire profession I learned. Leaving this racing world and heading back to life in retail and the bike shop was a wake-up call. Sure, I can bleed a brake upside down and backwards in pitch black in a French parking lot, or grab the middle bike from the roof rack in 5 seconds, or change a rear track wheel in less that 45 seconds on the apron. But, forecasting the number of chains we need to book with Shimano to not run out by June. Uh yah, I have some learning to do! -
Breaking Airports, how to fly with your bike
Behind the scenes of Professional Cycling. Sure, I sat in the back of the team car, ran to a rider with a flat. I pulled riders out of pileups and worked on bikes late at night under a headlamp. These moments were plentiful but not the real job. The real job was packing bikes and fighting airports. I could honestly say it occupied 25% of all worked hours. Packing bikes, battling airports, and unpacking bikes. -
A story of one couple cycling across Canada
In fact, it was the people who truly made our 7000+ km trek remarkable. Without fail, people were kind, helpful and curious about our trip.
