MIDSOUTH MASTER CYCLING CLUB

NOLA LENDING
RACING TEAM

North Shore Winter Training Rides

The Sunday winter training rides leave from Lee Road Junior High School at 8:00 AM.  Check out the Route Maps button on the left to find a map of the course.

The main purpose of the training rides is for area bike racers to get base miles before the start of the season in February / March.  The rides are not sanctioned events or sponsored by any club.  All are welcome to join.  Below are some points to keep in mind for these type of rides.

What to expect: Most riders are road racers from local teams but there are often triathletes and other cyclist who enjoy riding even thought they don't race.  Although you are welcome to go as fast as you want, the average speed of the group is typically 18 - 20 mph November through December.  The pace begins to pick up in January averaging 19 - 22 mph and getting quite fast at times.  The terrain has some rolling hills and open sections that are subject to cross winds.  We ride easy for the first few miles as a warm up.  There are five white sprint lines on the course complete with 1 km and 200 m distance markings.  The pace will often get faster around these points especially in January and February.  We usually regroup at turns but if you think you won't be able to keep the pace, you should have a copy of the route map.  The course has been marked with yellow arrows but they fade over time.  There is a store at mile 50 in Enon if you need additional water.

Riding Safety: Since we ride as a group, you are not only responsible for your safety but also for the safety of those around you.  We normally ride in pacelines often overlapping wheels in crosswind sections.  This requires riders on the front to pull off into the wind or risk taking down the group.  It also requires riders to hold their place in line without drifting from side to side.  If you aren't sure what you need to do, watch and ask.  Be predictable and remember that this is a training ride and people will be happy to help you.  There are many Internet sites that outline paceline rules like this one:  http://www.lostrivercycling.org/paceline.html. 

Traffic Safety: We are riding on open roads so please be aware of cars.  Most of the roads have light traffic but some can be a little more busy and not suitable for doing echelons.  Also, it is sometimes foggy in areas so a flashing back light on your bike makes the whole group more visible.

Litter: There are no spectators along the course waiting to retrieve your Gu wrappers for souvenirs.  Please keep all your trash with you until you can properly throw it away.

Temperatures: It is often ten or more degrees cooler on the north side of the lake.  Check the weather and dress appropriately.

Be prepared: Bring along tubes and tools to change a flat or for minor repairs.  There will likely be someone in the group who can't resist helping with repairs but you should at least have you own tubes and air.  Most people go out with two bottles and some gels / energy bars during the winter.  There is a store at mile 50 but we don't always stop during the cooler weather.  Even though we usually regroup at turns, if you don't know the route, you should consider bringing along a route map .

Remember that this is a training ride.  In November through mid-December, the pace of the group is normally fairly steady.  If you want to go hard as part of your early training, you are welcome to do so.  Make sure you know the route as most people won't be riding real fast.  This may be a better time to instead work on pack skills.  The pace will eventually start to pick up with more attacks especially around sprint points.  This is a good time to practice tactics like sprints, long breaks or lead-outs.  The sprints can get competitive but remember that the prize money is the same for all placings and safety is still the number one concern.