LOTS of Hugs for Jennie!!

There is a New World Champion at the LA Velodrome! ~ As most of you know by now, Jennie Reed is the new Women’s World Track Champion in the Keirin!! In addition to winning the Keirin, Jennie also won the Bronze Medal in the Match Sprints. Although the Women’s Keirin is not an Olympic event, you can be certain that she is always a formidable opponent in any event she enters!! Huge congratulations also go to Sarah Hammer for winning a Silver medal in the Women’s 3k Individual Pursuit. Also to Becky Quinn who is always in the Top 10 whenever she steps on the track. Becky placed 8th in the points race. Very nice work Ladies!!
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General Track Etiquette ~ The safety of the riders on the track around you is always of utmost importance. Before getting on the track to train, each rider should assess their skills and their physical limitations with respect to the other riders who are already on the track. Whether you are a beginner or an accomplished rider, if you know that you lack the skill and/or the speed necessary to ride safely, then you should find a mentor or coach to advise you before getting up on the track. Whether you are nursing an injury or have recently completed a New Rider certification class, everyone expects you to be healthy, alert and skilled enough for the demands of track cycling. For riders of all abilities, here are a few more tips to help improve your next experience on the track.

Communication ~ Anytime you have a lot of people in a small area riding or racing bikes that are not equipped with brakes, freewheels or gears, safety needs to be the primary concern. Proper communication is one of the keys to track safety. On the track, trust and consistency are essential as each rider must trust that all riders have safe reliable equipment and that everyone will be following the same safety guidelines. Riders should be alert as they move around the track in a predictable manner with purpose to avoid sudden or erratic movements. Do not be afraid to (politely) communicate your intentions to the other riders. Track cycling has its own language that combines both words and body language. Turning your head in the direction you intend to move indicates your intention to move in that direction to everyone behind you while shouting “STAY” communicates to everyone in front of you to stay on your line at your current speed to allow the rider(s) behind to pass safely. Understanding and using the language of the track improves the safety of the track experience.

Accidents ~ If an accident occurs, particularly while riding in a pace line, be prepared for (all) the rider(s) in front of you to move up the track to avoid running over the fallen riders and/or bicycles. This is especially true at the LA Velodrome due to the slickness and steepness of the track! A rider who falls in the turns will immediately slide down the track toward the apron; you must therefore apply extra pressure to the pedals while aiming your bike up track to avoid making contact. A rider who falls in the straight-a-ways will initially slide forward in the same direction they were originally headed but will inevitably end up crossing the blue band on their way to the apron. Regardless of where a rider falls or how far they slide, always aim your bike up track and never try to pass below them; you will hit them every time.

Being passed ~ Beginners should be especially aware when being overtaken by another rider or group of riders. It is very important that solo/slower riders make every attempt to maintain their position and speed when being passed. Riders should not attempt to move down the track or off the track in an effort to give yourself more room while giving up your training line. It is your responsibility to remain on the track, centered on your training line (either on the black line or on the blue line). It is the responsibility of the faster riders behind you who are passing over you to give sufficient room both above you as they pass and in front of you when dropping back down onto the training line. The upper boundary of the pole lane is the red line. Faster riders who are passing slower riders in the pole lane should be well above the red line while the slower riders remain centered on the black line. If a solo or slower rider intends to exit the track while a group is passing over you, you should maintain your speed and position and delay your departure until the entire group has fully passed you. As you begin to decelerate, you may safely proceed to exit the track as planned. Delaying your departure significantly increases the safety of your departure.

Have Fun!!

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Attn Ladies: The next two LOTS sessions, Saturday April 12th and Saturday May 10th will NOT be sandwiched in between anything. We expect to have a great time with plenty of room for everyone to ride till you can’t turn the pedals one more time! Please be early so you will have time to sign in and get ready. The session begins at 12noon.

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Saturday March 1st (done), April 5th, October 11th, & November 9th ~ The Curt Sutliff Memorial Santiago Canyon Time Trial Series. The 2nd TT in this series will be held this Saturday, April 5th. The Reg Fee is $25. There will be No Pre-Reg ~ Race Day Reg is available from 7:15-8:30AM. There is a mandatory Pre-Race Meeting at 8:45AM in front of Rock N Road Cyclery near the corner of El Toro Rd/Marguerite Pkwy. The first racer will go off at 9:00am. For more info please see the Event Flyer.

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Saturday April 5th @ 4pm ~ Everyone is invited and encouraged to Come race the Season Opener at the Encino Velodrome ~ the Motor Tabs Mechanized Mayhem Omnium. Discounted online registration (save $5) is available. The event includes motor paced races for every category: Juniors 12 & Under, Juniors 13-16, Women (1-4), Masters 40+, Masters 50+/60+, Category 5 Men, Category 3/4, and Pro/1/2 and a Pro 1/2/3 Madison.

For more info, please see the race flyer.
http://encinovelodrome.org/pdf/MechanizedMayhemFlyer.pdf

Commemorative T-Shirts and posters can be purchased at
http://www.zazzle.com/aeniii/product/235557810947601772 and
http://www.zazzle.com/aeniii/product/228518202444692979

All proceeds benefit the racing program at the Encino Velodrome.

Omnium race entry fees will be $15 per racer. Race entry fees include track usage fee at the Encino Velodrome. Juniors race for free at all events in 2008 at the Encino Velodrome courtesy of the SCNCA.
Reigning National and World Champions who notify the race director of their intention to race at the Encino Velodrome at least one week before race day will have their entry fees waived courtesy of the Encino Velodrome Association. Women who register to race against the men in the Pro/1/2 omnium races at the Encino Velodrome in 2008 will have their entry fees waived courtesy of the Encino Velodrome Association.

Alfred Nash
Race Director
Encino Velodrome
http://encinovelodrome.org
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Sunday April 6th Irvine ~ UCI will be the site of the Anthill Criterium. The event line up includes Collegiate category races held throughout most of the morning and Elite category races in the afternoon. Please see the event flyer for additional information.

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Sunday April 6th Redlands ~ The 24th Annual Redlands Bicycle Classic Criterium will be held in Downtown Redlands, CA. This exciting race is the conclusion to 3 day long NRC Stage Race. For spectator and participant information, please visit their website.

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Sunday April 13th Ojai ~ The Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix will be held in beautiful Ojai, CA. Unfortunately race organizers were unable to secure adequate funding for the Women’s Pro race so it will NOT be an NRC event. On-line registration closes April 5th. For more info, please see the event flyer.

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Saturday April 19 ~ The Encino Velodrome presents Part 2 of the “Low Key Time Trials” a USAC Non-Competitive Event Series. March 22 (done), April 19, May 10, June 14 & July 19 2008. The TRACK & REGISTRATION Opens at 8:15am & Closes at 9:15 am. RACING starts at 9:30am. Entry $10, One entry free gets you into as many events as you like. No Pre-Reg; Race day entries only.
All athletes must provide a signed 2008 USAC Athlete Release form (see below). RULES: Must have track experience. All 2008 USCF rules apply. Helmets must be worn at all times while on the bike.

Individual Events Include ~ 500m, 1k, 2k, 3k, & 4k
Team Events Include ~ 3k & 4k, Teams must provide your own holders!
Team Sprints (2 women) & Olympic Sprints (3 men) included.

Please note: Rental bikes ARE available for all races at Encino.

For additional Race information, please email: Trattenero@hotmail.com
LOCATION: Encino Velodrome17301 Oxnard St, .Encino, CA. 91416

Please visit the Encino Velodrome’s website at www.encinovelodrome.org

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Friday Nights at ADT ~ Attn Ladies the TT’s at ADT and at Encino are fantastic opportunities for beginners to race your first track race and for more experienced Ladies to fine tune their IP and put together a Sprint or Pursuit Team or two! If you are interested in training for these races and more, please plan to join me at ADT each Friday evening for open (ie co-ed) training from 6-9PM.

Please send me an RSVP email so I know who to expect this week. Normal track fees apply.

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The 2008 USAC Athlete Waiver is available on-line.

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The 2008 SCNCA Racing Calendar is available on line.

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The 2008 USAC Rule book is available on-line.

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Have a super week Ladies!!

Julia