LOTS of miles to commute.

You can spend your time, waste your time, or invest your time. It's your choice.

May 14-18th, 2008 ~ National Bike to Work Week
Can you believe that a gallon of gasoline, a gallon of milk and a 12 oz cappuccino with an extra shot of espresso all cost the same? If you find this unimaginable then it maybe time to trade time in your car for time on your bike. Commuting to work on a bicycle can be a great way to add some additional base mileage to your weekly training plan.

If you have a longer commute you may consider alternating driving to work with biking home from work. If Monday is an early day at the office, you may want to drive to work with your bike, biking gear and a change of clothing in the car for Tuesday. After work, you bike home and return to work the next day on your bike. Tuesday afternoon, you drive everything home. Repeat the process on Wednesday and viola! Alternating vehicles will allow you to bring fresh clothes to change into and can provide a secure place to store your bike while you work.

Another option is to find a carpool buddy to share the commute. One of you drives the AM shift to the office with all the gear bags and then after work you switch. Or perhaps you take the bus/train to work and then bike home afterwards.

However you plan to commute, whether its on a racing bike, a mountain bike or a fixed gear street bike, here are a few tips to get you started:

As a cyclist & a parent, my concerns are always the same and are always about safety!!

Riders who bike to work (or anywhere!) should ALWAYS wear an approved HELMET!!! Helmet hair is a small price to pay in exchange for a wheelchair or coffin.

Bikes are required to obey the same laws that apply to cars...don't be biking on the sidewalk or against traffic, stop at and obey ALL stop signs, lights and signs. Make every effort to ride in a predictable manor.

If you are on the road at/before dawn/dusk...USE LIGHTS!!! Reflectors are great but they are not enough!! You need a Red (blinky) light on the rear of your bike and a bright white (solid) headlight on the front.

The League of American Bicyclists website is full of info including a complete listing of National Bike Month events listed alphabetically by state. Whether you live in Alaska, NH, or Pasadena there are events planned coast to coast all week long.

And if you think Bike to Work Week is just for the USA, then check out what’s happening around the world. Bike to Work Week is celebrated in the UK in June and in Australia in October.

Locally, you’ll want to check out CICLE Pasadena With grand events planned for every night this week, Tuesday May 13th is Ladies Only Bike Night in Pasadena.

Be Safe & Have Fun!!

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Bicycle Magazine ~ Women on Wheels. Our own Track Sprint Master, Liz Reap-Carlson has written another wonderful article just for the Ladies. Please read it, enjoy it, share it and give her some feedback. We miss having her in LA!

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June 22-27, 2008 ~ USAC’s 2008 WOMEN'S West Coast REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT CAMP will be held at Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA this June 22-27.
The purpose behind the USA Cycling Regional Development Camps is multi-faceted. First and foremost it provides a development opportunity for our younger riders. Over the course of the six day camp, participants will practice skills that are specific to the camp discipline, and enjoy informational discussions about nutrition, bike mechanics, sports psychology, race tactics, and training. The women's specific road camps are open to female athletes age 17-25 and collegiate women.

For more information, visit http://www.usacycling.org/. There are still 22 spots available so if you or someone you know should be there, please contact the camp’s RD, Claire House. Her email is norcalvelo@gmail.com

For more information please read USA Cycling’s Article as well as the Specialty Camp Page. Requests for Eligibility are also available.

As indicated, the camp is designed for women age 17-25, but USAC will accept women up to age 27 in some cases. There are no category restrictions. The first step is to fill out the Request for Eligibility.

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August 14-17th ~ Junior Track National Championships
Sponsorship ~ This year the LA Velodrome will be hosting the 2008 USAC Junior Track National Championships. While plenty of work has been going on behind the scenes these past months, the race organizers are still in need of both private and corporate sponsorship. As with almost any sporting event, sponsorship money is essential!
Junior Track Nationals is a well attended event that brings together hundreds of kids (and their parents) from all across the United States. Any company that appreciates a junior aged target market will definitely want to be involved!
Please review the attached sponsor request letter. We encourage you to either print it or email it, but please pass it along to anyone you know who might be in a position to provide any amount of sponsorship!

Junior Track Natz Training Camps ~ ADT is pleased to announce that it will be hosting summer Junior Race Training Camps this June, July & August. These camps are designed to give juniors from around the country the opportunity to ride and train on the LA Velodrome before Jr Natz. For more info, please visit the LA Velodrome’s website.

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Saturday June 14th ~ The next LOTS Session will be on Saturday June 12 at the LA Velodrome. Sign-in begins at 11:30. Track opens at 12:00. Please be early! These sessions are geared for both beginners and advanced riders with quality coaching and mentoring for everyone.
If you are interested in bringing some or all of your Women's Team members to the next LOTS or you are interested in an exclusive Team Only session, please send me an email and let me know!

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Fri, Sat, Sun May 16-18th ~ The 12th Annual Kern County Women’s Stage Race will be held again this year. This popular Women’s Only Stage Race hosts 6 different women’s categories racing 4 different disciplines spread over 3 days. For more information, please see the event flyer.

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Saturday May 17th ~ The 3rd SCNCA So Cal Track Cup Event for 2008 will be held this Saturday at the San Diego Velodrome. Women Cat 1-3 will be competing for Track Cup Points. For complete event and registration info, please see the San Diego Velodrome’s Website.

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Sunday May 18th ~ Ontario Crit #3 ~ This will be the short 4 corner left turn only course. WCat 3-4’s race at 8:20. WCat 1-3 race at 9:50am. Please see the event flyer for additional info.

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Saturday June 14th ~ The Encino Velodrome presents Part 4 of the monthly “Low Key Time Trials”; a USAC Non-Competitive Event Series. March 22 (done), April 19 (done), May 10 (done), 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.

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.

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Friday Nights at ADT ~ Attn Ladies the State and National track Championship races are coming up too quickly! There are plenty of opportunities for you to race individual time trials, team pursuits, team sprints and many other events. If you are interested in training for these events and more, please plan to join me at ADT each Friday evening for open (ie co-ed) training from 6-9PM.

If you are planning to attend, please send me an RSVP email so I know who to expect this week. Normal track fees apply.

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Attn Ladies: The Ladies Only Track Sessions is going on a road trip!! We will be packing up and heading up to the Encino Velodrome this Summer for the July 12th & Aug 9th LOTS sessions.

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Have you seen USA Cycling's Web article featuring the LOTS program? If you, your employer or anyone you know, is interested in sponsoring the LOTS program, please contact me. The LOTS program is dedicated to introducing women to the exciting sport of track cycling and we intend to grow this program as far into the future as we can see!

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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 Cross