Last night DCMTB-City Bikes hosted Clinic One in a four part clinic series at Fort Reno Park in Northwest Washington DC. This clinic was women specific and was lead by local racer Melanie Swartz of Velo Bella.
Lots of woman signed up for this event. In fact so many people signed up via email that I ended up turning people away in an effort not to have the first session become the last session. As it turns out, not everyone showed up and it was not the massive cluster of lycra that I feared would offend the usual park users at Fort Reno. In fact, it seemed that our athletic presence fit in just fine with the other athletes on the various fields in the park as well as not offending the people passing through or picnicing on the grounds. There did not seem to be any conflict with any of the other park users. Sure a leashless dog chased a rider or two and I would not be shocked if a headphone wearing runner was spooked by the approaching cyclists, but there appeared to be no real conflicts.
Melanie Swartz came prepare!
The clinic started off a few minutes later than expected as many of these cycling events do. Raul handled the registration of the riders while Marc Gwadz and Mark Drajem aided Melanie in course set up. One by one women started showing up with their bicycles. Once a good number of woman showed up the DCMTB men stepped back and the women stepped forward. Melanie lead this clinic as if she had done this sort of things before. She gave a good verbal introduction to the objectives of the evening then immediately flowed into a number of drills. It was not the adrenalin based cross practice that I had anticipated. It was Melanie’s intention to slow things down and get down to the basic comfort on the bike. In watching the riders I understood that Melanie’s approach made good sense as there is so much that veteran cyclists take for granted. Many of these women were comfortable on the bike but completely new to cyclocross. There was such a wide variety of cyclists that it made sense to start at the ground and build things up… even the seasoned veterans can use some review on the basic skills.
After the initial drills on cornering, balance, track stands, and sight lines the group moved to faster paced activities. There were laps around the grounds at Fort Reno Park that took advantage of the variables that the park presents. A set of barriers was set up to compliment the natural obstacles in the park. There was a wide variety of skill levels and fitness, everyone meshed together quite well. At the end of the evening as the sun set in the distance everyone was smiling and it appeared as if everyone left looking for more.
The DCMTB-City Bikes Cross Clinic Session Number One was a success!
I was pleased with the turn out… I regretted turning people away.
Things went so well that I expect a good number of the women from this Clinic to attend some of the clinics at this same park on Wednesdays in September.
special thanks to Melanie Swartz for leading this clinic
and thanks to everyone who showed up
this sort of gathering is exactly what the DC cycling scene needs to introduce more people to the sport of cyclocross
more images to appear on my page
www.gwadzilla.blogspot.com
Joel Gwadz Cyclocross, Events
It seems like forever since I lined up and race with the Masters Bs at Charm City in September… but it was not forever… it was not even a month ago.
No time to look back because it is time to forward.
Joel Gwadz 2007, Cyclocross
Race Report: The Greenbrier Challenge 2007
by Joel Gwadz
RACE REPORT: Greenbrier Challenge 2007
RACE REPORT: The Greenbrier Challenge 2007
with racing there is usually some anxiety…
pre-race anxiety builds and builds
on race day the anxiety settles with the distractions of the day
until the racers take the line
then the anxiety takes another form
everything is fine when the whistle blows and the race starts
the greenbrier challenge was no different
there was plenty of pre-race anxitey
being the first race of season there was additional anxiety
on race day anxiety appeared in its usual forms
at the line I fought the anxiety by making small talk with the other men in the Clydesdale Class
the only familiar face was Donald of Avalon Cycles
I had no idea what to expect of anyone
my eyes scanned for chris redlack but he was not there
the game plan was to ride my race
not to get caught up in the speed or intensity of anyone else
yet I still tried to size up the competition
the officials gave us a two minute warning
the sounds around me blending into white noise
my heart started to beat faster
the combination of anxiety and caffeine were taking control
my foot tapped nervously on the ground
while the other foot remained locked in the clip with the pedal in the ten o’clock position
waiting to thrust down
that two minutes can be a strange limbo
noticing that my heart rate was high I thought that some yoga breathing exercises may help
then there was the alert of 15 seconds
instead of counting down with those seconds
I waited for the release
Read more…
Joel Gwadz 2007
Race Report: Capitol Cross Classic 2006
by Joel Gwadz
It amazes me how Joe Foley can remember each moment of each lap with such clarity. So much of the races becomes one big blur. There are often moments that stand out in my mind, but I can not always recall the sequence of events, heck I can not tell you how many laps I completed much less what happened during each event. Yet, I will try to put together a bit of a race report with as much detail as I can just the same.
In many ways the race season had ended for me months prior. Mountain biking is clearly more my focus than cyclocross, but I like to dabble in cross just the same. The frequency and the intensity of my rides had dropped off significantly. It is always important for me to work a balance between life and family, so during the fall family definitely takes priority over cycling. That said… cycling is not entirely removed from the equation as cycling is part of who I am.
Sunday’s race was on my mental calendar since the beginning of the fall. I had not pre-registered, I knew that I wanted to race this event if my life’s schedule allowed. The folks at PVC throw a great event. The course at Lake Fairfax is challenging and pleasurable at the same time. There may be a little too much time on gravel for my tastes… but I take the good with the bad. The notion of sneaking in one last race for 2006 was exciting to me. The mild temperatures only added to the energy. As the race day approached I was torn with what class to compete in on this day. The UCI events have enough Masters that they split their group into two, creating Masters A and Read more…
Joel Gwadz 2006
images of joel gwadz by kevin dillard of velo photos
velophotos.net
Joel Gwadz 2006, Cyclocross
Race Report: Tacchino Cyclocross race in Leesburg, VA
by Joel Gwadz
This weekend past I had the freedom to do as I pleased as my wife went to visit her parents in Pittsburgh with the kids. With the weekend completely open I weighed my options and created a list…
the list
drink and get drunk
rinse and repeat
stay up late/sleep late
Home Depot and IKEA
home projects
help friend pick up and move baby furniture
dance around the house naked
watch television with the volume as loud as I need it to be without guilt
Read more…
Joel Gwadz 2006, Cyclocross
October 4, 2006
DCMTB/City Bikes Mountain Bike Team hosted a basic bicycle repair clinic at the City Bikes location in Chevy Chase, Maryland
the clinic was a success the students felt as if they learned a good deal and were excited to join in for another clinic at a future date
thanks to City Bikes for allowing us to use their space and of course for sponsoring the DCMTB Mountain Bike Team!
Joel Gwadz News
we are still trying to establish rain options for this evening
Joel Gwadz News
