I'll be in, and in town, next Monday the 14th

I can't do Monday or Friday mornings  Gotta get to the Heights by 7:45

Speaking of skillz - both these guys stayed upright

Folks kicking this off again for 2016

Bike Skillz

This Monday at GAP (Grand Army Plaza) 6:05am

We'll start with the basics:

• Riding one-handed
• Touching shoulders
• Touching elbows 

NOBODY should be falling down or crashing in this session. It's a very slow ride, so don't expect meaningful TSS. It's intended to coincide with a recovery day after a weekend of hard racing/training.

This is about learning not to avoid contact but not worry about contact in a race. Not that this would save you from a barrier-to-barrier RHC style pileup, but it may keep you upright when somebody sweeps your wheel or bumps your bars in a race. 

Dan Reiners said:

Folks kicking this off again for 2016

Bike Skillz

This Monday at GAP (Grand Army Plaza) 6:05am

We'll start with the basics:

• Riding one-handed
• Touching shoulders
• Touching elbows 

NOBODY should be falling down or crashing in this session. It's a very slow ride, so don't expect meaningful TSS. It's intended to coincide with a recovery day after a weekend of hard racing/training.

This is about learning not to avoid contact but not worry about contact in a race. Not that this would save you from a barrier-to-barrier RHC style pileup, but it may keep you upright when somebody sweeps your wheel or bumps your bars in a race. 

BUMP - MONDAY MAY 9th 6:05 AM at GRAND ARMY PLAZA. 

Dan,
     Has everyone succeeded at the drills?  When do you move on to no-handed riding, clothes-changing on the bike, hand slings, head butts, picking up water bottles off the ground and track stands?  PhD level--riding into someone's back wheel and staying upright?

mugwump said:

Dan,
     Has everyone succeeded at the drills?  When do you move on to no-handed riding, clothes-changing on the bike, hand slings, head butts, picking up water bottles off the ground and track stands?  PhD level--riding into someone's back wheel and staying upright?

All attendees at today's clinic got a new Dura Ace electronic shifting groupo, three Rapha socks and a set of Hed clinchers.

It was amazing. That bit where Dan did a nose-wheelie around the cop car while juggling his water bottle was clutch. I can't believe he never even dropped the allen wrench he was balancing on his ear.

All the folks who showed up for the Skills & Drillz this AM were all Ninja level at one/no-handed riding, bumping, bottle pickups, full Madonna-concert-level costume changes all on the bike.  We skipped redoing bumping again and did some social riding. I was practicing my on the bike photography was the most highly skilled thing we did this AM.

folks, what kinds of on-the-bike skills do you want learn? Let me know what things you'd like to learn by filling out the survey below.
http://goo.gl/forms/CiR2nH0OYK

thanks all for your responses. It looks like there is a desire to learn the following skills

1. Waterbottle hand-ups
2. Touching wheels
3. Bunny hopping
4. Bumping
5. Looking cool

The things that seemed less popular or skills folks already have

1. Riding no-handed
2. Slings/Pushes
3. On bike costume changes
4. Looking uncool

So come out Monday 6AM for some Wheel touching, Bunny hopping and Bumping. Meet at GAP and come learn some skills to amaze and astonish your friends. 

Aww crap I missed this - know when you'll be having the next?

I am gone the next two Mondays. So lets go with a Monday June 13th.

I'll be available on Monday to do this again. After two complete no-shows though I'm going to insist on a signup. We're only going to run this if enough people sign.

Sign up. Learn a Skill. Ride like a boss. be that guy! (or gal)

Jules, the signup says for June 30th, do you mean May 30th, which is Memorial Day?

Dan Reiners said:

Jules, the signup says for June 30th, do you mean May 30th, which is Memorial Day?

Lol. Yes. I'll be in town.

Spreadsheet has been fixed.

BUMP
Monday June 13th.

for all you racer types who do races/big miles on the weekends, Monday as a rest day is the perfect time to do skills since it is easy riding. practicing being a better bike handler rather than going fast. Sign up on the spreadsheet

Come out and learn how to be cool on your bike, or sleep in and make Jules cry tears of sadness and loneliness.

I'm otherwise engaged this week Dan but I would love to learn how to bunny hop better and pick things up from the floor...

JamesShaw said:

I'm otherwise engaged this week Dan but I would love to learn how to bunny hop better and pick things up from the floor...

While those skills may be useful in London with all those bunnies to hop over (or pick up!), these drills will probably be more about bumping and leaning and staying upright on a touch of wheels. Though all are handy skills to have.

I'm there

BUMP for monday 6/13 at 6AM

Sorry lads I'm out. This old man needs some sleep.

I waited for 5 minutes, did a lap by myself and went home back to bed.

Please join us in celebrating Kissena's 33rd Annual Skills Week!

Sign up for three action-packed and fun-filled sessions of practice and drills scientifically proven to make you safer and faster on your bike. These skills are as applicable on the road as they are on the trail or the cyclocross course. Most of the drills will be set up on the grass at Prospect Park, so are very safe. You should bring your road bike, but your cyclocross bike works too (skidding drills not so much though).

Please note that you MUST RSVP!

Where
Prospect Park, meeting at Grand Army Plaza

When
Monday, Aug. 14, 6:30 a.m.
Friday, Aug. 18, 6:30 a.m.
Monday, Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m.

Bring
Helmet
Road or cyclocross bike
Water

Please RSVP here

Your collarbones thank you in advance!

Sorry gents but I won't be in the park tomorrow morning because of excessive TSS consumption this past weekend.

We are planning a race clinic at the  Rockleigh criterium course, we will do a short race simulation, and then break down into groups , working on race craft , cornering , lead outs , pace lines etc , JP Partland and Dale Suttle ,both extremely experienced racers will lead the day 

We're a racing club, and part of racing well is knowing your teammates. 

If any Cat 5's or newer cat 4 upgrades would like to work on specific skills that you think would help your season , please reach out directly and i will see how the guys can integrate your requests

This is great fun and will benefit all racers , after we can head for coffee or off to the hills

April 21st , meet at BB @8AM & GWB 9am 

 

I wish I could make this but I had committed to a casual Staten Island pizza ride with non-racing friends before this was announced. I remember this clinic (or something extremely similar) in February 2016 as rewarding practice, lasting advice, and good fun. Among other lessons I learned the value of canny positioning when I towed Brian Miele through the final corner until about 100-200 meters to the line before he turned on the afterburners and duly incinerated me in a sprint.

@Mark Taylor This sounds like a great idea. I am a Cat 5 in everything so I will take any pointers that I can get. I'll see you guys at the GWB at 9. Thanks!

BUMP

Forecast is for sunny weather tomorrow. Come out for the crit clinic. It will be worth it