Junior Mentoring

WARMING UP: A Plea from LGBRC  •  Junior Racers MENTORING SESSION   •   TACTICS AND TIPS:
General warm-up and mental preparation notes that apply to racers of all categories.

Warming up: A Plea from LGBRC

Racers - Please!

We have received requests from residents to ask prospective racers to observe stop signs when they are practicing on the course, and to stay on the right side of the street on neighborhood roads (Ridgecrest, for example.) Since the race is dependent on cooperation from residents, let's all work together on courteous riding, so Cat's Hill will always be welcome in Los Gatos.

Thanks, everyone!

 

Junior Mentoring

Cat's Hill junior racers and their parents are invited to join Larry Nolan and Shawn Rosenthal as they offer encouragement and tactical advice for this year's event. They both look forward to helping the junior racers (and their parents) prepare for this great event. The pre-race talks will occur at 9:00 AM and 11:45 and meet at Corner 6, Tait and Bachman. Feel free to bring your trainer to warm up during the talk.

Schedule:
Ages 10 - 14 Pre-Race Talk: 8:45 AM
Ages 10 - 14 Roll out: 9:15 AM
Ages 10 - 14 Races at: 9:30 AM and 9:45 AM
Ages 15 - 18 Pre-Race Talk: 11:30 AM
Ages 15 - 18 Roll out: 12:00 PM
Ages 15 - 18 Races at: 12:15 PM and 12:30 PM

Place: Corner 6, Tait and Bachman

Here are the topics he will cover (parents are welcome to listen in)
- Getting mentally prepared for Cat's Hill
- Warming up for Cat's Hill
- Climbing Cat's Hill
- Descending Cat's Hill
- Things to watch for on the course
- Questions & Answers

The "mentoring" will be held with the Juniors (and their parents) at the 6th corner of the Cat's Hill course. Doug will be talking, providing commentary as other categories go screaming by and answering questions. We will not ride this course nor will we head out for a warm-up ride. As this will be cutting into the warm-up time of the riders, please bring a turbo trainer or rollers with you. You can either finish your warm-up or do your own version of a "spin class" right in front of everyone! Try to stick to your optimum warm-up routine or ask Doug about warm-up routines if you do not already have a solid warm-up routine.

Everyone else: not every junior rider will have a turbo trainer or rollers. If you can lend yours for a short period of time please bring either or both to the corner before either of the sessions.

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Tips and Tactics that apply to racers of all categories:

1) Setting realistic expectations- Cat's Hill is a great race because it's got a festive downtown setting, it's safe, and it's a great course! The hill keeps the riders honest, but most races are tactical with attacks and breaks. One way to keep riders in this sport longer is to have them set realistic expectations. Simply put, Cat's Hill is not an industrial park crit that ends up in a field sprint. Training and preparation for the two are not the same.

2) Teamwork- another great way to keep riders in this sport is to teach them their role in the team. As stated above, Cat's Hill can be a very tactical race. If you work out your team tactics before the race, even the rider that does not finish the race but helps out their team can feel good about their contribution.

3) Training- if Cat's Hill is an important race to you then specificity in your training may have looked something like this: 2 minutes just below AT, 30 seconds above AT, 30 seconds recovery... repeat for as many laps as your race.

4) Warm-Up as this is a "classic" criterium course, and the hills will zap your strength, you will want to warm-up before your race. Use Highway 9 in Los Gatos (towards Saratoga) as your warm up route (complete with bike lanes, but watch for traffic). If you do not have your ideal criterium warm-up routine established, talk to your teammates.

5) Preview the course- get to the race early, register and then walk the course at least once. Walking the course in reverse is best because you can see the riders more often and you can see how the riders take the course.

6) This is a classic race, work hard and have fun!!  The pain is temporary but the memories live forever!

Good luck to everyone that is racing, especially the Juniors! Come on out and cheer for the Juniors if you have the time (10:45 and 12:15am).

Good luck to everyone that is racing, especially the Juniors!  Come on out
and cheer for them.

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