It officially starts the day after tomorrow and Jeb Stewart and I are here in Marin County getting ready for what is shaping up to be the best-ever Marin Training Camp.  On Friday, we stayed with friends in the East Bay and took in some sublime California riding in temperatures nearing 80F degrees:

Yesterday, we took in the Alpine Dam loop and went over some peculiarities of navigation in Marin.  This year should be a bit easier as Quarq have sent us a load of Garmins which we will pre-load with each day's route.  Today, we'll do another spin to dial things in as well as assemble the bikes which have arrived.

The campers arrive tomorrow afternoon and, hopefully, we will be able to get out for a late-afternoon 'bonus spin'— to shake out the legs and get to know each other a bit.  The camp is comprised of many returnees from years past, several of my athletes, a couple of old friends and even a relative!  It's nicely mixed between men and women, pro and amateur, with specialties ranging from endurance mountain biking to cyclocross to track.

I will be doing my best to post daily updates and photos right here!

For most of us, cycling is not just a hobby, but a lifestyle.  We use our bikes in our daily activities, whether it be shopping, running errands, or just going out to dinner with friends.  People For Bikes are, in their own words, "an initiative of Bikes Belong, a national group of bicycle suppliers and retailers working to put more people on bicycles more often." 

Their ambitious goal is to unite all who ride or have to do with bikes to encourage safer streets, better cycling infrastructure and laws that protect cyclists instead of discriminate against them.  They've set up a site where you can pledge your support (and money, if you like, but you don't have to) to the cause:

http://www.peopleforbikes.org/page/s/pledge

It's worth a look...and a pledge.

Marin Camp 2010 is filling fast!  There are less than three weeks to go, so if you are interested let me know now.  It's looking like the best Marin Camp yet, and I can't wait!