Today was the perfect ending to an amazing camp.  It was the final and longest day - 150km of sweet West Marin cycling, taking in some of the best Marin has to offer in a single day.  The day dawned clear and stayed that way.  With warm descents and shady climbs, it was perfect for cycling.

The early starters left with a one hour advantage, and the main group caught them at the perfect time - just before a planned stop for some nice baked goods in Pt Reyes Station.  We then rolled down Hwy 1 to the biggest climb of the day of Bolinas-Fairfax rd, where the group split and did their best efforts on the steep climb - a repeat of the first half of Day 3's climb.  That was followed by the descent to Alpine Dam and then the return ride home via Fairfax.

Marin camp 2010 was a special one.  The routes, support staff and weather all were at their best.  More importantly, however, the group were cohesive and supportive of each other like none I have seen in previous years.  We did a lot of work on mental training as well as goal setting and getting the best out of each rider each day.  Several personal records were broken and riders discovered inner strength they didn't know they had.

Thanks to Jeb Stewart, StudioVelo, Cyfac, Quarq Technology, LifeCycle Adventures, and Training f/x for helping to make this camp the best ever.  Most of all, thank you to all who came and rode - your passion for our sport and dedication to improving your performance inspires us to give you the best of our knowledge, experience, and focus.  I hope you all come back in the years to come.

Here are a few photos from the day.  More to come soon.

Climbing in West Marin:

Riding along Tomales Bay:

Our bikes at the Bovine Bakery:

Climbing away from Bolinas:

This was a day without any particular assignments - ride as you like, and keep in mind that the biggest day is tomorrow.  We did the Alpine Dam loop with a nice out-and-back to the top of Mt. Tam.  There was some hammering, some cruising and a whole lot of fun.  Everyone is asleep now, as we have 150km of sunshine tomorrow.

Heading to Tam:

At the Dam:

Making it to the top:

The gang with a stunning view of the Bay:

Day 3 at Marin Camp is always a big one.  It's the day we 'race'— the Mt Tam Hill climb course, and it is the day the riders really have to dig deep to find the best in themselves.  For two days, they have been doing shorter, sharper efforts and today they have about 1 hour on the rivet, all uphill on one of the Bay Areas's toughest climbs.

Chris Peariso started the race off with a nice leadout on the flats from Stinson Beach, and he didn't stop there.  Just over 42 minutes later he arrived first at the Rock Springs lot, with Steven Hunter in second.  The rest of the crew arrived individually and everyone gave it their best.  Everyone had a blast, and after a short stint waiting at the top for warm clothes, descended back to Mill Valley for lunch, yoga, and massage. 

Steven Hunter comin' in hot:

Dick Drummond giving it his all on a bike he built himself:

Huddling for warmth:

Tomorrow is a relatively mellow day riding Alpine Dam and the top of Mt Tam.   More coverage here at Jeb's blog.

Another day dawned clear and bright and, following an excellent discussion on nutrition, the camp, with guest Jenn Reither, headed off to the Marin Headlands for what is for many the toughest day of camp - sprint, lead-out, and race finish scenario day.  We started with a bit of briefing on what lay ahead:

Then, we rode:

Finally, we sprinted, lead-out, and did some race finishes followed by discussion thereof:

All-in-all it was a fantastic day.  Tomorrow, we replicate the Mt Tam Hillclimb!

What a beginning!  Under clear, warm skies, we departed for an excellent introduction to some of Marin's best riding.  After an excellent first day's discussion on goal setting and mental training, we did 5 min and 1 min tests while taking in the wonders of Mt Tam, the descent of Bolinas Rd., and the stunning coast.

It's fun (but, exhausting fun) so I am going to keep it short and simply say that the day was amazing.  Here are a couple of photos:

For more coverage of the camp as it happens, head over to Jeb Stewart's blog.

It's not an 'official' camp day, but it always ends up being a fun one.  The day before camp is when nearly everyone arrives, all the preparation is about finished, and we can go for a ride.  This afternoon, about 3/4 of the camp went for a nice, easy Paradise Loop spin.  It was a great way to get everyone chatting and to loosen up legs stiffened by long journeys to get here.

Tomorrow camp really begins.  Everyone will be formally introduced, we will eat together and then head out on the road for a beautiful ride along the ridges and coastline of Marin.  We will have everyone do their 1 min and 5 min power tests as well as make sure everyone knows how to get the most from their Quarq powermeters.

Stay tuned for updates as they happen.

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!

After six great years with Peaks Coaching Group, I have decided to create my own coaching practice. 

There are a whole host of exciting new events which I will detail here in the months ahead.

Stay tuned!

We do not take a trip; a trip takes us.

John Steinbeck

It has been just over a year since we moved to California and it has been interesting to watch the seasons pass.  Some say that California doesn’t have seasons, but it does – they’re just more subtle. 

The other day, Jeff and I took an afternoon to ride Mt Diablo, which has become something of a regular stop in my riding experiences while living here.  We’ve ridden it in each season and it always offers something a bit different.

In winter, the mountain can be very cold, if not at the bottom, then at the top which rises to over 1200 meters above sea level.  There is occasionally ice on the road in the shadows and the wind can be fierce.  In springtime, the grass is green, with hillsides full of blue, red and purple wildflowers, while in the summer it turns from a light brown to dark as the sun bakes the grasses and the days heat up.  All the while, the oak trees stay a beautiful dark green.  In the autumn, just after the first rains, the grass again begins to turn green.  The air goes from feeling heavy and dusty to feeling clean and washed and a pleasure to breathe.

This is how it felt last Tuesday when we rode once again from the South entrance to the summit.  Each season brings with it its own pleasures, even in California.

Here are some photos looking to the South: