January 2013 ~ 1

 

Welcome to my January world...!

New Website Coming Soon
Trying to teach yourself how to build a website is like trying to learn Latin.  But I think I've learned enough to update what you see now, to something a little more "polished"  in the coming weeks.

Our website's in it's tenth year now, and technology has moved on.  It's time has been and gone, but with over a 1000 pages it's not the work of a moment, please bear with us as we "transition" from an ugly duckling to a swan.

Pre-Competition Training
We're at that time of year, for some of you, where your base and foundation work is coming to an end and the emphasis of your training moves from endurance to speed.

If your currently riding the Climbageddon's (see below), don't worry, it all ends soon and we can get on to hurting just as much, but going a whole lot faster.  Somehow the pain seems more acceptable when your doing 45kph+, instead of crawling up a 10% slope.

Here's a few pointers on how to plan the coming weeks or months.

Climbageddon
Lots of climbing taking place at the moment here in little old Jersey, with groups of 20 to 25 flamme rougers making it out on a Saturday and Sunday to build strength, power and just plain stubbornness as we prepare for the new season.  Here's one we prepared earlier...

2013 Performance Programmes...
There's still time to get your Pre-Competition Programmes, should you require one.  Details are here if you need them... 

If you're looking to create your own training programme and need some ideas, why not take a look at our 55 page Self-Coach Manual which includes all our drills and sessions, along with supporting information, to get you started.  All for less than the price of a tub of energy drink!

Carry on Camping
Over the years we've built up many cycling tour and camp contacts.  And with over a 1000 riders, with discernable taste on our "client list", and many thousands a day reading these pages, I thought it was time to introduce you to each other. 

We're going to launch a Training Camp section in the new website.  It will only contain, contacts and camps that have been validated and vouched for by you, the people reading this.  There will be no one in there that hasn't had a glowing reference from one of our riders that's personally been there, had a fantastic time, then told me about it.

For starters, here's a few options (in alphabetical order) for you to consider that have our "Seal of Approval"...

Bike Breaks ~ Girona Northern Spain

Chateau Kistinic ~ France Brittany (wow!)

Marsh-Mallows Cycling ~ Mallorca Spain

Pyractif ~ French Pyrenees & Spain

Train in Spain ~ Costa Blanca Spain

Vamos Cycling ~ Sierra Nevada Southern Spain

Velo Ventoux ~ Ventoux (where else?) France

Space is going to be limited, as quality is the main criteria, we'll also try to find the best option in each region.  There are other operators within the regions, so feel free to look around,  We've just had people vouch that these are exceptional operations that look after you like family, not clients.  Why not give them a try?

Puncheur ~ Last Call?
Okay, entries close on the 28th February.  It maxes out at 400 entries, and 300 have already gone.  Don't be kicking yourself come the end of the month?  Sunday 10th March is the day to test yourself down in Brighton and on the Beacon.

What we've been up to...
A selection of our training rides, so our training partners around the world can see how our road coaching protocols transfer to real life application.  No turbo sessions, they're a secret! 

These are my attempts at holding back the ravages of time... 

 

And here's what the talented members of the Equipe Flamme Rouge community have been up to in the past week....

 

If you'd like to share your rides with our global friends, feel free to click and join.  It's free and you won't get grief, because we never give your contact info out to anyone, ever!  Or you can just click and follow me and I'll reciprocate...

Mailing List Subscription
We hope you find something in this site of interest.  If we can't help you now, maybe we can in the future.  If you wish to subscribe to our increasingly large, early notification, monthly mailing list, click the subscribe link on the left.

Last Month

There's a lot of it about...
In the last week in the UK over 100,000 people are believed to have suffered the Winter Vomiting Virus.  It's almost becoming an epidemic with schools, hospitals and day care wards being closed to visitors.  Don't become a victim to this, or any other "illness" that you can so easily avoid, both on and off the bike.  Our annual warning just a little earlier than normal...

2013 Performance Programmes...
Another thirty riders (just under 300 so far), and another three US States have joined our community this month, and we're backing in to January with a four or five day lead-time.  If you're thinking of starting your training in January, please get in touch soon and don't leave it until the last minute.  Details are here if you need them... 

If you're looking to create your own programme and need some ideas, why not take a look at our 55 page Self-Coach Manual which includes all our drills and sessions, along with supporting information, to get you started.  For less than the price of a tub of energy drink!

Suit You Sir?
How much did that sexy pair of Oakley's cost you?  Make you go faster did they?  Help you're endurance?  Decrease your TT PB?  Thought not!  Here's something that just might, if you apply it correctly, knock more time of your PB than a disc wheel, for a fifth of the price... 

Holiday Rides
The Gunsite Grupetto will be holding a Gregario's Masterclass over the holiday period, a schedule will be put facebook after the weekend.

Remember This...
As I say every year, "it's not what you eat between Christmas and New year; it's what you eat between New Year and Christmas that counts".  Fill your boots, and I'll see you in January with a new factsheet, and loads of Training Camp info.