Weekend Riding Program

For the last two years, our teammates Olivier Baillet and Ross Galitsky have been organizing training and social bike rides, leading groups of athletes from metropolitan New York area every weekend during the Winter and Spring.  Every Thursday (or Friday), an e-mail is distributed to a group of approximately 50-70 people with the riding plan for the upcoming Saturday.  The riding plan will also be published on this page.  These rides are open to everyone, whether you are Central Park Track Club members or not.  If you wish to be placed on the email list, please send your request to either Olivier Baillet or Ross Galitsky.

As always with winter bike rides, please check the weather beforehand and prepare accordingly.

FEBRUARY 15, 2003 AND LATER

Program for Feb 15 and later until further notice:

Weather continues to be unfriendly for cycling this winter season.  But it should not stop people who are willing to ride outdoor.  Until further notice, please feel free to meet other potential riding partners at the usual time and location (Saturdays at 10 am in the Park entrance near East 90 Street). Olivier and Ross reserve a right not to participate (due to a variety of work-related trips, holidays and general fear of becoming an icicle).

Train smart,

Ross & Olivier

FEBRUARY 8, 2003

Hi Tri-Folks,

As sub-freezing temperatures are forecasted for this weekend, we suggest people should plan to meet at the usual place and decide there on the ride plan (Central Park or New Jersey).

Train smart,

Ross & Olivier

FEBRUARY 1-2, 2003

Weather forecast for this week-end is - once again - not too good.  It is supposed to rain all Saturday morning and it is therefore unlikely that we ride that day.  We may decide to ride on Sunday, same place, same time, as chances of precipitation are lower (20%).

Have a nice week-end,

Ross and Olivier

JANUARY 25, 2003

JANUARY 18, 2003

JANUARY 11, 2003

JANUARY 4th, 2003

DECEMBER 28th, 2002

Riding plan is the same for this Saturday as it was prior weekends but weather and road conditions don't look too promising.  Start time is 10am.

DECEMBER 21st, 2002

This week's plan is the same one as last week's.  The weather is supposed to be OK so we should be able to ride this time.  Start time is 10am.

DECEMBER 14th, 2002

First please note that we are moving the start time of our ride from 9 AM to 10 AM. This is to allow Ross to comply with his coaching obligations and to start riding in slightly warmer temperature. However, we strongly encourage those of you who want to stick to the 9 AM start to do so. This would divide up our group into two smaller more manageable subgroups.  Second, please note that this message is also now being posted on the Central Park Track Club website (www.centralparktc.org). To view, click on Cycling under Workouts heading on the front page.

STARTING NEXT WEEK, we will start using the website as THE UNIQUE method of communication.

Program for Saturday, December 14:

Weather:
Once again, the weather forecast looks bleak for this week-end. A bit of rain highly probable (70% chance), temperature in the low 40s and some wind (17m/h). Of course, use your own judgment to decide if it's rideable conditions for YOU.

Route (same as last week canceled program):
Our plan for Saturday is to ride tempo to Nyack (via Nyack College hills and Rockland Lake), stop for a short coffee break at the Rancible Spoon, and return back via Nyack hills again. Obviously, some people may decide to take the alternative route (9W to Piermont to Nyack, and back the same route). Anticipate that our group will not stay together through the ride, and choose your route and riding companions accordingly. Longer route is about 70 miles, direct route is about 54 miles (from and to the Park).

Ross and Olivier's training plan:
Heart Rate in the low 130s range most of the time, always under 155 even in the hills, since it is a fat-burning high-cadence base-building season, and there is no reason to strain our cardiovascular or muscular systems now.  Small chainring throughout (even on the flats), rpm 90 to 110. Seat on the hills and spin - save your knees and improve stroke efficiency.  This will prepare us for the hill repeats that we're planning to incorporate in January.

Meeting Points:
Central Park entrance at East 92 Street at 10:00 am, departing 10:05 am.
GW Bridge on NJ side of the bridge at 10:35-10:40 am.

Ride Rules:
Be on time, we take off at 10:05 from the Park.  Bad weather may affect riding plans. If it's below 30 degrees, group may decide to cancel ride or substitute with a few Central Park loops. Rain also may result in cancellation.  We stop for the first flat or mechanical, after that - depending on weather conditions, so try to find a buddy at the beginning of the ride who would stay with you, and also try to have someone in the pack know that you stopped or turned back.

Ride "Philosophy":
We are arranging these rides to provide a vehicle for people to meet others in the local multisport community and to enjoy off-season riding, and we are NOT in business of providing mechanical support and training services.  So try to spot potential training partners for the winter, and built training groups of similar abilities.  Obviously, you can ride with us the whole way or you can ride with us part way, or you can start with us out of town and continue with your own training goal.  While our group consists mainly of multisport athletes, we strongly believe in integrating road racing skills and concepts into our rides (we practice and use pacelines, close proximity pack riding, and HRM-based zone training).

DECEMBER 7th, 2002

The weather forecast for Saturday is good (40 and partly cloudy). Of course, use your own judgment to decide if it's ridable conditions for YOU.  Please note that this message is also now being posted on the Central Park Track Club website (www.centralparktc.org). To view, click on Cycling under Workouts heading on the front page.

(Disclosure: Olivier and Ross are members of CPTC but there is no secret agenda here. Webmaster (Roland "The Horrible and Ever-present" Soong) graciously agreed to donate web space to post our riding agendas. This was due to the increasingly larger number of e-mail recipients, which forced certain corporate IT Security pressures on Olivier and Ross. Eventually, we will start using website as a primary method of communication.  Meanwhile introduce (and bookmark) this page for your future reference.) 

Our plan for Saturday is to ride tempo to Nyack (via Nyack College hills and Rockland Lake), stop for a short coffee break at the Rancible Spoon, and return back via Nyack hills again. Obviously, some people may decide to take the alternative route (9W to Piermont to Nyack, and back the same route). Anticipate that our group will not stay together through the ride, and choose your route and riding companions accordingly. Longer route is about 70 miles, direct route is about 54 miles (from and to the Park).

Meeting Points:
Central Park entrance at East 92 Street at 9:00 am, departing 9:05 am.
GW Bridge on NJ side of the bridge at 9:35-9:40 am.

Ride Rules:
Be on time (it's too cold now to wait longer than 9:05 am).
Bad weather may affect our plans. If it's raining and snowing, or below 30 degrees, group may decide to cancel ride or substitute with a few Central Park loops.  Dress properly - no one wants to deal with your frostbite in the middle of the ride.  We stop for the first flat or mechanical, after that - depending on weather conditions, so try to find a buddy at the beginning of the ride who would stay with you, and try to have someone in the pack know that you stopped or turned back.  try to spot potential training partners, and built training groups of similar abilities. You can ride with us the whole way or you can start with us and continue with your own training goal.  While our group consists mainly of multisport athletes, we strongly believe in integrating road cycling skills and concepts into our rides (we practice and use pacelines, close proximity pack riding, and HRM-based zone training). If uncomfortable with closeness of the pack and drafting, slide back behind the group.

NOVEMBER 30th, 2002

The weather forecast is for cold day (40 or below) but as long as there is no rain or snow, ride is ON. Since this is traditional American "go somewhere to have big dinner" week, we expect low attendance. We will not be relying on later e-mail notification to cancel Saturday ride (if forced by weather) - so rely on your good judgment.

The plan for Saturday is similar to the last week - vigorous spin to Nyack for a short coffee stop at the Rancible Spoon, and return back via the easiest route (Piermont and 9W). In order to stay warm we will go out to Nyack via more demanding route (maybe River Road or hilly route around Nyack and Rockland Lake). As prior rides demonstrated, our group is too large to stay together through a complete ride, and breaks down by traffic and fitness abilities into smaller and safer groupettos. Be prepared for such splits if you want to stay with your friends or don't know the directions.

Meeting Points:
Central Park entrance at East 92 Street at 9:00 am, departing 9:05 am.
GW Bridge on NJ side of the bridge at 9:35-9:40 am.

Ride Rules:
Be on time, we take off at 9:05 from the Park.
Bad weather may affect our plans. If it's raining and snowing, or below 30 degrees, group may decide to cancel ride or substitute with a few Central Park loops.
Dress properly - no one wants to deal with your frostbite in the middle of ride.  We stop for the first flat or mechanical, after that - depending on weather
conditions, so try to find a buddy at the beginning of the ride who would stay with you, and try to have someone in the pack know that you stopped or
turned back. Try to spot potential training partners, and built training groups of similar abilities. You can ride with us the whole way or you can start with us and continue with your own training goal.  While our group consists mainly of multisport athletes, we strongly believe in integrating road cycling skills and concepts into our rides (we practice and use pacelines, close proximity pack riding, and HRM-based zone training). If uncomfortable with closeness of the pack and drafting, slide back behind the group.

NOVEMBER 23rd, 2002: Weekend Ride In The Cold

Weather: The weather forecast is not too bad for this weekend (minimal chance of precipitation). It should be VERY windy on Saturday and cold (around 40 degrees). Come prepared: wear booties, hat or band under your helmet, warm gloves, and eye protection (clear lenses). Please, no flopping clothes, disk wheels or front deep-dish wheels.

Route: EZ but vigorous spin to Nyack via River Road and 9W; short coffee break at the Spoon; 9W on the way back. Approx. distance from Central Park 50 miles.

Ross and Olivier's training plan: Heart Rate in the low 130s range most of the time, always under 155 even in the hills, since it is a fat-burning high-cadence base-building season, and there is no reason to strain our cardiovascular or muscular systems now. Small chain ring throughout (even on the flats), rpm 90 to 110. Seat on the hills and spin - save your knees and improve stroke efficiency.

As our last ride demonstrated, our group may be too large to stay together through a complete ride, and will be broken down by traffic and fitness levels into smaller and safer groups. Be prepared for such splits.

The usual stuff:

Meeting Points: Central Park entrance at East 92 Street at 9:00 am, departing 9:05 am. GW Bridge on NJ side of the bridge at 9:35-9:40 am.

Ride Rules: Be on time, we take off at 9:05 from the Park. Bad weather may affect riding plans. If it's below 30 degrees, group may decide to cancel ride or substitute with a few Central Park loops. Rain also may result in cancellation. We stop for the first flat or mechanical, after that - depending on weather conditions, so try to find a buddy at the beginning of the ride who would stay with you, and also try to have someone in the pack know that you stopped or turned back.

Ride "Philosophy": We are arranging these rides to provide a vehicle for people to meet others in the local multisport community and to enjoy off-season riding, and we are NOT in business of providing mechanical support and training services. So try to spot potential training partners for the winter, and built training groups of similar abilities.

Obviously, you can ride with us the whole way or you can ride with us part way, or you can start with us out of town and continue with your own training goal.

While our group consists mainly of multisport athletes, we strongly believe in integrating road racing skills and concepts into our rides (we practice and use pacelines, close proximity pack riding, and HRM-based zone training).

What's next? Our general plan for this winter is to continue with post-season easy social riding for another couple of weeks, moving to endurance base maintenance riding for the holidays (T-giving and X-mas), then onto endurance base building mixed with some cycling-specific strength rides post holidays. As the next season will loom upon us in March-April, we will add intervals and time trialing into the mix. As always, during the racing season we tend to break up into smaller groups or train solo due to our individual fitness levels and training & racing plans.

NOVEMBER 16th, 2002: Soaking Wet Weekend

Bad news dear friends. According to WeatherChannel.com, it is going to rain Saturday all day starting at 6 AM. As for Sunday, it doesn't look good at all either (100% chance of precipitation). I'm afraid we have to cancel our ride. In case the weather turns out to be better than expected, some of us may show up at 9 AM at the usual meeting point (Central Park Entrance at East 90th) on Saturday and/or Sunday, but we cannot guarantee it. Good opportunity to improve our mastery of swimming/running/stretching/yoga/cooking/sleeping/eating/drinking/partying and another activity I don't want to mention here for decency reason.

NOVEMBER 9th, 2002:  Weekend Social Ride

It is now November.  With the racing season behind most of us, we (Olivier and Ross) wanted to re-start our winter riding tradition by inviting our old riding buddies and some new recruits (or "fresh meat" as eloquently described by Olivier) to get together for a social ride next Saturday. We are planning an easy but vigorous spin from Central Park (meeting at the Central Park entrance at East 92 Street at 9 am, departing 9:05 am) to GW Bridge (to meet up with NJ contingent, aka Ft. Lee Tri-Mafia, on NJ side of the bridge at 9:30-9:40 am), and then via mainly 9W to Nyack's Rancible Spoon for a coffee and muffin stop. We'll return via the same roads.

Our general plan for this winter is to continue with post-season easy social riding for another couple of weeks, moving to endurance base maintenance riding for the holidays (T-giving and X-mas), then onto endurance base building mixed with some cycling-specific strength rides post holidays. As the next season will loom upon us in March-April, we will add intervals and time trialing into the mix. As always, during the racing season we tend to break up into smaller groups or train solo due to our individual fitness levels and training & racing plans.

Ride Rules: Be on time, we take off at 9:05 from the Park. Bad weather may affect riding plans. If it's below 30 degrees, group may decide to cancel ride or substitute with a few Central Park loops. Rain also may result in ride cancellation. As this group "shakes out" in the next month, we will try to set-up cellphone(s) to call on the morning of the ride for confirmation.

Obviously, you can ride with us whole way or you can ride with us part of the way, or you can start with us out of town and continue with your own training goal.

We always stop for the first flat or mechanical, after that - depending on weather conditions (the group won't wait if it's too cold), so try to find a buddy at the beginning of the ride who would stay with you, and try to have someone in the pack know that you stopped or turned back.

While our group consists mainly of multisport athletes, we strongly believe in integrating road racing/riding skills and concepts into our rides (we practice and use pacelines, close proximity pack riding, attacks/accelerations/hill repeats drills, and HRM-based zone training).

Best Regards, Olivier Baillet and Ross Galitsky