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Website Wiki Cycling Stuff
To get on the Ride List blitz "Cycling Team". Leon Maurer is the Wiki Master. Contact him if there are problems with the wiki.            |
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New Riders InfoSome FAQ for riders new to the sport, and riders new to Dartmouth: Mostly by Jonathan Awerbuch and updated by Jennifer Stebbins Thinking about applying to Dartmouth? Check out the Info For Prospective Students page for more answers to your most pressing questions! Q: I am an avid cyclist. Am I good enough to be on the team? Yes! We take all levels of riders. Collegiate racing offers categories for all experience and ability levels. I didn't even own a road bike the first time I tried road racing; I borrowed a bike (via the ride list and a VERY kind stranger) and went with the team to a race weekend. Anyone can do it! Come for a ride with us. Friday afternoon team rides are accessible for all (road bikes strongly encouraged), and run regularly during the warmer months of fall term. Q: I’m ready! How do I sign up for the team? There is no official sign-up to be on the Dartmouth Cycling Team. To stay in touch with team news and events, you should sign up for the ride list. Blitz cteam@dartmouth.edu to be added or check us out at any club sports or activities fair. Q: How do I get in touch with the Dartmouth Cycling community? What is the ride-list? If you’d like to get in touch with the entire community, use the ride list. See this brief page on the ride list for further info. If you have more specific questions, you can always email the captains at cteam@dartmouth.edu. Also, team dinners (which are blitzed out to the ride-list) are a great, low-key way to meet everyone, and they are a ton of fun! Q: Are there team practices? How should I train? The cycling team does not have a year-round coach and there are no official practices. Most members of the team abide by individual training programs, but join up to go out on rides. Most rides are organized through the ride list. Check your blitz! If you are interested in learning how you can train more effectively, talk to anyone on the team who has been racing for a couple of years. Any of us will be happy to point you in the right direction. Toby might even make you a training program if you ask nicely! Q: What is racing like? How often does it happen? How do I sign up? The best part about riding your bike is racing it! Road races happen every weekend mid-March through May. For the complete calendar, go to the ECCC website. Traditionally, the team will blitz out the week before a race asking people to sign up for that weekend. This enables the team to provide transportation and lodging for everyone who wants to go. The ECCC (Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference) also offers collegiate mountain bike and cyclocross races. While there is less organization for these types of races, there are certainly a number of Dartmouth kids who will be there. Blitz out or ask around! Q: Where do you store your equipment? Most people keep their bike in their dorm room. This is your best option, although some dorms do have hooks in the basement or you can lock your bike to a pipe. If you’d like, the housing office will set up a bike rack for you in your room for free. Contact them when you get to campus. Q: What will the team pay for? How do I get team discounts? As a club sport, the cycling team is entitled to some funds, but not limitless ones. We have a great group of sponsors and alumni supporters who allow us to provide free transportation and lodging to all of the road races in the spring. Riders are responsible for paying entry fees and food costs while on the road. The team does have a number of sponsorship deals and discounts. To be eligible, you must commit to at least three races during the spring. Q: Does the club have rollers, bike tools, stands, travel boxes etc. or should I bring all of my gear with me to campus? You should bring your own rollers/trainers and tools. Rudy has a pretty complete tool box, and the team has a few of the bigger tools like headset presses, etc, but you should bring all your basic tools. WINTER TRAINING INFORMATION The truth is, Dartmouth is a wintery place. Here are some tips from el capitan on how to stay warm (and fast!) during those snowy months. Mostly by Jonathan Awerbuch Q: I come from an area where it never is snowy. Do you ride outside all winter or use other methods of training? Training in the winter in Hanover is an adventure. I generally do all my harder/longer rides outside almost all winter, but if it is snowing or it is too cold, I'll have to ride the trainer. Some people ride the trainer a lot more than I do. Others ride and train less in general in the winter, or take up cross country skiing or running. The bottom line is that training in the winter is tricky, but certainly possible. Q: What do you normally wear to ride in the winter? Everyone is different and no two people wear the same thing on a chilly day. Here is a list of what I recommends for winter riding:
Keeping your hands and feet warm is the hardest part, they are definitely the limiting factor, so you want WARM gloves and booties. Q: As far as rollers versus trainers for the winter, what would you recommend? And if I didn't want to spend the money on a trainer/roller, would the stationary bikes in Alumni Gym be sufficient for winter training? I would steer clear of the stationary bikes, but they are better than nothing. A good trainer is around $250. We might be able to find you a deal. A crappy trainer is about $100. I'd recommend a trainer if you are going to ride it a lot. Rollers are tiring, since you have to be paying attention the whole time -- I don't think I’ve ridden the rollers more than an hour and a half. On the other hand, I have done three hours or more on the trainer, although I don’t recommend it... but rollers are great for your technique. I have both, but I had the trainer long before I got the rollers. Still have questions? Blitz the team at cteam@dartmouth.edu! |