The Florida Bicycle Racing Association (myFBRA.org) held its second annual Junior 10-14 Training Camp Jan. 4-6 in Mascotte, FL at the AAA Tri Camp. The camp was a great success with 28 juniors in attendance, 16 boys and 12 girls. The camp was staffed by director and coach Keith Creeden, lead skills coach Jim McConnell, coach and mechanic Diane Blake, with Cindy Manning working as a female chaperone, handling registration, ride lead assistance, and chief photographer. Craig Creeden and Michael Hernandez served as our advanced ride leaders.
Despite a miserable, rainy start to the weekend on Friday, we were able to get in bike checks and rollout, and then take a short introductory ride to loosen up the legs. This allowed the coaches to evaluate each rider’s ability to assist with dividing into ability levels for rides and training. After dinner, we settled in and held a presentation on USA Cycling rules, officials, junior gearing, and a few other topics. Michael then shared his experiences traveling to the Garmin Development Team Camp, and then his travel and racing in Belgium last summer. After the talks, we set up a limbo station for riders to test their skills and have some fun.
Saturday we woke up to good weather and plans for a big day of riding and training. We took the group out for a 7 mile ride to the Van Fleet Trail where we divided into 4 groups to practice riding in a pace line and doing pace line rotations. We returned to the camp with a 30 mile ride complete and a group that was ready to play some bicycle soccer. Following lunch, Diane conducted a short mechanics class concentrating on changing a flat tire. We then set out on the bikes again to a nearby empty subdivision and held the following skills and drills:
- riding in a straight line through cones, gradually bringing the cones closer together
- sprinting in a straight line with a shadow rider next to the sprinter
- bike throw at the finish line
- emergency stop at a line
- clip in sprint drills 3 abreast to simulate a race start
- bunny hop a 1”x4” plank
- cornering techniques – leaning, steering, and counter steering
- following a line through a slalom course for cornering practice
- time trail starts
- slow race (track standing)
With some tired muscles, we had Heather Kaarup, a structural integrator and massage therapist, teach proper stretching exercises. After stretching, it was out to the field for some bike skills and fun. We rode a 6” plank, rode over a teeter totter ramp, played a game of last man standing, and then the highlight of the weekend, the cardboard slide race.
After dinner, John Hovius, a certified nutritionist and owner of the AAA Tri Camp, gave a talk on proper nutrition for both before, during, and after racing or riding. It was then time for a little lighthearted fun with a game of bicycle trivia, with trivia on a few singing stars thrown in. The night was not complete until we had our Saturday night ice cream party.
Sunday, we rose to some tired juniors, but we still managed to get in a 15 mile ride, some more skills training, one more game of bicycle soccer, and one last cardboard slide race as a tiebreaker. It was then time for lunch, and parents began to show up for our final talk on bicycle racing and a parent discussion.
This turned out to be a very productive as well as fun camp for all involved. It was amazing to see the dramatic improvement in handling skills and juniors accomplish drills some had never tried previously. “These camps are a great way for younger juniors to learn more about cycling in a fun way with their peers” said Craig Creeden, one of the ride leaders at the camp. “I began racing at the age of 13 and I think it’s awesome for these juniors to have this opportunity to become friends, learn new cycling skills, tactics, nutrition and just have fun during the field games. Everyone involved had a blast, while learning at the same time!”
We would like to express our sincere thanks to the AAA Tri Camp for an excellent facility, our camp staff of volunteers, and the FBRA for the financial assistance and support to make this happen. And of course, a big thanks to all the juniors that participated.
Check out our pics from the camp.
DAY 1 PHOTOS on Facebook Click Here
DAY 2 PHOTOS on Facebook Click Here
DAY 3 PHOTOS on Facebook Click Here
