Junior Racing

Team Placid Planet Youth Cycling Program, Spring 2010

Information sheet and schedule

We at Team Placid Planet, a cycling and triathlon club based in the Clinton, Essex, and Franklin County areas of the Northern Adirondacks, love cycling and want to spread its enjoyment and health benefits to a wider population. We think there is no better way to do this than to give the young people of our region opportunities to try the sport. We are therefore continuing our youth cycling program this season, offering group rides and practice sessions for kids from the ages of 10 to 18, with the general goals of helping each young person to

learn to ride a bicycle on the road safely relative to motorized traffic and to other riders in a group;
learn to ride as skillfully, as fast, and as efficiently as possible given different ages, sizes, and stages of development;
to develop increased physical fitness through this activity; and
to have as much fun as possible doing so, both as individuals and as a group.

A major secondary goal of some but not necessarily all participants is to take part in bicycle road races. There will be opportunities to race both locally and regionally, but racing is not a requirement. After all, you have to crawl before you can walk, and a youngster has to be able to ride safely, smoothly, and confidently before he or she can make the decision to try racing.

Requirements for participation: As stated above, we encourage kids to work up to trying racing, but it is not a requirement at all. But: this is not riding your bike to the store to get an ice-cream cone: it is for kids who have an interest in going fast on a bike. If that leads to racing, we’ll be thrilled, but if it doesn’t, we will be happy as long as it’s a positive experience for child and parents.
Our youth rides are open to ages 10 to 18. We ask that parents attend and participate with youngsters between the ages of 10 and 12, at least the first time or two. Parents of kids ages 13-18 are invited and encouraged to participate in the rides too, as long as they keep in mind that the rides are for geared for the kids, not the adults.
All participants ages 10-14 need to have completed at least a 10-mile ride, and all participants ages 15-18 need to have completed at least a 20-mile ride.
Safety equipment: Helmets are mandatory and must be worn at all times when on a bike at our rides and events.
Bikes: Kids and parents should have a serviceable, safe road bike with at least ten-speed gearing. A mountain bike can serve for starters if you don’t have a road bike. For those who don’t have a usable bike and have a serious interest in participating, contact us: we may be able to help.
Food and water: Bikes should be equipped with at least one water bottle cage. The bottles should be full of water or your favorite sports drink. Energy bars or gels are good snacks to eat on the bike. Bananas and sliced apples work well too.
Clothing: Padded cycling shorts and gloves are highly recommended. A cycling jersey with back pockets to hold snacks, etc., is helpful too, though not mandatory.
Membership and Waivers: All youth riders must have parents sign a waiver form (Youth between the ages of 10-18 can join Team Placid Planet free of charge). All parents who want to participate must also sign a waiver and are strongly encouraged to join the club too ($25 annual membership for adults).
Locations: We’ll have training rides in different locations around the North Country, approximately three per month, mostly on Saturday mornings but also some Sunday afternoons so that no one has to drive far every time. The locations may be shaded toward where the majority of participants live. Probable locations include Lake Placid, Wilmington, Jay, Peru, Point au Roche, Elizabethtown, Saranac Lake, and Keeseville.
Coaches/Contacts:
Jim Walker, USA-Cycling Level 3 (entry-level) Coach, head coach, cell 518-637-6590 or jameslwalker3@yahoo.com
Hal Schmidt, USA-Cycling Masters racer, assistant coach, cell 518-421-2328 or hal.schmidt@momentive.com
Scott Bombard, longtime triathlete and cyclist, assistant coach, 518-647-5882 or sbombard@graymont.com

Team Placid Planet Youth Cycling - Spring Schedul 2010
Sunday, April 18 – Season-opening outing and ride. Trip to the Tour of the Battenkill Pro Invitational Cycling Race in Cambridge, NY, east of Saratoga Springs, 40 miles northeast of Albany. Bring your bike and cycling clothing as well as a change of street clothes, a towel, and some money for lunch, and we will see the start of one of the top Pro races in the country in Cambridge, drive or ride between different vantage points and see some of the best cyclists in the country ride two laps of a grueling 62-mile course. Lots of festivities in the center of Cambridge, with a Bike Expo and chance to meet and get autographs from the racers. Parents are encouraged to come along. Departure time and details to be announced once the race’s start time is announced, but it will be a pretty early start, probably around 6 or 7 am from the High Peaks area. We will do our best to arrange carpooling for those who need it. If interested, contact Jim Walker at 518-637-6590 (not reachable by phone March 24-April 1) or jameslwalker3@yahoo.com, Hal Schmidt at 518-421-2328 or hal.schmidt@momentive.com, or Scott Bombard at 518-642-5882 or sbombard@graymont.com
Saturday, April 24 - Training ride/safety and group riding skills practice, Peru High School, Peru. Meet at 11am for 1.5 to 2-hour ride working on safety, group and individual riding skills.
Saturday, May 1 - Training ride, time and place to be announced. More group riding skills and some sprints.
Sunday, May 2 - Racing opportunity at Saratoga Springs Downtown Criterium. Parents will need to provide transportation/accompany youth racers in most cases, but several of the TPP adult racers, including Jim Walker, will be attending and racing and can provide guidance and possibly carpooling.
Wednesday, May 5, continuing May 12, 19, 26, June 2 and 9 - Excellent local Junior (and all age) opportunity to try bike racing: Placid Planet Bicycles’ Lake Placid Time Trials, River Road near the ski jumps, Lake Placid. 6:30 pm, 8 miles. No entry fee.
Wednesdays all summer starting early May, TBA: Another excellent way to get your feet wet racing: Point au Roche Time Trial. Registration 5:30pm, first rider off 6pm. 10 mile and 5 mile options. No entry fee.
Saturday, May 8, Saturday, May 15, possibly Saturday May 22 - Training rides/skills practice: locations and focus to be announced.
Saturday/Sunday, June 5 and 6 - Racing opportunity for Juniors 10-18 years old at Cambridge Balloon Festival/New York Juniors Grand Prix (State Championship for Juniors), Cambridge, NY (40 miles northeast of Albany). Road race Saturday, time trial and criterium Sunday. Again, parents will need to provide transportation/accompany youth racers in most cases, but Jim Walker and Harold Schmidt will be attending both days and can provide guidance and possibly carpooling.
Saturday/Sunday, June 12 and 13 - Local racing opportunity for Juniors, Wilmington-Whiteface Road Race and Saranac Lake Downtown Criterium. For more information see our race page at: http://www.teamplacidplanet.org/contentpages/wilmingtonrace.aspx or contact Jim Walker.

That is all for now. In late May we will be making another schedule for the summer season, based on interest and participation in the spring and the needs and desires of the participants. Any questions, please contact Jim Walker, and we look forward to riding with you!

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