Track Season has Begun

By the time you read this the track season will have already begun. Evening practice sessions will be underway and the Superdrome will be gearing up for The Matrix Cup on April 19th and 20th. So, what is The Matrix Cup? Is it a massive Stanley Cup style trophy to adorn one’s kitchen counter? Is it a brilliant golden chalice used for drinking the sweet Accelerade of victory? To be perfectly honest, I have no idea.

What I do know is that The Matrix Cup comprises two full days of track racing at the Superdrome, and promises a pay out of $10,000. If that doesn’t get your attention and make you want to dust off your track bike, I don’t know what will. And if you have not taken the required Development Class yet, you have no need to worry. The Superdrome staff is holding a special Development Class on Friday night, April 18th. Not only that, but rental bikes will be available as always for anyone who takes the class but does not have the time or fiscal fortitude to plop down the cash on a track bike.

The big question now, of course, is what possible reason you could have for not attending. Even if you don’t feel like racing, you might as well make the trek north and show a little support for bicycle racing. The action is all right there in front of you, there is no gate fee for spectators and it will be a good excuse to get out of the house and do something a little different with your Saturday evening. The races are family friendly and not only offer a racing program for youths, but we’ll have apron races for the kids during intermission. What could be more fun for a kid than racing around the apron? Heck, I’m tempted to bring along my own BMX bike and join in if they’ll let me!

For those of you who are seeking to get a little more from the track than just friendly advice and weekday workouts, we’re also holding a series of clinics at the Superdrome that will provide you with a wealth of knowledge and training geared to specific goals. Here’s a brief breakdown on what is happening in the months ahead:

Track Skills Clinics
• April 5th kicks off our exciting 2008 schedule of track skills clinics with Stefan Rothe’s curriculum covering Endurance track racing events.
• April 26th continues the track skill clinic series when 2002 U.S. National Track Cycling Champion Jeff LaBauve drops into the lane to teach the finer points of Sprinting.
• May 11th brings Christian Williams’ Fitness Clinic, an invaluable resource tailored specifically for new cyclists seeking to use the track as a training and fitness tool.
• May 31st former sprint champions Tim and Suzie Goodwin welcome riders to the track for event specific training. Standing starts, flying 200s and other timed event techniques will be tailored to every rider’s individual needs.
• Later in the season we’ll have Nathan Rogut on hand to teach track etiquette to racers at all levels of experience.

Other clinics are planned as well and we’re looking forward to adding to this diverse schedule. Not only are the clinics taught by knowledgeable racers, but class size is limited to ensure more one-on-one instruction during the clinic. You do not need to be a seasoned veteran to take advantage of these clinics, and many of the skills and training techniques will also apply to other disciplines of bicycle racing.