Three Keys to your Best Year Yet!
Featuring Coach Craig Undem and Michelle Babb
Tuesday, March 13, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
FREE!
3 key areas we will explore together: riding skills, training plan and nutrition.
Let the Dean and CEO of Cycle University and a top local nutritionist help you discover what is holding you back; so you can make this your best year yet! We will help you build a training plan to be sure you are physically ready, go over key skills every cyclist must master to be safe and fun to ride with and lastly give your nutrition a boost to be sure you are fueling your ride with the best choices for optimal performance.
Craig Undem's lifelong passion is cycling and endurance sport. Since beginning with a collegiate race in 1983 and eventually racing in the World Championships of Cyclocross, winning a World Cup medal in Mountain Bike Racing, placing 2nd in the US in Elite Criterium Championships, racing Track and Triathlon, he has earned the equivalent of a Doctorate in Cycling.
Off the bike Craig has been a professional cycling coach since 1996, is currently the Director Junior racing in the state of Washington, CEO and founder of Cycle University, Washington State Bicycle Racing Association Board member and former board member of the Marymoor Velodrome Association. He is a certified USA Cycling coach and a graduate of the Carmichael Coaching College. "Coach Craig" coached for Lance Armstrong's coach for 3 years and assisted him at the Tour de France in 2002 and 2003.
Planning and Packing For Your Personalized (and Pretty Close to Perfect) Pedal Tour
Tuesday, April 10, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
Are you ready for credit card touring, seeing the country by bike with a minimum of luggage or hassle and a maximum of fun? There are lots of companies out there who will add you to a dozen others and take you on a pre-set trip on what will probably be a pretty nice route. But what if you could plan your own bike tour, where you want to go, at the pace you want to go, with your own favorite riding partner or group, and at a third of the cost? A trip where you could leave options open for side trips or a layover day in case of rain?
Jeff and Louise Davis have travelled over 50,000 miles through the U.S. and Canada doing just that, exploring everything from bike trails and quiet back roads to mountain passes through the Rockies and Appalachians. They'll show you how you can plan your very own dream trip.
They'll start with how you come up with a theme and a tentative starting point and destination that factor in the logistics of getting there and back home at the end of the trip along with the type of trip you want, whether it's easy miles or challenging distance or terrain. Next they'll show you how to search for resources, especially for bike maps that cover the area you're interested in.
OK, you have an idea where you want to bike, but you also want to end each day with a bed and a meal nearby. Jeff and Louise will give you ways to look at a map and get a sense of where the overnight breaks should be, then to find not only motels and hotels but also B&Bs and vacation cabin rentals.
Every road is flat on a map, but not when you bike it. They'll include easy ways to see the hills before you get there, and find ways around them or ways to the summit, whichever you prefer.
If you're like them, you're not interested in busy shoulderless highways or unpaved roads. In some areas it can be a tall order to eliminate both, but Jeff and Louise will demonstrate ways to minimize the chance of either spoiling your dream trip.
But those bicycle tour companies give you such nice maps of each day's ride, right? Jeff and Louise will show you how they've created and printed out daily ride maps even in hotel lobbies on public computers, complete with both a customized map and a cue sheet.
They'll close the presentation with a show and tell demonstration of what they pack for a trip of any length. Since they're always on that tandem, they only get one pannier each, and they've gotten "packing light" almost down to a science. They'll also leave plenty of time at the end for your questions.
So come join us and start planning and packing for your own close-to-perfect bike tour.
The Romance of the Ride Around Washington:
Special Slideshow and Presentation
Friday, April 20, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
Okay, so you've done STP more times than you can remember. The egg at Winlock has just gone stale for you as an annual attraction. You have enjoyed all the one and two day rides the club offers but are now looking for something new. If you feel this way then Cascade has the perfect ride for you, the Ride Around Washington, scheduled for August 4-11 2012 in the in the Pend Oreille and Palouse regions of Eastern Washington and Idaho.
Why is this ride different? The Ride Around Washington is the only Cascade Event ride that changes routes each year. Originally conceived as a cross-state ride, the event has matured into a rolling event that chooses a new route each year across and around our beautiful state. A part of this year's route features a memorable trip through the Palouse region, a unique area of rolling hills, endless vistas of golden wheat and small farming towns. Memorable scenery and wonderful hospitality made this trip a favorite in 2004, this year's repeat visit promises to be even better than before.
Want to know more? Join us for April 20th at the REI conference rooms for a special informational meeting about RAW. Find out what its like to do a six day ride around the state in a unique presentation featuring the photography of one of its regular riders, Dan Hershman. Dan is a noted local photographer with clients that include the Washington State Department of Tourism, Getty Images and Oregon Public Television. He is also a contributing photographer to numerous books and publications on our region's unique and environment. Dan will share pictures of the RAW in the Palouse in 2004 and other memorable images of RAW events around the state. You'll also learn about the nuts and bolts of RAW--- including how to prepare and train for multi day events and what to expect in six days of riding the backroads of Washington.
RAW is not about finishing times, elevation gained or miles racked up, even though it certainly has its share of such statistics. It's a trip to experience the beauty and nature of our state and its many communities and scenic vistas. Join us on Friday April 20th at the REI conference room for a special event that will have you dreaming of grand vistas, unique and picturesque towns, and making friends with a community of riders who share a love for new experiences and epic journeys.
VIEW CASCADE'S UPCOMING BICYCLE FILM EVENTS
PAST 2012 PRESENTATIONS:
Come to Your Senses!: A Celebration of Bicycle Travel with Willie Weir
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
Cascade members: $5
General public: $7
Traveling by bike allows you to see the world in a truly unique way.
Few people know that as well as Willie Weir. His latest presentation is based on The Five Senses. He will leave you inspired and ready to see, hear, taste, smell and feel the world from the seat of a bicycle.
Going the Distance: Insights from Pacific Northwest Cyclists
Tuesday, Jan. 10, 7 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
FREE!
Despite (or because of?) our consistently drippy weather, the Pacific Northwest has perhaps the deepest bench of long distance cycling enthusiasts in North America if not the world. Our presentation features some of the strongest long-distance cyclists in the area, and offers insights into what motivates them along with a bit of inspiration for cyclists interested in doing rides longer than 100 miles.
Brian Ecker's career highlights include top 20 finishes at USCF Elite National Championships, top 5 finishes at the Duathalon National Championships, several multisport solo category wins, and several podium finishes at the Furnace Creek 508 ultra marathon cycling race.
Brian has a reputation for paying close attention to the numbers—wattage and calories—during his events. His discussion of the numbers in ultra events can also apply to riders who are perfectly content with riding centurys or double centurys.
Chris Ragsdale is an ultra distance bicycle racer who is a 5-time National 24 hr winner and record holder, holds the 1000km road world record, and was the fastest American finisher in the 2011 Paris-Brest-Paris.
In addition to his success in solo events, Chris has been on several two- and four-man teams which he considers to be some of the best fun he's had on a bike. Chris will discuss competing in long distance events as part of a team.
Mark Thomas is a veteran randonneur, past president of Randonneurs USA, and current president of the Seattle International Randonneurs, the largest randonneur club in America. Mark has completed fourteen grand randonnees (1200km or longer) on four continents, including Paris-Brest-Paris four times. In the past three years, he has completed more than 40,000km of randonneur events.
Mark will relate his passion for randonneuring, or self-supported long distance cycling, which contrasts with the other presenters who will focus more on competitive events.
Mick Walsh is an ultra cyclist with a lengthy competitive resume that includes 1983 Irish Triathlon Champion, being a member of the 1987-89 Irish National Team, the 1999 Washington state Road Race champion and Best All Around Rider, and the 2010 Race Across Oregon Solo Champion.
Mick has been racing bikes since he was a teen and will discuss how he transitioned from being strictly a road racer to now considering himself an ultra distance competitor.
Whether you are merely curious about the personalitIes doing these kinds of events (are they really crazy?), are planning to do your first big event, or already have an addiction to distance events, our presentation will be both entertaining and informational.
The presentation will also include a few panel discussion topics and time for questions from the audience.
Hosted by David Longdon, Co-manager or the Cascade Bicycle Club's High Performance Cycling Team and producer of Velocity: The Seattle Area Cycling Blog.
Cascade-Affiliated International Tours Night
Friday, Jan. 27, 7 - 8:30 p.m.
REI Seattle, 222 Yale Ave. N
With special guests:
Michael Kollins (World Bicycle Relief "Africa Rides 2012")
Danelle Laidlaw & Ken Wright (Tour Turkey. "Aegean to the Mediterranean")
Plus outlines of Beer, Bikes & Belgium, Vietnam Grand Tour & New Zealand Grand Tour 2013.
Please join us for a very interesting night outlining the outstanding 2012/13 CBC Affiliated International Tours program. We'll cover all tours on offer for next year, from the very popular Vietnam Grand Tour and New Zealand Grand Tours to these exciting new tours:
Cascade Africa Rides 2012: Hear about a once in lifetime opportunity to see how one of the top NGO charities in the world changes lives through an amazing Bicycle program in Africa. You'll travel with a rep from the World Bicycle Relief program during your 9 days in the politically stable country of Zambia, doing everything from building bikes to actually delivering the final product and visiting schools. You'll end your visit with a safari to a world class game park.
Tour Turkey- Aegean to Mediterranean Tour: This tour is produced by a local BC Canadian company and has received high marks from many members. It's a terrific value and a fantastic tour destination- combining old world charm and world class cuisine with outstanding facilities and safe roads. It's the first time that CBC has offered the tour and its filling up very fast!
Beer Bikes & Belgium: We are heading back to the hotbed of international bicycle road racing in glorious (and bike-friendly) Europe! This tour will combine the wonderful roads of Belgium- including classic Tour of Flanders routes and lots more off the bike fun; We'll sample the very best in world beer and watch the 2012 UCI World Road race championships in neighboring Netherlands for two days!
For extensive information on all tours please visit our international tours page.
CASCADE'S PRESENTATION SERIES IS SPONSORED BY:
