Yes, Nov. 1
Equip yourself. It's going to be cold, dark, wet, and slippery riding over the next several months. You're going to need jackets, tights, leg warmers, are warmers, vests, base layers, gloves, hats, shoe covers, chemical toe warmers, embrocation to stay warm, lights to beat the dark, and wider tires, fenders, and bike cleaner to deal with the wet or salted roads. Come in the shop or order online.
Generate an Annual Training Plan, or ATP. This plan helps you target specific races. You can't be in peak form for every race, so figuring out when to go hard and when to taper is essential. This is especially useful if you know you will be compelled off the bike at certain points in the year by work or family-related conflicts. Need help doing this? Call the shop or email me to set up a consultation meeting.
Hire a coach. Perhaps you don't need a consultation so much as you just need someone to tell you when to work and how, when to rest, to hold you accountable for doing all these things, and to remind you that in your less weak moments, you really do want to become stronger, lighter and faster, and that bailing on your workout or the late night alcohol-fueled binge on hot pockets (seriously, that seemed like a good idea? Eating a hot pocket? Seriously?) will only lead to future regret and even harder work on down the line. That's what a coach is for. Coaches provide well-informed structure, discipline, and accountability. They will help you maximize your gains and your efficiency in realizing them. They are worth far more than the 4 seconds over 40k you gain by buying that $3,000 wheelset...sexy as those zipp 808s are.
Cross train. Let's face it, some days just are not suitable for riding bikes outside, and a 4 hour trainer ride in your basement can be a soul-sucking experience. But we are fit and active people--or we aspire to be, do we not? So we might as well tailor our cross training activities such to benefit our cycling goals. Consider hiring a Breakaway coach to explain how.
Reserve your spot for RPM. Between now and Dec. 15, prices will be $375 for a 12 week, 2h a week weekday session, or $325 for a weekend 2h session. Last year RPM was more popular than ever, with 24 classes a week being held from January through March. And if you've been following our newsletter (or if you want to, go to BreakawayBikes.com and enter your email into the spot under "SUBSCRIBE"), you'll know that our RPM and coached athletes have had incredible successes throughout the year, and will definitely be back next year.
Collectively, following these suggestions early will get you on the road to a more successful 2012.
