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If you are not a Dallas Sports University (DSU) member, please join us for a workout or two to see if the organization is right for you! Our Wednesday night and Saturday morning rides have ride leaders who will make sure you don’t get dropped!  PLEASE keep in mind that workouts may change due to weather.  Check out our Weather Policy below for specifics.

David Stonecipher, Director of Cycling                            

David was selected by Dallas Sports University members as the 2007, 2008 and 2009 Male Member of the Year! He was also voted by readers of Competitor Magazine as one of the top cycling coaches in Texas for 2008. And for good reason! David is reliable, organized and PASSIONATE about cycling. We think you’ll find David’s #1 concern is safety for all riders. Keep an eye on his cycling page. He is active with updates!

Feel free to contact David to talk shop about cycling or Dallas Sports University! He is a wonderful resource! david@dallassportsuniversity.com 

Biking News  

March 15, 2010

Lots going on!  We have a full schedule of rides starting this week, with assigned ride leaders for the Wed and Saturday rides. 

Our Wednesday Night Standridge ride starts on March 17th.  We will hit the road at 6:00pm for this first few weeks until we get a bit more daylight hours.   This is one of our biggest rides each week.  Think of it as a track workout on the bike.  Defined 23 mile loop gives you a chance to work on speed.

Starting that week we will also have our full schedule of ride leaders to support our Saturday rides.  With as few rides as many of us have been able to get in this winter, I expect a lot of ‘just getting started again’ riders.  That is another way of saying if you are afraid everyone will be faster than you, don’t be.  We will have no-drop leaders to make sure everyone knows the route, and I assure you, you will not be alone.  Start time 7:30 am.

The Sunday morning ride option from Sand Bass Point is a go as well.  Several riders have told me they want to make this a standard weekend ride so expect critical mass this week.  Start time of 8:30 am.  Obviously no swim before this time of year.

A new weekly ride option has been added to the schedule.  In conjunction with Bicycles Plus in Coppell, we are adding a Monday Night Recovery Ride starting this week.  This is an 18 mile ride at an average of less than 17 mph.  Start time of 6:00 pm from the store in Coppell.

The next stop on our Monthly Rally Schedule comes up this week as well.  Beauty and the Beast in Tyler is Saturday, Mar 20th.  See link below for details.  

Let’s be safe out there!

David

Weekly Tip

There is safety in numbers -

But there is also stupidity in numbers.  Don’t let the mob mentality take over on a group ride.  Just becasue a couple people do something that is not correct does not mean we should all do it.  Remember, we each individually have the rights and responsibilities of a vehicle on the road.

Current Events  

February 7, 2010 - GDB Super Bowl Ride - Riders from all over the Metroplex converge on the West End for lunch.  Multiple starting points around the Metroplex.  We will start at Andy Brown Park East.  Coppell, TX.

March 20, 2010 - Beauty and the Beast - Beautiful ride through east Texas, and then they throw in “the Beast”.  Tough hill, but worth the trip.  Tyler, TX

April 24, 2010 - Muenster Metric Century - Know for its hills and its beer, what more can you ask for!  Muenster, TX.

May 1, 2010 - Shiner GHASP -Great fun.  This ride is 100 miles from Austin to Shiner, ending at the Spoetzl Brewery.  And if we are as lucky as we were in 2009, we will have a headwind the whole way!  We will be doing a training program to prepare for this relatively early season century ride.  Austin, TX. 

May 19, 2010 - Ride of Silence -Join cyclists worldwide in a slow-paced ride in honor those who have been injured or killed while cycling on public roadways.  This will be the third year for the Coppell edition of this ride.  Distance of 10 miles at a pace of 12 mph.  Coppell High School north parking lot.

June 19, 2010 - Tour d’Italia - It only sounds European.  Actually a rally in Italy, Tx.  Still great fun with some great scenery.  Distances of 42, 50, and 60 miles.  Italy, TX.

July 31, 2010 - Goatneck- Rolling hills in the heat of the summer!  This is a good tune up for the big daddy, Hotter ‘N Hell.  Distances of 41 and 70 miles.  Cleburne, TX.

August 28, 2010 - Hotter’N Hell Hundred - This has become an annual event for us.   We will be doing a training program to prepare riders for this 100 miler.  We will also have team accommodations and carb loading meal on the night before.  Wichita Falls, TX. 

September 25, 2010 - Autumn in Bonham - Change of scenery with a variety of distances.  Bonham, TX.

October 2, 2010 - The Paluxy Pedal - Features a hill known as “The Wall”!  How can we resist?.  Glen Rose, TX

Bike Workout Locations

DA Winter Loop -Lighted road loop for winter night riding (Bike).  Wittington Place in Farmers Branch.
MAP

Standridge Stadium- Carrollton-Farmers Branch Natatorium (Swim-Bike)
1334 W. Valwood Parkway, Carrollton, TX 75006
MAP

Coppell Aquatics Center-Andy Brown EAST (Swim-Bike-Run)
234 E. Parkway Blvd., Coppell, TX 75019
MAP

Lake Grapevine, Sand Bass Point (Swim-Bike-Run)
MAP

Weekly Bike Workout Schedule

Mondays
Monday Night Recovery Ride 
When: 6:00 pm

Where: Bicycles Plus in Coppell
Description: 18 miles out to ultiple loops of the hills on the west side of Valley Ranch.  This is a great workout to try out different hill climbing techniques to see what works best for you.  Approx 1 hr.

Wednesdays
DA Women’s Ride
When: 9:15 am
Where: Parking lot of Coppell Aquatics Center
Description: A typical ride is 90-100 minutes at an average pace of 16-17 mph.

 

 

DA Wednesday Night Ride
When: 6:00 pm until we get a bit more daylight

Where: Standride Stadium, Carrollton, TX

Description: The speed workout for the bike.  23 mile loop through Farmers Branch, Irving, and Valley Ranch.  Ride leaders for the No-Drop group.       

Level	Start	Distance	Avg Speed	Notes
Alpha Ride	7:30 AM	30-50+ miles	19+ mph	Leaderless ride on farm to market roads after warm-up of approx. 12-miles
Intermediate Ride	7:30 AM	35 miles	17-18 mph	Leader assisted ride.
Beginner Ride	7:30 AM	30 miles	15-16 mph	Leader assisted bicycle orientation/training ride. No drop ride with wait points for riders to re-group.
Note: Ride leaders for the “Beginner Ride” are from Mar through Sept.

Saturday ride times are subject to change based on weekend races, weather, etc.
Changes are sent via e-mail to members on a weekly basis.

Sundays
DA Bike Ride
When:  Ride at 8:30 am
Where: Sand Bass Point, Lake Grapevine.
Description: This is an open-ride for cyclists of all levels. No ride leaders at this ride! Sunday ride times are subject to change based on weekend races, weather, etc. Changes are sent via e-mail to members on a weekly basis.

Weather Policy

Of course everyone needs to use their own judgement based upon their comfort level and experience, but general guidelines for group rides:

• Wet roads or rain threatening, temperature below 50 degrees:  NO RIDE
• Lightning in any conditions:  NO RIDE. This being Texas, these storms often move through quickly and normally we can still get the ride in.  We have to watch the radar closely in these situations.
• Dry roads, sunny, and temp below 40 degrees:  Personal Choice.  A lot of people will ride when temperatures are below 40 degrees.  I don’t enjoy it, especially when there is significant wind chill.  Feel free to show your toughness and come on out and ride, but I won’t be there.

Route Maps

DA Cycling route maps are available on MapMyRun.com.   Do a keyword search on DAAC to see what is available.  I have built a set of basic routes then added additional maps that show extensions or alternates to those routes.  Some however show a starting point of our old location.  Be sure you check the schedule above to know where the ride start is.

Biking Policies and Procedures

Road cycling is an inherently dangerous activity. Knowing and understanding these rules will help us be safe out on the road.

• ALL RIDERS MUST WEAR A HELMET!
• Obey the rules of the road. Cyclists have the same rights and responsibilities of other vehicles on the road
• Stop at all red lights and stop signs
• Ride in the same direction as traffic
• COMMUNICATE with each other (both verbally and through the use of hand signals)
• Relay those communications all the way through the pack
• Point out obstacles such as CRACKS, HOLES, DEBRIS, GRAVEL, etc.
• Yell out for cars behind (CAR BACK), in front (CAR UP), or approaching to the side (CAR RIGHT/LEFT)
• Call out when SLOWING and STOPPING
• Call out when intersections are CLEAR to proceed
• All riders must wear a properly fitting helmet.
• Stay out of your aerobars unless you are in the front
• Don’t pass on the right
• Don’t pass up the middle
• When passing on the left, glance back, signal, then call out “ON YOUR LEFT” before you pass other riders
• Hold your line, don’t weave
• Don’t overlap wheels with the rider in front of you
• Pay attention to the route. If you are on the intermediate ride, it is each rider’s responsibility to learn the route. Otherwise, ride with the no-drop
• Never wear headphones of any form.
• Always carry ID
• Always carry a cell phone
• Be visible, wear brightly colored clothing
• Properly dispose of your trash
• If you get a flat or lose a water bottle, inform the riders around you that you are braking, slowly apply your brakes, and get to the right. Stay to the right until all riders pass before retrieving the bottle or dismounting to fix the flat
• Check for riders behind you before spitting or “farmer blowing”

Disclaimer: Each rider is responsible for his or her own safety on our training rides leaving from DA, Inc. DA, Inc. assumes no responsibility for accidents that could happen.