1. Who founded the club and how did it come to life?
Owners and friends of Austin Tri-Cyclist came together in 2012 to found the women’s racing team Snapple-ATC Racing, co-sponsored by the Snapple Triathlon Team. In 2013, the team was renamed ATC Racing and now includes a men’s road team and triathlon team in addition to the women’s road team.
Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography
2. What is your cycling club’s mission?
The members of ATC Racing are dedicated to growing the sports of road cycling and triathlon through competition and volunteering. The women’s road team is particularly focused on improving the quality and standing of women’s bike racing in Texas.
3. How many members does your team/club have?
The women’s road team is a tight-knit group of seven riders who actively compete in Texas Cup races and local criteriums. The men’s team, more informal in structure, also consists of seven members.
Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography
4. What is your favorite route in your area? Which are your top 3 favorite MUST DO rides/routes in Texas?
The Saturday morning ATC shop ride, which has earned the reputation of the fastest group ride in Texas, is where we like to train when we’re not racing on the weekends. We also regularly join the Wednesday morning Gruppo VOP ride, another one of Austin’s most fast-paced and challenging group rides. Bike lawyer Brad Houston, Gruppo VOP’s founder, is one of our team sponsors. In the off season, we meet at Austin Tri-Cyclist at 2pm on Thursdays for a women’s winter training ride, with varying routes.
5. What would be the three most valuable tips you can give to a beginning cyclist that would like to get to the next level?
- 1. Ride as much as possible, focusing on quality workouts, but remember to enjoy yourself, too. Training and racing are supposed to be fun.
- 2. If you’re planning to race for the first time, or would like to improve your racing skills, join local group rides to get a feel for pack riding and race tactics without race-day pressure, and don’t hesitate to ask questions.
- 3. Get involved in the racing community – nothing challenges you as a rider more than competition against stronger or more experienced cyclists. Even by watching a race, like the Driveway Series, you can learn a lot.
6. What is the best advice someone ever gave you?
For me personally, the best advice I received as a beginning cyclist was from cycling coach and former pro cyclist Jen McRae. She was describing a 1k flyer, saying that it was important to attack as if there was no doubt that you could get away and stay away. I think that translates to most aspects of bike racing—you have to commit to any move you make 100%, or it won’t be successful. The worst thing you can do in a race situation is be afraid or second guess yourself.
Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography
7. How does the club make you a better rider?
Being on a team changes your outlook on racing. You’re part of something larger than yourself, and that improves everything from your race-day performance to your commitment to everyday training. You always want to do your teammates justice out on the course, and by working for them and with them, you learn a tremendous amount about race tactics and the limits you can push yourself to. There’s nothing better than sharing victory with your team.
Also, our women’s team is coached by cat 1 cyclist Gray Skinner, who leads team practices and provides structured workouts. Having a dedicated and knowledgeable coaching resource improves our performance as a team and as individual riders.
8. What has been your most memorable experience involving your club?
I’m the co-captain of the women’s ATC Racing team, but my husband and I are expecting our first child this May, which means that I’m sitting out most of the 2013 race season. Being sidelined has given me the opportunity to play the role of observer, leaving me with an even greater appreciation for my teammates’ efforts and accomplishments. At the Ultra Provocatorio Invitationale in January, an informal five-person, 98-mile time trial, the determination on my teammates’ faces as they were tackling the last 20 or so miles of the race was something that really inspired me—they were working together, encouraging each other at different points to push through the pain. I love that I’m on a team with a group of women who understand what it means to be athletes and are willing to go the extra mile…or 40, 60, 100 miles, whatever the race distance may be…for one another. Getting back into race shape post-pregnancy is actually something I’ve really been looking forward to—I can’t wait to ride with them again.
Photo Credit: Flashbax Twenty Three Photography
9. How do you keep everyone motivated?
With competitive road cycling, you can’t afford to be too out of shape, or you’ll find yourself off the back in the first few miles. Racing, which offers equal opportunity for embarrassment and glory, is always a good kick in the pants when it comes to training—all you have to do to get yourself out of the door on a less-than-optimal day is think of your competitors. And being on a team just adds extra incentive, because you have an obligation to your teammates to perform at your best.
10. Anything we’ve missed that you like our readers to know about?
To learn more about our team, check out our website at www.atcracing.org and read our race reports on the Austin Tri-Cyclist blog. We love to help beginning women cyclists get their feet wet in racing—email us at [email protected] to join us for a training ride.
