High Performance Cycling Kicks Off 2018 Season

By Tom Meloy and David Longdon

Interested in Cascade’s High Performance Cycling Team? Join us Saturday, February 3 for our 2018 kickoff meeting and Sunday, February 4 for our “Meet the Team” ride to find out more!

Since 2007 Cascade Bicycle Club’s High Performance Cycling Team (aka “HPC”) has occupied a special niche within Seattle’s cycling community by providing a team environment for cyclists who are interested in developing their fitness and cycling skills, and a place for fitter, faster cyclists who don’t have a strong interest in racing. High Performance Cycling is known as a team that rides hard while practicing safe group-riding skills.

HPC is a perfect fit for riders who are:

• Committed to improving their fitness and cycling skills and want to ride with folks who are faster and more experienced;
• Comfortable with, or desire to master pace line and group riding techniques
• Looking for compatible cycling buddies who regularly do long, scenic, challenging rides;
• Able to or desire to ride at 18 mph or faster (without drafting, on a flat road with no wind and a reasonable road surface…during peak season…);
• Capable of riding over 50 miles

HPC has approximately 200 members ranging in age from early 30s to late 60s. Our members target challenging event rides including the Chelan Century, Flying Wheels, Seattle to Portland in one day, RAMROD, and the High Pass Challenge. Although we aren’t a racing team, some members do compete. In 2017 one member won the Washington State Bike Racing Association’s (WSBA) Category 4 Best All Around Rider (BARR), and another won the Seward Park 5:30 Series. Over the years team members have also competed in ultra cycling events. Riding for coffee and pie are also top priorities.

The 2018 kick-off presentation will include:

• An overview of Team HPC including past highlights and plans for 2018
• An overview of the team’s equipment discount program with Center Cycle
• An overview of the team’s fitness discount program with Cycle University
• A presentation of the 2018 team kit (uniform) and an opportunity to try on clothing items (the 2018 team kit order will close approximately 10 days after the team meeting.)

There are no team dues, but membership in the Cascade Bicycle Club is required, and owning and wearing a team jersey is required. You may join the team at any time of year, but will get the most out of your membership if you get in on the action early in the year.

Our gear and equipment sponsor is Center Cycle, which offers discounts of 10% to 20% depending on the item.

Cycle University (aka “Cycle U”) is our fitness-training partner. Cycle U is a bicycle school that focuses on teaching riders of all levels how to improve rapidly.  It is run by former pro Craig Undem and a staff of professional coaches.  Cycle U offers coaching, private lessons, and spin classes. The team has the use of Cycle U’s spin class facilities for weekly member-only spin sessions October through March.

Tom Meloy, the team’s founder and co-manager, is a Cycle U coach and also manages the Cycle U Skills and Hills Cycling Camp (http://cycleu.com/camps2016/)

For more information see the High Performance Cycling web page at http://www.cascade.org/high-performance-cycling.

We hope to see you on February 3rd  and/or 4th. Look for HPC team members in their team jerseys, and feel free to chat with them about the program.

Kick-off Meeting
When: Saturday February 3 from 4-6 PM
Where: Center Cycle, 3950 Lind Ave SW, Renton, WA 98057

Meet the Team Ride
When: Sunday February 4. We roll at 9AM
Where: Sam Smith Park at the west side of the I-90 bike tunnel
This is a socially-paced ride that rolls at no more than 18mph on the flats. Since we want to be able to chat, the ride will be cancelled if there are rain showers or worse.