Greenville Team Camp Wrap-Up

We just wrapped up a 10 day training camp for the BMC-Hincapie Sportswear Cycling team here in my new home town of Greenville, South Carolina. The purpose of this training camp was to distribute equipment, work out bike positions and sizing changes, get pictures and press obligations done and then incorporate long training days in the saddle.

 

Outfitting the riders went smoothly. Our Head Soigneir, Jerimiah Renagar, had bags stuffed with brand new helmets, glasses, cycling and leisure clothes ready for everyone when they arrived in the hotel . Bikes had been distributed to most of the guys earlier in the month, but a couple riders were given their brand new BMC TeamMachine SLR01.

Our first two days were spent with the fantastic team of coaches from Carmichael Training Systems. Collin Izzard, Dean Golich and their expert team provided Retul bike fits and then did a great job of explaining the reasons for making subtle changes to the riders' positions. They also performed lactate threshold tests on each of the riders and provided them with feedback on definitive training zones for power based training.

 

The riding was spectacular, I got to try out my new desk, a Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon, stickered, racked and loaded with bottles, Bonk Breaker bars, GU gels, Easton wheels and just enough Park Tools and spare parts to make it home in case of any mishaps. Each day we traveled in and out of North and South Carolina on super skinny back roads, riding over climbs like Skyuka, Ceasers Head and the Greenville Watershed, plus riding over the famous Paris Mountain climb right in our own back yard.

 

After our rides, we needed to feed this hungy bunch. Every night was either out to a local restaurant in downtown Greenville or was catered by our team chef, Helmut Flinte. He went above the call of duty fixing great food for our group at Rich's place and one night up at George's house overlooking both Downtown Greenville and Paris Mountain…quite a view.

My final impression for the week is that we have a great group of young guys that are fit, eager and ready for a long year of traveling and racing. Both George and Rich have assembled a great group of staff and sponsors to give these guys a great lead out to become better bike racers. It will be interesting to see who can stay on their wheel...

(See more images from the camp here.)