We're having a STELLERI Summer!

Summer is in finally here, and the gals of Team Stelleri have been out in full force!

Since the start of race season back in April, the gals have been making plenty of appearances on the race circuit, on the road (and Velodrome), and on the podium! And they've been having a lot of fun along the way.

Here are some of the highlights of Team Stelleri's season so far, in photos:

Rae, Sherlyn, and Liz at Mid-Ohio

Lots of podiums at this year's RATL series - and a series WIN for Liz!

Cold spring? Who cares! Let's ride!

Liz won a Tour of Amgen VIP package through Zwift, proving that riding inside maybe isn't really ALL bad

Group ride group shot! L-R starting in the back row: Shannon, Rae, Theresa, Liz, Angie, Meg, Pam, and Sherlyn

Liz, Sherlyn, Shannon, and Rae plot a strategy before the start of one of the RATL races

Group ride on a gorgeous spring evening

Photo from Liz's adventure riding the course at Tour of California

Theresa tops the podium at EOTT

Liz and some Canyon/SRAM friends at Tour of California

Sherlyn proudly displays her true colors, racing twice (standard and aero) at EOTT

Theresa riding the rail during the Women's Track Clinic weekend at the Cleveland Velodrome

Theresa, Sherlyn, Mandy Marquardt, and Pam at Women's Track Clinic

Liz showing how much fun crits can be!

Sherlyn, Theresa, and Rae showing off one of Rae's paintings during the Mad Cap/Social Ride

Shannon, Jason, Theresa, and Angie at Sunday in June

Rae and Sherlyn rode the Cherahola Challenge, a crazy hard ride in the Smoky Mountains

Liz getting it done at the Grandview Crit

Shannon displaying lots of confidence - and her pedals - at her first time out to Cleveland Velodrome

Nice group of riders for the Mad Cap Social Ride, sponsored by Team Stelleri and Black Girls Do Bike

Another one of Rae's bike-themed paintings. So cool!

To find out more about Team Stelleri, please follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Group Ride Rules

Welcome to the 2017 season! Our Team Stelleri/women’s training rides start this Wednesday, April 19^th, from the Brandy Wine Bar /Par 3 clubhouse, on Akron-Peninsula Rd just south of Rt. 303 (https://goo.gl/maps/s6vpDqCTtxn)

 

Here are some things that you will need to know, especially if you’re not used to riding in a group. We’ll go over all these rules before we ride, but please ask a team leader or mentor if you have any questions.

 

Routes and training objectives will be posted in advance. If you are on the email list, you will receive this info in an email message sometime before ride night. PLEASE take time to review the route – things happen and sometimes you may find yourself out there by yourself.

 

These training rides are typically ‘no-drop’ rides in the sense that we will wait for the group if we get split up by red lights/farm equipment/breathalyzer checks/etc. and we’ll wait at the top of

whatever is ‘the hill’ for that ride. WE DO NOT INTENTIONALLY DROP RIDERS! But we do

expect that if you simply can’t hang with the group or if you’re having a bad day, please know how to get back to the Brandy Wine Bar on your own.

 

Also, PLEASE be aware that, although we love having you ride with us, sometimes it’s hard to

keep track of everyone – especially in a splintered group! If you fall off the back and nobody

sees it happen, we don’t know to wait for you. Again, PLEASE know the route, or at least how to

get back to the start, just in case. To repeat: We will NEVER drop you intentionally and then ride

as fast as we can to widen the gap.

 

All riders should be prepared to fix their own flats and handle minor mechanical issues. And all

are required to carry a cell phone, just in case.

 

In the event of unfavorable weather at ride time, the ride will likely be cancelled. We don’t start

rides in the rain, but we have gotten caught in the rain while out there so be prepared. Please check your email for updates and cancellations.

 

GROUP RIDE RULES:

1. Helmet required.

2. Road ID (or some sort of on body identification) is required. You can purchase a Road ID at www.roadid.com.

3. A rear light is MANDATORY. Headlights are not required but strongly encouraged.

4. Ear buds are strictly prohibited. This includes any other devices that may impair any of

your senses while riding with the group

5. Road bikes are recommended. Time trial bikes/aerobars are PROHIBITED on group rides.

6. When you’re riding in our kit, you MUST obey all the rules of the road! NO EXCEPTIONS.

If you want to ride like an idiot, please don’t wear the team kit or show up to the group rides.

7. Those caught blowing red lights and stop signs and breaking all kinds of laws just to prove

her manhood and/or ‘win’ Strava segments will be publicly chastised. Don’t do it.

8. Assume that every driver is blind, old, texting, angry, drunk, high, and stupid. Ride accordingly.

9. We will ride SINGLE FILE on Akron Peninsula and Riverview Roads. For the most part, we will ride in a rotating paceline. You’ll learn how to do this during the group rides. For an explanation, check this out: https://nycc.org/rides/paceline-technique. Remember that the object of the rotating paceline is to keep the intensity steady to avoid the slinky effect.

10. The roads throughout the Valley appear to be exceptionally crappy, and get worse each year. We will try to find roads that don’t present a major hazard, but please keep your eyes open and your situational awareness intact. Keep just enough distance between you and the rider in front of you to be able to react to obstacles without veering into the path of oncoming traffic.

 

We look forward to riding and racing with you this season! See you on Wednesdays!

 

Transition Time! By Pam Semanik

You worked hard all season. From the first of the spring crits (when there was still snow on the ground), to the last of the CX races (when there was snow on the ground!), you had a long, fun-filled year of new challenges and incredible accomplishments.

Now it’s time to take a break – or is it?

For sure, you need to give yourself some time off from all that racing and training. Your body needs it, and your brain needs it, too, unless you want to end up totally burned out. The time period that follows a racing cycle is called ‘Transition’, and it’s an opportunity to go do something else for a while. Go for a hike, hit the pool, sign up for that Santa Shuffle 5K. This is a fantastic time for cross training. Transition can last a week or two, or longer, depending on how challenging your racing season was.

 The object is back off on the discipline but to stay active, so that you’re ready to come back to focused training in time to prepare for the next season of racing.

During this time, you might be tempted to stray from your training plan. DON’T DO IT! Your coaching program is based on scientific evidence and you will get stronger and faster if you follow the plan. If you have concerns that you’ll lose too much fitness during transition (hint: you won’t), talk to Angie about your current training, and she can suggest workouts that are both fun and beneficial.