From April 9th through July 9th I helped with the Cascade Bicycle Club's CTS (Cascade Training Series). This is a 13 week course that helps cyclist prepare for a big ride, i.e. a century ride like the STP (Seattle to Portland bike ride). Cyclists are trained in a group environment and are taught safe riding skills that are essential for all cyclists and very helpful in a large event.
Our first ride was on a beautiful spring morning in April and it was only 26 miles long. For most of the riders it might as well have been a century. Each week we increased the mileage and elevation until by week 12 our ride was a century long. For our cyclists the century was like a 26 mile ride. How much they had progressed! Amazing! From a struggling 26 miles to 100 miles with ease. And our last ride of the series, ride number 13, was a 50 mile loop around Lake Washington. More of a celebration ride than a training ride with a party at the end.
I was very happy to have been part of the series. I got to see the improvement over the last three months of the riders. From their struggles on a 26 mile ride to their strength on the century ride. Having completed the series our riders are now ready for the STP, RSVP and any other organized long distance ride this summer and fall.
