Pump up your tires and loob your chain!

El Tour Platinum Coach Nelson Recap

This is the story of the “platinum” El Grupo riders (Kramer, Logan, Dillon, Max, with coaches Alex, Nippy, and Nelson) in El Tour. We lined up early – 5 AM – getting reasonably good position in the front half of the “gold” group, rolling across the start line a few minutes after 7 AM. For the first 55 miles or so, the strategy was to keep the boys out of the wind as much as possible, and to avoid potential crashes. Both goals were achieved, and as we reeled in literally hundreds of riders the main challenges were safely threading our way between groups of riders and making sure that everyone was eating and drinking as we cruised along at an average speed of 24 mph. Kramer took on the responsibility of reminding everyone to eat and drink every 20 minutes, and closing gaps in the pace line, and Kramer’s leadership was a key part of the group’s success in the first half of the race. We were on track to finish in under five hours.

As we turned on to Oracle we were towing a large pack of riders, some of which were trying to edge into the middle of our pace line. A gap opened up in the middle of the pack and Dillon was dropped; Nippy stayed back to help him bridge back up. We slowed our pace off and on for the next 25 miles, hoping that they could get back on quickly, but ended up riding that distance without Dillon and Nippy.

At our second sag stop we waited, waited…and waited some more; after more than 10 minutes Dillon and Nippy were back with us. We chased on to a group being pulled by a tandem, and things were looking good again when I took a pull and missed the turn up Avra Valley. Ten minutes later, after a couple of long, hard pulls, we were back with the tandem group, at the base of Rattlesnake pass, looking at a finish time under 5:20 - and then Logan was off the back. We slowed nearly to a stop at the top of Rattlesnake, took it easy on the way down, regrouped, then realized we were loosing Logan – his legs were shot, with severe cramps that forced him off the bike. We all stopped for a few minutes, then got Logan back on his bike, still cramping, and Alex and I pushed Logan while Nippy and Kramer took turns at the front, pushing the pace as much as possible. Kramer looked like a sled dog straining in a harness, strong enough to pull the group all the way to Hermosillo. I think Kramer could have pulled us in at 25 mph, but we had to hold him back because there was no way that the entire group could match his strength. In the last few miles, Logan’s legs started feeling moderately better and we crossed the finish line, looking strong, as a team.

The point of this tale is not shortcomings, but strengths. Dillon and Logan faced challenges that would make even the most experienced riders quit, but these guys did not quit. They did not consider quitting, even though that would have been both easier, in the short-run, and understandable. The team loyalty that was displayed by the rest of the group waiting for dropped riders was something seldom seen among athletes of any age or ability. It would have been easy for the guys that were riding the strongest that day – Kramer, Alex, and Max – to break the pact they had made the night before and continue on without their teammates. They very likely would have made platinum. They would have caught some flack for the decision, but anyone would understand why young, competitive riders, in the excitement of a big event, would take off and leave their teammates in their quest for a faster time (believe me, older, more experienced riders do this all the time in El Tour). But they did not break their agreement to finish together, and it was never seriously discussed. Equally impressive, there was no bitterness about having stuck with the decision to finish together – these guys were justifiably proud of their achievement as a team.

Kudos and huge thanks to Kathleen, Carol, and Megan, for starting line assistance and support stops that were so professional and organized that they would have looked at home in the Tour de France, and to Nippy and Alex their excellent on-bike coaching.

BigWheel backflip

I didn't know we were sprinting

Start of the 66-mile El Tour

El Tour video

El Tour 09

This event is a culmination of so much work, patience, pain, anguish, sweat, heart, and worry that there is no way a blog post can capture the months of training and preperation that each person involved put in to make this happen. This event is as much about the amazing young men and women that put their bodies to the limit to achieve a goal with their friends as it is about the parents that wake up every weekend to get their kids to practice on time, worry about them every ride and make sure they are fueled for the next one. These events are absolutely team efforts in every sense of the word it takes every parent, coach, rider, and supporter to make it happen. I very much want to thank everyone that has put effort and heart into this team and has made this happen. What we acheived was only because of the great support network that this team is amazingly fortunate to have.


THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So really how did it go?


Well again so hard to know where to start. Every rider can tell their own story of trial with adversity and their triumph over it. From Nathans crash, to Logans cramps, to Donovan pushing harder that ever, Ricardo and Pablo pulling to the end, Connor killing the Oracle hill, every rider can tell you of there battle and triumph and this is why I love these events. Not one of the young men and woment that started the race yesterday are the same today. They all know something about themselves that only comes out in true tribulation and effort. They will always have this acheivement to keep for themselves, no one can ever take it away. And this is so much of why I coach, I want every kid to learn that they are so much more than they know. Our minds too often limit our potential, but when asked for, more, it will most often amaze how much more we have. I can't begin to explain how proud I am of every rider on this team that participated. Really I can't wait for the next event and I promise you there is more to come from every rider. Don't think you have reached your limits because you have only begun. Let the beauty begin.

Here is a look at "my team". Ricardo, Pablo, Connor, Donovan, Milo, Julia, Dean and Coach Christian. We rode the 109 and finished in 5:57. Just in time to get the boys a gold medal and for Julia PLATINUM. That means really cool. I had an absolute blast leading the team for 109 miles and would do it again any time. We rode the perfect dream ride. I cannot think of anything we could have done to make it better. THANK YOU TEAM!!!!!!!!!
Nelson, Alex Strickland and Nippy coached the Platinum team made up of Max, Logan, Kramer, and Dillon. These guys put so much heart into the ride each ones face was completely covered in salt when I found them at the end. I was told by many that they were absolute animals and I know each rider is telling there story over and over today. Next year if they can start with their cycling pears they will easily go Platinum. This year they started too far back and just never had a chance to catch up. Well done Gentleman!!!

The mighty Travis coached the 67 mile team made up of Ashley, Nathan, Marcos, Lizzy, Matthew and Jannette helped him coach.

I should say he had the hardest job of all as he had the newest group of riders, however he got them together in no time and had them put together one heck of a ride. They averaged over 15 miles an hour and loved every minute of it. Most exciting for me to hear was Ashley pulled the team in over the last 20 miles. I can't wait to have these guys move up to the 109 and riding together with the other teams.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR A PERFECT DAY!!!!!!!!!!!


Hanging out at the dinner party before the ride, getting our jerseys. Lizzy's first.

Julia realizes platinum dreams.

You got to look good to ride good, Yeah that's right!!

You earned it Nathan.

But my wife and son are still better looking.
My favorite part.

The calm before the storm.

I love the look on the boys faces here. That is anticipation with the known fact, that they are ready. It's called confidence, something that can never be given only earned. That is why I coach.