This year I decided to attend the southeast development camp in Greenville, SC and I’m very glad I did. We stayed in a dorm on Furman University right by the Blue Ridge Mountains! Below is a summary of my day by day week at camp.
Sunday
We arrived around noon Sunday and unpacked and loaded up our dorm room. We had about a 2 hour social ride in the late afternoon. We go and eat in the cafeteria which had good food. Also, we went to a classroom lecture from 7 to 8.
Monday
Woke up at 6:30 and left for ride at 8:45. We did a skills and drills ride in the parking lot in the morning for around 1hr 50min. We practiced various cornering techniques and sprinting drills. That afternoon we left for another fairly easy social ride for about 2 hrs.
Tuesday
Finally we hit the mountains! We did a 2 hr ride out to a mountain called Caesar’s Head. Today was the first of the many time trials to come. It was the short mountain time trial of 1.9mi and avg. of 6% grade. I have to say that this was a very different type of time trial than I am used to. I finished 3rd in my age group of 14-16. Then we did another 2 hr ride back to campus.
Wednesday
Back out to Caesar’s Head! We did a 1hr 30min ride out to the mountain for the long mountain time trial which was 3 mi and avg. of 6% grade. I tried to conserve myself a little more at the beginning so I wouldn’t blow myself up too early. I tied for 3rd place in my age group. After riding the TT, we then rode up to the top of the mountain for lunch. It was a great view, and the descent was great! Then a 1hr 30min ride back to campus.
Thursday
Today we did a 1hr ride out to do 4 partially flat TT repeats. It was 2 mi with a short hill at the start and then a short downhill to a flat/gradual uphill to the finish. They combined our times for all 4 and I finished 3rd in my age group. Then we did a 30 mile ride finishing with an 8 miles climb up Paris mountain to a bakery. This was the only day we were in a group and allowed to race against each other. I made the lead break of 10 riders. It was a very fast pace with attacks happening all the time. We ate at a bakery and then rode 30 mi back down the mountain and to campus. This ride ended up being 100mi. We went to the evening lecture and they announced the results for overall and the age groups. I was very happy that I claimed 2nd place in the GC for my age group of 14-16.
Friday
There was going to be a 1hr easy ride in the morning, but due to weather and more, there was no ride.
This concludes my week at camp. I had a great time, met many people and can’t wait to go back next year!