160 miles. 13,000 feet. Another DBC Race Team Camp

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For the 3rd year the Davis Bike Club Race Team held camp at the UC Davis Bodega Bay Marine Lab campus for a weekend of early season training rides and team bonding.

The event has been the creation of Jason Eiserich’s after he spent a weekend with the UC Davis Aggie’s training camp at the same location. This year, nearly 30 DBC Race Team members signed up for the event over the February 11-12 weekend. 

Scott Nydam
Scott Nydam of BMC Racing speaking to the DBC Race Team at Bodega Bay Marine Lab the night before heading off to ride King Ridge

New this year was the addition of talks by local Pro racers Scott Nydam of BMC and Olivia Dillon of NOW Women’s Cycling. The weekend began Friday night with an inspiring talk from Scott covering a diverse array of topics including winning the Amgen Tour of California King of the Mountain title, coaching the Rwandan National Cycling Team, benefits of meditation, and Roger Maris. 

Saturday morning began with a hearty breakfast, after which riders set out on 1 of 2 rides along the Sonoma Coast. The “A” group took a route up King Ridge, down Meyers Grade and finally home after covering a bit over 80 miles and nearly 8,000 feet of elevation gain.

Olivia Dillon
Olivia Dillon of NOW Women’s Cycling sharing stories of her cycling career

After a hot shower, a nap and a recovery drink or 2, dinner was a welcome event with the added bonus of fresh crab kindly donated by Jason Eiserich’s brother (a local commercial fisherman) and cooked by Chef John Licatesi. Following dinner, Olivia, showing off her brand new Specialized SHIV, told her biography of coming to cycling “late” in life. In a relatively short time she moved from a novice racer to a competitive regional racer. However, to pursue her dream of professional cycling she decided to leave her lucrative career in the financial services industry and pursue racing full time. Her dedication has paid large dividends, including her native Ireland’s National Time Trial Championship 3 times and in 2010 both the Time Trial and Road Race Championships.

Lunch
Enjoying lunch on top of King Ridge

The following morning was bright and sunny as the “B” group headed over to Tomales Bay and the “A” group along with Olivia started out for a climb up Sweetwater Canyon. Needless to say, during the nearly 80 mile ride with 5,000 feet of climbing, the group of aging male racers tried to impress Olivia, but it was quite clear that they were no match for her. 

shawn-miller
Shawn Miller descending Meyer Grade

After a quick lunch and a shower, the bikes and gear were packed and the riders hit the road, muscles tires and aching, but feeling so good.

race team
DBC Race Team members and Olivia Dillon after riding Sweetwater Canyon

 

 
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