Coach's Corner with Rick Babington

Rick Babington coaches a wide variety of athletes, including cyclists and inline skaters, for Carmichael Training Systems. Over the last 25 years, Rick has been skating competitively, dipping his feet into endurance sports (including cycling), or developing & practicing his coaching style. The year 1979 marked the start of his coaching education under USA Roller Sports and in 2000 he joined Carmichael Training Systems and USA Cycling as an Elite Level Coach.

Rick was one of the original coaches Chris called upon when he founded Carmichael Training Systems. Though he lives in the Los Angeles area, Rick's expertise and accessible personality are part of the reason he's consistently been one of the coaches at CTS Camps for the past few years.

In addition to being called upon in 2004 to lead the USA Cycling West Coast Junior Development Camp, Rick is also now helping to develop athletes through the US Paralympic program. Rick was Head Coach at the 2004 Paralympic Cycling Development Camp at the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center.

In 2005 Rick was one of 4 coaches selected for the Tour of Hope. This included preparing 25 cyclists over 16 weeks to ride across the US to raise awareness for Cancer Clinical Trials.

Rick's coaching style, drawn from his extensive coaching experience, enables him to help athletes blend training, career, family, and life into a program that maximizes available training time to achieve desired results.

rbabington@trainright.com

ARTICLE #1 RICK BABINGTON

As we near the peak of the road race season, I thought a review of Team Tactics would be appropriate….Enjoy! Coach Rick

Tactics-Teamwork

• Agree on a division of prizes before the race begins.
• Three is a minimum, four or five is a good team number.
• Teammates need to be of equal strength.
• Choose a team leader for the race.
• Need special language and signals to communicate.
• Stay together during first part of race.
• Always plan a strategy.
• Adapt plan to capture any opportunities.

Tactics- Safety

Rule #1: Don’t fall down!!

Rule #2: Learn rule #1!!

• Relaxed upper body.
• Sudden movements within the pack often cause crashes.
• Riders with little or no experience often cause crashes.
• Crashes are common “at the gutter” in packs and echelons.
• Hold your line in turns and sprints.

Basic Errors in Strategy/Tactics

• Not learning the course or choosing inappropriate gears for the terrain.
• Attempting to breakaway too soon or leading the pack for long periods without relief.
• Attempting to breakaway from the front of the group.
• Being trapped behind weaker riders on a climb or in a sprint.
• Choosing the wrong gear (usually too high) for a sprint or a hill.
• Either not knowing or forgetting where the finish line is.
• Pulling---the pack up to breakaways.
• Chasing down teammates who are already in a break.