Monday, July 9th meeting at 7:30PM

Please note we will be returning to the Lake Highlands North Recreation Center.

Here’s the address: 9940 White Rock Trail, Dallas, TX 75238

Monday, June 11th meeting at 7:30PM

Please note the change of venue: 6162 E. Mockingbird Lane, Suite 190, Integrated Sports Therapies in the Wilshire Office Building. next to Hillside Vet

We will be meeting with Dr. Sue Beckham at her strategic fitness studio. Sue has been a guest speaker many times, helping us work on techniques to release tight muscles, improve mobility and increase power.

When you get there, park in back and enter through the back door which will be open. We are in Suite 190on the first floor next to the stairwell.

Sue Beckham, Ph.D. is the owner of Strategic Fitness Solutions, a fitness company specializing in corrective exercises for athletes and fitness enthusiasts who want to prevent injury and maintain high levels of fitness, regardless of their age. She teaches Corrective Exercise classes on Mondays and also trains clients one-on-one.

Please bring a mat and foam roller if you’ve got.

Monday, May 14th meeting at 7:30PM

Please note the meeting will be at Dallas White Rock Bike Mart, 9040 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

April 9th meeting at 7:30PM

Please note the meeting will be at Dallas White Rock Bike Mart, 9040 Garland Rd, Dallas, TX 75218

March 12th meeting at 7:30PM

Lake Highlands North Recreation Center 9940 White Rock Trail, Dallas, TX 75238

February 12th meeting at 7:30PM

Lake Highlands North Recreation Center 9940 White Rock Trail, Dallas, TX 75238

January  8th meeting at 730pm  Lake Highlands North Recreation Center 9940 White Rock Trail, Dallas, TX 75238

Join Mirage Online

Updated Kit Prices

Kits can be picked up at meetings or by contacting the V.P.

Capo stock closeout. Limited sizes and quantities

Short sleeve jersey $35 (only one 3XL left)
Bib shorts $45
Men’s short $35 (Small and XL only)
Woman’s short $35
Socks – $5

Castelli

Short sleeve jersey $80
Bib shorts $90
Men’s short $70
Woman’s short $80
Arm Warmers $40
Gloves $25

Summer weight

Short sleeve jersey $100
Bib shorts $140

About

The Mirage Cycling Team www.miragecycling.org is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion and development of recreational and performance bicycling. It is for male and female cyclists of all ages and abilities. Most members are students or adults with full-time jobs who enjoy bicycle racing and/or training.

Members have competed in road racing, criteriums, time trials, cyclocross, track, mountain biking, triathlons, duathlons and the RAAM. The club was started in 1982.

Rides

Group Rides
There are several group rides that exist in the Dallas area. Most Mirage members live near downtown or White Rock and do the group rides at the south Bike Mart store on Garland Rd. There are also several other group rides that leave from the Bike Mart stores in Richardson and Frisco. Please check the www.bikemart.com and here ride schedules.

White Rock Lake
http://www.dallasparks.org/Parks/whiterock.aspx White Rock Lake has 9 miles worth of cycling trails that loop the lake and ~7 miles worth of trails that lead north of the lake on the White Rock Creek Trail.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/trails/whiterock_trail.html

Katy Trail
The Katy Trail is a 3 mile trail used by many walkers and joggers.
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/trails/katy.html

Bike Stores

Richardson Bike Mart
Richardson Bike Mart is out title sponsor and we encourage you to support your LBS by patronizing one of their three stores. Your Mirage membership entitles you to a 15% discount on parts and accessories (bikes, service and sale items are not included).

FAQ

Here are some tips that can make your riding safer and more enjoyable.

What should I have in that little pouch attached to your seat?

That pouch is called a saddle bag and at a minimum should contain a new tube, tire levers, a Co2 cartridge and a Co2 inflation device. You may also want to include some money, an allen wrench/multi tool and a chain tool.

What to wear when it’s cold?
Developing a good base during the winter months is a great way to prepare for racing and riding during the spring and summer. This also means you are going to have to ride when it’s cold. Undershirts and vests are a good way to keep your core warm. Add a hat, gloves, leg/knee warmers, arm warmers and toe covers to complete the ensemble depending on the temperature. One key is to layer so you can remove clothing as you heat up. A rule of thumb is to be a little cold when you begin your ride.

How do I find the rallies?

North Texas has several bike rallies. Click here for the schedule
http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/

How often should I replace my chain?
Many beginning riders don’t think about replacing their chain. In order to keep shifting crisp and in good working order, it is recommended to replace your chain every 3,000 miles. You can also take your bike into Bike Mart and they will inspect your chain for wear.

When should I race?
This is different for everyone, but the best answer is to just jump in and try it. If you can hang on some of the faster group rides in the Metroplex, then you should be ready for a Cat 5 or Cat 4 race.

Racing

Many recreational cyclists decide to take riding to the next level and test the competition by racing. Amateur racing is handicapped by assigning racers to different categories based on their experience and skill level. For men, the racing levels or categories (cat) are: 5,4,3,2, and 1. For women, they are: 4,3,2 and 1. The beginner level, cat 5 for men and cat 4 for women is assigned when you apply for a race license at www.usacycling.org. Once you have your license, and feel you have the skills to race, all you have to do is sign up for one of the many races. Check here for upgrade guidelines:
http://www.usacycling.org/news/user/story.php?id=580.

Texas Racing Schedule
See www.txbra.org for the Texas racing schedule.

Weekly Races in DFW
There are two weekly criterium series located in the DFW Metroplex. One in Richardson on Tuesday nights http://www.fdmcycling.com/ and one in Ft. Worth on Wednesday nights http://www.teambicyclesinc.org/Wednightcrit.htm.

Track
Track racing is another form of racing held in a velodrome on fixed gear bikes. There are indoor and outdoor velodromes of different sizes throughout the US and the world. Most are 250, 333 meters or some variation. We are fortunate to have two tracks in the Lone Star State. The Superdrome www.superdrome.org in Frisco and Alkek ttp://www.houstoncycling.org/ in Houston. The only qualification to racing track is to have a race license and have taken the track development class. The superdrome provides rental bike for $5.

Links

• Richardson Bike Mart – bikemart.com
• Texas bicycling racing – txbra.org
• Dallas mountain biking and trails – dorba.org
• Texas mountain biking – tmbra.org
• USA cycling – usacycling.org
• Rally schedule – http://www.bicycle-stuff.com/main/01/10_rides/calendar.htm
• Superdrome – superdrome.com
• More track racing – fixedgearfever.com

• Attack – A sudden acceleration to move ahead of another rider or group of riders
• Bell, Bell Lap – A bell is rung to signify the last lap before the finish or a prime
• Big ring – the largest of the front cogs
• Break, Breakaway – A rider or group of riders that has left the main group behind
• Bridge – To leave one group of riders and join another one that is further ahead
• Cadence – the speed at which you pedal
• Cat, Category – Rider competition levels in USCF races. Cat 5, Cat 4, Cat 3, Cat 2, Cat1
• Chase, Chasers – Riders trying to catch a breakaway group or rider
• Cleats – the mechanism that is screwed to the sole of the shoe to fit clipless pedals
• Clipless pedals – your shoe is attached to the pedal with cleats Computer measures your speed, distance travelled, cadence etc
• Domestique – A team rider who will sacrifice his/her individual performance to help a designated teammate. Duties can include giving up ones bike for another rider, supplying refreshments to teammates, catching breakaway riders. French for “servant.”
• Draft – To ride closely behind a competitor, saving energy by using that racer as a wind break. Riding in front is very strenuous but affords a great energy-saving advantage to the rider behind
• Drop, Dropped – When a rider has been passed by another
• Groupset – collective term for all the main components of the bicycle
• Field sprint: A sprint at the finish among the main group of riders in a road race
• Flyer – A surprise attack, usually by a solo rider. Also a rider who gains speed within the peloton attempting to reach the front
• Gap – The amount of time or distance between a rider or group of riders and another rider or group of riders
• Hammer – To ride hard. Also, to “put the hammer down.”
• Jump – A quick acceleration which usually develops into a sprint
• Lead out – To intentionally sacrifice ones chances in order to create a windbreak, thus creating an opening for a rider behind. A racing tactic whereby one rider races at high speed to give a head start to the rider on his/her wheel
• Off the back – When a rider or riders cannot keep pace with the main group and lag behind
• Off the front – When a rider takes part in a breakaway
• Peloton – The main group of riders; also called the pack, bunch or field. French
• Presta valve – the long thin valve found on road, touring and hybrid bikes
• Prime – An award given for the rider to reach a certain point mid-race in a sprint. Pronounced “preem.” French
• Pull – To take a turn at the front of the group, maintaining the same speed of the group
• Quick release (QR) – skewers a means of tightening and releasing a wheel quickly
• Rotating – The action of each rider going to the front of a group and riding at the front in turn to keep the pace high
• Schraeder valve – the fat valve, mainly found on mountain bikes
• Sitting in, Sit on a wheel, Sitting on – Drafting, or riding closely behind the rider immediately in front to save energy. Also known as wheelsucking. See wheelsucking
• Sitting up – When the rider is no longer tucked, or riding in the most aerodynamic fashion
• SPD ‘Shimano Pedalling Dynamics’ – Shimano’s term for its clipless pedal
• Stage race: A bike race held over successive days, with a different course each day. Stage races often feature a combination of long road races, a criterium and a time trial. The rider with the lowest total time (or most accumulated points) after completion of all the stages wins the overall race
• Velo – Bike. French