An Interview With Pro Triathlete Matty Reed

by Kat Hunter

Triathlon might not be particularly high profile in the U.S., but in many ways, the lack of recognition and the size and intimacy of the tri community make the professional side of the sport more meaningful for the everyman. It’s a sport where you can still walk up and shake Dave Scott’s hand or, through some random event or lucky mutual acquaintance, go on a training ride with Chrissie Wellington or Andy Potts. You can still ask someone like Matty Reed for an interview.

It’s a little intimidating to sit down to talk with one of the top pros in the U.S.—though sitting is less intimidating than standing in Matty’s case, since he’s 6-foot-5.

Matty was in Austin over Memorial Day weekend for the Capital of Texas Triathlon, also making an appearance on Saturday at Austin Tri-Cyclist to talk with local athletes about Fuji’s new time trial bike, the Norcom Straight. For him, Captex was a test, a way to tell whether the speedwork he’s been doing in training has paid off and what type of race he wants to focus on in coming months. The 2013 World Championship 70.3 in Las Vegas is definitely on his radar, he says, and he hopes to qualify for Kona at the IRONMAN North American Championship Mont-Tremblant in August.

Born in New Zealand, Matty spent most of his childhood in Australia. Matty’s long history in triathlon—22 years to date—began with his first race on his 15th birthday. From that point on, he says, he knew triathlon was the career he wanted to pursue, and after high school, he began racing professionally. He became a U.S. citizen in 2007, and currently lives in Boulder, Colorado, with his wife, Kelly, a former pro triathete and PR and marketing guru, and their three children. After this past year’s brutal and lingering winter in Boulder, the Reed family may be moving soon, possibly to northern California.

Focusing primarily on ITU races for most of his career, Matty switched gears after the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to dabble in Olympic-distance, 70.3, and Iron-distance races. Though he’s been successful with both short course and long course in recent years, he admits he’s struggling to find the right balance and may have to decide on a particular focus soon.

Matty introducing the Norcom Straight at ATC Barton Springs

Non-drafting races offer an athlete like Matty, a strong cyclist, a number of advantages compared to ITU. From start to finish, a draft-legal race is a battle for position, he says, and one wrong move can ruin an entire day. The contenders tend to stay together on the bike leg. Matty says he prefers the non-drafting format because it allows him to do his own kind of race.

An outlier among professional triathletes, Matty is taller than most people would consider optimal for the sport. But he doesn’t see it as a limitation, pointing to his role model, five-time world champion Simon Lessing, who is 6-foot-3. Staying lean is more important as a tall athlete, Matty says, but at a certain weight, the extra height provides an edge on the competition. “I’ve always believed that triathlon is a strength sport, so being tall is not a disadvantage,” he says.

Twenty-two years is a long time to be in any career, but perhaps especially that of a professional triathlete, a person who makes a living from a sport that started as recently as the 1970s. Matty has seen change sweep through the sport, from the advent and development of organizations like the WTC and Rev 3 to a year-round race calendar and increasingly high-tech bikes and equipment.

“I’ve seen the money come in waves,” he says. “You’ll have a few years of really good money, and now we’re on the decline for professionals, I feel. I am proud of my long standing contracts with my sponsors.” The economy isn’t as strong as it was in previous years, and sponsorship dollars are harder to come by for many athletes. Unlike in many other professional sports, corporate sponsors outside of the triathlon industry are still very rare, narrowing the sources and scope of sponsorship.

Matty says that what has changed the most for him physically over the years is his ability to recover. Though perhaps also attributable to racing short course versus long, he was able to train much harder when he was younger, he says.

“It’s really hard to continue doing what I used to do, which is the quality,” he says. “I’ve had to slow it down a lot, which I don’t like. This year, I’ve tried to do the quality a little bit more and do the long stuff as well. We’re going to see how that works in my racing. Over the last couple of years I’ve definitely slowed down. I just know that with some of the sessions I do, I know my times, and I know I’m close to where I used to be, but I’m not quite there. It’s coming.”

The most important goal of his career, Matty says, has been consistency. As a younger athlete, he would win a race one weekend and place 40th the next. Though last year wasn’t as successful as he’d hoped, from 2008 to 2011 he felt he’d accomplished his goal of getting on the podium at nearly every race.

When I ask him if the life of a professional triathlete feels like a job and what keeps him motivated to do it, his answer is quick. “Oh yeah, it 100 percent feels like a job,” he says. “It’s hard work. I love to win so the motivation to get to my best and try to win races is definitely the main reason why I do it.”

Though many would say that Matty has “made it” as a professional triathlete, and he has a number of top sponsors, including Fuji, Rudy Project, Asics, Muscle Milk, and Champion System, an athlete never truly receives tenure. To keep his relationship with sponsors, he has to race well, and to earn bonus money, he has to win.

“It’s frustrating for me the last few years to not race as good as I know I can,” he says. “So my big goal right now is to get back to winning some races and thank my sponsors for sticking by me.”

Matty’s three children—two, five, and seven years old—add another element to his training. “It’s definitely tough, because I like to spend a lot of time with my kids, and I like to play with my kids,” he says. “I hate the fact that I’m out doing a long ride when my kids are at home and I should be playing with them, but I know it’s got to be done sometimes, and a lot of times I schedule my training around what they do, like their school.” With Ironman training, however, it’s nearly impossible to get everything done in time to be finished when they come home.

“But it’s my job,” he says, “and I’ve got make the most of it because I’ve only got probably four good racing years left in the sport.” When he retires from competition, Matty sees himself working for a sponsor and hosting triathlon camps, but for now, he’s putting everything into his training.

Serious triathletes—professionals and elite age groupers alike—are among the most driven and focused individuals in the world, taking every aspect of training and racing to an extreme level. They do have their playful side, though.

Matty, like most Kiwi and Aussie triathletes, has a well-known nickname. When I ask where “Boom Boom” came from, he tells me two stories. The true origin of the name was a 1000-meter time trial when he still lived in Australia. He was neck and neck with a friend, but then suddenly accelerated and dropped him, taking the win. The friend said, “Man, when you got to 500 meters you just went ‘Boom.’”

But Matty says the more interesting story is the one Chris McCormack told Matty’s future wife at their first meeting. Macca, a training partner at the time, introduced Matty to Kelly at a dinner in San Diego. As Matty was walking up, Kelly asked Macca about the meaning of the nickname. He told her, “Ah, he’s got really big privates. They go ‘boom boom.’” Five seconds later, a little flustered, Kelly shook Matty’s hand.

Matty Reed may be one of the world’s top endurance athletes, but he’s no prima donna. At ATC's meet-and-greet with Austin athletes and fans, he seemed friendly and down to earth, happy to answer questions and listen in turn. Pro triathletes are often a nice reminder that people with superhuman athletic abilities can still be human.

Training tips:

Matty says that in his own training, recovery sessions have been key. Rest days add up—one day a week becomes four days a month, which is around 50 days a year. “That’s nearly two months you’ve taken off in a year from just taking one day off a week, so I don’t believe in taking a day off a week,” he says. “I believe in recovery sessions.” A coach can also help a lot, he says, primarily with doing the workouts that you don’t want to do.

For age groupers working full-time jobs, he says quality is the most important aspect of training. “You only have a certain amount of time to get sessions in, so you don’t want to waste your time doing easy sessions,” he says. “Whenever you get the chance to get out there, you make the most of it. You get your heart rate up and train hard.” He says joining a masters’ group often helps, providing companionship and additional motivation.

Matty’s bike setup

Since early May, Matty has been on Fuji’s newly minted, top-of-the-line time trial bike, the Norcom Straight. He says the bike’s slogan—“Fit comes first”—says it all.

Previously, he rode Fuji’s D-6. “I was kind of sad to see that go, but also excited for the new one because I knew it had better technology and was more aerodynamic and stiffer than the D6,” he says. He said he noticed the improvement in fit and stiffness immediately.

Many of the top TT bikes currently on the market have custom, non-standard front ends with limited adjustability. The Norcom Straight solves the problem of combining an integrated, aerodynamic front end with greater flexibility in seat height, stack, and reach. Any regular stem can be used, but the Norcom Straight also offers a wide range of custom stem sizes for a fully integrated, aerodynamic stem setup, with a total of 24 possible positions. The bike comes standard with the UCI-compliant Oval Concepts 960 aerobar, but you’re free to use any aerobar you want.

Wind-tunnel designed and tested, the Norcom Straight is 18% faster across the most common yaw angles than its predecessor, the D-6. The bike supports fully internal mechanical or electric cable routing, and other features include integrated aerodynamic brakes, electric shifting battery mounts on the seat tube, and horizontally adjustable vertical dropouts that make wheel changes a piece of cake. Five frame sizes are available: S (49cm), M (51cm), M/L (53cm), L (55cm), and XL (57cm). Matty, of course, rides the XL.

Gruppo – Campagnolo EPS

The Electronic Power Shift is Campy’s latest production electronic gruppo, 11-speed and similar to the Durace Di2 in many of its features. The Super Record model is the lightest electronic gruppo currently on the market.

Wheels - Lightweight Fernweg

Top dollar, these are the lightest deep aero wheels in the world.

Saddle – Dash Cycles Tri.7

This ultra lightweight saddle looks like something out of Star Trek, but its cutout and unique shape make it popular for TT positions.

Aerobars - Oval Concepts 960 aerobars

These UCI-legal aerobars come standard on the Norcom Straight.

Crankset – Campagnolo Bora Ultra

Campy’s attractive and aerodynamic crankset, 55T.

Pedals – Keywin pedals

Made by a company in New Zealand, these lesser-known pedals are very adjustable; riders can easily adjust the length of the axle and the float.

For more info on Matty Reed, check out http://www.mattyreed.com

Read other ATC Blogger interviews:

Colin O’Brady, pro ITU triathlete (coming soon)
Brandon & Amy Marsh, pro triathletes
Tristan Uhl, pro mountain biker
Jeff Symonds, pro triathlete (before his podium at Las Vegas Worlds in 2011)

Stepping Out of Your Comfort Zone

by Ben Muguia

There's nothing comfortable about a triathlon. Wet suits provide you with a nice little neck rub, goggles leave attractive raccoon eyes, your cycling kit gives wedgies that bring back elementary school memories, and saddle – well, you get where I’m going, and that’s just the attire. It’s a repeat cycle with constant training and (hopefully) racing. Most aspects of endurance sports aren't comfortable, but that doesn't mean they aren't worth the occasional awkwardness. As triathletes, we power through because in the end, we’re all doing what we love and we’re still going to get up the next day to do it again. The more comfortable you get with the uncomfortable, the better prepared you’ll be on race day.

One of the best ways to step outside your comfort zone is to train with a group. Training with a group will keep you accountable, force you to try new routes, sets, or speeds, provide the opportunity to meet other people who share this interest, and ultimately lead to faster race times. Plus it's a lot harder to ease up when others around you are pushing you. If you consistently challenge yourself and others, you will see improvement.

I remember getting little to no sleep the night before my first Longhorn Aquatics Masters practice. I had been swimming for only a few months, couldn't do a flip turn, and was sure that I would be the slowest one there. Much to my relief, there was a wide range of abilities among the squad. Not only was everyone friendly, but many went out of their way to show me the ropes. I'm confident that had I not joined Longhorn Aquatics, I would still be doing open turns, never have entered a swim race, and improved more slowly. Swim times in the pool that were once "all out" efforts have become slower than many of my steady set paces that I swim today. While I'm by no means the fastest person in the pool, I've seen major improvement since I joined and now have a group of amazing friends who keep me motivated throughout each practice.

Biking with a group has led to similar improvements. I had read about the ATC Ride for months, but I was always too timid to give it a try. I feared I would be bumped to the back of the group and left pedaling in circles in the Hill Country. During my first ride, it went pretty much how I expected. I was dropped by the front of the group like a bad habit, but luckily there were others around me to show me the way, and everyone regrouped a few miles later. Since then, and many rides later, I've learned to hang on to that front group and have met some great people along the way.

Joining a group ride, run, or swim can be intimidating at first, but don’t forget that everyone there has been in your shoes before. Showing up is the first step, and you’re only a newbie the first time. So I encourage you to take a step outside your comfort zone and attend one of the many group rides, runs, and swims that Austin has to offer. Come on out to the ATC Saturday Ride. You won't be the only one experiencing some discomfort out there, whether you’re new to the sport, have on a kit that isn't quite stretched out yet, or maybe you’re new to town. I can promise it's a good discomfort that you’ll soon start to look forward to.

Ben Munguia is an endurance sports enthusiast who has been training for and participating in triathlons since 2009. A Dallas native, Ben now lives in Austin with his wife Lauren and vizsla Tucker. In his free time, you 'll find him running Lady Bird Lake, biking his favorite Lost Creek/Cuernavaca loop, or swimming in local pools.

Cycling Film Worth Supporting

The appropriately titled documentary film “HALF THE ROAD: The Passion, Pitfalls & Power of Women’s Professional Cycling” explores the world of women’s professional cycling, asking why, when it comes to professional cycling, women aren’t receiving their fair share of the road. Featuring race footage and interviews with Olympians, development riders, Ironman and marathon champions, pro team directors, and more, the film offers a unique look at what makes the women’s pro peloton tick. Check out the preview video here.

The documentary’s filmmakers are seeking help with funds for distribution, screenings, film festival entries, travel, and rights to Olympic footage. Support the project on online crowd-funding platform Indiegogo by making a contribution of $25 to $10,000 dollars. ($100 gets you a pre-ordered DVD and puts your name in the film credits.) Currently, with 44 days remaining in the campaign, $17,706 has been raised of the $65,000 goal.

If you’re a supporter of women’s cycling, make it happen!

http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/half-the-road-the-passion-pitfalls-power-of-women-s-professional-cycling

ATC's Memorial Day Sale

It’s that time of year again. One of Austin’s most popular multisport races is happening this Monday, bringing a sell-out crowd of 3,000 athletes to compete in downtown Austin. Celebrate the 2013 Capital of Texas Triathlon and the public holiday with ATC’s Memorial Day sale!

All hands will be on deck to make sure you find what you’re looking for, and vendors from Mavic, Cervelo, Fuji, Bell, Giro, Zevlin, and Shimano will also be helping out.

Special deals at ATC’s retail locations:

·         All 2012 bikes and clothing 20-40% off

·         30% off all 2012 wetsuits (downtown location only*)  

·         Easton & Reynolds wheelsets 25% off (use code Easton25 online)

·         Get a free ATC jersey with a bike purchase ($100 value)

Also, check out the new items in stock:

·         The new 2014 Cervelo P3

·         Giro’s new Air Attack helmet

·         Boardman bikes

Special Event:

Meet top pro Matty Reed and check out Fuji’s new superbike, the Norcom Straight.

·      4pm Saturday, May 25, at ATC Barton Springs

Pro Matt Reed

Matt Reed is an American elite triathlete. Reed became a US citizen in 2007, and currently lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado. In 2009, Reed won 7 triathlons and the Toyota Cup Series. His triumphs came at Ironman California 70.3, Miami International Triathlon, Pan American Championships, REV 3 Half-Ironman, Life Time Fitness Minneapolis, Chicago Triathlon and Dallas Triathlon.

Reed was named USA Triathlon’s Athlete of the Year for 2008.  He won the US Olympic trials and placed thirty-second at the Beijing Games. Reed also finished fifth in the 2008 World Championships, the highest place ever for an American male.

The Fuji Norcom Straight

The pinnacle of Fuji innovation, design, and engineering, the Norcom Straight is one of the fastest bikes in the world.

But most importantly, it offers more positioning options than any other superbike: If speed is the goal, fit comes first. Meet the Norcom Straight.

Wetsuit Rentals:

ATC offers sleeveless and full-sleeve wetsuits in men’s and women’s cuts for rent. Click here to make your reservation request online or call 512-494-9252 and ask to speak to Missy. Limited availability. Wetsuits must be picked up at ATC downtown location.

Race weekend rate: $30

Full week rental: $50

Extended store hours Saturday & Sunday at ATC Downtown!

Store Hours: M-F 10-7, Sat & Sun 10-6

923 Barton Springs
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 512-494-9252

ATC's New 360 Store

ATC 360 is a very different sort of dillo. The new store, opened this February, is located in Westlake’s upscale Davenport Village. Adjacent to Highway 360, a popular route with cyclists, and next door to popular eateries like Maudie’s, Uno Café, and Eleven Plates, ATC’s second store is in a prime spot. Blending in with the surroundings as any respectable xenarthran must, ATC 360 is the same grease-smeared dillo you know and love in a top hat and tails.

Missy and Don Ruthven have owned ATC downtown on Barton Springs Road for 12 years. While the idea of a second store had often come up, the stars had never quite aligned before the end of last year. ATC 360 was once the home of bike shop Cycle 360, and driving by the location in late October, Don’s question of “Whatever happened to that space?” quickly turned into a “What if...?” Missy and Don got the keys to the building in early December, and after eight weeks of gutting and refinishing the interior, they opened on February 9 with a well-attended party and a few truckloads of Coors.

Though ATC 360 doesn't have the same charmingly grungy South Austin character of ATC downtown, its unofficial slogan is “Bringing the Weird to Westlake.” ATC employees were the architects and carpenters of nearly all the interior improvements, building up the display racks, decking, and service counters as skillfully as any new P5. The inventory is largely the same between the two locations, with the full range of Cannondale, Cervelo, Lightspeed, Quintana Roo, Boardman, and Kestrel bikes, as well as triathlon and cycling apparel and accessories. Based on demand, however, ATC 360 is beginning to offer a wider selection of mountain biking equipment. Though ATC downtown continues to do all wetsuit rentals, customers who call in advance can pick up their rental at the 360 location.

For many athletes, ATC 360 is a location of greater convenience. The store serves an area without any other bike shops and offers everything the downtown store area does, minus the drive. It’s also a welcome salvation when you find yourself stranded on a ride out 360 without the right fuel or a flat kit. But even if the older dillo is still your closest dillo, ATC 360 is worth a look. After all, how often do you get to see your favorite armor-plated mammal in his fanciest duds?

For questions, contact shop manager Adam Stroobandt at info@austintricyclist.com

Location, Location:
3801 N. Capitol of Texas Hwy
STE G-200
Austin, TX 78746


View Larger Map
Phone & Hours:
512-382-1273
M-F 10-7, Sat 10-6, Sun 12-4
Upcoming Events:
Stay tuned for ATC 360’s second opening party!

Ode to the Veloway

by Kat Hunter

Austinites prefer a little green space with their urban jungle. Like the greenbelts that crisscross town, the Veloway is a unique venue that highlights the city’s love for physical activity and the outdoors. Approximately 3.1 miles long and 23 feet wide, the paved one-way track is a free and public-use facility completely closed to vehicular and foot traffic, designed expressly for the use of cyclists and rollerbladers.    

The Veloway is surrounded by undeveloped land with small trees and brush, and in season, offers brightly colored fields of bluebonnets, Indian blanket, and other native wildflowers.  Squirrels, roadrunners, and deer are common sights, as well as the occasional rattlesnake and tarantula. The track is designed in a large loop, with several hairpin turns and rises, and is divided by a center stripe into two wide lanes, the left of which is meant to be the “fast” lane.  Traffic travels in a clockwise direction, and beyond the sound of a noisy free-hub or poorly maintained chain coming up behind you, there’s no road noise.

The Veloway is, above all, a safe place to ride your bike. As a pleasant change of pace from pickup trucks and suburbans, indecisive squirrels are a rider’s biggest threat. And though the course isn't completely flat and “easy,” it’s a good place to bring an inexperienced or novice rider who isn't comfortable riding in traffic or navigating around obstacles.  On the weekends when the weather is favorable, the Veloway is full of recreational riders and parents coaxing their kids around the loop. During the week or on particularly cold or rainy days when the crowds are gone, the Veloway is excellent for faster training, with the added bonus of building good cornering skills. It’s also a venue where, along with roller skates and inline skates, virtually any species of bike is welcome and safe—unicycles, tri bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, recumbents, and even stranger inventions.

The Veloway does have its drawbacks. For one, it’s located too far south for many cyclists, adjacent to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center at the intersection of South Mopac and La Crosse Avenue.  Some weekends it’s closed to the public to host private events (check the schedule here). Cracks are widening in the pavement, and the track floods in spots after heavy rains. The only facilities are two porta potties typically in an extreme state of overuse. On that note, you can sign a petition for Veloway improvements here.

Overall, however, the Veloway is an undervalued space that offers a truly special opportunity to ride. As a person who loves to be outside and trusts her handling skills but not area motorists, I give the Veloway full credit for saving my sanity over the past nine months. My son will have logged approximately 85 hours of Veloway time by the time he’s born at the end of May. Many thanks to the city and the volunteers who keep this incredible space up and running, aiding the current crop of cyclists and building a future one. 

Veloway Rules

• Only bikes & rollerblades allowed.
• One way, clockwise travel.
• Closes at dusk. No night riding.
• Helmets required.
• No removing or disturbing flora and fauna.
• The left lane is for passing. – Just like when you’re driving a car on the freeway, stay in the right lane unless you’re passing. And just like on the freeway, expect that some people will remain oblivious in this respect to common sense and Veloway signage.

Veloway Common Sense Etiquette

• Pass on the left.
• Allow lots of space when passing. – There are many new riders at the Veloway, including young children. Don’t assume that other riders are as experienced or as comfortable with proximity as you are. And don’t assume that they’re going to take a predictable line on a turn—if in doubt, wait to pass.
• Leave your headphones at home. –  Even though there are no cars on the Veloway, you put yourself and others in danger when you’re not aware of your surroundings. 
• If you’re going to “race,” make sure the other person wants to. Don’t assume another rider wants to be drafted or wants to draft you. – Nothing is more annoying than yo-yoing back and forth with a wannabe speed racer when you just want to be left alone to do a steady workout.    

How to Get There

View Larger Map

Take Mopac South to La Crosse. Turn left on La Crosse. Park on the street or in the dirt parking lot to the left. The Veloway is clearly marked.

There are also some unofficial dirt paths to the veloway behind Bowie High School (avoid this route during school hours) and neighborhoods off of Brodie Ln. These are visible on Google Maps. 

A New Kind of Ladies' Night The Pure Austin Driveway Series

by Kat Hunter

W1/2/3 podium, Week 7

The Driveway is one of Austin’s most beloved and popular bike racing venues. Every Thursday evening from March to October, a car racetrack deep in the woods of East Austin transforms into a cyclist’s mecca. As hundreds of competitors and spectators pour in along the narrow country road by car and by bike, you can almost hear the bells tolling, the steadfast parishioners returning yet again for more penance on two wheels.

For years, the series’ popularity has been growing by leaps and bounds. This season, the men’s category 4/5 and P1/2/3 races regularly reach their respective field limits of 75 and 100 riders. Andrew Willis and Holly Ammerman, husband-and-wife owners of Holland Racing and the Driveway Series event, had every reason to expect continued success without changing a thing, so I was surprised when they convened a focus group of women bike racers over the winter off season to talk about how women’s racing could be improved at the Driveway.

To appreciate what such a gesture means, you have to understand the role of women’s racing within the sport of cycling. Races cost money, and women don’t have the numbers to be profitable. When turnout is low or convenience dictates, officials often combine us last minute with men’s fields. Our payouts are half or less the amount awarded to the same category of men. We’re rarely taken seriously. And no one really cares what we think about all of that, nor should they, financially speaking. But it’s awfully nice to be asked.

The Driveway committee meetings, composed of a small group of women racers from various categories and Austin teams, discussed how to improve the Driveway experience over the course of three meetings, and Holland Racing implemented many of those changes in the 2013 season. This Thursday, May 2, marks the first of the new Driveway Series “Ladies Nights.”

The Changes

Last year, the category 3/4 women were the first race of the day, scheduled at 5pm. The 1/2/3 women, though scored separately, raced with the men’s category 3/4 field at 5:30pm. The women's 1/2/3 race was often poorly attended.

W1/2/3 podium, Week 5

This year, the women’s race schedule changes according to the amount of daylight. At the beginning and end of the series, the women race at 5pm in a women’s 1/2/3 and 4, scored separately but starting together. The men’s 3/4 race still offers women’s primes, and some women also choose to race the men’s P1/2/3. In the middle of the season—from May 9 to Sept 26—the traditional women’s 3/4 starts at 5pm, and the W1/2/3 starts with the Men’s 35+ race at 7:45pm or 7:05pm. Many women in the Driveway focus group considered the later master’s race, which typically has a smaller field and less crashes, preferable to the men’s 3/4.

The new “Ladies Nights” occur the first Thursday of May, June, July, and August, offering a women’s only race (1/2/3 and 4 scored separately) on the top track while the master’s 35+ race is held on the bottom track. The Ladies Night format answers many of the requests made by the women in the focus group—a women’s only field, a later start time for those who can’t make it to the track as early as 5pm, and increased recognition. The women's 3/4 is still held at 5pm, which has the added benefit of allowing cat 3 and cat 4 riders to race two women's only races in one day.  

Why You Should Attend Ladies Nights  

W4 podium, Week 6

Though Austin’s cycling culture, which has a long and illustrious history, may not have started at the Driveway, that’s arguably where, heart and soul, it’s being cultivated today. The Driveway Series is an event that’s as much social as athletic. You don’t just go to the Driveway to race—you go to watch, to drink a beer, to catch up on gossip, to show off your bike, to blow off steam, to find your niche in a community that’s as patently and uniquely “weird” as any other Austin tradition.  

As the hub for so much of what shapes Texas bike racing, the Driveway is in a position to significantly impact women’s racing, not only in how it is perceived, but in how it grows and develops in the years to come. There’s a very simple solution to many of the problems in women’s cycling—more women. With more of us actively competing, women could have separate category 3 races, providing a middle ground of learning and development for riders moving up in the ranks. By default, we’d have more clout in organizational decision making, be eligible for more prize money, and avoid the inconvenience of combined fields.

Like those cheesy bar campaigns offering happy hour specials and free drinks for women (minus the calories and the come-ons), Ladies Nights at the Driveway provide ample incentive for the fairer sex to attend in force. In the women’s 1/2/3, $200 prize money is divided among the top five, with awards for the top three in the women’s 4. And most importantly, we get a chance to race in our own field in the prime time spotlight. The top track is completely visible to spectators, so they’ll be able to experience the race from start to finish.

Show your appreciation for a good deed and your love for women’s bike racing by coming out to participate in or watch the Driveway’s first Ladies Night criterium of 2013. Click here for more info. 

www.drivewayseries.com