Need to cram? Last minute prep advice to get in shape

For a lot of us, this fall has been full of too much OCR, too much homework, too many recruiting-financed gin & tonics, and not enough biking!

For the team members thinking, "Crap! Racing is less than two months away! ...and Philly is a snowy mess," here are a couple of tips for last-minute cramming to get in shape for the upcoming races:

• Sign up for RPM!
  The RPM classes at Breakaway are great. You go in, strap your own bike into their compu-trainers, and get a hard core workout in a coached environment. Sign up ASAP.
  
  
• Ride when it's nice out!
  The snow will be cleared up soon. I'll be riding next week (on "Samantha," my beloved new bike) and slow/old/new folks are welcome to join me, since I fit in all those categories... haha.
  
  
• Hit the gym!
  Go to classes at the gym. Pottruck has good classes, and we will soon send out new spinning hours, but general classes are great, too. My gym, Fusion (www.fusioncrosstraining.com), has awesome, small classes that include 30 minutes of intense spinning intervals, 30 minutes of tough strength training intervals, yoga warm-down and a mini-massage. You essentially get uber-cheap personal training because of the small size. Hit me up if you want to check out a free session or two. It's especially good for busy students or those who need a pro to organize their workouts.
  
  
• Get a bike "fit!"
  For anybody who's never had their bike "fit" to them, ...wow... I promise that it makes all the difference in the world! You will ride farther, faster, and hurt a lot less. It's the best money you will ever spend on biking. Our sponsor shop, Breakaway, can help with discounts for team members (or talk to the shop where you bought your bike... they willl often do it for cheap or free).
  
  
• Come to the practice clinics!
  You'll soon see emails about our team clinics on topics like cornering, bumping, sprinting, drafting, etc. They are great places to learn or practice. If you're like me (i.e. still need to learn to ride better), they are a phenomenal place to learn from some of the best riders in the country.
  
  
• Ride inside!
  As a Californian-in-exile and USC alum, I hate the cold. So, I just got a new set of rollers to ride inside. The team has trainers you can borrow, too. Any of those are a great way to get in shape despite the nasty and snowy Philly roads.
  
  
• Do your paperwork!
  Matt sent the list on how to register for USAC Collegiate races... Penn Cycling pays for it, so it's FREE to you if you race. Go for it!

So, if you've spent the past semester eating too many McKinsey-sponsored steaks, drinking too much Four Loko in one of those heinous high-rise dorms, sitting through too many Goldman EIS sessions, or (god forbid!) actually doing some homework... There's still hope! Let's get out, ride, and get ready for some fun races!