Want to find out about some upcoming events? Need some tips on how to have a great race? Then keep on reading because we have all that & much more.

This month's Training 101 is from Calfee Bicycles founder Craig Calfee! The featured product is from a top notch wheel company located right here in Austin. So sit back, enjoy and let it inspire you to get on your bike, put on your running shoes or throw on your goggles.

Get ready, 'cause here it comes! Fingers on a Frame '06 is slated for November. This world famous, second annual event will benefit the Texas Bicycle Coalition. The TBC is a non-profit organization helping to make TX a safer place to ride. Jack and Adam's Bicycles is proud to be a new business member of this 15 year old organization. And we're very happy to be sending all the proceeds of F.O.A.F. '06 their way. Click here to learn how the Texas Bicycle Coalition is helping you!

Calling all the ladies: a new event is in place and ready for your participation! Come out for the All Women's Rogue Women Tri! It's at the the TX Ski Ranch, a great venue for triathlons! Although it's a new event, the director is a race producing veteran. So come check out all the fun on July 7th!

Blackwell Research designers have spent over one thousand hours in the wind tunnel testing and studying wheel performance. They have developed a tubular race wheel that is lightweight and spectacularly aerodynamic. This non-disc wheel, called the 100mm, is hundreds of grams lighter than most disc wheels and offers unmatched watts reduction for the rider.

Blackwell Research, with Dave Bunce at its helm, recently relocated to Austin after a lengthy process of choosing the right city to base the company. For them, Austin was a natural fit. Not only does this city offer tons of events, scenic bike routes and running trails, but it's close proximity to College Station allows extensive product testing in the school's wind tunnel. Blackwell offers a demo program for their wheels which means: Try before you buy. Bring your bike to J&A?s and slap on a pair of wheels and see what all the buzz is about.

How to Not Blow Your Race (on the bike)

Craig Calfee has been involved in supporting amateur and professional racers for many years. From Greg LeMond in the Tour de France to several years volunteering for neutral support at the Hawaii Ironman. Nearly all of the tips below were learned as a result of seeing technical problems develop just before or during some very important races.

Don?t do anything! (just before a race)
1. Don?t change any equipment without first riding it for twenty to fifty miles. (including changing the inner tube) 2. Don?t use aluminum alloy bolts for front derailleur clamps, seat binders and stems. 3. Don?t change your position without first riding in that position for a typical training week

Clean your bike!
1. Mainly to inspect the frame for any cracks or problems, especially the fork, the handlebars or anywhere there is a clamp. 2. Keep the drivetrain well lubricated, you?ll go faster. 3. Replace rusted bolts found on aero bars. Replace any bolts that came with any older Profile product. 4. Check cleat bolts. 5. Have a competent, professional mechanic go over the bike at least a week before any big race. 6. Pay attention to creaks, cracks and groans from your bike. Have a good mechanic identify the strange sound, especially if it started recently.

If flying or shipping the bike, pack it well.
1. Don?t use soft cases with fork dropout clamps. They can arrive with bent or broken dropouts. 2. Partially deflate tires. Keep some air to protect the rim. 3. Arrive at the airport early so your bike makes it on the same flight. 4. Pack your bike assuming a TSA inspector will unpack it to look for bombs. Make it easy for them to re-pack or you may find your bike and case in a large plastic bag at your destination. 5. Be nice to the counter person, a zip-loc baggie of homemade cookies can cause the bike fee to be waived. Tip the baggage handler who will take away your oversized bike box. 6. Roof racks: Careful pulling it off the rack, it could bend or snap the front dropout. Also, make sure the skewer is nice and tight before driving off.

*Assemble the bike properly after any transport*
1. Check the quick releases 2. Check tire pressure 3. Check that pedals are tight 4. Check stem and aero bar bolts 5. Check wheels are true and don?t rub 6. Check saddle height (with tape measure or mark on the seat post) and tightness of seat binder bolt. 7. Test ride the bike at least a mile, running through the gears.

Race day check
1. Tire pressure (compensate for hot weather by putting about 10 pounds less pressure in your tires on a cool morning before a hot race) 2. Put the bike in the correct gear for exiting the transition area. 3. That should be all you need to worry about on race day.

During the race
1. Relax about any recent problems with the bike and focus on the race. 2. If the bike starts making strange noises, try to determine if it is serious or not. 3. If you survived a crash and you keep riding with a gouged carbon fork, you could seriously hurt yourself if the fork snaps. 4. Carry a small allen wrench set so you can possibly fix an easy problem.

Craig Calfee
Calfee Design

The last 5 weeks have been extremely busy in the Tri World. The Rookie Tri, held on Mother's Day weekend saw true rookies, Tri veterans and Ironman winners alike complete the short sprint distance. A couple of weeks later, the 12th largest triathlon in the country, Cap Tex Tri, took place in the heart of Austin. And last weekend 3330 women participated in the Danskin Triathlon, the 7th largest tri in the country.

Congrats to everyone who participated in these top notch events located right here in the Austin area. And special thanks to all the volunteers for braving the heat during these three events.