Agassiz Speedway Cycling
Our Coaches
JAMIE JOHNSON
While living in Abbotsford, Sally and I coached the Youth and Novice Groups at Phoenix Velo in Mission. We learned a lot about the needs of new riders. Although both of us are experienced cyclists, neither of us would claim to be expert coaches; we are not hoping to train anybody to be elite riders (we can recommend personal coaches if you need one).We live and work in Chilliwack. We want to create a fun event that bring the broader road biking community together.
I have been involved in Club Cycling since I was a teenager in the UK (which was a very long time ago). I initially started in touring then moved to mountain biking in the late 80s. I still have my first rigid steel framed mountain bike hung in the garage; if there is ever a Nuclear war I think it will be the only thing left undamaged. Not long after I met Sally, I offered her the chance for an international holiday. I think the Tandem camping trip across France wasn’t what she had in mind and certainly my understanding of the distance, terrain, weather and dynamics of handling a heavy tandem left a lot to be desired, but hey, 20+ years later we are still together. When we had the girls I shifted into Time Trials and Track Cycling which were more easily accessible in the UK. The thing I have learned about time trails is they are only about 25% in your legs, the other 75% is in your head which throughout the time trial will be [quite sensibly] telling your body it’s a bad idea. I raced on the Track in both Manchester and Newport. Always at my best against the clock and always totally useless in traffic. In the Winter I have also tried my hand at Cyclocross where I tend to hit just about everything; still nobody really knows who is in front anyway. I have raced the criterium series at the Mission raceway, which is always a lot of fun and usually a humbling experience.
Almost from the beginning I have been involved in club committees and executives. I don’t think there are any positions that I haven’t filled at one time or another. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly but it is always worth remembering that running clubs isn’t easy. There is a sign at the entrance to the Agassiz Speedway that says it all; “Before you complain, have you volunteered?”. We certainly appreciate JG4PD for supporting our event and allowing us to concentrate on the program.
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SALLY JOHNSON
I hadn’t really been involved in Cycling until I met Jamie. I got dragged Across Europe on a Tandem instead of the week in Corfu I had in mind. Still despite the disappointment, I did find that I enjoyed the cycling, as well as having a valid reason to consume multiple Mars bars after a long ride. While our three girls were young I pretty much restricted myself to family cycling. It was until we moved to BC in 2010 that I went out and got a proper road bike. We signed up for a Fondo and that got me motivated to spend more time on the bike.
I started riding some the races at the Mission Raceway and doing more time trials. I have to confess that I probably enjoyed the racing more, but was actually better at the time trails. For me it was the hard cornering and close contact of the races that sometimes just freaked me out. The time trials are just a straight effort, but there is of course the “time trial demon”. It’s a little voice that starts in your head that starts about 24 hours before the race and continues all the way to the finish line. It tries to put you off doing the race in first place and then once you start whispers to you about everything that is going wrong and why you should give up. If you can shut the demon up, time trials are easy.
I think road cycling has a bad image with women because they assume it’s just a bunch of middle age men in Lycra shouting angrily at each other and racing like their next contract with Sky depends on the outcome of the race. To be honest I have seen plenty of it. Equally, I think women are guilty of saying “I would come if more women did it” and using it as an excuse not to take part. This is kind of how I slipped into coaching. I started by coaching the Youth at Mission, but it was clear that novice women related better to a female coach. I stated working with the novice groups which were often predominantly female.
Now I am the first to confess I don’t know much about the technical side of bikes. I know I have self inflating tires and a self lubing chain (I must have because I never have to do it ☺). I think this makes it easier for me to explain things to novices; tell them what they need to know and what it feels like.
I think we have a great opportunity to start something new at Agassiz. New riders are not just allowed, they are positively encouraged and given the same priority on the track as more experienced riders. I am really excited about what we are doing and hope to see you at the track!
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