Although not a new coach, Frank Overton of FasCat Coaching is opening a new facility in North Boulder. 303Cycling joined his new group ride this past Tuesday. We also asked him a few questions about himself and his business. Here are his answers.

[303Cycling] Cycling coaches have varying back grounds. What is your background and how did it bring you to coaching?
[Frank] I have two “backgrounds”, two passions really, that I’ve managed to merge into one job that I can also be passionate about. Originally the game plan was to go to medical school and become a doctor. Prior to this I was a “laboratory technician” for two years at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine’s Department of Neurology at Wake Forest University Medical School. We had an NIH grant to study the regenerative effects of cytokines on rat astrocytes. In other words, we were a spinal cord research laboratory.

During this time before grad school, I started getting into bikes. After my day at the lab, I would ride a beater mountain bike around checking out Wake Forest. Next thing you know I'm off exploring the woods on the trails. Somehow that beater bike got stolen and I saved up my money for nearly a year for a Specialized Stumperjumper with a Rock Shox Judy fork. I’ll never forget what my medical student roommate said to me when I brought that bike home, “I don’t know why you bought that – you’re not going to have any time to ride it once you start med school”. But I started riding a lot and for me that naturally turned into racing. I was a complete newbie – I had to go buy a helmet for my first race. It was November and chilly so I wore a pair of long pants that I cut off just below the knee.

Attention Boulder County Cyclists

Boulder County opened 95th Street Bridge over Lefthand Creek last week and is holding an Open House on Lee Hill Shoulders next week.

95th Street Bridge over Lefthand Creek OPEN to all traffic. Construction on the roadway, bridge rails and trail undercrossing will continue through June 22. Cyclists should use caution when using this stretch of road during construction.

Lee Hill Drive Shoulders OPEN HOUSE - June 22, 4:30 to 6:00 PM. The public is invited to an Open House to look at the final plans for the Lee Hill Shoulder project. The purpose of the project is to add shoulders to Lee Hill Drive from 4th Avenue to Olde Stage Road. Much of the current design is based on comments heard at the first public open house meeting in August 2009.
MEETING TIME: Tuesday, June 22, 2010 - 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM, CDOT Region 4 Meeting Room, 1050 Lee Hill Road, Boulder.

Niwot Road Bridge over Feeder Canal, OPEN to all traffic...
The new bridge is significantly wider than the old bridge and will better accommodate new Neva / Niwot Road shoulder project currently planned in 2012.

Photo Credit: Michael Robson

Brandon Dwight is a well known figure in the Boulder cycling scene. Not only is he a National CX champion (Men 35-39 - 2007 and 2008), he is also owner of Boulder Cycle Sport. With the opening of his second BCS store, 303Cycling decided to ask him some questions about his start in the sport as well as his latest endeavor. Here are his answers:

[303Cycling] Tell us a little about Brandon Dwight's cycling history.
[Brandon] When I came to Boulder in 1990 to attend the University of Colorado, like most freshman, I bought my first mountain bike. I believe, it was a hardtail Giant ATX 760. I thought it was the coolest bike ever. I started exploring the hills and trails around Boulder. In fact, I can recall riding up Flagstaff on that bike searching for trails, not knowing most trails in Boulder were off limits to mountain bikers. There I was in my hiking boots, old ratty t-shirt, baggy sweatpant shorts and no helmet, hammering up the base of Flagstaff. After about 5 minutes, it felt like my legs caught fire and my lungs were bleeding. I thought I as going to die of a heart attack at 19 years old. I had to pull over at the first turn out, hoping there was a pay phone (no cell phones back then!) in case I had to call 911.

This public service announcement is kind of old but still very pertinent. I have used BlipSnips to highlight portions of the video. Take a look and pass the link along.