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I am very excited to announce the creation of REV Endurance Cycling. I’ve been toying with the idea of creating my own endurance cycling team for years. Just recently a friend of mine suggested it to me and the creative juices started flowing– more like a small trickle 😉 I am creating a team where I coach cyclists with endurance specific goals. I want to help prepare riders for their first Century. I want to assist riders who want to move from recreational centuries to climbing centuries. I want to prepare cyclists for their first Double Century. And of course, I would love to coach cyclists who want to tackle “the toughest 48 hours in sport” the Furnace Creek 508.
2013 will be my 10th anniversary of endurance cycling. I began in 2003 with the Grand Tour Highland Triple Century. I knew so little about this sport when I did my first event. Over the years I have learned so much. I wish to share and impart all that knowledge on cyclists who are willing and ready to enter the wonderful and absolutely gratifying sport of Ultra Cycling.
There will be more details to follow. I have some ideas of my own but I would like to hear from you.
What would draw you to an endurance cycling specific club/team?
What benefits would you be looking for?
Why do you belong to your current club/team?
Is there a specific focus on endurance cycling?
Let’s begin our discussion with these basic questions. I hope to hear from you soon.
George “Red-Eyed Vireo” Vargas, Furnace Creek 508 Hall of Fame member, pictured at the 2011 Furnace Creek 508 finish line with six consecutive solo finisher’s medals– a record
George's Epic Adventures 
George,
This is an awesome idea….keep me posted.
I’m very interested.
Edward Gallegos
George,
Have time now to respond to your questions:
My draw to a “endurance” specific club/team would be riding and training with like minded riders, being able to pick their brain for their knowledge of what works for them and things that don’t. Also, I like to cross-train my training rides. I like to ride with fast riders for shorter distances and then keep my long ride endurance up by riding with groups like the OCW/Century group.
The benefits would be the friendships and the bonding long distance riders have. I’m a firm believer that it is much better to ride with others than by yourself, with the exception of time to time, it is nice to go for a long ride just with your thoughts.
Current club/team for the above stated reasons.
Specific focus-climbing.
Edward Gallegos
George, love the blog! I especially enjoyed your report on your last death Valley ride. Obviously your off-season will need to be done very carefully after your 508 over-reaching and general illness over the summer. I know you will have an awesome 2013 season if you carefully ramp up your training and continue the positive and fun-seeking attitude for a month or two more. Keep kicking butt and hope to see you at the Grand Tour 300 this year. Mike “Frostbite SEAL” Benedict
I’m dreaming of the 508 someday, trying to take incremental steps. 2013 I’m shooting for a couple double centuries and the Hoodoo 300. But I really have no clue how to build myself into 508 shape.
I would be drawn to an endurance club / team to be exposed to a group whose goals are more inline with mine, specifically riding and racing beyond the normal century distance
The benefit I’m looking for obviously is the natural progression that happens when you surround yourself with those who are better, it forces you to work harder and learn faster so you rise to their level if possible.
I belong to my current team because they are geographically close and were very welcoming to me when I was a novice.
Our team is less about endurance riding and a bit more focused on road racing and time trial racing, love time trials, road races not so much.
I’m interested! My wife and I are 508 finishers from 2011 as a 2X mixed team. I’ve always trained myself, so I’m sure I have a lot to learn.
Hello Scot,
Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to make a comment.
I think it’s awesome that you and your wife are both endurance cyclists. What is your totem? I will be putting together a four person mixed team for The 508 in 2013. Would you be interested? My partner is a strong female and my tandem partner. Here and I will eventually do 2X. This is her first year of Ultras.
After six successful consecutive SOLOS I’ve decide to “give back” to the Ultra community. REV Endurance Cycling is my way of taking cyclists to the next level. God knows I have made a TON of mistakes along the way! lol! I’m sure if we compared notes we would have some similarities.
Please let me know what coaching services you will need from me. Pushing past the your limits to get to the next level is easier to accomplish with someone who has been there and done that and is willing to share his experiences.
Have you been keeping an eye on the latest postings about the team/club? Did you like the kit? Which color scheme did you like? I’m looking at trying a blue hue of some kind to see if that will cross gender. I’d like to hear your feedback. I’m curious to hear the male and the female perspective from you two.
Cheers,
george “Red Eyed Vireo” vargas
Furnace Creek 508 Hall of Fame
Hello George,
2011 Totem = Beast 2X Mixed relay 40+
Thanks for the possible offer on the mixed four person team, but I’ve made up my mind I need to solo the 508 in 2013. The 2011 508 was our first leap into endurance cycling and it went relatively well considering our lack of experience. We finished in 33 hours and 8 minutes. My wife hates to climb so the 508 isn’t exactly made for her, but she did great. I did the odd stages and she did the even.
I’d like coaching advice on training, recovery, and nutrition. I work in education, so I will be able to take from the middle of June until the end of August off work. I will be training for the 508 from now until October, but for two and half months in the Summer I won’t have work getting in the way of training. For the last few years I have averaged a little over 7000 miles per year, but this year I plan on increasing the mileage in preparation of attempting to solo the 508. I’ve been using Infinit nutrition as my primary source of nutrition for the past few years.
Let me know if any other information would be helpful to you,
Scot Harvey
Hey George,
I am very interested. This is something that can get me to the next level. Right now I’m just finishing doubles, I want to improve past just having my foot in the door. I’m still making a lot of mistakes with training and nutrition. It would be great to learn from you and get through the learning curve a little sooner and avoid so many mistakes.
Thanks,
Lonnie “Killer Bee” Binderim
Hello Lonnie,
Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to make a comment
REV Endurance Cycling was born from the idea of taking cyclist to the next level. Over the years I have tested myself and taken myself from recreational rider, to century rider, to climbing century rider, to supported doubles, to climbing doubles, to Brevet riding (unsupported events), to the Furnace Creek 508. It has been a long haul and God knows I have made many mistakes along the way! lol!
Please let me know what coaching services you will need from me. Pushing past the your limits to get to the next level is easier to accomplish with someone who has been there and done that and is willing to share his experiences.
Have you been keeping an eye on the latest postings about the team/club? Did you like the kit? Which color scheme did you like? I’m looking at trying a blue hue of some kind to see if that will cross gender. I’d like to hear your feedback.
Cheers,
george “Red Eyed Vireo” vargas
Furnace Creek 508 Hall of Fame
Hey George–I think this is a great idea! I would love to be part of what you’re cooking up.
I’m going to be doing a cross-country ride with Bike and Build and have a lot of training ahead of me as I’m nowhere near ready. T-minus 6 mos. to 3,000+ miles! This is a lofty goal for me as I’ve never even done a century. An endurance focused cycling club would be the perfect thing to help prepare me and I think I would really appreciate the opportunity to draw on the expertise of others.
It’d be great to get a dialogue going about this!
Hello Kamal,
Thank you for reading my blog and taking the time to make a comment.
I’m happy to hear that you would like to be a part of REV Endurance Cycling. As soon as I have a go on the kit I will need to get the orders in paid in full. Tell me about your 3,000 mile trip. Is it supported? Is it guided? Is it on a schedule or you ride when you can/want and just get across? I did 2 person Race Across America in 2007 in 9 days 18 hours 55 minutes. This is one beautiful country. My suggestion is if you don’t have to ride at night then enjoy the scenery during the day 😉
This is a massive undertaking. Please let me know what coaching services you need from me to get you through your first century and beyond.
Cheers,
george “Red Eyed Vireo” vargas
Furnace Creek 508 Hall of Fame