TRAINING PROGRAM
JDRF partners with USA Cycling to certify all our chapter coaches. Riders are given expert coaching and training by these certified coaches. Even if you are not an everyday cyclist, our trained coaches will work with you to develop a training program based on your individual needs and goals.
Each rider will be assigned to a local or national coach who will help you to track your progress and get you prepared for Ride day. Local coaches help participants set realistic goals, hold group trainings, monitor progress, and provide clinics on everything from form and technique to injury prevention and changing a flat tire. Our JDRF coaches have helped hundreds of athletes accomplish goals they only dreamed of. For more information on the JDRF Coaching program in your area, please contact your local JDRF Chapter or email the JDRF Ride Program at ride@jdrf.org.
Meet JDRF's National Head Coach Tim St. Clair
National Coach Tim St. Clair joined the JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes in 2003 and has coached the "Carolina ChainGang" cycling team for JDRF rides since 2004. Tim has completed over a dozen Rides to Cure Diabetes. As a cyclist, he trains in the rolling hills around Greenville, South Carolina, in frequent local club rides, and on a mountain bike. As a coach, his focus is on the well-being of his team cyclists, emphasizing "cycling glee," team camaraderie, and endurance conditioning. Tim is a USA Cycling certified Coach.
Tim rides with two local cycling clubs, the Greenville Spinners and the Freewheelers of Spartanburg, and serves on the Board of Directors of the Spinners. He participates in local rides, promotions, and community service opportunities with each organization.
An attorney by profession, Tim holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Tech and a law degree from the University of Virginia. His practice specialty, intellectual property, combines both fields. He laughs at lawyer jokes.
Tim and wife Marian have two adult sons, Andrew and Daniel, and two spoiled dachshunds Rudy and Bella. Both Marian and Daniel are veterans of the Ride to Cure Diabetes.
Meet JDRF's National Head Coach Mike Clark
Mike Clark has been the coach of the fast-growing West Michigan team since it's inception in 2005 and feelshonored to serve as JDRF's Co-National Head Coach. He's attended a dozen Ridesin the past 4 seasons as either a Coach, the "Bike Room Guy" or as a member ofthe Ride Support Crew.
"MC" is a long-time resident of beautiful Holland Michiganwhere he lives w/ uber-spouse Linda (a 3 time Ride volunteer and first time riderthis year), daughter Katie Jo and 2 large and fundamentally useless dogs. Number one son Samuel is currently residing in Monterey Mexico. MC isthe "Mayor" of Velo City, a self-proclaimed "Cool Bike Shop" right downtown and is also the president of the Macatawa Cycling Club. His 28 years in the bike business has convinced him of the powerof the bicycle and what he's seen on Ride to Cure weekends is just more evidence! He's been riding and racing bicycles since his 9thgrade Sunday School teacher offered a shiny Fuji 10 speed for the top 3 student lesson presentations. (He was 4th, but the teacher gave him a break) He's a classic example of the "Jack of all trades, master of none" rule andcompetes in road, cyclo-cross and off-road events of all descriptions.......w/virtually no results to brag about but lots of good memories. He's a USA Cycling certified coach and a Level 2 Fit-Kit technician. In his spare time he's a semi-professional musician, playing lead guitar and singing in the same bandfor the last 3 decades.
His goal is to make sure that EVERY rider in the Program has the experience that he or she is looking for when training, fund-raising or while in Death Valley, Sonoma or wherever they're riding. He's honored and humbled to be allowed to be a part of something as powerful and worthy as this and feels that he has met many of the best people in his life since being involved with JDRF. He laughs at many of Tim's lawyer jokes. He's looking forward to joining you on the road as we all ride for the cure in 2009!
JDRF Ride to Cure Diabetes Training Sponsor: Fit4DTM
Coach
Tim St.Clair
Age: 51
Chapter: Piedmont Triad Chapter
How many years have I been coaching with JDRF?
5 years
How has being a JDRF Coach changed my life?
Significantly. Being a coach gives me more of an excuse to talk more with Riders on the course, and what I've heard from them has added to my life. The dedication I've observed in the Riders at "Rides to Cure" has been humbling and inspiring. Somehow, some way, JDRF puts together rides with the best people I've ever met, and it has made my life bigger to have association with them.
If I could ride with anyone it would be:
I've thought for many years that I'd surely like to have a long, leisurely conversation with Thomas Jefferson, and I can think of no better way to do that than for the two of us to be on bikes for a few hours. Plus, given his nature, I suspect he would greatly admire the most elegant of machines ever devised - the bicycle.
Best advice to give to potential Riders:
Savor the experience, all of it. This is bigger than us - be sure to catch as much as you can.
