CRCA Coaching
CRCA offers a comprehensive coaching calendar, with all sessions free to members. The emphasis of the club is development — preparing riders to be safe, effective racers throughout their racing careers.
Coaching sessions led by experienced CRCA members and USAC-licensed coaches take place several times a month, and are designed to both introduce new skills to beginner racers, and to enhance technique and skills for all.
Sessions are designed with reference to the progression of the racing season and include: New Members Skills; Sprinting; Attacks and Breakaway Efforts; Criterium and Cornering Skills; Time Trialing; Climbing; and Cyclocross.
Members: coaching session dates and information are published in the Racing & Coaching Calendar. Coaching sessions for each week will be put up over the weekend. Follow instructions in the calendar to RSVP.
CRCA Coaches
Coach Tara keeping an eye on a CRCA racer. Jessie (coach's pooch) is covering the action elsewhere.
TARA PARSONS began racing in 1995, and competed for 10 years regionally and nationally at the elite level. She raced with TEAm Lipton, Aquafina and RLX Polo Sport, and was a solid all around rider in the Pro-1-2 field. Her wins and placings include New York State Road and Criterium Championships, Bear Mountain and New England Road Race Championships at Quabbin. She most enjoyed big stage races such as Redlands, Sea Otter Classic and Tour de ‘Toona.
In 2008 Tara started coaching individual cyclists and teams and has been coaching with the CRCA since 2012. She continues as the team cycling coach for a variety of racing and multi-sport teams, as well as working with Rapha to develop women in the sport. Tara’s coaching approach includes skill-building as a foundation for performance. She also believes that having fun on the bike is key at any level.
Coach Miller closing in on the finish of the 2012 UCI World Masters’ Championship TT.
ANN MARIE MILLER is a Cat 1 racer and all around rider and raced for the Verizon Wireless Women’s Cycling team. She is a four-time UCI World Masters’ Road Cycling Champion and 11-time US National Masters’ Road Cycling Champion. She won multiple CRCA Road Race and Time Trial Championships, as well as two Jim Boyd Awards, and credits CRCA as the organization that most helped her develop as a racer.
Ann Marie has USAC Level 2 Licensed Coach certification, a Masters of Applied Physiology from Columbia University, and multiple fitness industry and trade accreditations. She currently runs EPIC Training and Fitness, and heads up Physiological Testing, Bike Fit and CompuTrainer workouts at The Performance Center at Chelsea Piers, a USAT approved regional training center.
A CRCA coach for over 10 years, Ann Marie brings CRCA members of all levels the benefits of her experience. She believes in periodized training based on the rider's goals, emphasizing cycle-specific strength training, good technique and bike handling.
KARL RAHN is currently the Director of the Weather Channel Specialized Cycling Team. Since moving to NYC from Philadelphia, he has raced at the elite level with Team Bicycle Therapy, Sakonnet Technology, Empire Cycling, AXA Equitable, and now Weather Channel Specialized. Karl excels at field positioning, sprinting and team tactics. Cycling quickly became a passion for Karl after riding in the Philadelphia version of Tuesday night worlds, The Drives Ride, where he first came to see riding at close to 60 kph, at the absolute limit of his abilities, as a thing of beauty. He has been hooked ever since.
Over his many years of experience as a runner, rower and triathlete, Karl built a deep well of knowledge around strength training, endurance and suffering. He brings passion and knowledge to his coaching and after a session with Karl, don’t be surprised if you too become hooked ever since.
Coach Karl rounds the uphill right turn at the CRCA Grant's Tomb Criterium. Photo/Kevin Hatt
NICO MOSER has been a Category 2 racer for 30 years, starting as a junior. He was a top local racer and qualified for the trials for selection to the Junior World Championships team. He was always an all-round racer with a preference for small group sprints and was especially good at points races.
Nico's first coaching experience was in the late 1980's. He has increased his involvement in the last two years, from holding sprinting clinics to accompanying CRCA juniors at stage races and training, as well as providing on-bike feedback during race clinics.
His coaching focus is the mental aspects of bike racing - from broad motivation to the intricacies of sprinting tactics and how to process them in real-time.
