It's been a busy start to the year, we can't quite believe it's June already! There's been lots happening here at the Avantidrome especially as the weather gets colder, which makes for a bumper newsletter edition. We hope you enjoy the read!

CEO Geoff Balme moves on

After a challenging and exciting four years as Chief Executive of the Home of Cycling Charitable Trust, Geoff has tendered his resignation, and will be moving on in August 2015. 

Chair of the Home of Cycling Board of Trustees Susan Paterson, wishes to express her gratitude and appreciation to Geoff.  Geoff has been an integral part of the ‘Home of Cycling’ since the earliest days of the project.  He oversaw the planning, fundraising and construction of the magnificent Avantidrome facility and led a very successful first year of operation.  This has given us a strong start to realizing our goals of providing a welcoming environment for the whole community, helping to encourage more people onto bikes and ultimately enabling Cycling NZ to create pathways and win more medals on the world stage. Geoff can also take credit for the significant role he played in securing the ‘Track Cycling World Cup’ for the Avantidrome taking place this December, a very special event for New Zealand.

“The Avantidrome is delivering everything we said it would and its future is exciting. It has great staff, tenants, volunteers and customers, and I look forward to following and continuing to support it in the future.” says Geoff.

Welcome to the team - Grange Leaman!

Fresh from the AvantiPlus Botany store, we've welcomed Grange to our team this week, as our new Program Coordinator. 

Having spent 20 odd years in the bike retail industry, bikes are in Grange's blood - it's safe to say that Grange will be in his element here at the National Cycling Center of Excellence! 

A keen road and mountain bike rider, Grange is all set to hop on the track later this week to test out his skills. We're very excited to have Grange on board as the newest member of our team!

Life Fitness Zone Update 

It's been a great couple of months for us at the Life Fitness Zone, our numbers are growing and we're very excited to be able to offer our new Lifecycle Spin Classes! 

We are extremely lucky to have Cycling NZ accredited coach Vicky Wade at the front of the pack as our spin instructor. Running every Thursday at 5:30pm, these classes improve cardio fitness in a fun and vibrant group environment! If you’d like to attend spin classes, please head to our booking page and book in online.

To celebrate the arrival of our spin classes were giving away  TWO FREE SPIN CLASS VOUCHERS. Just email your name and phone number to nicky.felton@homeofcycling.org.nz go into the draw. Put Lifecycle Spin Class as the subject line. 

Did you know we also have 'Senior Circuit' gym classes every Monday and Wednesday morning from 9.30am-10.30am. These vibrant, well attended sessions see up to 20, 60+year olds improving their fitness by doing cardio and weights training. Cost: $5 per person. 

We're also now on social media, check us out on Facebook and Instagram!

Schools Racing

Schools racing at the Home of Cycling has really stepped up a notch in 2015. Racing takes place every Friday night during term time from 6pm and once a month on a Sunday afternoon.  Up to 48 riders of all abilities and ages attend each session lead by passionate volunteers John McDonnell and Cath Cheatley.  John has a lifetime of experience in Cycling ranging from officiating, racing and coaching.  Along with Cath, they appreciate the parents and helpers who assist to make these sessions possible for the kids.

The rider’s fitness as well as skills and tactical ability are developed through racing with races ranging from Super Sprint Eliminations, Magic Minute Kilos, Snowball Points Races to Italian Pursuits, Derby’s and Wheelraces.  Big thumbs up this month must go to Liam Simmonds, Nina Sardelich, Nicholas Dallas and Jarred Treymane who will be riders to watch for the future!

It’s an awesome sight to see the determination, tight finishes yet the smiles and banter after each race between riders.  We encourage spectators to come and watch our local speedsters on the boards!

Event Noticeboard

Tenant updates

University of Waikato Sports Science

What if you could wear a compression garment on your calf muscle during exercise and it could tell you information about your current fitness level? That is what we have been busy with over the last 2 weeks in the University of Waikato’s Sport Science lab. We are testing out the worlds first lactate threshold sensor – a small sensor housed in a calf sleeve that is worn during running or cycling. The company claims that the sensor can “look into your calf muscle” and give you a prediction of your lactate threshold – the exercise intensity in which lactate starts to accumulate in your bloodstream. In simple terms – the fitter you get, the higher your lactate threshold. Until now, this type of information could only be gained through taking multiple blood samples during an exercise test, which can be invasive and costly! The new device, called a BSXinsight, has only been released for a few weeks and has not yet been evaluated for its accuracy.

Dr. Matt Driller from the University of Waikato and PhD student, Nattai Borges from Central Queensland University have tested over 35 cyclists and runners to determine how accurate this new device is. The athletes wore the device while performing an exercise test in the lab – with finger-prick blood samples being taken every 3 minutes to determine lactate threshold (using a traditional method). Results from the traditional method are now been compared to results produced by the BSXinsight device. While it is early stages in the analysis, the results are looking pretty good – the new device looks like it can predict lactate threshold to an accuracy of ±5%. Promising signs for athletes who hate getting their fingers pricked and prefer not to give up their precious blood!

Cycling New Zealand

Cameron New Women's Endurance Track Coach

Cycling New Zealand's high performance programme has been further boosted by the appointment of Brendon Cameron as women's endurance track cycling coach.  His skills and track record add to an already world-class coaching set up that includes sprint coach Anthony Peden, the Halberg Coach of the Year, men's endurance coach Tim Carswell, who guided a young team pursuit combination to world honours earlier this year, and head track coach, Dayle Cheatley.

The two-time Olympian and coach of Athens gold medallist Sarah Ulmer, has been in charge of a successful Paralympics New Zealand high performance Para-Cycling programme.  Given the programme is also based at the Avantidrome, Cameron will continue to interact with the Para-Cyclists and coaches through to Rio.

Paralympics New Zealand 

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Jono Hailstone as Head Performance Coach of the highly successful
Para-Cycling programme.

Jono has been involved with the Para-Cycling programme for 5 years.
Most recently in the role of Assistant Performance Coach since April
2013.

Hailstone is well known for his coaching of London 2012 Paralympic
Bronze medallist Fiona Southorn.  Most recently he coached Kate Horan to
two successive Silver medals at the 2014 and 2015 UCI Para-Cycling Track
World Championships and Tim Williams to a World Title at the 2014 UCI
Para-Cycling Road World Championships.

Hailstone has a passion for Para-Cycling and development of his
athletes.  He is looking forward to continuing to develop the
Para-Cycling programme and build on the success of his predecessor
Brendon Cameron.

Para-Cycling team Media Training

With the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games now less than 18 months away, Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) with the support of High Performance Sport NZ has invested in some top-level coaching of a different kind - media training.   An interactive and highly beneficial workshop was held at Avantidrome on Sunday 19 April with a group of Para-Cyclists and their coaches.

PNZ has set up several workshop sessions to ensure Para-Athletes are ready and available when the media come calling.  Greg Ward (Media trainer) said, “Not surprisingly, these star athletes will have some remarkable stories of dedication and achievement.   We look forward to hearing more of their stories in the months ahead. “

Photo – (L to R) Phillipa Gray, Emma Foy, Jono Hailstone, Laura Thompson, Greg Ward, Tim Williams, Kate Horan, Brendon Cameron.

Revolve goes raw! 

Revolve Cafe here at the Avantidrome has taken a modern, new approach to their menu

We've got far too much news to put it all in one newsletter; so follow the Avantidrome  on social media to stay up to date with our news in between our newsletter editions!