Apologies for the late notice, folks!

Jim Inman with Elite Athletic Development will host a bike handling clinic for Ytri members THIS Saturday, May 1st at 11:00AM at his facility in Arlington Heights. The clinic will focus on how to ride safely as a group during training rides and tactical racing skills such as drafting—how to do it when it's legal and how to avoid it when it's not.  Balance drills, cornering, and braking skills will also be covered.

If you can squeeze this one in this weekend, this will be a great opportunity for those who are chary of riding on roads for the first time, plus it will reinforce skills for more experienced cyclists.

Be sure to sign-up on the website -- there are 20 spots for Ytri members!

This is a reminder that Jim Inman at Elite Athletic Development has developed a web-based 10-week sprint triathlon training program for Ytri members new to the sport.  Targeted for the Schaumburg Triathlon on July 11th, the plan provides a specific schedule platform for each participant for swimming, cycling, and running workouts. The plan builds to optimize fitness by race day—and yes, the plan does include rest! To register, send Jim an e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and he will send you a username and password to log in to the Training Peaks website where the plan resides.

Elite Athletic Development will host an agility, speed, and quickness clinic at Twin Lakes Recreation Area in Palatine on Sunday, May 23rd from 9:30AM-2:30PM.  Two-time Super Bowl tight end and current NFL record-holder Butch Rolle will join EAD's certified performance coaches to lead participants through the same agility drills practiced by professional- and elite-level athletes.  Register at www.eliteathletic.com or call EAD at 847-394-8110 for more details.

If you missed our bike maintenance clinic or wanted to get more hands-on experience, Get A Grip Cycles is offering a beginner maintenance class on Tuesday, May 4th at its Irving Park location. Topics covered will include fixing flats and cleaning/lubricating your bike's drivetrain. You may bring your bike for hands-on learning opportunities. Please visit the website (www.getagripcycles.com) for registration. The store will offer a 15% discount for any tools/cleaning supplies purchased during the class.

We have decided to issue a sticker for use on the back of your YMCA card to identify Ytri members for our supporting sponsors. The sticker will not interfere with the scanning of your card at the front desk at the Y, but upon presentation at any of our sponsors, will entitle you to the following discounts:

Elite Athletic Development - 15% off services and Hammer Nutrition products

Runner's High - 10% off

Running Unlimited - 10% off

Elements Theraputic Massage - $10 off a 30-minute massage

Stickers will be available for pick up by Ytri members at the front desk at the Y on Monday, May 3rd at the beginning of the day.

Three sessions of Ytri Boot Camp have come and gone, and so far no one has expired from too many box jumps, thrusters, push-ups, or sit ups!

Both the 6PM and 8PM sessions have experienced the same variety of exercises, most recently two consecutive rowing time trials for 250 meters after a grueling 10-minute AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible) circuit involving five dumbell thrusters per side (with a guiding medicine ball under one's posterior for correct form and depth of squat), seven push-ups, and nine box/tire jumps.

The atmosphere is similar to Performance Cycling in that there is constant encouragement from all present -- the workout is over in no time!

We're ready to place our second order with Sugoi!  Anyone interested needs to print out an order form from the website and give it to an officer with payment by Friday, May 7th. We'll be placing orders ONLY if we reach the 12 item minimum.

Also, if you haven't yet picked up your race apparel, please arrange to do so soon!  Becki will have it available at the Tuesday night performance cycling class (7-9 p.m.).  Feel free to stop in and get your order.  If this time doesn't work for you, you can stop by Becki's office (take the staircase that is near the front desk & go to the office that is located across from the door at the top of the stairs.)  She is available during office hours M-F.