Roxo Racing Check In From Their Training Camp

By Chris Watson On Apr 6, 2022

Roxo Racing checks in from their winter training camp in Fort Worth, Texas: As the racing season gets under way, we thought it would be a great time to take a look behind the scenes at the recent Roxo Racing women’s team training camp in Fort Worth.

Fort Worth, Texas is home to our team organization and staff. Two of our main sponsors, Roxo Energy and Scott Dennett Construction, are also here. For convenience’s sake we’re close to the DFW airport, which sits squarely in the middle of the southern United States. And we have the best BBQ and Mexican food but y’all already knew that.

We also have the distinction of an unusually high number of small backroads, which lends the area to road cycling. There are many cycling clubs here, as well as organized events. Long before Gran Fondos became fashion, Texas cyclists enjoyed myriad “rallies”. Rallies, in local parlance are referred to as “T-shirt rides” because there’s always a t-shirt in the goodie bag at sign in.

But this story is about our Roxo Racing women’s team cycling camp. We’re in our second season together and we’ve bolstered our sponsors and roster. We get everyone together for team photos, sure, but mainly for our riders to spend time with one another and staff. Simply doing that helps everyone to get to know each other better, which will come in handy at upcoming bicycle races.

To organize a training camp in advance, dates are shared and agreed upon, a camp itinerary is planned, travel and flights are booked, and lodging is arranged. In our case, “arranged lodging” really means Jaime and her saintlike husband were willing to evict their children so a bunch of bike racers could crash at their house. Once flights arrived Thursday, team member Jaime and your author the DS split airport shuttle duties to collect and deliver our team to the Team Villa. A nice dinner out followed and then lights out for everyone.

# Our camp itinerary. Notes below in brackets were not in the original. Added for clarity. #

Friday

7:00am: Gonzo [former domestic pro, very furry, and funny, our mechanic] arrives to sort bikes. Amber, Cèline and Sommers, bring your wheels, pedals, and saddle. And he’ll do the rest.

8:00am: Team pictures (maybe) then easy team ride from Villa Larmer, with staff who wish to tag along. [Team pics were moved to Sunday morning and luckily, we didn’t injure anyone prior or after the photo shoot.]

40 & 50 mile route options:

Link to the Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38373253

Link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38373252

11:00am: Lunch at Villa Larmer.

After lunch: skills drills (chalk talk and riding) with DS, Dillon. Location, FOTP 1029 Avondale Haslet Rd.

Here is the route with less traffic:

Link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38373355

Here is the more direct route:

Link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38373356

3:20pm: Depart Villa Larmer for Roxo HQ visit.

4:00pm: A visit to Roxo Energy corporate HQ to meet the Boss. 5600 Clearfork Main Street, #400

[We deem it important that our riders understand why our sponsors signed on, including their motivations. In the case of Roxo Racing’s three primary sponsors, these guys love cycling and want to give back to sport. They specifically embrace women’s sports, as all three are raising daughters. While we could talk up the ROI of a cycling team, that’s not really why they are doing this.]

5:30pm: Dinner at Mesero with staff, sponsors welcome. J.W. Wilson (Roxo) will attend with wife Andrea and kids Ryder and Reese. Scotty Dennett too. [We renamed Ryder Bike Ryder. Sponsor Scotty Dennett too, who can also ride a bike.]

PM: Lights out [Our Saturday training will take in a group ride with all the local honchos. Everyone who’s a reader of PezCyclingNews knows what’s in store, as group rides often devolve into strongman contests and all it takes are a few hills and some unchecked testosterone. But the locals haven’t yet been on the receiving end of 7 Roxos…]

Saturday

8:00am: Saturday Group Ride with locals. Depart from the Villa and meet at the RaceTrac – 7001 Boat Club Rd. *Pro tip; there’s a Starbucks next door.

Link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38373307

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/340544694742809/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D

Saturday route: 62 miles

Link to the route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/38430233

Noon: Post ride cleanup

Lunch: Seven Mile Café (closes at 2:30) 6300 N Freeway

4:15: A fun team building outing, non-cycling. *Pro tip; no sandals or heels. (5-6:30) Whirlyball HEB – 147 E Harwood Rd – Hurst

6:30pm: Dinner at La Bistro Italian café – 722 Grapevine Hwy

Sunday

8:00am:Depart Villa Larmer for breakfast at DS’s house, then morning skills drills, location Tarrant County Resource Connection. Riders grouped so everyone works on a skill then moves to the next one.

Skill 1: Intro to motorpace training

Skill 2: Technique of receiving bottles from team car

Skill 3: Practice riding behind team car, chalk talk of when, how, and why

[rulebooks are clear that taking pace behind cars in races is not ok. Yet at high level races it’s part of it, if done prudently. If not, you get fined.]