Ep. 8: Emir’s Racing Origin Story, Crit Tactics, and Gravel Lessons

Holly and Maggie open the Average Age Groupers podcast with guests Emir and Alyssa.They recap a 140-mile out-and-back ride on the flat C&O Canal path, and share lessons about needing solid food (not just carb drink mix), managing nonstop pedaling, rotating pulls, and recovering enough to ride again the next day. Emir explains his role in a corporate-owned Trek location, how he got into cycling through his brother-in-law coach after a soccer background, and what crits, road races, upgrade points, team tactics, and safety rules like holding your line and the yellow-line rule involve. He describes racing frequently, training mostly indoors on a trainer after work, and recent road-race experiences including a fast collegiate-combined field, a major crash, and a third-place finish. Emir also recounts Steamboat gravel race attempts, including under-fueling, a cracked wheel, and finishing 82nd, plus discussion of sleep, supplements, and future cyclocross and Colorado race ideas.00:00 Podcast Setup Chaos00:37 Welcome and Kansas Plans02:41 140 Mile Gravel Recap06:48 Second Day Suffering08:29 Inside the Trek Shop10:40 How Amir Started Racing13:12 Crit Racing Explained15:54 From Soccer to Bike Shops16:57 Pandemic Bike Shop Carnage21:28 Mallorca Trip Changed Everything24:31 Team Racing and Masters28:05 Sleep and Recovery Detour30:19 Race Season Routine30:42 Indoor Trainer Routine31:06 Hains Point Loops32:08 Weekly Training Plan33:31 Jeff Cup Race Tactics37:19 Sprint Finish Crash39:46 Racing Logistics Prep41:27 Upgrade Points Explained46:40 Cyclocross Bucket List48:10 Steamboat Gravel Stories54:26 Fueling And Gels56:27 Colorado Race Wishlist58:31 Wrap Up Next EpisodesListen to the Pod here:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/average-age-groupers/id1889949099https://open.spotify.com/show/2LJ6G7l1oIRZUIa3lo7NFphttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUYFKP1OYAMiMR1Ve36fOAwhttps://www.instagram.com/averageagegroupers/https://waterfallracing.comhttps://www.instagram.com/forwardenduranceclub/