Last week we recommended the Tour de France e-mail newsletter published daily by
Carmichael Training Systems. You can have it delivered free by signing up at
http://tinyurl.com/msygkf

In it Chris Carmichael, who has been Lance Armstrong's personal coach for more
than a decade, shares insights about the man and the race that you won't find
anywhere else. And importantly for all of us who ride as well as follow the
Tour, some of Carmichael's tips are useful for recreational roadies as well as
competitors.

Here's an example. Earlier this week Carmichael wrote about a serious obstacle
facing Lance in his comeback: anxiety about riding in a pack.

In the following Carmichael quote, substitute "group" for "peloton" and "ride"
for "race" and you'll see what we mean.

"When you're nervous in the peloton, you waste a tremendous amount of energy,"
Carmichael writes. "You grip the bars too tight, carry tension in your shoulders
and back, hit the brakes too hard and consequently need to burn energy
accelerating again and again.

"And being overly focused on staying upright means you're not really paying
attention to what's going on in the race. This is something you almost always
see in amateur races -- riders who have the strength to contend for the victory
but can't make race-winning decisions because they're entirely focused on not
crashing. . . .

"Just a side note for those of you who are relatively new to the sport of
cycling: I'd encourage you to take a cue from Lance's comeback. It's a good idea
to enter some fast local group rides or races with the goal of just getting more
comfortable in the pack. To do this, you have to challenge yourself. Don't just
sit on the outside or at the back, move yourself right into the middle of the
group so there are riders all around you.

"During these rides, don't worry about how you finish, just spend your time
moving around in the pack. Find passing lanes to gain a few positions at a time,
keep your eyes far forward to anticipate changes in pace, and practice
feathering your brakes lightly to adjust your speed instead of panicking and
grabbing a handful of brakes.

"It's difficult to simultaneously focus on gaining confidence in your handling
abilities and concentrate on winning races, so separate these two processes and
use a few events to just improve your skills. Once you have the skills, you'll
be able to use them effectively to achieve the outcomes you're looking for."