Felix Calderon: Great coach, big heart.
Posted by beingreen on June 19, 2008
Tonight about 21 of us from the Tahoe TNT descended on a local Park Slope restaurant called Aunt Suzies for a Thank You dinner for Felix Calderon and his wife Chris, two very cool and generous people in the local cycling community. It was a totally special night for all of us, and a great way to show our appreciation for all the help that Felix has given us. We all came to TNT as total amateurs, and Felix has donated his time and energy to help get our butts in shape to ride as a competent team. At times, when I see our Brooklyn team riding together with Felix in Prospect Park, I am surprised at how far we’ve come.
If you don’t know about Felix yet, let me explain to you what he does. Felix has an excellent understanding of how bikes and bodies should work together. This is what we all know to be the most essential part of cycling. He can fit your bike to your body like a glove. But another thing Felix understands so well is how groups of people should work together… he has a great sense of team dynamics and how individuals should work together to become a strong team. When you ride with Felix he operates on dual levels… he watches you individually, correcting your posture and movements, but he also constantly helps keep you in sync with the rest of your teammates. And he doesn’t take any shit! Oh yeah, and I should also add that he operates on a third level while you ride with him… he has a wild sense of humor and is always cutting up! So with these three qualities, what is there not to like??
Thinking about buying a road bike? Or maybe you have one already and you’re not sure about the fit? Believe me, in most cases when you leave the bike shop on your bike it has not been fitted to your body with care. It has most likely been put together by someone who doesn’t really know what they are doing. Soon your body will start to rebel against your contorted posture on the bike. Getting a professional fitting is one of the best things you can do for the relationship between you and your bike. Think of it as therapy. And Felix is the therapist. Some adjustments are major, some minor, and some barely perceptible. He will spend 10 minutes adjusting one cleat! I’m not kidding. Alignment is everything when Felix is dealing with your bike/body relationship. After two hours working with Felix on my bike I left his house feeling like I had a totally new bike, and I could BREATHE better while I rode. The correct posture will open up your upper body so you can breathe better, which is, I believe, the key to success in any cardiovascular sport. Economizing your energy through proper breathing. Another benefit to correct posture is that you look cooler, more gangster, not like a Sunday rider with your head up in the trees! 
Riding with Felix is a total blast. If you just talk to him in the context of the bike shop (R&A Cycles) you will never understand the real Felix… you HAVE to ride with him. He meets his team at 5:45 am with hot tea and cookies in the winter. Everyone stays together in formation while he takes time to correct everybody, and in the beginning, the slowest rider sets the pace. His attentiveness is the mark of a good coach. He will NEVER leave you behind like some coaches do; when he rides with his team he rides FOR the team. If you are riding with him through Brooklyn on a Sunday, there will be no person at home left sleeping in his wake… he shouts directions, directs traffic, and generally howls for the hell of it, like a mad biker leading his team. Its a hoot!
Felix is the owner of New York Cycling in New York City. He does private fittings on his own trainer and does the training rides around Brooklyn. He has been riding since he was a kid, I’m not gonna guess how long ago that was because his age is none of your business 
He has put both Marty and I on the trainer and we are both confirmed fans of his expertise. If you are a cyclist of any level, we highly recommend a visit to Felix… it is one of the best investments you will make and you will love your bike even more afterwards!
Website: New York Cycling
