The BaseCamp Explore Team road skills weekend is designed to help riders improve performance, efficiency, and confidence through hands-on skills training and practical riding. Whether you're preparing for upcoming events or simply looking to ride with more control, strength, and technique, this program delivers essential instruction in real-world conditions. You'll enjoy focused, expert-led skill-building and the camaraderie of your fellow riders, all while growing your knowledge, ability, and confidence on the bike.
Unlike our full-service BaseCamp live camps, the Explore skills weekend is a self-supported event. Riders will be responsible for their own lodging, meals, and downtime logistics in order to keep the price low and remove as many barriers to attendance as possible, making high-quality coaching and skills development accessible to more athletes. Riders are responsible for booking and managing their own lodging for the weekend, allowing you the flexibility to choose what best fits your budget and preferences.
This weekend is limited to 20 riders to ensure a high-quality, personalized experience for every rider.
Key Objectives and Skills
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Bike Positioning and Power Output. Learn how subtle changes in bike fit, body position and bilateral engagement affect power generation and efficiency. We'll focus on power engagement, posture under load, and optimizing position for comfort and sustained performance across different terrain.
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Paceline and Group Riding Skills. Learn how to ride efficiently and safely in a paceline, including how to maintain smooth speed, rotate through the line, and communicate effectively. This skill reduces wind resistance and fatigue while building group cohesion.
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Cornering and Descending Technique. Focus on body positioning, braking zones, and line choice through corners and descents. Proper technique increases safety, boosts confidence, and improves overall flow and speed, especially on technical terrain.
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Climbing Efficiency. Learn pacing strategies, cadence control, and body mechanics for sustained climbs. We'll talk about seated versus standing techniques, gear selection, and how to conserve energy during longer ascents.
The BaseCamp Road Skills Weekend is designed to build better, smarter cyclists by focusing mainly on skills development. Each ride is intentionally shorter and structured to support targeted learning, whether it's group riding, cornering, climbing technique, or efficient pacing. This event isn't about big miles; it's about big gains in confidence, control, and performance.
The rides will be conducted on paved surfaces on bikes with road tires, but 95% of the skills will translate to better handling and performance on gravel.
What's Included
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Daily on-the-bike skills and drills sessions led by BaseCamp coaches and focused on real-world application of key techniques like climbing, descending, cornering, and group riding
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Education sessions to break down the why and how behind each skill, giving you a deeper understanding of performance improvement
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Coach-led group rides each day, where riders practice skills in a supported environment with real-time feedback and instruction
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Low coach-to-rider ratio to ensure plenty of personal attention, feedback, and customized coaching throughout the weekend
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Post-ride debriefings to review performance, answer questions, and highlight daily wins, giving you actionable takeaways to keep progressing after the weekend
What's Not Included
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Lodging or accommodations
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Meals and snacks
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Transportation to and from the event, or between any locations during the weekend.
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Mechanical support (be prepared to handle basic mechanical needs on the road, such as flat tires and minor adjustments), though coaches will help and support where they can
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Personal ride nutrition (bring ride hydration, nutrition, and supplies for on-the-bike fueling)
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Gratuities for coaches/guides
Guide Gratuities
Guide gratuities are customary and at your own discretion, to recognize service, hospitality, and the little extras that surprise and delight. We suggest a tip for your guides between 5-10% of your trip cost per guest and, of course, you may choose to give more if your guides made your trip an unforgettable experience. Gratuities will be divided among the guide team.
Pricing
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$249 per person for Explore team members (use your discount code!)
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$299 per person for non-members
If you're an Explore team member and don't have the discount code, please email us!
Location
All rides will start and end in the Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle parking lot (behind the hotel parking garage) at 10 S Hanover Street, Carlisle, PA 17013.
Lodging Suggestions
For hotel lodging, we recommend the following:
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Comfort Suites Downtown Carlisle Downtown: This hotel is our ride start location and is within walking distance to numerous restaurants and entertainment options.
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Homewood Suites by Hilton Carlisle: This hotel is an easy 5-minute bicycle ride to our ride start location but a longer walk to downtown restaurants.
For other lodging, Carlisle is a college town with numerous Airbnbs and outlying hotels; a Google search will reveal lots of options!
Cancellation Policy
Your payment is not refundable within 90 days before the weekend begins; refunds requested prior to April 19, 2025 are subject to a $50 processing fee. Click here to read our full cancellation policy.
The Host Coach
Tim Cusick is a world-class cycling coach, a leader in data analytics for endurance sports, an educator, and an innovative business leader. As a coach, he's compiled an impressive history of success and jerseys. His approach to coaching peak performance focuses on the whole athlete and the components of success for the whole athlete.
The Schedule
Friday
2:00 PM: Welcome and introductions
2:30-3:00 PM: Off-Bike Session - Group Riding Skills Workshop
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Paceline theory, communication signals, rider roles
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Riding in close contact
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Moving as a "flock"
3:00-4:30 PM: Group Ride Observation (20-40 kilometers)
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Coaches observe current rider skills (paceline handling, cornering habits, climbing form)
4:30-5:30 PM: Skills Session - Power Posture and Engagement
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Control and Power posture
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Bilateral engagement seated and standing
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Core stabilization
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Transitions and control
6:00 PM: Dinner on your own
7:30-8:30 PM: Off-Bike Session - Cornering and Better Descending Bike/Body
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Steps of cornering
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Elements of control
Saturday
9:00-10:45 AM: Skills Session: Group & Paceline Riding
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Contact management
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Practice group riding skills
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Single and Double Pacelines
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Pack movements and rotations
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Group Ride - Paceline practice (20-30 kilometers)
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Single and double paceline work
12:30-2:00 PM: Lunch on your own
2:00-4:00 PM: Skills Session - Cornering and Descending (may drive to separate start location)
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Steps of cornering
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Position and control
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Managing the apex
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Exit with control and power
4:00-5:30 PM: Group Ride - Cornering and Descending (20-40 kilometers)
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Focus on cornering and descending
6:00 PM: Dinner on your own
7:15-8:00 PM: Off-Bike Session - Climbing with Form, Pace, and Power
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Climbing control center
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Pacing and power
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Form and fatigue
Sunday
8:30-9:00 AM: Pre-Ride Brief - Putting It All Together
9:00-10:30 AM: Skills Session - Climbing and Control
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Climbing engagement
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Bilateral control and power
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Standing form
10:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Group Ride - Bringing it All Together (20-40 kilometers)
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Practice what we have learned
1:00 PM: Weekend Ends