Jonathan Hamblen – Coach Wake Forest University, Owner Velocious Sports LLC, DS Project Echelon Racing
Kids, DIY, choose your future, choose your coffee.
And now for something completely boring… (skip down for short version)
I’m a former professional bike racer, husband and father of a bunch of kids. I started crashing bikes at age 3 when the road took a chunk of bone off my ankle in a fall while riding with my mom and brother. Later, at age 7, I rode down a hill and into a pothole, removed all of my front teeth received a concussion. I don’t remember hitting the ground but when I came to in the ER there were lots of friends/family waiting with gifts. I was hooked! I started racing road and mountain bikes -in 1990. Joined my first Pro team in 1996 and have been coaching since 2000. From the mid 90’s until the mid 2000’s I was on the road driving, flying, and crashing across the country every week for bike races. Then, after my first child was born, I trained indoors exclusively for five years on a Computrainer and stationary bike while still racing as a “Pro”. In 2013 I retired from Pro racing and became a full time driver for Team Dad – running kids to school, soccer, dance, BMX, etc… I still ride two-three times a week on the Wahoo Kickr and attend BMX, cyclocross, duathlon, and road races on the weekends (I was Track Operator of Tanglewood BMX 2016-18 and spent a lot of time at the track).
In the 2016 I started a junior racing team focusing on road and cyclocross. One year later we won our first national championship. We have since expanded to include u23 and development racers of all ages as well as Pro BMX racers. The team has attracted incredible partners to support all of our young racers over years, including, 0530, CR Legal Team, the National Cycling Center, Ken’s Bike Shop, and Mercedes Benz of Winston Salem.
In 2010 I began coaching for the Wake Forest University Cycling Team, four years later we won our first medals at the 2014 Collegiate Nationals in both Road and MTB’ing, (way to go Stephen Vogel and Katy Applin!) five medals in all. In the 2015/16 season Katherine Shields joined WF cycling as a grad student and WON the Collegiate National Criterium Championship!!! The first cycling National Champioship for WF. Kath also got 3rd in the TT and 2nd in the Omnium! The men competed in the TTT for the first time, getting 11th place and helping secure a 9th place Team Omnium result! Since then, Wake Forest riders have won multiple medals at the National Championships in Road, Cyclocross, and MTB during the last 10+ years.
I have also coached riders from other universities to multiple National Championship medals – Katherine Shields was 2nd in the 2015 Collegiate National Criterium Championship and took bronze in both the Time Trial and Omnium for Lees McCrae College (undergrad) – and a jersey, Emily Shields won the 2016 Collegiate Nat Chmp’s STCX MTB race for UNCG, the 2015 Collegiate D1 National Cyclocross Championship for Lees McCrae College and multiple medals for MTB at both LMC and UNCG! In all, riders I coach have earned over 25 National Championship medals.
I know what training junior, collegiate and Pro racers need to be doing in order to race well. I understand the stress and time constraints of adults with kids and jobs trying to squeeze in a little training each week. Whether you are 14 years old and training for Junior Nationals, a first year Pro trying to find your legs, or a working parent of four, I’ve done it all and been all of these. I can help you be a faster and fitter bike racer – or just a more fit parent who rides bikes for fun.
Zoe Clay – Coach
Zoe double majored in Health and Exercise Science and Latin at Wake Forest University (2022). While at WF, Zoe ran on the Cross Country and Track and Field teams. Always a fan of riding bikes Zoe discovered the 0530 riding club and began doing 5:30am bike rides around Winston Salem. A natural and fierce competitor, Zoe began bike racing in the that summer of 2022 and progressed quickly in local criteriums before taking on a full cyclocross season in the fall, culminating with a trip to Europe in January to race the top events with world renowned professional racers. In the spring of 2023 Zoe began traveling the United States to find new and exciting races and continue gaining experience for a future professional racing career!
CJ Burford – Coach
CJ is 18 years old, he rode his bike across the country at age 9 and began racing shortly after. He has a wealth of knowledge and tactical knowledge that far exceeds his age. CJ has raced in Europe and has won many USAC National Championship medals.
LONG STORY SHORT: We’ve been doing this a long time, pretty good at it, join up!
Contact us:
Jon Hamblen jfh at velocious-sport.com
