Tag Archive for: Houshang Amiri

UVic Cycling Hosts VCL Race

On May 24th, the UVic Cycling Team proudly hosted their first-ever Vancouver Cycling League (VCL) race at Cherry Point. The event was organized and led by club member Alex Hann, whose dedication and logistical expertise ensured the day ran smoothly from start to finish.

Alex was supported by co-presidents Ethan Swain, Cait Dawson, and Abigail Drews, along with the broader UVic Cycling community, who turned out in force to volunteer, marshal, and cheer on competitors. The team’s enthusiasm and spirit made the event a memorable one for all involved.

A special thank you goes to Houshang from Pacific Cycling Centre, the club’s head coach, whose guidance and preparation in the lead-up to race day gave riders the confidence and fitness to compete at their best.

In what was her very first road race, Pippa Kolking delivered an outstanding performance, finishing 2nd in her category. Her result is a testament to the quality of coaching she has received from Houshang and to her own commitment and hard work. The whole club congratulates Pippa on this brilliant debut.

Submitted by Abigail Drews

Successful Cherry Point Race Recon

UVic Cycling team at start line (Photo: PCC)

Over the long weekend, a mighty group of UVic cyclists braved the thunderstorm warnings and headed over to Cherry Point to do some race recon, led by Houshang Amiri. On May 24th, UVic Cycling will be hosting their first VCL race around the blistering 9.1 km loop.

Key in race prep, Houshang helped the team find their way from the Mill Bay Ferry to the start line, over rolling hills, and to plan their race day for next weekend.

Craig Miller, Cait Dawson, and Graham Fletcher in line for the Brentwood Bay ferry. (Photo: Pippa Kolking)

Upon arrival to the course, Houshang wisely went through the course map section by section. Houshang pointed out key segments where the team could build gaps and where to save energy.

After doing a couple of laps to acquaint ourselves with the course, the team did a one lap time trial, opening the legs and seeing how the course felt at speed. Spoiler alert: this is a sweet course! Lots of terrain for everyone: super fun corners and some killer climbs too! Watch out!

Cait Dawson enjoying the sunshine (Photo: Pippa Kolking)

After finishing the tempo lap, Houshang and the team discussed some final race plans and prep and fueled up with Gruppo nutrition for the ride home, warding off the rain. Cait Dawson noted “Houshang was super helpful as always and gave the team some great tips to race confidently on Sunday! We always appreciate his support!”.

Cait Dawson and Craig Miller on route to the Cherry Point race course (Photo: Pippa Kolking)

Here are Craig Millers takes: “It is a fast and fun course with some tricky hills but scouting out the corners and strategic points of the racecourse was valuable. I really appreciate Houshang for taking the time to help us prepare both physically and tactically for the race ahead”. If you would like to check out the race course from Craig’s perspective, see this video

(Submitted by Pippa Kolking)

PCC Athletes Kick Off the Season at Spring Opener

PCC athlete Johnno Forsyth, 2nd on the podium. PCC photo.

The first race of the Spring Opener – Thunderbird – took place on Sunday, March 1 in Langley, B.C. With a record turnout, under sunny skies several PCC coached athletes took part proudly representing their club and team.

As an early season event, this race provided an excellent opportunity for riders to begin sharpening their racing mindset and rebuilding race routines after the winter period.

“Early season races like this play an important role in athlete development,” said PCC head coach Houshang Amiri. “They help athletes gradually return to intense competition while allowing coaches to assess fitness, skills, and tactical execution ahead of the busy spring and summer racing calendar. These early events set the foundation for confident, well-prepared performances as the season progresses.”

Organized by Local Ride, the spring series continues with the Thornhill Circuit Race on March 7 and Wix Brown on March 8.

PCC Accepting Applications for new Cycling Season

PCC athletes competing at the Windsor Park Criterium. Photo credit: Alex Skvortsov

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) is excited to announce that new applications are now being accepted for online and Victoria-based athletes of all levels. Athletes including U18, U19, U23, Elite, and Master athletes in all respective age categories are invited to join the Pacific Cycling Centre coaching program and support system.

PCC coaching programs are open to athletes who are committed to hard work and willing to develop their potential to progress to the next level through PCC’s training system.

“Our goal at PCC is to create a stress-free and balanced environment where athletes can enjoy their training while learning all the necessary skills both on and off the bike,” said PCC Head Coach Houshang Amiri. “Fitness improvements won’t come overnight. Our programs challenge athletes in measurable ways, creating opportunities for them to learn and progress toward their personal goals in both individual and group settings. This creates an exciting opportunity for the next generation of cycling champions.”

The athlete training and coaching program packages are based on the Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model stages, set via testing and evaluation ahead of the start of the training program.

PCC programs are available for athletes in disciplines including road, track (track sprint & track endurance), mountain bike (XCO), cyclocross and mountain bike Enduro. Athletes in the program will have access to high-quality professional coaching and training in a peer group setting, training camps, regular physiological testing, and mentorship opportunities with Olympians and professional cyclists, depending on the chosen coaching package.

Limited Time Offers from February to September for applications:

1 – One free maximal aerobic power and lactate profiling test with signing up for a full-year program (Value: $260.00)

2 – Your test results may earn you a PCC scholarship by achieving PCC talent standards of up to 30% off your program cost on a full-year agreement.

Interested athletes can send a race CV and cover letter to info@pacificcyclingcentre.ca.

Or Apply online

PCC Host Successful February Camp

Photo: Ethan Swain

PCC hosted a successful three day training camp last weekend with PCC and UVic Cycling riders participating. Here is a report on the weekend from UVic Cycling.

Last weekend UVic Cycling joined Houshang Amiri of Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) for their Road Endurance and Education Training Camp. UVic Cycling will be going into their second race season this Spring and Summer, so this training camp was the perfect opportunity to freshen up pack riding skills and set some early-season benchmarks.

On Saturday morning after the team met at PCC’s office at Commonwealth Place, the riders rode to the bottom of Willis Point where they performed their first individual time trial up towards the dump. After regrouping and getting some instructions from Houshang, the team rode to Lands End to complete their second TT. At Lands End the riders left at one-minute intervals and completed a 12km loop. This was a great way to measure the fitness base of riders since it was a longer effort, with most riders finishing the loop around the 20-minute mark.

Houshang Amiri left, Graham Feltham right at the start of his 12km individual time trial. (Photo: Ethan Swain)

In the evening, the riders regrouped at Commonwealth to learn more about race day planning. Although seemingly simple, the importance of having your bike, travel plans, nutrition, and clothing set up before race day was emphasized. It was a great chance for the team members who have never raced before to ask any questions they had.

“The info session presented by Houshang will be invaluable leading up to the fast approaching race days,” says Graham Feltham.

Team presentation (Photo: Abigail Drews)

Gruppo provided the camp nutrition (Photo: PCC)

 

The focus for day two was on team efforts and pacelines. The riders completed three laps of the Lands End loop working in teams of three. This gave everyone the opportunity to practice rotating through pacelines, communication, and working together to maintain speed. Houshang provided feedback on positioning, smooth transitions, and maintaining consistent effort throughout the rotation.

Feedback from the camp was overwhelmingly positive. Charlie Kassissieh noted: “As someone fairly new to group riding and organized training, Houshang’s structured workouts, clear direction and feedback helped me see improvements in my riding just within the weekend.”

Pippa Kolking appreciated Houshang’s coaching approach: “I really enjoyed how his training is planned so that it benefits all of us, we can all accomplish it together, at all levels. His calm, wise and patient coaching style gives us room to have fun, while simultaneously having productive and challenging training.”

UVic Cycling team with Coach Houshang Amiri (Photo: Brenna Pauly)

The training camp wrapped up with a debrief where riders could ask final questions and discuss their takeaways from the weekend. For many of the newer members, it was their first experience with structured interval training and team tactics, while returning members appreciated the chance to shake off the winter rust and dial in their early season fitness.

“The two days of riding gave me a great benchmark for how my training is progressing, and how it can progress further into the spring,” adds Graham. “Overall I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to take part and learn from Houshang and the PCC.”

With a strong roster for 2026 and the Spring racing season approaching, this training camp has set a solid foundation for UVic Cycling. The team is looking forward to putting these skills into practice at the Victoria Cycling League, Thrashers Spring Series, and BC Gravel Series, building on the partnership with Pacific Cycling Centre throughout the season.

A big thanks to Gruppo Nutrition for fueling the riders during the camp.

Submitted by Ethan Swain, UVic Cycling

February Training Camp Registration Now Open

Registration for the February Road Endurance and Education Camp is now open. The camp runs from February 6-8 in Victoria, B.C. and is suitable for all endurance athletes including road, track, MTB, and triathlon groups. The three day camp features daily long rides focusing on skill and technique and a training presentation. The rides are fully supported with Gruppo and nutrition products. Deadline to apply is January 30.

Information and registration details 

Houshang Amiri leads skills session with UVic Cycling

PCC head coach Houshang Amiri led an advanced skills coaching session last month with the UVic Cycling Club. The focus was on improving climbing technique, from seated and standing efforts to smooth descents and overall form refinement. These skills will help the athletes become stronger, more confident, and race ready.

Feedback from the clinic was positive. Craig Miller had some key takeaways from the session which he will incorporate into future training plans. “The cadence drills we did during the clinic taught us how a higher cadence will help reduce muscle fatigue, and is more efficient on longer climbs whereas a lower cadence will increase the load on our legs, but can be quicker over shorter climbs. Playing with this cadence allowed me to not only recognize but feel for myself, that different climbs, and even different parts of the same climb, require different cadences to achieve a balance between outright power and efficiency.”

“The second takeaway was how upper body positioning affects the pedal stroke. A drill we did that highlighted this was climbing the hill entirely out of the saddle. This way of climbing allows for a more complete pedal stroke, but is difficult to maintain over the duration of a climb with much more fatigue placed onto both the lower and upper body. By using the drills that Houshang taught us, I hope to focus on learning and becoming more efficient, and faster climber throughout the coming winter to prepare myself to race in the spring.”

Pippa Kolking also benefitted from the session: “Love that Houshang gave us an easily repeatable, understandable and challenging workout plan we could use again.”

Next session is a classroom presentation to be held on November 8 at 5pm at UVic room MCK155.

More info 

PCC presenting Endurance Training session at UVic

Photo: UVic Cycling

Houshang Amiri, head coach of Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC), will be presenting a training information session as part of PCC’s collaboration with the UVic Cycling Club. The session is scheduled for Saturday, November 8th from 5 to 7 pm, to be held at the University of Victoria, McKinnon building, room MCK155 The topic of the presentation is “Principles of Endurance Training and Aerobic Fitness.”

“The training session will be of interest to all involved in endurance-based sports, not just cycling,” says Amiri.

More information and to reserve a spot go to UVic Cycling Facebook or Instagram

PCC and UVic Cycling Announce Partnership

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) is thrilled to announce a new partnership with the UVic Cycling Club (UCC). This collaboration is designed to expand opportunities for university cyclists at UVic, using the expertise and experience that PCC offers. Houshang Amiri, head coach, PCC, will be coaching the UVic cycling team to help riders prepare for the upcoming cyclocross and road season.

“Pacific Cycling Centre is excited to be partnering with UVic Cycling Club. We share the same values and look forward to providing training and coaching services, and supporting UCC athletes at races,” says Amiri.

To date 22 members have registered with the club which as the first year as a varsity club is a huge step in the right direction for the team.

“This partnership is the foundation for supporting riders at every level. Our goal is to create structured pathways for development — whether you’re training for fun, aiming to improve your fitness, or pursuing competitive cycling. With strong coaching support from PCC and a team-based training culture offered by UCC, every rider has the opportunity to grow,” says Abigail Drews, UVic Cycling, Co-president.

October will see an info session with coach Amiri and an advanced skill session for riders who are ready to push their technical ability further and sharpen their cycling skills.

This partnership between PCC and UCC is just the beginning, and it will be exciting to see how much UCC riders will achieve this season.

 

PCC Accepting Athlete Applications

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) is excited to announce that new applications are now being accepted for online and Victoria-based athletes of all levels in preparation for the upcoming cycling season. Athletes including U18, U19, U23, Elite, and Master athletes in all respective age categories are invited to join the Pacific Cycling Centre coaching program and support system.

Last season was a success for PCC-coached athletes, with many achieving personal bests, podium performances.

PCC coaching programs are open to athletes who are committed to hard work and willing to develop their potential to progress to the next level through PCC’s training system.

“Our goal at PCC is to create a stress-free and balanced environment where athletes can enjoy their training while learning all the necessary skills both on and off the bike,” said PCC Head Coach Houshang Amiri. “Fitness improvements won’t come overnight. Our programs challenge athletes in measurable ways, creating opportunities for them to learn and progress toward their personal goals in both individual and group settings. This creates an exciting opportunity for the next generation of cycling champions.”

The athlete training and coaching program packages are based on the Long Term Athletic Development (LTAD) model stages, set via testing and evaluation ahead of the start of the training program.

PCC programs are available for athletes in disciplines including road, track (track sprint & track endurance), mountain bike (XCO), cyclocross and mountain bike Enduro. Athletes in the program will have access to high-quality professional coaching and training in a peer group setting, training camps, regular physiological testing, and mentorship opportunities with Olympians and professional cyclists, depending on the chosen coaching package.

Limited Time Offers for the Month of September for applications:

1 – One free maximal aerobic power and lactate profiling test with signing up for a full-year program (Value: $260.00)

2 – Your test results may earn you a PCC scholarship by achieving PCC talent standards of up to 30% off your program cost on a full-year agreement.

Interested athletes can send a race CV and cover letter to info@pacificcyclingcentre.ca.

Or Apply online

 

 

 

Pacific Cycling Centre

Pacific Cycling Centre (PCC) provides coaching and training services for Elite, Masters, and Junior athletes in road, mountain bike, track, and cyclo-cross.

Contact Info

100, 4636 Elk Lane Drive
Victoria, BC V8Z 5M1

Google Map

Send us a message

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

© Copyright – Pacific Cycling Centre

Visit us on Facebook
Visit us on X