Quad Cities Recap

Photo by John Greenwood

Even Iowa knows how to report a good thing when they see one.
I take a look back into the weekend with a huge smile. The company of racers was solid and talent was well represented among the teams present.
After the snake had reared its ugly head at all of us, the tired legs showed slightly at Weed Park for the second day of racing. With lap one of the Muscatine race, we saw the attacks start. Up the hill, Amanda Miller(LipSmackers) would test the water to see who was willing to play. We gave her a bit of air, but knew she had to come home. Meredith Miller(Tibco) would soon echo the attempt, and four of us would fall in line to try to set up a charge off the front. Into the chicane, I would find my wheel upseat and roll my tire off the rim about a quarter of an inch, which would send my crank arm flying around and tagging the ground like a tripod.


Popping back under me, I would save it and round the turn some bike length off where I had started. Riding on a lump, I knew this was a bad sign. I reached down to feel the surface of my tire and knew it would not last. 'Round the first turn, down the hill, I stood and quickly sat with care, over the speed bump....10 pedal strokes(approx.) up the hill...BAM!!!! Like a gunshot. Blown.


I would ride the rest of the hill on a flat and change the wheel at the top-NO FREE LAPS.

First year in a few that I would not stand on the podium at this race.
On to tomorrow...

Monday, cage match. Quad Cities Criterium.
Right from the start, harsh winds, attacks, break attempts, shattered legs, sprinters shed....I found myself trying everything I could to make a second attempt after losing contact with the move.
Kristen Wentworth would find me isolated and attack into turn 7 with one rider in tow.
At second wheel some 20 yards to the left, I would set up for what would certainly be a field sprint for 10th.
Chris would find her way to the front and drill the last 2/3rds of the last lap with me in tow. Into turn 7 I would go, jumping off her wheel into the last turn toward home. This was my gig, I just missed the boat some 10 laps earlier.

All in all, What a weekend!!!!
Great Racing by All!!
Now on to the Tulsa Tough.

Snake Alley Bites

One year later I had forgotten how the feeling I get halfway through the power climbing challenge. Apparently I have not been doing enough mountain biking :) With a front row seat, I got to see Amanda Miller(Lipsmackers)bust it off the line like a rocket to the moon. I quickly hit it and went second wheel, some 3-4 bike lengths away from her. We went hard and fast up the climb....over the top...down, down, down. Going into lap 2, I had now drifted some 40 meters(ish) behind Amanda and joiners were on the hunt.
Lap 3 yanked me backwards as a group of riders engulfed me across the 2 & 3rd switchback. I stayed steady and tried to organize with Catherine Walberg(Kenda)and Toni Bradshaw(Lip Smackers). Soon, Aldefer rider Bri Kovac would be upon my wheel and challenging the last 3-4 money spots. We yo-yo'd back and forth up the climb for 2 laps. With 3 to go, Bri hit it on the last switchback, I thought..."okay, catch her on the last climb", however, the lap card would turn to 1 to go, as Amanda would lap the field and see us finish on the same lap. I did not have enough real estate left to catch 10th hole. I found Kristen Meshberg(Team BH) on the last lap she placed herself nicely on my wheel for the last 2 turns. I challenged the line and we ate up two riders on the way. Fun stuff!!! Kuddos to all the gals in the main group pounding the pavement up the road!!!

I have left out how this race actually feels. The next time you are at a football field or a high school that has a large stair run...stand at the bottom and say GO!!!
Now sprint to the top and then run around for 45 seconds at a very uncomforable pace and then sprint up the stairs again!!! Nice!!

Congratulations to Amanda. What an athlete and standup individual!!!

Weed Park..Sunday 12:15

So Non-Pro

As I am running around like a chicken with my head cut off, I thought I would put a few short words to the screen.
Okay, so I have been thinking about how cool it would be to be a paid Pro. Well, I can't actually imagine because I am soooo Non Pro...
Chris told me just recently on our trip to Speedweek that you know you are Non-Pro when you find it weird to be racing for 5 grand on a WEEKDAY, or your hands are still stained from cleaning your bike last night.


Other things came to mind as we made our journey across 3 states.
First thought 1) Massages are great..
so let me share with you a little bit of our pre-race preparation.





More Non-Pro content later..and the reason you see us at the laundry mat.

Sucking It Up

It has been six days since my last blog...I know, how lame!!!

After returning home from some great racing in the southern states, I jump right back into the fire of our local scene. Not to race with the gals, not to race with the 3's, but to put both feet into the Men's 1/2 race on a slightly-hilly, challenging course. Well, only one single part of the freakin' course was sapping, but the rest just shear strung out power. I apparently hadn't been up enough days in a row to be as strung out and tweaked on the flat, after the climbs as these boys. I found myself working on my TT and threshold intervals after a quarter of the race.

Let me confess that I am a tough love individual and feel as if you quit, you might as well have stayed on the grassy hillside and planted your ass in a lawn chair for a spectator's view. You start hard and you finish the effort unless told otherwise. You teach yourself to suffer as long as possible for the reason at hand. My reason after the quarter mark, was to sustain and teach myself that...."it would have been better if you could have stayed on, now work on it!!! More less...'drop and give me 20...20 more laps up the finishing climb!!!'. I cussed my coach when I squeaked off the back of the mens field. I had sat comfortably in the top ten while I was aboard, however, well....I ...I just didn't stay. I said "what the $#@*?? I could have done the men's 3's and done well....what is this going to do for me....

Well, the truth is that this is what it takes.



When we start as a beginner, riding with individuals that are far superior to our ability, who push our tolerance, is what drives our performance and our fitness to the next level. I would train with confidence, with pride, with dedication, as I swam in the deep end with the big boys.
I would pay my dues with no concellation, much the same way as my friends of the Cat. 4's race do each and every time they enter a race.

Sucking It Up is what paying your dues is all about. No quitting, no whining, no regrets...only the next level in sight.
I have ridden to my potential at each stop along the way and I will face each challenge that lies before me on my final 200 meters toward a winning future.
To each and every one of the people who have influenced me, coached me, mentored me, or just plain PUT UP WITH me....I thank you. You are what every one needs to be successful. Everything else lies between the two temples. Believing and learning to challenge one's mind is the toughest training I have ever done and continue to do.

'til tomorrow....

Team Type 1

Hey everyone!!! I can't believe I forgot to mention TT1 in my below blog. Kori Seehafer took the crit hands down on Sunday. The team displayed great tenacity all week. Jen McRae revisited the series on the weekend to help round out the gunshow on the front end.
Anywho....A very bad oversight on my part. I do apologize TT1.

Home, Home on the Range...

So I finally have made it home to DEFINITE internet. Typing a blog on my iPhone is no small task and I do apologize for the delay, for those of you who take the time to read my blurps.
Whoa...I just realized that I need to recap 3 crits in a matter of a few short paragraphs. Crit #5, stop Spartanburg, SC...I took 13th. The course was fun, fast, windy, and a shrapnel fest for the first half. Julie would present herself off the front for a prime and a break attempt with 3 other riders. The last turn found me blocked in by 2 riders and I remained poised for the door to open and it did.....boom, free and clear for the sprint. I knew that that break attempt early on with Tibco was not going to treat me well. Prime, Prime, Prime...every other lap...All in all a really fun race....Mellow Mushroom hear we come.

Crit#6- A day drive to Anniston, Alabama(Thank you Chris for driving...you Rock!!). A travel day. A quick spin on the rollers upon our arrival and a Subway sandwich, led me to my daily nap. The library found us on a short couch, hunched over each arm for a short cat nap. Up and at'em!!! Race time is approaching. Warm up and GO!!! A break was determined to stay today and chase was the game...with an uphill finish and a downhill backside, the race had relentless primes, and a fantastic 25mph avg. The break finally came back as Colovita had slain themselves to ensure LVG would not go up the road. Tina would take her chances at the line. A slight jump of a rear wheel by Miller would be a close call and a photo finish at the line....Tina Pic(Colavita/Sutter Home) would hold Laura Van Gilder(Mellow Mushroom) off to take 2nd. Brooke Miller(Tibco) with another win. Me??? Whew...I humped it and missed the front end of the train going through the last corner, but made up some ground in the last 200 meters to hold out a money hole of 19th. Back to Atlanta we drive.

Crit#7-Final Day...the best and toughest course yet. Lots of turns, speed, and a final right hand turn taking you up the dragstrip. I think the final turn was barely 200 meters if that. The race was to the last turn.
You could tell that everyone was feeling the 6 races and 2 travel days in their legs.
The teams were representing what would be their fighting line. Some larger(Tibco), some smaller(Colavita), as the week went. Vanderkitten had been clawing toward the team podium ever since their race in Beaufort. I knew that there would be break attempts today, however, the pace was slower than the previous day, only 23 ish. The pack did split and we found ourselves with 5 to go, 4 to go, 3 to go....Giddy UP!!! The race was thinning out. With one lap to go...I was surely in redline territory..."Suck it up...It's Gametime" I told myself. Bumping, people's frustrations at the high pace and their position into the turns...
I would find myself hauling ass into the last 2 turns and beating the pavement uphill for a 12th place finish. The last turn would take Meredith Miller(Tibco) down as she faded from her leadout as an Altarum rider with her head down, would run smack dab into her...OUCH!

Overall....Sad that I am home, happy that I am home, glad to be healthy, had a blast with all the girls racing. Kuddos to Colavita for the tremendous effort each and everyone of the girls displayed this past week, day in and day out! Full respect for their abilities, sportsmanship, and all in all, humble and positive, professional attitudes!!!

It was fun racing with Vanderkitten and I appreciate the ability for them to ride at the front, covering and attacking to gather as much moss during the race as possible.

Tibco has shown to be a strong force with great organization. Strength in numbers and numbers with strength=solid, predictable, consistant, results.

As squads start to gel and dynamics improve, I believe Tibco will be looking at more great competition in the near future.

Let's Get it ON!!! Good Job to everyone at the Gila!!! Good luck at Joe Martin.

As for me....back to the training. 'Oh What a beautiful feeling.....'

Out
Cash
Photos and videos to follow.

My Apologies

I am behind, however, we have arrived at our hotel at midnight and I promise, now that we have Internet to catch you up on the last 2 days, tomorrow.
Later