San Dimas Crit

This would be an embarassing day for me. Today was the crit, with many people around to watch. I didn't have anything left in my legs. I lasted maybe ten minutes until the referee's told me my race was over. um, ya.

San Dimas Road Race

So this morning was the circuit race and the laps were about 8 miles long. We were to do 8 of them. I lasted 2. The begining of the first lap I was feeling great but at the end of the lap there was a hill and I sank like a rock. The second time around we hit the hill and I fell off the back. Guess I have some hill workouts to do. SO I spent the rest of the race in TT mode, trying to keep the gap distance a small as possible.

San Dimas Hill Climb

YAY! I am in Cali! I got in late last night and today was the hill climb TT. I wasn't stressed because it was only about 4 miles. I didn't know those 4 miles would last a lifetime though...God did not bless me with a tiny, climber's body so I slowly slothed my way up to the top of the hill. I was not happy when I saw that I only beat a handful of girls. Not good. This is my first National race, other than a cat 3 Sea Otter race 4 years ago. These girls are FAST~!

Britton TT

Last night was the first Britton's TT of the year. Out and back, ~15 miles, hilly but not too bad. The wind was blowing hard and I had to try not to get blown too much off the next to non-exsistant shoulder on the road. I ended up doing good but I was a little dissapointed. Not in my performance but because the turn out was much smaller than I anticipated. I know there are many San Antonio peeps with TT bikes, and this is the only local (and FREE) weekly TT. So, what gives? I am thinking it may be because it is the night after the Helotes 2s (maybe we can change it to Thursday?) or it may be because the location has become somewhat dangerous with the construction/traffic. I still got a great work out and hope to see more people out there in the future!

After the TT I spent the night pcaking for SAN DIMAS!

1 for 3 on the 2s

THIS GAME CHEATS!!! HaHa. No, really, out of the 3 Tuesday Nite Rides that there has been this year the only good one was the first one. The second one I flatted in the mud rain, and this one there was a crash. A bunch of spandex-clad men, too busy fighting for a spot in the draft (was pretty windy), that everyone failed to point out the enormous pot-hole in the road. SO, somebody was bound to hit it. Jeff was ok but his bike would not get him back to his car. Chris, suffered a broken collar bone and would have to be transported back by a nice lady who stopped to render aid. CrAzY!

Flash backward to before the ride... I am at the P&R getting ready to ride out to Helotes when I see a fellow teammate (yet to meet) get out of his car. I am the only VW METRO in SA so I was shocked and excited to see a matching uniform! I got to meet Web, a super cool guy who was in town for business. He was seriuosly strong on the bike and very nice! I hope work brings him back this way someday.

Saturday Bicycle Heaven Ride

What a nice day for a ride. It is Easter weekend and there is no local racing so all the bike shop rides are in high attendance. This made for a super fast group ride. I was happy the weather was great because if it hadn't been, I would have turned around at mile 10 and gone home. The ride started out so fast that I had to check the back of my jersey to make sure there was no race number pinned on. Ha! My plan was to go hard and stay in the group as long as possible then just relax because I was planning on doing a longer ride. We ended up doing the long BH loop with Rebbecca Creek road added to it. The total distance was 88 miles (no, I am not a Kilo girl).


Happy Easter!

Helotes Tues

It was the second Helotes Tuesday Niter of the season. As I leave work to head out to Helotes I notice that it is super windy. Once I get to the park and ride I notice the temp. dropping, then on the ride it starts to rain. DIRTY, NASTY RAIN! I looked like I had just finished mud wrestling it was so dirty.

Well, I flat less than 5 miles into the ride but have my trusty wing-man/mechanic with me so he pulls over to change my flat. I would have done it myself but we would have been there for half an hour (slightly exxagerating), versus the 2 minute job that Rick can do. We then book it to see if we can catch back on but the group is no where in sight. BOOOOOO! I am disgruntled because I am out in the cold, dirt rain, wind and without a pack to sheild me from the elements. So we decide to turn around and head back. This is where we spot the injured pit bull laying on the side of the road shivering. He looked so sad and scared. I got off my bike to help the poor doggie but he growled at me so I wasn't about to get too close. A truck pulled up and a couple got out and told me they would help the dog so I got on my bike an headed back to my car.
Such a happy bike riding day for me.
Next week sould be better!

Wacko Waco

Umm, Waco was not my favorite racing experience. I learned that it is easier to fake being in shape on the road than it is on the trails. I had not raced but one expert mountain bike race in three years and thought that I would be okay to just jump back into it. I was in for a rude awakening as the starter began the race and all the girls took off at top speed. I disappeared into the trails with them but soon started to panic at the fast pace we were weaving in and out of the trees. After about 15 minutes of slamming my breaks on, then accelerating from an almost dead stop, I was popped. The girls disappeared ahead of me. I was horrified as I thought to myself that I had only gone about 5 miles in a 20 mile race and was already toasted. I would end up finishing the WACO mtb race more tired than the 103 mile Rouge Roubaix. I had forgotten that mountain biking was a whole different kind of pain and my tolerance was pretty low. I did have a blast I loved wearing the MAD DUCK jersey. And Rachel, you ROCKED! I am so proud of you!

Here is a picture of the part they call "vortex":

Officer Battlefield #0035...

Hey Mr. Policeman,

Do you think you look hot in those tight spandex pants with your knee high boots while you ride around on that motorcycle? Did you get behind on your ticket quota? I find it pretty lame that you hide behind a neighborhood entrance sign and ticket people for "rolling" stop signs. Don't you have better, more important things to do? How many people did you ticket yesterday?? 3 that I witnessed within 15 minutes. I bet you have achieved your limit for the week, so go eat your tacos and enjoy the rest of your lazy week...

By the way, you must wait 3 full seconds after your wheels lock before you proceed through the stop sign.

Food of the Week Award

YumYum.

Rouge Roubaix

YESSSSS!!!!!!! I admit that I had big doubts about this one, but I survived! Only riding two times the past month, totaling under 75 miles I didn't think I was anywhere near going to race the Rouge Roubaix http://www.rougeroubaix.com/ , a 104 mile road/dirt road torture fest. After making the 8 hour drive Friday I was ready to stretch my legs out and ride a portion on the course on Saturday. After we ate breakfast, we pre-rode the 3rd dirt section and it was blast! The first hill (big Bertha) had most of us clipped out and walking. There was a lot of climbing and a few sketchy washed out ruts. I did not know if I would have the energy to complete all 3 dirt sections during the race if they were all like this one.

Sunday morning was burr-cold, but other than that the weather was great. Shannon, Rachel, Austin, and I raced the "B" race. The rest of the team rode in the "A" race. The first 20 miles went by pretty fast. Rachel and Austin started out in the front of our large group. Shannon and I would soon join them, after a near hit by a flying wood plank and a few exploding water bottle bombs. By the turn onto the first dirt section all four of us were close to the front of the group. Things started to split up a bit on that first section but I was glad that is was relatively flat compared to the section we pre-rode yesterday. When the dirt and gravel turned back to pavement I saw Shannon and Austin (and a few other randoms) not far ahead so I joined them for the next 40 miles of road. Once we hit the second dirt section I sank like a rock. I saw Shannon fly up the "mountain" like a billy goat. Fortunately, others dropped with me so I still had a few riding buddies. Once back on the road I knew the final dirt section was not too far off, but also that it was the hardest of the three. Soon enough I was unclipped and marching up the Big Bertha hill. I didn't feel too bad that I was doing the walk of shame because I didn't see anyone else make it up with out walking. I was so tired once I finished that section that I was looking for the finish line. It would not be for another 20+ miles. agh! There was now only two people with me, and I soon watched them ride away from me. I felt like I was going to die, I had to make it though. My odometer was not broken but it seemed like mile 93-98 lasted over an hour. Maybe it did. When I finished I was so happy to see the Metro VW van waiting with Accelerade and Pickle Juice. YUM!

For the women, Shannon got 3rd, I got 6th, and Rachel got 8th. All of us in the top 10! YAY! It was a good weekend.

Smitten

March 1st. What a great day. It was my mom's birthday. It was a Saturday. It was my first ride outdoors since my surgery that I had over a month ago. Even better, it was my first ride on my new BH bike. I absolutely loved it! The sweet carbon, compact BH frame flung my fat bootie up the hills faster than any of my other bikes ever have. I am stoked! I felt so alive on that bike, I wanted to ride for hours. Too bad my body was ready to quit after 2 hours. I can't believe how much better that bike rides...