Have Fun

Last night I did the Opus crit. This was the second time I’ve attempted this course. As you know, the first time didn’t go so well but this time no matter the circumstances I told myself I was going to have fun.

There was a good turnout for the women (20 racers). 6 Flanders women where there…mostly cat 1 and 2. I did a few laps to warm up, took a few deep breaths and we were off! The cat 1 and 2’s few down the hill on the first lap. I don’t know if they meant to do this, but they slowed down for the group on the hill and stayed with the group for the first three laps. I say this, because there was no way I could be in the same group as them for three laps. Yep! You read that correctly. I was able to stick with the group for the first three laps—after the first sprint it really broke the group apart. I got 10th place on the first sprint.

On the fourth lap three of us suck together. I wheel sucked ¾ of the loop before I was yelled at to pull up. Lap 5 I learned a valuable lesson—when someone yells at you to pull up you do your part but don’t do too much. I pulled those girls all the way to lap 6—I was spent. Laps 6-9 was on my own in survival mode. On lap 9, the last part of the hill climb I was in shot of passing one more girl to the finish line. I know my persistence to get the edge over her motivated her also…but I got it by ¼ a wheel! I placed 12th out of 20. I’m pleased with my result considering the field I was in and my performance last time.

One thing that amazes me about Criterium racing is the risks that the riders take in a pack on the corners—especially descending on a corner. If you have control and the endurance to be able to be part of it, it’s extremely exciting!

By the way...Congratulations Erika!

Ken Woods and the Ironman

The weather sucked. The peddling was fun—but I had to come to work to recover.

This past Saturday I did my first official USA sectioned road race down by Cannon Falls. It was 21 miles in a rectangular shape. The flier said; “The entire course is in open farmland were the wind can be quite a factor.” Man, that was a true statement.

I was placed in Wave 1 starting time was at 9am. After registering and putting on what I thought was enough layers, I went out on the course to test the headwinds. I got about 2 blocks before I went back to put on more layers. The temp was about 35 degrees, wind was 25 mph with 40 mph wind gusts that was bitterly cold. I had four layers on my upper body including my jacket I used for skiing and a face mask. The mood in the parking lot was pure determination to get this race over.

Right before we started, the official announced they were moving our start time to 11:30 (when wave 2 would start), there was ice on the south side of the route. As I waited, the wind seemed to pick up, the snow started to come down more, and the temps were dropping…BUT the sun was now coming out! The big boys and girls started to show and the phrase that was rolling off everyone's tong was “This sucks. Why the hell are we out here?”

We all lined up, I was in the last group to go with the Juniors. We started in the middle on the north part of the course. The first mile was an easy 25 mph ride. We turned right and headed south. I quickly learned that those corners where going to bring us a new challenge. I was almost pushed off the road due to the winds. After regrouping and figuring out the only way to ride was to tilt our bikes to the right about 10 degrees while our bodies where upright. Before we started, us girls said the only way we were going to get through this was to work together. It was understood that taking a flier was not going to get you to the finish line faster just to a fast bonk.

The next right turn took us straight into the wind. Average speed on this stretch was between 8-10 mph. About 2 blocks before the next right turn while I was in fifth position, the girl in the third position touched wheels and went down causing us two behind her to run over her. My chain fell off and I started to panic thinking the group was going to take the turn and I wasn’t going to catch-up. The girl that went down was fine and so was I. We got up and worked together to make it up to the group shortly after they made the turn. We settled back into our original positions.

Heading northeast the wind was pushing us to speeds over 40 mph. It was a blast! The next right turn was the homestretch. The hill that I heard so much about wasn’t hard it was long and steady, but after pushing the wind for about 20 miles it was surprisingly more difficult than expected. Determination took over and I plowed up the hill, moved to my big wheel and sprinted to the end at 28 mph—not in my wildest dreams could I image doing that.

I was convinced that I came in fourth place. Not until I saw the final results and found out that a Jr. was in front of me and didn’t count in my category…I got third! The girl that fell got first.

Sunday was the MN Ironman. This is not a race, but a ride…thank god! I rode with Erika, her husband Andy, Matt Anderson and some of his friends. Matt did the race the day before so we where both not interested in anything further then 62 miles at a leisure speed, unless it was to get to the food stops quicker. Erika had a hard day so I hung back and pulled her to the first stop. The boys from MGC were there with the truck. I—being a smart ass—thought it would be funny to go up to Travis and stop right in front of them. So was the plan. I didn’t realize I was going as fast as I was so I wasn’t able to stop in time. I ran into Travis, took out a bike stand (the stand was empty) and a pump before I went down. Thank god since the truck was a few feet away. Laying there on the ground with my bike on top of me I started laughing. I looked at Travis, who was in shock, and said “My breaks don’t work.”

I picked up my pride, got some food, figured out how many miles to the next stop, said Hi to the TH group, and we were off! Last year the Ironman was my first century and what I think of as my first real accomplishment on the bike. I would never have imagined that the words “what’s next” that I said after the ride last year in the HS parking lot would have brought me to this point in my life. Every day I get off my bike and in some form of “what’s next” seems to come out of my mouth. Thanks everyone for your help and encouragement to get me to that next point!

This will be fun...

The weather report during the time I will be
racing my first "offical" road race.

Luce Line

I’m stoked! A co-worker told me the paved portion of the Luce Line, from Vicksburg—where I live, will bring me two blocks behind my office building. Last night I tried it out, not only did I not feel like my life was in danger by being on the roads during evening rush, but I made it home faster than if I was to drive!

Once I got home I dropped of my bag and headed towards Wayzata High School to meet the MGC Wednesday group. I was feeling great. Speed was up, hills were no problem. I finally found the group two miles north of the High School. I turned around and within 10 minutes, against a wind that kicked up within the past 15 minutes, I bonked. Not even the granny wheel could help me. I told the group to go and that I would do my own route and go home. Once the Tonka team passed me like I was standing still I knew it was time to go home.

I’m taking today and tomorrow off before the Ken Wood’s race.

Rockn’ Cockatoo

Off to the Races

Yesterday I was contemplating if I should do the Opus Crit or not. Being put into an open field with the elite women—I don’t have a chance. It came down to: Do I want a beating or do I not want a beating? I went for: not this time. Instead, I rode down to the crit and was able to make it in time to watch the Men’s Cat 5 race. Bernie and Jordan were the only two that I knew. Bernie did great the first half getting sprint points on a couple of laps. Jordan took points on the second half of the race. Wow…what an amazing kid!

In the Cat 5 race, there was a guy that was racing that looked like a commuter. He had a bike rack, a fanny pack, mirror on his helmet, knee high socks, and a regular t-shirt. He was in last place, but he looked like he had potential if you shed some of the weight off his bike. He had a great attitude and was having a blast! I heard he is a two year cancer survivor and just wanted to come out and race. Everyone was cheering him on every time he passed. It was great!

Bernie and I volunteered to be corner marshal on the first turn after the line. Loons where in full force last night.

The women’s race was fun to watch. There were three women from the Flanders team that raced. Wow...they are fierce! One of the ladies missed the start and was ½ a lap down. I told Bernie to watch she’s a strong rider and will catch up. Second lap she was still down. Third lap she was down. Fourth lap she was leading. Her and a teammate had a breakaway and stayed away the rest of the race. I would love to get to know these ladies! They seemed nice when they were not racing. One poor girl was way behind…I felt her pain and was cheering her on every time she passed.

The Men’s Cat 1,2,3 where flying averaging about 28 mph—what a good race. I think Alex came in within the top five. I’m not sure since I was at the bottom of the hill after the finish line. Jim C did great during the middle he was in the breakaway group for a few laps. Skippy raced (race number: 666) he looked good, but dropped after about 5 or 6 laps. Matt Anderson from Penn Cycle was there—I went to REGBRAI with him last year. He was in the breakaway for the second sprint then was pretty much done for the rest of the race. The guys were going so damn fast around the corner I was on, it was hard to see everyone.

I'm glad I went down to watch, I have a better understanding of the strategy it takes to do that type of race—if I can stick with the peloton.

After the race I had to ride home. Not the most exciting ride. I couldn't see a thing it was so dark. Thank god there was little traffic. I almost lost it on a pothole. It was a great motivator to go all out on Vicksburg.

This morning I road to work. My legs felt like bricks after my sprint to get home last night. I’m trying out a few different routes. I haven’t quite found the right one yet. I was told about a pathway that I’ll checkout after work. I hope to make it home to drop off my stuff and to meet the MGC Wednesday group ride.

And this is why...