We’re finally off to check out lots of bike stuff and catch Carrie’s last race! We’ve also been compiling random club and race statistics that I’ll be sharing. Today’s installment talks about the number of states we’ve visited and the miles we’ve done JUST IN RACES! Enjoy! Interbike update soon!

tags:interbike&bullinterbike 2007&bullRacing&bullvegas

I feel like I have an endless list of people to thank for Gateway Cup weekend. What a great (and yet incredibly difficult) weekend! Wow. I’m sitting here basking in my good vibes.

Thanks to the women of Team Revolution for rocking this weekend–all of those who raced in the jersey and in our name (and because of our intro to race series)! I think we had an undeniable impact on the women’s racing scene and I can’t wait to watch it continue to grow.

Thanks to the other women competitors for making it a very challenging and remarkable collection of races. I think anyone who’s raced in the Gateway Cup over the last few years can back me up when I say that the calliber stepped up. It was awesome (and incredibly humbling). Wow, again.

Thanks to Jose and SRAM for my awesome pink hoods! I might not have done them quite the justice they deserved, but will continue to work on my style points!

Thanks to Steph and Phil for letting us drag their tent around all weekend. Thanks to my family, coworkers and friends who attended our races and cheered for us even after witnessing our pre-race stress and chaos.

Thanks to Beth and Roo who immediately gave me water and food after the race on the Hill; your encouragement was the single thing that helped me finish that race.

Thanks to Syd, Katie, Mindi and Carrie for being such stellar mentors.

Thanks to Justin for dragging his massage table to every venue and putting up with us, our mess and our stress before and after each race.

Thanks to Mike from Big Shark for fetching me a beer on my resignation lap! Beer had never tasted so good and so bad all at the same time. I’m not sure it’s the best recovery drink I’ve ever had…

I keep replaying scenes from the weekend like a slideshow in my head. I keep thinking of my gratitude for all who played a part. I’m happy to have wrapped up our season, and while exhausted, I look with hope toward next season.

Cross racing anyone? How ’bout some mountain biking?

How ’bout a break.

whew.

Thanks again.

tags:gateway cup&bullRacing&bullthanks

It’s been a long time since my last entry and that’s basically b/c we’ve been out there spinning our wheels and not a lot of free time at the computer. So here’s the quick lo-down:

Criterium Nationals were two weekends ago in Downers Grove. The weather was freakishly chilly (high of 70?) and rainy. For my 3/4 race it started sprinkling at the start line and never got better. Through the rain and 8 wet, dangerous corners I think our race only had one crash, maybe two. I played it safe and was probably a terrible wheel through turns. On the last lap, Kristen Meshberg of Flatlandia took a good pull and I attacked her just BEFORE the last turn. It worked! Until I freaked out about my speed heading into the corner. I scrubbed my brakes and slowed for it; only to have Kristen wizz by me in much better gearing for the uphill sprint. My legs were in slow motion as I tried to chase her up the hill. I held on for second and 3rd place apparently went to Kristen’s daughter (in the picture). Actually, when they finally announced the podium for our race, we couldn’t find the Morris Trucking racer who’d finished third…

Carrie’s races were more challenging due to more aggressive cornering. Lots of crashes! And even though Carrie had great positioning for both finishes, getting caught in crashes in the last two turns–of both weekend races–prevented her from her top-ten goal(s). Next year maybe it will not rain. That course is super-fun when it’s dry!See more pictures here!

Our 101 Race Series has been rocking and the girls have put up with a seriously challenging course out in Creve Coeur Park. We can’t wait to see their strategies, skills and guts in “real” race action–if not this weekend–surely next spring! We’re definitely excited try have sequel clinic earlier in 2008 get ready for next year’s racing now we’re busy planning how we can keep everyone in the saddle through another STL winter…two concepts worth mentioning: a “frostbike” ride series and mvoie/spin night… more info to come.

Speaking of planning…this weekend is Gateway Cup, people! XPLANE Team Revolution and quite a few club members will be racing (some their first race!) all around town. Find info on the race times and locations here:
Lafayette Square
Washington Avenue
The Hill
UCity Loop

We’re going to have Justin Corson, our team massage therapist, on hand all weekend, so if you stop by the team/club tent spend a few minutes with Justin to have him “melt some stress away”. Friday night join us for happy hour at our tent as we do our pre-race routine! We hope to have cold beverage (any token donations will be welcome) procured from our friends at the Church Key! Our race is at 8 and it should be a good start to a great weekend-long show.

Saturday night we’re having a shin dig post-race at the Church Key, our smoke-free bar sponsor in the Grove. There will be drink specials and socializing with racers and spectators. If you can’t make the races on Wash Ave that afternoon, join us that night to hear how the racing’s going so far and meet our out of town teammates!

More coming sooner than my last post…see you this weekend!

tags:2007&bulldowners&bulldowners grove

Hey Everyone,
Here I come draggin’ my tail….
To work soooo hard and then, well accidents happen.
Okay, the stakes were high. 5, well maybe six, $500 primes, a mid race $1000 prime, and a $4000 1st place prize, not to mention the remaining monies in the 19 spots left in payout.
the first of the primes came within 5 laps. Let’s put it this way, Cheerwine took 3 of the $500 primes and the mid race prime. They had Sara Bamberger off the front for what it felt like 1/2 the race! 2 of the primes were pack sprints, in which one of, I keyed up for. With a Cheerwine leadout and a dominant track riders wheel, I sat 4 wheel behind Brooke Miller, Laura Van Gilder, and forgive, I think, Chrissy Ruitter.
Brooke goes with the first jump to the right, leaving me with a 1/2 bike lenght gap form Laura, and a decision. I chose Brooke, and the guns went off..Away went Laura. I rolled with the sprint and kept with the group, but no $500 for me!

Earlier, Chrissy Ruiter had attacked with a look at me, like she wanted me to react, and I did, away we went….only for a bit, the pack wasn’t having it.

Later in the race with around 8 to go, things started to heat up. With a first turn around you a median curb, I attacked hard into it, with intentions of tagging onto the two off the front and chaser in between. Around the bend I went, looked between my legs, only to see the wheel and shoes of Brooke Miller. I flicked my arm once we were safe, and I hear “No”. I’m like…What? she exclaims..”I have a teammate up there, sorry”. I think, Oh man!!!!!@.#*/ Well, hindsight, I should have kept it floored and took a chance on taking her to her teammate. But….we returned to the group.
The last 2 laps showed to be really dicey. With one to go, we round the first turn and try to vie for position for the second half of the course. With what I think was around .7 miles left to go in the 1.7 mile course, 3 Cheerwine’s on the front and a hungry row across the road to follow and me right in line behind it.
Wait!!!!!

Let me tell you, women are really very logical when they are on the bike, but you push the FF button and things get really messed up. The girl in front of me, still do not know who she was, but her wheels are in my thoughts…shakes it, and bakes it, pavement style! I watch, in slow motion, mentally, miss her wheels and running over her, and hear the worst crack of a frame to my right, and I dead stop.
I slip through the debris and chase the snarling pack….
Head wind to come, I had my work cut out for me.
Kristen Wentworth dug deeper and got closer, but neither of us would enjoy a sprint or the love of GREEN today!!!
hmmmmm.

Kuddos to Megan Elliot for her attempt with 3 to go!!! What courage.
Kuddos to Kristen for her $500 prime and surviving the crash to finish one place above me.
Kuddos to Tamyra for suffering yet another disappointment in a pro field (girl we will have our day!!)

Thanks to all the girls who raced, it was awesome!!
Congrats Cheerwine!

tags:2007 racing&bullelk grove&bullelk grove 2007&bullRacing