Sunday, October 27, 2013

Costume Race

What's more fun than a cross race on a sunny day?  Costume race!




Here I am!






 Possibly the most awesome costume I've ever seen.






The tag-along was down in this area when I passed them on lap one and I heard there was a costume malfunction.  Looks like Dillon managed to overcome and get both child and bike across the line.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Racing with guys

I've had so much fun with cyclocross this year that I decided to head out of the hour drive radius (set by Patrick on my cyclocross racing to encourage us to  spend time together outside of the car)  and go to Portland, Maine for the race there.  Patrick is seeking to start a new hobby to take some time for himself, target shooting, and was engaged that day at a workshop learning techniques for reloading.  So, it was my first cycling race here EVER, I think, without Patrick. I had made arrangements to meet my cousin, who lives north of Portland there, and I was excited about that.

I knew a few, but only a very few, of the racers there and I had to muster up some courage to ask a stranger to pin my number.  The course was fun and I was excited about the race.  My start was not great but I was in the middle of the field of ladies at the first corner.  I really struggle with taking speed through rough corners and I was mortified to see a substantial gap open ahead of me after a handful of turns.  Wow, it looked like I had been the factor for selection of the top ten - poor girls that had got stuck behind me!  I increased my efforts to be more aggressive and catch back up again.  Certainly, I could get a few places as those in front of me tired.  Just when I was sure I was in a position to start passing and try to get into the money, I felt the bike slip in a way that signaled mushy rear tire.  I took it easy through  a few turns and stopped after the run up to put my hand on the tire and confirm that it was flat.  I ran to the pit but as there was no neutral support and I hadn't brought extra wheels, so I was out of the race.  I briefly attempted running the remainder of the race, but stopped as not only did this look ridiculous but it seemed like a good way to injure my feet.  Better to go back to the car, change into proper running gear and do an hour on the bike path.   

I got ready to go, and ran into my cousin before I started running.  We watched the remainder of the ladies race.  When it finished, I realized that I could change my tube out and get into the men's race.  Back we hustled to the car with 12 minutes before the gun.  Not enough time for me to reorganize for the elite men's race, but I was able to get ready and warmed up again for the men's 4/5 race, this is the beginner level race . 

Of course I had to start at the back of over 60 guys, a number of whom I was sure would go down at some point, quite likely as soon as the gun went off.  It was surprising that I actually passed people between the start and the first corner.  I imagine perhaps the back half of the field was taking it easy also anticipating a crash.   Typically I'm getting passed at the start by the elite ladies and even some of the Cat 3 ones.  It was clear that a few of the guys were considerably stronger and better riders than me, off they went.  I could see guys behind me going down in the corners and I worked the first lap on getting by the bad bike handlers.   I had a great time passing guys and getting passed.  The race was about twice the size of a local ladies elite race and it was fun to be close to racers throughout the race.  I did feel bad for the guys who were heckled by their friends when I was closing in to pass them.  What kind of friends are those!  At one point, I stalled out coming up a steep bit and a guy behind me cut right in very close to pass, yelling a warning as he did this.  I yelled back something which I don't think I would have said during a ladies race.  It was interesting to note how different my mood and attitude was during this race compared to the ladies race.  More aggressive and more confident.  Freedom from expectation of where I should finish in the race.  I really had a great time.  

Monday morning, I had a 7:30 am meeting on a new project.  I walked in late to a room filled with guys, well over a hundred, and I didn't see a single woman.  Here we go again, I thought. 



Thursday, October 10, 2013

Unsung advantage of transport by bicycle


more living furry creatures
during a 5 mile stretch of my commute this morning, I rode through a shockingly large bloodstain, past a raccoon carcass and by a squirrel body.  That's a gristly toll for one night in the neighborhood.

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Celebration of New England Ladies Cyclocross

This is a blast from the past podium pic of local ladies, Libby White, Crystal Anthony, and Elle Anderson at one of my first cyclocross races- Gloucester 2008 women's 3/4 field.  Since then little Libby has grown up and gone to college, now racing for UVM.  Crystal had a very successful year last year on the mountain bike and I got some motivation in the winter reading her Facebook posts about 4 hour mountain bike rides.  I met Elle in 2008 at a road race when we were both Cat 3 riders finding our way in the race scene here.  After this picture was taken, we hung out on the rock that overlooks the course at Gloucester and watched the elite women race the tangle of turns and sandpit below while chatting about Elle's studies at UVM and ambitions.  In 2010, we raced a bit together on the NEBC road team.   2011, she joined a local development team and I saw her at the races making solid improvements in skill and strength.  I didn't see her much after that as I stopped racing to focus on finishing my masters degree and lead a work team while Elle joined a pro team and traveled. 

Last weekend I had the pleasure of watching the 3 of them race in the elite field at Gloucester.  Elle came back home to New England and what a success!!!!!   It was thrilling to watch her win both races at Gloucester, riding away several of the highly accomplished women that we had watched from that rock in 2008.  Elle rode away from famed riders Helen Wyman, the British National champion, and Laura Van Guilder - an incredible sprinter who I view as a superhero, among others.  She even rode away from her current teammate, former road national champion Meredith Miller, wow - I can't even imagine warming up on the trainer next to her - Elle is with the big dogs now.  Crystal had great rides as well and is right up there with the top ladies.  Libby rode in her collegiate kit, right in with the elite level racers. 

Yesterday we went to Providence to cheer for Elle on the same course as the American National Champion and cyclocross phenom Katie Compton.  I'd never seen Katie in person before, but I did watch her ride away from the field one year at the National Championship thanks to streaming internet and thereafter regarded her as legendary.  What a sight to watch Elle and Katie ride together through the turns, up the hills, and over the barriers!  Elle finished second yesterday; Katerina Nash was out of sight on the last lap.  If you are interested to see the background of Olympian Katerina Nash it is easy enough to look up on the internet.  Let's just say that to have her rear wheel in view means that Elle is up there with the best!!!

On a somber note, one of the racers that Elle and I watched from that rock in 2008 died this week.  Amy Dombroski, a young racer in her prime, was killed during a training ride.  Horrible news for a week filled with joy.