but before I start the drive... forgot to mention...
"USA CRITS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES 2012 FINALS TO BE STREAMED ON-LINE AT http://t.co/CM8MtHyI! Can't attend the upcoming... http://t.co/mbbmBLqO" tune in if you like!
SKINourishment p/b Paceline Projects focuses on the National Criterium Calendar and hopes to give aspiring riders the opportunity to gain experience and exposure at the professional level in the US.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
USA Crit Championships in Vail, CO- tomorrow!
Tomorrow will mark the end of the 2012 road season for Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma. Whitney and I will race in Vail, CO tomorrow afternoon at the USA Crit Series Championship! We are excited, although...I'm still in Salt Lake City, UT right now and I've received a couple "you're crazy!" comments today on my SLC to Vail, race for an hour, Vail to SLC in one day plan. I concede. The plan is not the best and maybe I've lost a marble or two, but it's a plan and Whitney and I are excited to race. A special thanks to one of our sponsors, Avenues Yoga, for making the trip possible! Earlier this year, Avenues Yoga sponsored our "Yoga For Cyclists" workshop to raise money for the team to compete at this event. Thank you!
Stay tuned...
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Paceline Projects p/b Veloforma 6th at Mayor's Cup
Saturday afternoon Whitney and I staged in front of over 10,000 folks in downtown Boston for the 2012 TD Bank Mayor's Cup, the final National Criterium Calendar race of the year. This was Whitney's first visit to Boston, but perhaps she felt like she had raced there before since it seems like I've talked about this race (and how great New England is) non-stop all year! As a Massachusetts native, this race is a special one for me as I get to visit home, spend time with my family and friends, and satisfy my fix for New England food all weekend long. *Yes, food will make an appearance in this blog. For those that know me, would you expect anything else?
.JPG) |
| Blades succumbs to Ameerah's charm during our race. |
I've raced the Mayor's Cup since it began 4 years ago and it's one of my favorites. Not only is the venue great (we race around City Hall Plaza), the crowds are the best (mostly because they consist of my family and friends who are especially enthusiastic...and of course the average Bostonian enjoys a good sporting event so you can count on the city folk to join in on the fun), and the race is exciting. Although there was a change up in the race's structure this year, the Mayor's Cup is action packed with primes galore. Over 3,000 dollars in primes alone which generally makes for an animated race. In years past, there were primes given on both sides of the course. Theoretically, a rider could go for 2 primes within one lap. With big money being given away every lap, this makes for a hard race. This year, they limited the primes to the start/finish line which made the race a tad mellow in comparison. Another reason this race is exceptional is their fair AND EQUAL treatment towards both the professional women and men. The TD Bank Mayor's Cup is one of the very few races in the country where professional women pay the same entry fee as the men, race on the same course for the same distance/time, and are awarded EQUAL prize money ($12,000 to be split among the top 20) and EQUAL primes. If you're going to travel and do just one big race all year, I would urge you to consider using your resources to do this race. That's our team philosophy at least: Support the cities and promoters that do right by women cyclists.
Okay, back to the race....
The 40 person field was stacked with some of the most decorated female cyclists in the country and the accolades of the various riders given call-ups were quite impressive- a number of national championship, grand tour, national calendar, world championship, and Olympic medal winners were racing. As we began the 60 minute race, the race was aggressive from the get-go. Most notable was the solo attack from the Optum team, one of the few teams with the most numbers. Janel Holcolmb stayed off the front for quite a few laps. With a field of many individual sprinters, many were looking around to other small teams to see who would bring her back. Although my perception of the race was probably a little skewed from my vantage point mid-field or so, sure seemed that when the announcer mentioned she had grabbed at least 1,000 dollars worth of primes as she rode 25 seconds ahead of us, the attitude in the field shifted and the field closed in on her. With about 13 laps or so left, Janel was within 8 seconds of the field, and I found Whitney to see how she was feeling, hoping she was feeling good and wanting to counter as soon as Janel was brought back. As we were moving up along the side with this in mind, a rider in front of us hooked her bars into the barriers and took out several riders in front of us and causing us to stop and get bumped around a bit. Whitney and I were both OK and we made our way to the pit to check out our bikes and get back into the race. Unfortunately a number of riders were not OK, including Lyne Bessette (cool person, role model, and incredible racer) and they neutralized our field so they could tend to Lyne who suffered a fracture shoulder and knee cap. After a couple laps, they restarted the field giving Janel 8 seconds ahead of us. After the neutral laps and with less than 10 to go, the field caught her instantly. Unfortunately Whitney wasn't feeling great, to be honest I was also somewhat surprised at how tiresome I found the wind coming through all the buildings to be as we came through some of the corners. So, nabbing some primes wasn't in the cards for us Saturday.
Heading into the final laps, Whitney and I found each other and Whitney did a good job of getting me closer to the front along the side and out of trouble. Whitney dropped me off near the front just before the last corner as Jade Wilcoxson from Optum launched a pretty fierce attacked. Although I was hoping I would get a little bit of a breather before the sprint began, that was not how it worked. I had to come around Whitney immediately in order to follow the other sprints dashing through the corner. I attempted to get on someones wheel but I was just far enough off that catching their draft didn't happen, (oh crap), and I stood knowing the sprint had really already started. I was hoping my legs would cooperate when I stood up, oh crap (again), not the case. I sat back down, really just grasping to see if anything would make up some of that ground...nope. Realized I wasn't going to pass anyone, but might be able to hold off the rest of the field. So, I stood back up again and gave everything I had 'till I got to the line, coming in 6th. Not too shabby of a result for us.
The rest of the evening was spent cheering for our friends in other races, catching up with friends and family, and enjoying cannoli. Yes, that's right.... I ate more than one cannolo...and they were not mini. Amazing. I would do it again, anytime, anywhere. Yum.
A huge thank you to our supporters and friends who came out to cheer for us at the race and enjoyed the city with us afterwards: my dad Steve (Paceline Projects), mom Erin, and the new cute ball of fluff Ameerah, Matt, Leslie and Fred, my brother Matt and his girlfriend Kelsey, Josh from Veloforma, our good friends and forever Sunapee teammates Bruce & Debony, Kevin Wolfson and Amalia, and Whitney's good friend Tammy to name a few.
Back to UT reality of work, school, etc this week. Luckily, I was allowed to check one free bag last night and filled it with as many Macintosh and Cortland apples the bag would hold to slowly ween me off of my New England trip. I had to chug my apple cider though. Very sad to leave.
Okay, back to the race....
 |
| Photo courtesy of the Boston Globe- Whitney's on the right |
The 40 person field was stacked with some of the most decorated female cyclists in the country and the accolades of the various riders given call-ups were quite impressive- a number of national championship, grand tour, national calendar, world championship, and Olympic medal winners were racing. As we began the 60 minute race, the race was aggressive from the get-go. Most notable was the solo attack from the Optum team, one of the few teams with the most numbers. Janel Holcolmb stayed off the front for quite a few laps. With a field of many individual sprinters, many were looking around to other small teams to see who would bring her back. Although my perception of the race was probably a little skewed from my vantage point mid-field or so, sure seemed that when the announcer mentioned she had grabbed at least 1,000 dollars worth of primes as she rode 25 seconds ahead of us, the attitude in the field shifted and the field closed in on her. With about 13 laps or so left, Janel was within 8 seconds of the field, and I found Whitney to see how she was feeling, hoping she was feeling good and wanting to counter as soon as Janel was brought back. As we were moving up along the side with this in mind, a rider in front of us hooked her bars into the barriers and took out several riders in front of us and causing us to stop and get bumped around a bit. Whitney and I were both OK and we made our way to the pit to check out our bikes and get back into the race. Unfortunately a number of riders were not OK, including Lyne Bessette (cool person, role model, and incredible racer) and they neutralized our field so they could tend to Lyne who suffered a fracture shoulder and knee cap. After a couple laps, they restarted the field giving Janel 8 seconds ahead of us. After the neutral laps and with less than 10 to go, the field caught her instantly. Unfortunately Whitney wasn't feeling great, to be honest I was also somewhat surprised at how tiresome I found the wind coming through all the buildings to be as we came through some of the corners. So, nabbing some primes wasn't in the cards for us Saturday.
Heading into the final laps, Whitney and I found each other and Whitney did a good job of getting me closer to the front along the side and out of trouble. Whitney dropped me off near the front just before the last corner as Jade Wilcoxson from Optum launched a pretty fierce attacked. Although I was hoping I would get a little bit of a breather before the sprint began, that was not how it worked. I had to come around Whitney immediately in order to follow the other sprints dashing through the corner. I attempted to get on someones wheel but I was just far enough off that catching their draft didn't happen, (oh crap), and I stood knowing the sprint had really already started. I was hoping my legs would cooperate when I stood up, oh crap (again), not the case. I sat back down, really just grasping to see if anything would make up some of that ground...nope. Realized I wasn't going to pass anyone, but might be able to hold off the rest of the field. So, I stood back up again and gave everything I had 'till I got to the line, coming in 6th. Not too shabby of a result for us.
 |
| Post-race hang time with Paceline Projects |
The rest of the evening was spent cheering for our friends in other races, catching up with friends and family, and enjoying cannoli. Yes, that's right.... I ate more than one cannolo...and they were not mini. Amazing. I would do it again, anytime, anywhere. Yum.
A huge thank you to our supporters and friends who came out to cheer for us at the race and enjoyed the city with us afterwards: my dad Steve (Paceline Projects), mom Erin, and the new cute ball of fluff Ameerah, Matt, Leslie and Fred, my brother Matt and his girlfriend Kelsey, Josh from Veloforma, our good friends and forever Sunapee teammates Bruce & Debony, Kevin Wolfson and Amalia, and Whitney's good friend Tammy to name a few.
.jpeg) |
| Liz Lemon style. |
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
2012 TD Bank Mayor's Cup
Saturday Kat and I will be racing in Boston at the TD Bank Mayor's Cup, a quick 60-minute criterium with a few swooping turns right around City Hall. We're off at 2:45pm Saturday! Here is more information on the race: http://bostoncyclingcelebration.com/. This is our second-to-last race of the season too. We're hoping for big things and are both super amped for the event!
Any recommendations for things to do post-race in Boston?
Any recommendations for things to do post-race in Boston?
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
The Role of Fans in Women's Cycling
Howdy! Here is an awesome read on women's cycling and the role of fans! Had to share!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Aspen Blue Ribbon Alpine Challenge
A bit belated of a post! During the men's Pro Challenge in Colorado a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to participate in the women's Alpine Blue Ribbon Challenge in Aspen. This crit was in the heart of downtown Aspen with a course that finished in the same sport as the men's race that day, about 45 minutes before the men came in. Let me just say the crowds were roaring and rowdy in the best possible way. I rode in the Aspen Valley Composite Team jersey with other young lady racers.
We wasted no time getting up to speed and managed averaging 27mph for the hour crit. With over 50 starters and a small hill each lap, the speed caused riders to be shelled left and right. I wasn't feeling well, but did manage trying g to bridge with Alison Powers to a break that looked like it was going to stick but I never could quite connect with her. I spent the entire rest of the race just hanging on for dear life and finishing in the single file of racers in 26th. I am very happy with the progress I've made coming back from being off the bike for so long with my fracture but I'm sure ready to be back to my normal self so its hard to ever be satisfied.
The race was such a great experience and the community and crowds were so supportive of the women. People were coming up left and right telling me how that was one of the coolest things they've seen.I stuck around to see the men come in, ran back to my awesome Snowmass we were put up in, showered, and heading back to the great after party with the other women racers. Sadly that was concluded with a 5 hour night drive through the mountains to get back home so I could be in to work by 7:30. The whole event now feels like a dream...a really good dream. THANKS Aspen, see you next year!
We wasted no time getting up to speed and managed averaging 27mph for the hour crit. With over 50 starters and a small hill each lap, the speed caused riders to be shelled left and right. I wasn't feeling well, but did manage trying g to bridge with Alison Powers to a break that looked like it was going to stick but I never could quite connect with her. I spent the entire rest of the race just hanging on for dear life and finishing in the single file of racers in 26th. I am very happy with the progress I've made coming back from being off the bike for so long with my fracture but I'm sure ready to be back to my normal self so its hard to ever be satisfied.
The race was such a great experience and the community and crowds were so supportive of the women. People were coming up left and right telling me how that was one of the coolest things they've seen.I stuck around to see the men come in, ran back to my awesome Snowmass we were put up in, showered, and heading back to the great after party with the other women racers. Sadly that was concluded with a 5 hour night drive through the mountains to get back home so I could be in to work by 7:30. The whole event now feels like a dream...a really good dream. THANKS Aspen, see you next year!
 |
| Belated photo of Whitney working with the Pro Bike Center in Loveland on the computrainer |
Black Veloforma Ninjas
So I know we've mentioned our badass Veloforma bikes over and over but here is a little more insight of these sweet machines (pssst if you are interested in one, email us!):
Kat and I have been fortunate to be sponsored by long-time friend and former director of mine, Mark, who owns Veloforma Bicycles, based out of the Portland area. Veloforma has always been very generous in supporting women's professional cycling and we're very fortunate to have them on board this year.
Kat and I are both on the latest Strada SLR. This sweet, slick machine is light, fast, and STIFF. It handles confidently on Colorado and Utah mountainous descents and just as well on sharp crit corners at Tulsa Tough. I've gotten to ride Veloforma bikes for the past three seasons. I had a break last year, riding another larger company's bike frame (which never really did it for me), I was super pumped to get back on a Veloforma last year and am so, so happy to be riding one again this year.
Here are some pictures of Kat & my "black ninja" Veloforma bikes this year:
Kat and I have been fortunate to be sponsored by long-time friend and former director of mine, Mark, who owns Veloforma Bicycles, based out of the Portland area. Veloforma has always been very generous in supporting women's professional cycling and we're very fortunate to have them on board this year.
Kat and I are both on the latest Strada SLR. This sweet, slick machine is light, fast, and STIFF. It handles confidently on Colorado and Utah mountainous descents and just as well on sharp crit corners at Tulsa Tough. I've gotten to ride Veloforma bikes for the past three seasons. I had a break last year, riding another larger company's bike frame (which never really did it for me), I was super pumped to get back on a Veloforma last year and am so, so happy to be riding one again this year.
 |
| Kat at Tour of Elk Grove 2012 |
 |
| Whitney (L) and Kat (R) on our trusty steeds at Gateway Cup 2012
Veloforma is a small company with limited production that sells out quick, so if you are interested in purchasing from them, don't hesitate to get in touch as soon as possible! You'll find all the crew at Veloforma super friendly and reachable :) Hey- they think ladies on bikes are badass. They have a super sweet blog too!
|
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Benton Park- Gateway Cup Day 4
The final day of Gateway was muggy and warm and included the most technical course with the crappiest roads of the bunch, laden with recessed potholes in the turns. Each long-ish lap included 10 turns, a quick descent and a long uphill drag to the finish. I'm happy to say today was also rain free. It would have been a nightmare otherwise.
With GC pretty close, Kristen LaSasso, single-handedly kept the race together protecting her teammate Laura Van Guilder, who ended up winning the overall as a result of her work (and the stage, and all the stages. What a badass). Nevertheless, Kat and I were both pretty active throughout the race. I almost got the first $100 prime solo, attacking half a lap before, but Carrie Cash bridged solo to me and then outsprinted me. Ouch. I went for the others, but it would have been better if Kat and I were able to connect and go for them jointly. It seemed that attacks were fruitless in this race, nevertheless we each attacked throughout. On the last lap, Kat and I moved up to the front, but the pace also slowed. We (or I) should have probably just gone at this point, but instead, we let groupthink get in the way and we were swarmed and spit out the back in the next mad-dash mile to the finish with fellow racers taking some crazy risks. We finished 17th and 20th, putting Kat top 11, we think. It was a bit disappointing but we did come up with some strategic things to work on together and also on our own before we unite again for Mayor's Cup in three weeks.
We pedaled the 40 minutes "home" as quick as possible, before a quick shower and pack up and headed out to the airport for our respective journeys home. It was a really great weekend with some great results. I finally feel like I'm back to where I was ability-wise and I know I'll still get a teensy bit stronger between now and Mayor's Cup. Thanks to Billie and Leif for hosting us again and all the extra support above and beyond. Till next year :)
.JPG)
With GC pretty close, Kristen LaSasso, single-handedly kept the race together protecting her teammate Laura Van Guilder, who ended up winning the overall as a result of her work (and the stage, and all the stages. What a badass). Nevertheless, Kat and I were both pretty active throughout the race. I almost got the first $100 prime solo, attacking half a lap before, but Carrie Cash bridged solo to me and then outsprinted me. Ouch. I went for the others, but it would have been better if Kat and I were able to connect and go for them jointly. It seemed that attacks were fruitless in this race, nevertheless we each attacked throughout. On the last lap, Kat and I moved up to the front, but the pace also slowed. We (or I) should have probably just gone at this point, but instead, we let groupthink get in the way and we were swarmed and spit out the back in the next mad-dash mile to the finish with fellow racers taking some crazy risks. We finished 17th and 20th, putting Kat top 11, we think. It was a bit disappointing but we did come up with some strategic things to work on together and also on our own before we unite again for Mayor's Cup in three weeks.
We pedaled the 40 minutes "home" as quick as possible, before a quick shower and pack up and headed out to the airport for our respective journeys home. It was a really great weekend with some great results. I finally feel like I'm back to where I was ability-wise and I know I'll still get a teensy bit stronger between now and Mayor's Cup. Thanks to Billie and Leif for hosting us again and all the extra support above and beyond. Till next year :)
.JPG)
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Giro della Montagna: Gateway Cup Day 3
We had a dry race!! It was so cool! This course is in the heart of a largely Italian neighborhood. Although very rectangular, one long side has a huge power hill known, well, as THE HILL. It's gradual enough to big ring but long and steep enough to be in the pain cave. The finish is on the dowhill so super speedy. The race was super aggressive from the get go with attack after attack. I launched one to test the waters then tried to go with Kristen LaSasso and Laura Van Guilder for the first $200 prime. Holy crap Van Guilder is a stellar sprinter.
Breaks started to stick and Gwen Inglis and Laura Guilder got up the road. Attacks were launched to try to close it. Kat launched her own with Vanderkitten chasing then attacking when she got to Kat. I hopped on that but the field brought it back again. It was an incredibly active race.
There was a lull when another person was brought back with two to go. I jumped at the opportunity and got a good gap which seemed to widen until the last two turns. I was caught with 100m to go and left in the dust. Ouch! I came in 16th and Kat came in 18th. Ready for revenge tomorrow. Personally, I'm happy to have my aggression back that was a breakthrough in itself.
The race may have been concluded with additional recovery custard.
Breaks started to stick and Gwen Inglis and Laura Guilder got up the road. Attacks were launched to try to close it. Kat launched her own with Vanderkitten chasing then attacking when she got to Kat. I hopped on that but the field brought it back again. It was an incredibly active race.
There was a lull when another person was brought back with two to go. I jumped at the opportunity and got a good gap which seemed to widen until the last two turns. I was caught with 100m to go and left in the dust. Ouch! I came in 16th and Kat came in 18th. Ready for revenge tomorrow. Personally, I'm happy to have my aggression back that was a breakthrough in itself.
Francis Park- Gateway Day 2
The day was rain free and more comparable to a sauna than anything else. The second the women were called to the line, the sky opened up with a monsoon so bad we could barely see. Kat got a sweet call up to the line and we were off shortly after. The field was more conservative today with the slick roads and some faster turns. Luckily, we all stayed safe. With more limited 'matches' I launched an early attack to test the field and found myself a dissatisfied with the result. Attack after attack was launched but the field was all for another bunch sprint even on the prime laps. Kat and I stayed conservative.
On the last $200 prime lap, Carrie Cash was almost being brought back so I took a risk and launched a sneaky attack from the back but going up the opposite side of the road when the field finally realized I could stick it, it was too late and the chase was futile. $200 secured. At this point we only had 4 laps left, so after a brief recovery, I helped Kat get to the front for the sprint but was a bit too toast for the beautiful lead out I saw in my head.the last turn was so slick to the finish, the field pretty much stopped before turning and then dashed madly to the finish 100m away, Kat placing 11th. Like good racers, we got some recovery food shortly after, today in the form of infamous Ted Drewes Custard. Perfection.
Big plans today and hoping for dry weather!
On the last $200 prime lap, Carrie Cash was almost being brought back so I took a risk and launched a sneaky attack from the back but going up the opposite side of the road when the field finally realized I could stick it, it was too late and the chase was futile. $200 secured. At this point we only had 4 laps left, so after a brief recovery, I helped Kat get to the front for the sprint but was a bit too toast for the beautiful lead out I saw in my head.the last turn was so slick to the finish, the field pretty much stopped before turning and then dashed madly to the finish 100m away, Kat placing 11th. Like good racers, we got some recovery food shortly after, today in the form of infamous Ted Drewes Custard. Perfection.
Big plans today and hoping for dry weather!
 |
| Ted Drewes recovery custard |
 |
| Cultural excursion |
 |
| does the car match the bikes or the bikes match the car? |
 |
| Velofoma speed machine |
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Kat 2nd Gateway Day 1
 |
| Kat finishes 2nd day 1 Gateway Cup |
After one such attack was being brought back, I snuck up the right side in the dark and launched an attack with 11 to go and one other lady bridging to me. We worked together but after a few laps, the fields decided nope, no breakaways today and brought us back with 8 to go. The pace stayed super high those last laps. Kat was able to sprint for a few of the very generous primes, barely coming up short in 2nd...nipped at the line. The last lap, I tried to get Kat up as far as possible. The second to last turn, a Vanderkitten lady crashed out in the corner sending the field out like fireworks trying to not crash on the slick ground with me right behind. Luckily Kat snuck by on the right and went for the finish before the last turn...a super smart move with how wet things were. She held her own and finished second behind Laura Van Gilder!! Woohoo! I ended up eeking out a 19th.
We were very happy with the day hand have great hopes for the rest of the weekend! The race in Francis Park this afternoon is also supposed to be quite rainy as well. Keep your fingers crossed and wish us luck!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)