From NY to TX...

Post-race hang time with Ameerah

After about a month off of racing, I had a blast returning to the crit scene in Binghamton, NY for the Chris Thater Memorial.  My folks and I made a road trip of it and I was happy to spend time with them and ride my bike too.  The race was fun and I felt decent.  Was getting excited for the sprint finish and had good position into the last corner.  Not sure why the rider in front of me hit the breaks, but she did and that doesn't usually help when going for the sprint.  A little history, Chris Thater was one of my first NRC races when I started...and I've done it several times.  I don't think I've ever been allowed to finish the race though.  (Dropped & Pulled) This course was always tough for me.  However, not this year.  I managed a top 20 result... 11th.  Definitely always aiming for higher, but content.


A SUPER MEGA THANK YOU to Joe Mai for getting the race machine all fixed up and ready to rock!!!  Joe's the best.  If you ride these sweet roads in Western Mass, you should stop by Joe's Garage.

Heading out on one of my favorite rides...

After Chris Thater, I returned to SLC for a few days then was packing up the bike again to head to Austin, TX for the Tour of Austin.  This is my impression of Austin so far:

: D

Honestly.  What a neat city.  Whitney always spoke highly of the cycling community here and now I can see why.   This city loves riding.  Any kind, any speed, for any reason.  I've been very impressed.  

Biking in the city

My celebrity host has been showing me an awesome time.  She's famous.  I'm sure of it.   Kim has been such great company.  We rode over to the Driveway series on Thursday night to check out the course.  We have a midweek race series in SLC too... but not like this!  The Driveway seems to be equal parts suffering and equal parts partying.  Music, drinks, food, and lots of folks having a good time, enjoying each others company, and enjoying life on two wheels.

So the official race weekend kicked off with a 3.4 mile circuit race around Austin's Formula 1 track today.  Pretty darn cool.   As in awesome.  With a steep hill after the start finish line, the blazing sun, and a good sized field of fast women, this race sapped the energy right out of my legs.  Polly kept warning me about the heat here.  Glad she encouraged me to fly in a couple days before the race to get well acquainted with it.  I wasn't completely shocked when I lined up today for the first race, but 102?!.  I'm sure it was actually hotter on the track.

Circuit of the Americas

The women here raced aggressively.  A break of 3 went fairly early on the hill, but it didn't appear to have the right team representation.  I didn't attempt to bridge across immediately because it seemed as though the big field would bring them back over the course of the downhill.  My mistake.  Apparently it was the right combination of riders up the road.  They stayed away to the finish and I started preparing for the field sprint.  Within 1K to go, the notable sprinters were pretty much lined up across the road.  I don't remember who jumped first...but it was a drag race to the finish.   I avoided crashing when another racer cut diagonally across the road in front of me as everyone started to sprint.  I thought there was a chance I could make up some ground, but in the end I wasn't going fast enough to come around Jen McRae.  She won the field sprint coming in 4th and I finished in 5th.

SKINourishment tent!

I was glad to get out of the heat and enjoy the company of the wonderful SKINourishment team!  Also, super thankful for Polly's cheering and the wonderful and amazing new Cross Fixe Muscle Paste.  Made my legs and back feel ridiculously good.

Polly and Cristi

The good stuff.  Food grade!  

Next race tomorrow!  Stay tuned.....