Okay, that's not entirely true...but north end cannoli was a big motivator in getting me through a challenging end to SKINourishment p/b Paceline Projects 2013 road season. How challenging? Well, that box started out full...
After some finagling and promises of baked-goods, I managed to switch labs last week so I could leave UT early with guest-rider Amber Brown and her husband Cortland to drive to Vegas. We arrived in Vegas Wednesday night and spent most of Thursday at Interbike. What a scene! I was slightly overwhelmed, but managed to find many of the team's awesome sponsors in that crazy maze. I had a blast catching up with folks and checking out some sweet stuff coming out for 2014. The new carbon fiber SQ Lab saddle with cushioning you can customize, Michelin's new Pro4 comp limited edition tires...fun fun fun! Great to be able to meet in person all these awesome folks whose generous support of the team has such a tremendous impact. THANK YOU!!!
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| Kat, Brian and former guest-rider Justine of Syntace and SQlabs |
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| The Michelin Team! |
Before I knew it, it was about that time to suit up. It was great to have Amber, an up-and-coming UT rider who has the crit racing bug, join me for the USA Crit Finals. The course was pretty gnarly. I loved it. Dark, lots of sweeping turns, the occasional barrier legs sticking straight out into the field. Wished the Pro Crit Championships course looked like that! Great crowds, including many awesome sponsors in attendance (Arundel and Honey Stinger), aggressive racing, maybe a touch of danger, made this race super fun. I felt awesome staying in good position and attacking. Unfortunately, Amber was still feeling the effects of a cold. In the second half of the race, there was a decent size pile-up in the last corner. I saw the dominoes start to fall and thought I was going to be able to squeeze through a tiny window to the outside when someone from behind ploughed right into me, launching me off my bike. I landed hard. You know it's a hard landing when you have minimal road rash and are so stunned it takes you a second to push yourself up off the pavement. I did and made my way to the pit. Bike was fine, and for the time being the adrenaline made me feel OK too. I got back into the race and refocused for the finish as it was looking like it would be a field sprint. Sadly, I wasn't going to make it to the last lap. With no more free-laps, I flatted. The pit wouldn't give me a wheel and the official wouldn't let me chase, so I disappointingly watched the last laps of the race. Major bummer. Like most people, I didn't have lady-luck on my side in Vegas.  |
| Kat & Amber Brown |
I was flying out after the USA Crit Finals to get to the east coast to race the TD Bank Mayor's Cup two days later, so didn't have much time after the race. Amber and Cortland were awesome dropping me off on the strip so I could run in for some first aid supplies to help with my messed up hip. By the time we rushed to airport, my hip was so swollen I could hardly walk. My Vegas loosing streak continued. When I went to check-in for my flight, United informed me that there was no way I would make any of my (4) connections to Hartford, CT because my red-eye flight out of Vegas was running behind. She even laughed at me. I wasn't very amused though. After 30 minutes of them telling me I had to spend about 24 hours in Houston and wouldn't make it to Hartford until Saturday morning, the flood gates opened. I was very much looking forward to racing in Boston on Saturday in front of my family and friends... and after a painful end to that night's race, I couldn't hold back the tears. In the scheme of things, silly to cry over. However, the waterworks proved productive. Suddenly, they found a solution to my hopeless situation when just minutes before they insisted there was no other option. They flew me to Boston to get in Friday afternoon with a whole 24 hours to get ready for the race. Yay!
After a pretty quiet flight (no screaming kids), my dad picked me up in Boston Friday and we journeyed back to western MA to relax and get all sorted out for the next day's race. There was even apple cider waiting for me in the fridge. All was looking up. Then bad luck struck again. I unpacked my bike in disbelief as I realized United crushed my beautiful Veloforma Strada SLR.
Okay life, really? Really.
What a down kind of moment. Sometimes you just connect with a bike. Nostaglia for all the sweet experiences you've had while riding it and sometimes the bike just makes you a different rider- more confident in the corners, faster. My Veloforma was definitely that bike and I was majorly bumming about it and not being able to race the next day. But the dissapointments this season have certainly made me appreciate the positives, and there really have been many. All season I've been blown away by all the awesome people in my life, and this past weekend was no exception. Their kindness and support has really meant so much to me. Within a hour or two, I found myself going from spectator back to a participant with too many bikes being offered to choose from. A huge thanks to Kevin Wolfson, Bruce Diehl and the Sunapee team, my awesome coach Steve Weller for rallying. Steve got me set up on a bike and got it dialed in, with back-ups waiting at the race just in case. That freakish stream of incidents aside, how lucky am I!
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| The best coach and friend in the world-Steve! |
My folks, Ameerah and I loaded up the car and made our way to Boston, stopping briefly to buy a new helmet. United crushed it as well but small potatoes at that point. The weather was perfect and I was excited to race. The bike seemed to fit pretty well too. The SKINourishment samples Polly sent to the race went like wildfire! The race started and I stayed toward the front. I felt OK but as the pace picked up, the differences in bike fit and handling were a bit more apparent. I went for a prime to test out the sprint which is usually how this race ends. I won the prime but essentially seated. I quickly realized the narrow bars and short stem made my sprint super twitchy, not very safe or fast. A little worrisome for the finish and I had to resign myself to saving my sprint for another day, opting for the safe approach to the line. I stayed up to the front in the last lap, but there's not much you can do without a sprint in a bunch finish. I came across the line 14th. A decent result, but not exactly what I had my sights on all season. I was a little sad to have the season end the way it did when I was so excited to race and on good form. That's the way the cookie crumbled though and I can't help but be grateful for the opportunity to race in one of the best races in the country. Every year the Mayor's Cup treats the women well. Equal prize money for women and men... and quite a bit of it I might add. 15,000 each...that's no small chunk of change.
Wonderful to be with my family, friends, and to do what I love. So, a big thank you to everyone who helped make it possible all season long. All my awesome sponsors: SKINourishment, Paceline Projects, Gnar Lube, Pactimo, Veloforma, State Wheels, Arnicare, Honey Stinger, Michelin, Outback Bikes, Syntace & SQ Lab Saddles, Arundel, Smith Optics, CheckMark, Road ID, Bell Lap Coaching. Some pretty awesome mechanics: Jose, Steven, Chris, and Joe. Amazing hosts and friends: Pam & Rodney, Wicker Family, Rocky & Joan, Billie & Leif, Chiang Family, Kent, Paul, Pekarek Family, Diego, Loughlin Family, and Kim. The best coach ever: Steve Weller. Some very special bike racing friends who helped me out a ton this year and kept me laughing all season long: Carrie, Chris, Vanessa, Julie and Christy, Tiffany, and Laura. Last but certainly not least, my rock star family. Thank you everyone for a great year and looking forward to 2014!
: D Kat Carr
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