Craving some cold chocolate milk...

So naturally, I'm hopping on a plane to WI.   Tour of America's Dairyland began last Thursday and will finish this coming Sunday.  11 races in 11 days with some great courses, lots of prize money, awesome cow print leaders' jerseys, and more chocolate milk than you can possible consume in a week and a half.  Although I wasn't able to take enough time off of work to compete in the whole series, I'm pumped to join the ToAD crew for the last 5 days of racing which will include 4 crits on the National Crit Calendar.

Feeling ready to race after an aggressive local race weekend in Salt Lake.  Although I came in last, or maybe there was no record of me at all?  Who knows, my mind was like pudding after racing in the blistering heat (100 plus degrees) and the strong winds (which blew in smoke from all the fires that have been springing up in Utah), and it didn't occur to me to check the results.  Anywho.  The race was aggressive with a team of 7 outnumbering all the solo riders who attended the Salt Palace Crit this past Saturday.  After covering what seemed like all of the early attacks, I was getting tired and opted to let someone else cover what turned out to be the winning move.  Allison Frye from SkiUtah stayed away for the rest of the race to win the Utah Crit Championship.  I made a legit attempt to bridge to her by myself in the final several laps, and with 2 to go had the gap down to 10 seconds.  That's at least what the folks watching said.  I don't remember anything except for feeling the worse I've ever felt on a bike in a while.  I don't think I've EVER done that in a race.  I'm much happier staying out of the wind and waiting for the final 200 meters, but I was not content with 2nd place.  That's right, this "sprinter" went all-in.  Seriously, I was 100 percent committed, not "I'll just see what happens..."  Sadly, I didn't catch Alison and the field caught me as I headed into the last corner before the finish.  I hit the wall in one last attempt to get on a wheel as they went by.  I hit the wall HARD.  Like tacking back and forth on a flat road HARD.  Like losing 5-10 minutes in 500 meters HARD.   Rough stuff.  Worthwhile for sure though.  Hopefully.  


Looking to have more success on the bike tomorrow, so please stay tuned!

We Have Kits!

This past week, Kat and I received some plain brown boxes on our doorsteps. I thought to myself, what the heck could be in there? I raked my mind and couldn't think of anything. Upon looking at the return address, I realized OUR JETT KITS ARE HERE! I immediately tore open the package and put them on (despite not being able to ride outside yet).

The materials are really great quality and feel like they will last for several years which makes me pumped. Nothing is worse than getting to winter training and having holes in your bibs...it's cold enough here I don't want unintentional air vents near my butt! Don't tell my orthopedic doctor but I did start riding outside on the road on my MTB this week (a little extra cushion of my arm and more upright position) and tested the kit. I'm also really happy to report that the quality of the chamois is great...since we spend so much time on our saddles, that's definitely #1 in my book.  Some women's bibs are sooo long in the legs and these were just right for functionality and avoiding the most awkward tan line on earth.

Both Kat and I are very excited to start sporting the new kits, so keep an eye out for us at the next race! Kat will be heading to Tour of America's Dairyland next week for the last 5 days of racing.  Then I'll be joining her for Tour of Elk Grove at the beginning of August (FINALLY)! Kat came up with the original jersey design and my roommate Chris Hall ran with it for the end result.  He does freelance design work if anyone is interested.  If your team is interested in working with Jett and sporting some awesome quality road kits (or if you are in need of a graphic designer for your next event, company logo, uniform, etc) get in touch with us via the Contact Us page on our site to get started.  

Here's a picture of Kat in her new Jett kit with her stealthy Veloforma!

"This Machine"

Well, there isn't much to report on the racing front for Tulsa Tough.  Sadly, I had a pretty mediocre performance on the bike for the first two days of racing.  Friday night was pretty darn fast and as I started the race in the back of the field, I found it nearly impossible to move up and stay up at the front.  I greatly appreciated Kent and Jill who cheered for me, and of course there was an exceptionally loud Wyoming girl in attendance!  With a couple laps to go, I looked back to see an empty road and told myself to get with the program.  I moved up, and up, and up and finished the day mid pack at 31st.  Saturday I found myself in a similar situation.  The legs just weren't feeling it and I finished the race 30th.  For someone who can sprint, completing a race and not being able to use your strength whatsoever is frustrating to say the least.

Cry Baby Hill Courtesy of Chris Roettger

Despite having a rough start to the racing, the legs came around for the final day of the St. Francis Tulsa Tough on Cry Baby Hill.  For those that watched the live coverage on VeloNews, you received a small glimpse into the awesomeness that is Tulsa Tough.  The party on the hill is always right there teetering on the verge of being completely out of control.  Those of us who race domestically are hard pressed to find fans like these anywhere unless we are sitting in front of our computers watching the races in Europe.  Even though the legs were feeling good, it was hot in Oklahoma and I appreciated the enthusiasm and those that were pouring, shooting, and dumping cold water on us as we parted the sea of speedos, hairy bellies, crazy wigs, and I'm pretty sure I saw some dude in blond pig tails with angel wings?  Every year the field kinda blows apart on this tough course, and this year was no exception.  The game plan for the race was to be mindful positioning as people would start to pop off early and continue to do over the course of the race, and to stay on top of hydration and keeping myself as cool as possible.  Then ya know, sprint.  Well, I did a pretty good job taking care of those three objectives.  I was encouraged to be in the front group that was chasing NOW rider Alison Powers up the road as we were heading into the final laps of the race and still feeling pretty good for the finish.  Unfortunately, I took a tumble and caught some slip-n-slide action across the pavement with no more free laps left.  Pretty sure they played it back on the jumbo tron in slow motion and thankfully my mom who was watching in MA missed that image.  Someone came from out of nowhere to help me up (maybe the hairy angel?), don't remember, but I made my way to Jose at SRAM to get my bars situated so that I could at least chase and finish the race.  I took off from the pit and started to go up the hill when I realized my derailleur was going into my spokes and my stem going in the opposite direction my wheels was, plus the bleeding and what not.  So, I made it the first aid tent where the nice folks from St. Francis hospital took care of me and I watched the finish (Alison's solo to victory and some more crashing in the field).

Welcome sign in Tulsa Airport 

So, I was pretty disappointed with my racing this past weekend.  However, there were so many positives to my time in Tulsa that despite the soreness, blood, total lack of success on the result and goal front, I can still honestly say I had a stellar time.  Tulsa Tough is one of the best events we have in the country and their attention to detail makes for a great time.  You can't possibly sulk in a dark corner after you had a horrible race, it's just not the Tulsa way.  The weekend is one long celebration of what we love, bikes, and how this machine impacts our communities and our lives.  Bikes give us a sense of freedom and exhilaration, our needed alone time, or an opportunity to connect with other across the country and all over the world.  They give us good health (road rash and broken bones aside) and opportunity.  Tulsa does a phenomenal job of celebrating this and I encourage everyone (racers and recreational riders) to head to Tulsa next summer for the races, Gran Fondo, or Townie Ride.  A huge thanks to the race for highlighting and promoting the growth of women's racing, to Carrie and Chris who are awesome folks to travel and hang with, to my WY friend Abby Carroll (and her BF Chris) who cheered and made me laugh (as usual), and last but not least...Kent Stockstill and Jill Abbott.  Kent and Jill totally rock and always make sure we are dragging our feet when it comes time to leave OK.  Between the out of this world eats (killer breakfast panini and island pork salad this year), the good conversation, fire works, fun times at the fire station, and the self-defense lessons... Kent and Jill are the icing on my Tulsa cake.  Thank you!

The makings of an amazing panino

Fresh basil mayo and bacon panino with perfectly fried eggs on top...yum

The famous Cry Baby Hill Pre-race Island Pork Salad

Scoping out the view from the ladder

Shotgun

Jill and Kent with Carrie all 

Pumped for some Brady District Racing

Looking for a CX bike?

If you or your team are looking for a sexy cross bike this season, Veloforma is putting in team orders (and deals!) now. Contact me at wmhschultz@gmail.com for details on the order, but check out the bike here: http://www.veloforma.com/team-ccx/

Kat heads to Tulsa Tough

Hard to believe I'll be heading to Tulsa, OK this week for a very rad race weekend.  Seems like it's been quite a bit since I've been able to race and with all the long days at work, wedding festivities, and a super cool baby shower for Tiffany Pezzulo, I've been feeling out of touch with the racing scene.  Here's hoping my legs remember how to race come Friday night as St. Francis Tulsa Tough kicks off with the Blue Dome Crit at 7:10 PM.  Saturday the racing continues with the Brady Village Crit at 6 PM and will wrap up with the very challenging River Parks Crit at 2:10 PM on Sunday.  This race features some very enthusiastic (and intoxicated) fans on "Cry Baby Hill." You can check out the racing action all weekend with live coverage on VeloNews.com

Tulsa Tough is a top-notch event and we appreciate the promoters and the communities who go above and beyond, especially when it comes to promoting women's racing.  The Pro Women's field is not an afterthought for these folks and we dig it!  Check out http://www.tulsatough.com/2012-womens-crowd-prime/  The women's crowd prime stands at over $1,250 right now.  Very cool.  Looking forward to a fun weekend of racing and seeing our Tulsa friends and hosts, Kent and Jill.  Oklahoma here I come!

Some SLC training shots from the past several weeks below...

View heading up Guardsman Pass

City Creek 

East Canyon  

So Who Are We Anyways?

I'm pumped to present some new features on the blog. Please explore the tabs across the top to learn more about the team, our supporters and sponsors and how to get in touch. If you notice any formatting issues or mistakes, please be a pal and let me know by commenting or getting in touch via the Contact Us page!