Universities RR

Last weekend, the racing came to me! The race course consisted of riding up the campus hill at UCSC and back down many many many times.... this is the campus hill that I ride from home to my office several times a week (when i'm not lazy... on lazy days, i take the bus because there is no easy way to ride to the top of campus). The course passed right by my driveway again and again and again... there were times that I contemplated taking a turn for home and calling it a day as this hill is not meant to ride 14 times! But I hung in there and in the end had a good race.

I was ready for this race to be a bit of a letdown after a fun visit to Chicago where I had huge support lining the course. But it turns out, I have a great section of superfans here too! Our friends and families from the neighborhood came out and provided a super cheering section on the uphill which was supplemented with Bike Station support on the downhill (while only one person, she provided enough enthusiasm to earn the status of a full cheering squad!) I appreciated all the cheers, but I have to say the little fans were my favorite -- they made me smile every time up the hill (and it's not an easy feat to make one smile going up that hill again and again).

They even had signs!

Little fan with sign (and a very very little fan being held in the background)

Two little fans (one seems very excited about the sign!)

(Tired little fans -- it's not easy being a super cheer squad)

All in all, the race went well. About 4 laps in, Shelly from PB&co initiated a break and the two of us were off for the rest of the race. In the end, she had the punch to take the win -- it would have been more fun to end my road season with a win, but her win was well deserved.

Afterwards, Aspen and I had a little BBQ for the super fans and some racing buddies. It was a great way to end a hard, hot day on the bike.

Road racing is pretty much winding down for me now. This weekend, I am off to the great state of Ohio for the big event! Then Cyclocross season! Oh boy!!!

ChI-tOwN

Went back to Chicago for a week after being gone for almost a year. I got a few rides in on the lakefront path during my time back in chi-town. It's amazing how even after a year, the nooks and crannies along the path are all imprinted in my mind. I still remember the cracks and holes to watch out for (with some new ones of course:) and the curves of the path are so familiar I feel the bike just goes on autopilot. As much as I love the mountains and variety that I have at my new home, part of me really does miss the LFP. It is nice being able to ride along the city without worrying about cars, to have beautiful views of the city line and lake Michigan along the whole route, and best of all to see friendly faces. Every day I went out to the path I saw someone I knew... teammates, race competitors, and friends. It never feels lonely on the LFP.

(Chicago riding)

In between LFP rides I kept very busy all week with school and catching up with friends. By the time the weekend came I was exhausted, but also excited for some fun cycling...

Saturday was one of my favorite races -- The Glencoe Grand Prix! I have always enjoyed the course, the organization, and the fun atmosphere at the race. The race promoters are also very supportive of women's racing which is really nice to see. They ask for feedback on how to make it better and listen... they've built bigger purses, given the 3's a separate category, and even brought in clinics before the races. I think it is not always the purses that matter, but also offering good races and catering to the up and coming categories that will help women's cycling continue to grow. Anyway, I've always liked this race for many reasons... not just because I've had good luck at it the last couple years.

This year, the race was especially fun because it felt like I came back to my cycling home. I got to see my cycling family again and hearing all the cheers and support during the race was unreal. The finishing straight, the Tati corner... all along the course I heard a ton of cheers. I wish I would have had more than a day at the Chicago races because there are so many people that I would have liked to see more of (or people I didn't get to see) -- I really miss the great community.

I did not finish up as lucky as I had in past years... I've never actually felt good in the Glencoe races with the heat and humidity that always seems to come full on for the race... so I really do feel like I've gotten lucky in past years. This year, I was just lucky to be home. And lucky to have a strong team that finished on the podium!

Sunday was another fun riding day -- I left the chicago flatness and found the closest "hills" with two of my favorite riding buddies. Even though the hills were more like bumps compared to CA, they crushed me after an exhausting week. I was zonked! I refueled with frozen custard, my favorite pizza (Piece -- mmmm), and ice cream (this is different that custard).

(super riding buddies in super sweet kits)

(hi-tech ice cream -- mmm)

Then a little more hanging out with friends before heading back to the west coast. It was sad leaving my old home again... but I was also happy to return to my new home.

(home)