Happy Halloween!

The Team had some Halloween Spirit this weekend!!

(We are ready to Buzzzz around!)

Winning Team

Seeing a teammate bring home the well deserved win after a hard race is sometimes a better feeling than winning yourself...

(photo credit: Steve Anderson)

... and stacking the podium is always fun!

(photo credit: Jason Perry)

Team Rambuski Law had a good weekend! 3 1sts, 2 2nds, and 1 3rd!

Rubin Meets Cyclocross

Rubin is new to 'Cross, and he loves it!

(look how happy he is!)

Here he is with his "Cycloross outfit"

(He can't wait to get to the races!)

And here he is on the top step of the CCCX podium!!

(He likes being on the podium with so many Rambuski Law racers!)

StarCrossed and RaphaFocus GP

(Barriers -- weeee!)

Headed to Seattle this weekend for Starcrossed and Rapha Focus GP UCI races. Course features included twists and turns around a grassy tree filled landscape; a short ride through sand followed by a long and grueling run through more sand; and a barrier and flyover combination ideally situated by the beer garden. It was a fast dry course on Saturday and while mother nature tried hard to bring rain on Sunday, she fell a bit short of providing ideal mud conditions and only brought a few damp corners in the end. The UCI status attracted a number of strong contenders from the US as well as from Canada and beyond.

For Saturday's Starcrossed race, I had a slow start, but moved my way through the field until I settled with a group of 3 racing for 5th place. I tried to get away and keep moving up at first, but when I could not shed the other two riders, I settled in and tried to conserve energy on the windy parts of the course. I attacked again on the last lap, but it came down to a sprint and my slow-twitch legs mustered up just enough to take 5th!

In the Rapha Focus GP the next day I managed to get an even worse start off the line, but after a lap the lead group was in sight. As I latched on to the group of 5 riders, my rear brake came undone and I had to finish half a lap with 1 brake and pit the bike. Aspen was my trusty pit crew this weekend and he got me rolling on the A bike half a lap later, but after two stops by the pit, I had fallen a number of spots. I chased my way back to 5th and found myself in a similar spot to the previous race. This time I did not try to conserve anything, but kept chasing hard in an attempt to move up. In the end I was unable to reach the riders ahead of me but was able to pull out another sprint for 5th again! I improved on my results from last year and had a ton of fun racing with a deep field -- it's going to be a fun season ahead!

(Lots of sand -- ouch!)

SufferFest

(leaving aspen)

The end of the season has been full of suffering for me. Typically, that is what cycling is all about. However, coming back to NRC racing after 3 weeks off the bike makes for extraordinary amounts of suffering.

First race back for me was Cascade Classic -- five days and lots of hills. The prologue was the first hard effort I had done since nationals and it hurt! The next days I would be racing for my teammates which made the suffering worthwhile and a lot more fun. I probably could have sat in the pack and tried to hang on until the finish. But instead, I gave everything I had to make sure moves were made and covered early on to let my stronger teamies save their legs for later in the race. I finished toasted and well behind the pack each day, but got in some good training and watched my teammates dominate in the end with two podiums and a second overall in the GC.

Next up was Charlotte Crit. Home to our national road race champion. The race was fast and furious and hot! My form had improved a bit from Cascade, but I was still in sufferfest mode. The team finished in the top 10 and took a plethora of primes in the process. We had a great support crew from Uptown Cycles and a wonderful team dinner after the race. We also had a chance to venture to Asheville, NC to put on a women's clinic and get in some scenic team riding. Fun times.

My final sufferfest came last week at the Aspen/Snowmass Women's Pro Stage Race. At this point, I had been back on the bike for a while and gaining fitness. I was feeling closer to my normal self and hoping to have a more typical race. Unfortunately, feeling good at sea level does not equate to feeling good 7-9000 feet above sea level! My HR was skyrocketing out of control the first day, my legs boycotted on day two, and my lungs called it quits on day 3. So much for having a normal race.

Hopefully all the suffering off the back will be good practice for suffering off the front in races to come. Often races come down to who can suffer the most. Ouch!

Bike MS

(Fueling up with Terry part way through our MS ride -- all smiles!)

Racing with Now and Novartis for MS has not only been a season of great bike racing, but also an opportunity to learn about MS and spread awareness about the MS community. We don't just spread MS awareness at our bike races, but we also participate in Bike MS rides across the country where we ride tandem or alongside someone who has MS. One fact we want to highlight about the MS community is that MS does not define a person.

This message became real to me when I had the chance to ride in a Bike MS Cleveland event with Terry, who himself has MS. Check out our team blog to hear about my MS ride as well as my teammates rides throughout the country:

http://www.nowcyclingteam.com/index.php/pro-blog/

WIPEooout & Win!

(No blogging lately as I've been dissertating and healing, but both are coming along and it's time for a blog)

Nationals was a big week for NOW and Novartis for MS. We had the full crew except for Anne, our favorite Canadian. Unfortunately those from up north can't participate in US nationals... even if they do live in Colorado.

The racing started off with the TT. It was my first time riding a TT bike and my first time doing more than a 20 minute TT. I used the race as experience and can say I gained a lot. Just getting used to the position of a TT bike is a whole new feeling. It's a little different from my (rather upright) road position. It felt a little funny, but it also felt fast!! and super fun! I might have had too much fun given it was a TT.

Next day was crit day. or crit night to be more precise. The thing about summer evenings in the south is that they are plagued with rainstorms. Really big thunderstorms. It was clear a big one was coming before the race even started! I wish they would have postponed the race and waited until we could ride safely with no torrential storms on the way. Instead, they sent us off racing with pre-race instructions of "if you hear a bell, that means the next lap is the finish." In the end, they gave us a 5 lap warning before the final bell. This was only about 20 or so minutes into the race. So the national championship was determined by a 30 minute race. It was ridiculous and dangerous and in the end, our sprinter was caught up in a crash and off to the hospital with a broken arm. In good news, she is healing fast and expects a speedy return!

The next day was a rest day and then the road race... we were down to 4 people but ready to race hard in the hot hot Georgia sun. The race started with an attack up the first climb that led to a break. We had nobody in it, but we hedged our bets that it was a little early for a break to stick. The rest of the lap was pretty boring as everyone was being patient to start the full on racing. By lap 3, the break was still off the front, but people were ready to race and the gap was closing. There were a number of attacks and the pace was picking up!

Just as the race was getting "fun", a rider came up on me, hooked bars, and wipeout... I keep playing the scenario over in my head.... so many what ifs... but in the end, I was sliding fast along the hot pavement. nothing i could do. I came to a stop and before I knew it our DS was there telling me to take my time. Meanwhile I'm shook up and thinking "where's my bike, can i get up? can i ride?" As I'm trying to assess all the pain signals coming into my brain, i look down and see a gaping hole in my knee full of blood. Eeeew! Luckily I didn't pass out, but I knew the race was over.

I had a long long wait in the ER. I was super bummed not to be racing, sad to be laying in a hospital, anxious to get fixed up, and incredibly annoyed at the stupid heart rate monitor that wouldn't stop beeping because my hr was below 50. My only smile for the day came when I heard the news -- Robin won!!!!! My teammate just won the national championship. I let out a scream - probably the only happy scream of the day in the ER! Check out the jersey:

(note -- this is not Robin... it is her dog)

As for me, the damage ended up being a lot worse than usual. Instead of a little road rash, my whole right side was missing. I ended up being sent to the burn unit to get taken care of. Next morning I was in the OR getting cleaned, stitched, and covered. I came out looking like a mummy. Unfortunately, mummies can't ride bikes :(

Toughin' it in Tulsa

(Anne taking the win for NOW and Novartis for MS)

We had 3 days of crit racing this weekend at the Tulsa Tough. It was an exciting weekend for the team because it was our first time racing with the full squad, and some of our awesome sponsors were down at the races to watch us. Tulsa is always a welcoming venue with an amazing set up and great crowds. But the temps in the 90s sure add to the tough factor!!

Day 1 played out pretty close to plan. The team went out hard with attacks, counter attacks, and more attacks. The race was fast and fun! Eventually we got a break of 4 to go off with our sprinter in the break. Unfortunately another sprinter also got in the break and when it came down to the end she just eeked our rider out for the win. Back in the main field we had a bit of chaos -- with one teamie breaking a wheel and another sprinting a lap early, but Anne was able to pull out a top 10 along with our 2nd place. All in all a good day for our first time racing all together.

Day 2 we set our hopes higher and had a similar game plan -- make the race hard, try to get a break, and if that fails set up the sprint. We went out hard but the course did not suit a breakaway. We ended up wearing ourselves out a bit and instead of moving up the podium, we missed out on it all together. We took the race as a learning experience -- and I think the experience made us all fired up and hungry for a better race on Sunday.

Day 3 ups the "tough" factor with a brutal course. Every lap included a steep little kicker known as "crybaby" hill and the sun came out with sizzling rays. Our team was fired up and ready to go. The fans were also on top of their game with costumes and hoses and lots of energy on top of the hill! The race is one of attrition with people constantly falling off the back... but our team stayed up front and strong throughout the race. We nabbed the first prime... and then the second... and also the third and the fourth. I think we got them all. But with three and a half laps to go, Anne put the icing on the cake with a late race breakaway. She powered away from the field and nobody could follow. She secured us the win and Gokey pulled out a sprint to get a top 5 and take the omnium win for the series! It was a great team effort and a fantastic finish to the weekend.

To top things off, our awesome hosts set up a delicious and relaxing dinner for us after the race. It was the perfect ending to a great weekend.

Off to NVGP!

Phast Philly

(ready to go!)

Made a quick trip to Philly this weekend for the women's Liberty Classic. I was excited to finally race Philly for the first time, as it is a race I've been wanting to compete in for a while now. But what was even more exciting was to be racing for the first time with my new team, NOW and Novartis for MS!

Everything about Philly left me with a smile on my face. The race course and atmosphere are epic. The course starts downtown near the art museum, runs along the river, past boat house row, through old tunnels, down the main street of Manayunk before hitting "the wall" and heading back along the river with detours for Strawberry Hill and Lemon Hill and ending on a fast loop around Logan Circle before a long finish straight. But the best part is that the town comes out in full force to watch and cheer (and drink beer...). They actually know a bike race is going on and crowds are cheering all along the course (this is unusual in the US). There is a roar as you climb up the wall and lemon hill... and it only gets louder every lap. It's awesome!

The race is typically a sprinter's finish and this year was no exception. There was a 1 person break early on, but nothing threatening and everything came back together on the last lap. The final climbs were fast and the finish was even faster. Our team raced well for our first time together and we finished with our sprinter in 7th -- a top ten at a big UCI race! I'm sure things will only go up from here -- we have a strong and cohesive team and one of the best support crews out there!

My favorite part of the day was riding home to our awesome host house. The house is situated right on "the wall" so the only way home was to follow the course. Robin and I made one last trip down main street and started up the wall... since the men's race was still in action, the crowds were out in full force and we got some of the best cheers of the day, including high-fives up the wall! Robin even got a post-race recovery drink from one friendly spectator. Then a motor crew came by to take our picture... then the motos kept on coming... and we realized the men's race was upon us... we had to hammer up the wall and make a jump over the fences to get out of the way fast -- ouch -- that was a hard cooldown ride! But so much fun to be cheered like a champion on a cool down... I almost wanted to go back down the hill and do it again... but pie and ice cream awaited at the host house!!

Next up for the team -- Tulsa!!!

(heading up the wall... don't know where I'm looking)

Goodbye

The call was early. 7am on a Sunday. Sometimes mom forgets I'm on the west coast now. But I was awake and on my way to a race.

The day was calm, cool and sunny -- perfect weather for racing up a mountain. I was excited to try out the new bike, to bury myself up the climb, to hear Aspen cheer me on at the top, and to know I gave it my all at the finish. I love a good, hard race.

Once I heard the news, all I wanted more than anything in the world was to hug my puppy. My 13 year old, sweet, soft-as-can be puppy. The one thing that could make me feel better, I can no longer have.

Tears rolled for half the warm up. I held them back for the start. Perhaps a hard climb could clear the mind. And hard it was... there was no delay in setting a hard pace... even with almost 20 miles of climbing ahead... and 40 more miles to follow. It wasn't long before our big group became a small group.

And the mind wandered -- to my best running buddy ever. Shiloh would know it was play time as soon as I started to think about going for a run. It was hard to get my shoes on with a 50 pound lab jumping in my lap ready to go. Then there were days I couldn't take her running... I had to close the door on sad puppy eyes and see her sit in the window wishing she could be outside. But, she was forgiving and stood ready to kiss the sweat off when I came home. She never held a grudge. Even when I left for school and beyond and would stay away for months at a time... she was still my best friend when I returned home. You really can't get a better welcome home than a Shiloh greeting.

The race was not for me today. Breathing becomes a challenge when your chest wells up with emotions. I kind of knew at the start that it would be hard to put my focus into racing... but I would second guess myself if I didn't try. It was a beautiful ride for reminiscing though.

Shiloh was the puppy I always wanted. We had a dog when I was young, but I never got to raise her. Or teach her tricks. Shiloh was my puppy. I picked her out when I was in high school. I taught her how to shake, rollover, and even recycle. She loved the biscuit guessing game and could usually tell you which hand the biscuit was in. She didn't love the balance the biscuit on the nose game, but she would put up with it for the tasty reward she got when I said "ok" and she flicked her nose to catch the biscuit in the air. She was a smart girl.

It was good to be outside... pedaling smoothly up the meandering road, covered with the dancing shadows of trees above. Wispy clouds moving along the horizon. A big dose of sunshine spreading down rays.

I love soft things. Always have since I was little. Soft covers, soft pajamas, soft stuffed animals. Soft puppies! Shiloh was a soft puppy for sure. Most labs grow out of their puppy fur. Shiloh didn't. She remained puppy soft throughout her life. She may have gotten softer with old age. Maybe from all the pets.

Tears started rolling as I climbed away.

I knew her time was close. I thought I had at least one more visit... one more shiloh greeting... one more shiloh hug. She had a good life. She was loved... maybe as much as she gave back. Shiloh was ready. I don't need to cry for her. Most of my tears are selfish tears... sad that I can't go home and give my Shiloh one more hug.

I was no longer racing to the finish, or the top for that matter. Just racing to somewhere near the top to find Aspen so I could get an Aspen hug. It would have to do.

The tears will stop. The good memories will replace them. And I will always carry a big hug for Shiloh in my heart.

World MS Day

Here is some good viewing for World MS Day:

From this morning:

'Amazing Race' Host Raising Money To Combat Multiple Sclerosis: "'Amazing Race' host Phil Keoghan is getting on his bike once again to help raise money to combat multiple sclerosis. Rick Garcia reports."

And from yesterday:

Check our team page to find out more about MS: nowcyclingteam.com.

Back to Blogging

Sorry Mom and Dad (and Seth) for my lack of blogging. It is hard to blog when you are excited about your team, but can't share the details. Fortunately, our team was announced today!! I will be riding for NOW and Novartis for MS. It is an exciting opportunity for me to race my bike while at the same time spreading awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. To learn a little more about our team, MS, and our sponsors, NOW and Novartis, visit nowcyclingteam.com. First race -- Philly!!

Bike Break

Took a little time off the bike over the holidays. Hard to imagine with no cycling, but I did have a good little holiday break...

Ventured out to Joshua Tree National Park...

(good morning!)

Saw some cool rock piles...

And nifty looking plants (dad what is this??)...

I became a tree hugger...

Aspen became a rock climber!

Then we headed west to meet up with our friend Mickey! I had never been to Mickey's hometown before!!! (devon=deprived child)

We hung out with Mickey a bit...

Took a roller coaster ride with Dumbo...

And then I showed off my muscles to Mr. Incredible (you can see he is looking jealous)!