Cross is Here!

It's my absolutely all time favorite time of the year!

Cross always goes by quickly and then I spend months and months longing for it to start again and after waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting... it somehow sneaks up fast and woah -- it's cross season!!!

This year started off with a fun filled weekend up in Seattle for the Starcrossed and Rad Racing NATC races. The conditions were wet, muddy, and perfect for cyclocross! The weekend began with Starcrossed under the lights and surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd. I went into the race feeling a bit rusty and still a bit exhausted from the previous weeks (who knew weddings were so tiring?), but I was also very excited to be racing cross and energized to be back on the knobby tires. I was hoping to squeak into the top 10 and snag a UCI point or two and was shocked when I found myself racing for a top 5 spot. My body was a bit shocked too and by the last lap I faded into 6th, but I was happy with the finish in such a strong field of women.

The next day brought more mud, torrential downpours, and sand -- more cx fun! I got off to a much better start than the first race and was up in the top 5 from the very beginning. Even after a dive in the sand (this is not the ideal way to dismount) I was hanging in there near the front. I was also having a ton of fun getting muddy and being back on the cross bike! In the end I struggled to hang on in the last lap, but finished one place better in 5th! Overall a fun start to the cross season -- I can't wait for more!!

Next up, I'm headed to madison with my bro for the first USGP races -- Mad Cross always puts on a great race -- I can't wait!

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)

Above the Clouds

Not a lot of racing lately, but lots of good riding...

The other day I climbed Old La Honda early in the morning and found myself above the clouds!

(Clouds not Snow)

Today was another beautiful ride along the coast to a pretty view along the coastal cliffs:

(pretty pretty)

(Aspen is checking it out)

Santa Cruz Riding

The roads are smiling...

(on 1)

(on 9)

(on high)

I love the road art!

LiveSTRONG Challenge

(the wall)

I rode the LiveSTRONG 100, San Jose yesterday... with many people passed and present in my thoughts. It was inspiring to see so many riders who were survivors of the disease and to see many others out supporting or remembering friends and loved ones. Cancer reminds us that life is precious and can't be taken for granted -- got to get out there and enjoy it. What better way than to ride along scenic roads with friends on a beautiful day.

The 4th

After a month spent between Tulsa, D.C., Reno, and Bend, it was nice to have a weekend at home. I was able to get out on the Santa Cruz Harbor Ride on Saturday which I've been wanting to check out for quite some time. I don't know the full history on the ride, but I know it has been around for a long time, since before I was even born I believe. It starts out at the harbor in Santa Cruz and then winds along the coast making its way towards Aptos. The ride begins with a small group of riders and along the way more and more people join the crew until it swells to nearly 100 riders (on a big day). The pace is pretty mellow until leaving Aptos and then the ride picks up here and there with sprint points, rollers, and a climb up Hazel Dell -- it gets fun when the pace gets fast! In between the hot spots, the ride mellows out, regroups, and allows for a bit of socializing along the way. It was a nice chance to meet a few people from the local cycling community. While I've lived in Santa Cruz for months now, I still feel new to the area and haven't met a lot of locals since I'm often gone to all sorts of far away places.

On Sunday, Aspen and I ventured out to Davis for the 4th of July Criterium. I didn't have teammates to race with, but I had a super duper support crew composed of Aspen and the Tibco II team. The course was a flat L-shaped loop through a downtown bustling with 4th of July festivities. The pace was high and there were quite a few attacks, but nothing stuck for long. It was a hot one and I believe everyone was melting by the end... I sure was. I made the mistake of looking at my heart rate during a lull in the race only to find that it was exceeding my usual max! With 2 laps to go, I was ready to pull out and find water, but I had a good position and an awesome cheering squad so I pedaled on. The race came down to a field sprint and I decided my best bet was to go early. Unfortunately somebody beat me to it and sprinted into the second to last corner. I went after it and got to her wheel after the next turn into the finishing straight. Then I put my head down and gave my best shot at a sprint. I was coming around into the lead right as the finish line approached. Was it too late? I was exhausted, cross-eyed, and unsure of the outcome. It was only during my cool down lap that a friend informed me I won! It was a happy 4th of July.