AVC Race Report

Due to unforeseen circumstances - I may or may not have been out too late on the bike -I missed pre-reg for the AVC road race (formerly known as the All American road race). I saw some of my favs were signed up, including two teammates, and decided I would roll out to Poolesville and pay the day-of fee.

The skies were ominous as I rolled out Saturday morning. On the drive up I got a message from one teammate saying she was out - it was storming at her place and loading up in the rain, much less racing in the rain, wasn't on her to-do list. Oh, and by the way, this is a different course than the one I know since I didn't race last year.

Arriving at the race venue I found the Shaggin' Wagon and pulled in to assess the conditions. Dana and I were of the same opinion regarding racing in the rain on this course. As in, not. It was legitimately raining by this point and I was signed off - I could just drive home and call it a day having sacrificed only a little time and gas money. About 20 minutes before start time, the skies cleared. The sun came out. And I cursed as I rushed through registration, setting up the bike, donning  the Colavita colors and pinning on a number. That, my friends, was my warm up.

We had a nice field (by current MABRA women's field standards) and I wasn't in great position on the roll out. The infamous yellow-line rule was in effect so I packed my patience as I worked my way up to a better spot. Despite (or maybe because of) my hectic "warm up" I felt pretty good and cleared the Mt. Nebo stretch in decent position even when I audibly said "another one?" on the last bump.  Approaching that section on the second lap we were directed to "slow roll" as another field was about to pass. I was surprised how this confused some in the peloton and that a couple girls thought it was the right time to gain position. Not cool.

The next lap was a little more contentious. I think some of us (me included) were getting toasty as the sun was out in full force after a cool morning under clouds. Racers were getting aggressive, fighting for wheels in limited space and coming up on the yellow line to shove their way on a wheel by pushing someone off the wheel into a spot that didn't exist. I admittedly had some words to say when this happened to me - I wasn't a complete jerk but I do tend to be ... less friendly ... when someone risks my safety without so much as a - hey, can I get in? When we organized a pace line of sorts I asked someone to let me in (in front of them) so I could take a pull. I got a smart-ass answer saying I could go to the back of the line. Fun.

Best moment of the race - one of the Mermaid girls was off the front on maybe the 3rd lap. NCVC and ABRT jumped to chase and somehow I hopped on. We had a gap on the field and were gaining on the girl ahead until they decided to stop working. I had one teammate in the field, both of them had at least 3. I muttered we're letting her get away and got a raving earful about how she's not going to be the one to chase, if someone else wanted to, go ahead but it won't be her. Then they looked back at the field that was catching us and shouted for someone else to go chase. There was nothing for me to do but laugh.

The field eventually came through and the pace picked up enough to catch the solo rider. My legs were getting tired on the last lap and I attacked off the back at the 3rd "bump" on Mt. Nebo. I chased the whole back side of the course. At one point I picked up two girls and when I pulled off the front they left me behind. I DEFINITELY was not having that. Sheer obstinance kicked in and I chased harder, picked off the two girls and made contact with the field before the final turn. As the pace picked up for the sprint I gave it all I had to come across 13th. After a good cool down ride with some great ladies I was glad I pinned on that number and stupid happy for what I felt was a good effort all around.

Progress - all progress.

TGIF: 4.28.17

I planned on re-entering the race scene with the shock-therapy of a two race weekend. Route One Rampage was in the books - somewhat of a success if only to show up, race my race and not wind up in the ER.

I left the race in a hurry to join my sister-from-another-mister and her family to color eggs. This has been their family tradition and I was thrilled to be included in the fun. A few hours later I headed home to empty out the race bag and replenish my kit and other supplies for Sunday's Jeff Cup adventure. If you saw my facebook post you know how that turned out.Long story short, My two-race weekend was relegated to one race and sitting on James Madison Highway for about 4 1/2 hours with a flat tire.

Onward: Carl Dolan. What a fantastic day to be on the bike! DC Velo ordered up some amazing weather and most everyone was happy to take part in the racing or spectating. Our women's field was fairly large (for recent standards). I was still on my aluminum CAAD but made the choice to fly my zipp 303s - this is progress, people! Colavita had a nice showing with 3 of us in the 1-2-3 race and one in the 4/5 race. It was great to be out there with teammies!

At the whistle Artemis attacked. We chased a lap or so and kept a solid pace from there. I stayed in the top 5 or so most of the race and tried to be smart; I didn't chase everything that moved. I let my bike take me through "the" corner without hesitation and the"hill" wasn't an issue.

Tulips on the way to HP

I was in a decent position taking the final turn into the hill but  my legs (and possibly my brain) disagreed with my ambition. I drifted back while encouraging teammates Marni and Chris as they came up on me. Chris gave me a run for the money with a final sprint. If not for that, we might have crossed the line holding hands for, what - 13th and 14th?

Random pics - tulips and more tulips, my first attempt at gardening in a while, wildlife and, finally, the PC way to alert you of speed bumps. 

Marine Corps Memorial Tulips

Planting in my side yard

Wildlife

Speed Coushions

Race Report - Route One Rampage

This is a little past due but better late than never. After almost a year off the racing-scene I finally pinned on a number to participate in the Route One Rampage. It was a last minute call; I rode HED training wheels complete with well used Gatorskins on my aluminum CAAD and even forgot gloves. Clearly I was not in it to win it, it was more of a let's-get-back-in-it. 

While the race is billed as a criterium I will quote a former teammate (Dano!) in saying this is NOT a proper-crit. As in, half the course is a hill of some form or the other. On my preview  ride my inside voice had this conversation:

Start line into a wide right turn. Pedestrians are an issue but the road guards seem to be managing the situation.  Clear the turn and - oh- this must be the hill. Just kind of a gradual grade, nothing too hard. I don't know what everyone is talking about. 

Hard right turn into - OH. THIS is the hill. &*^%. We're doing this how many times? 

I should have brought lighter wheels. Maybe I shouldn't have had breakfast. Oh yay, rewarded with a fun downhill. What the?? Speedbumps on the downhill? Brakes!... kind of a tight turn into the construction zone. Nice long drag to the finish, then back to the hills. 

 It was a very small womens field; 11? maybe? At the start line we were asked if we wanted to go the full 60min or take it down to 45min. There was unanimous agreement for to 45min and off we went. The first few laps were fairly civilized. Then on an attack up with "real" hill I did the greyhound-rabbit thing - chasing what moved and forgetting that I haven't regained the legs to match my ambition. About 3/4 of the way up the hill in full-on chase the wheels fell off the wagon. I drifted through the pack (in the wrong direction) and found myself chasing with one girl ahead of me and Artemis hanging on my wheel. I chased about half a lap and caught the one ahead - letting up a pedal stroke to let Artemis pull though and - wait - what? Instead of pulling through, she accelerated. It wasn't a huge attack but definitely a -thank you very much for the pull but I'll be going now. 


THANK YOU to the fantastic woman on the sideline near the s/f line. She kept shouting for Colavita to keep going, you're catching her, you got this! Every. Single. Lap. And I was catching her. And I was NOT going to give up. Call this my little race after relegating myself out of the real race. 

I did catch her, and the Colativa cheerer sounded almost as vindicated as I felt. Artemis tried to sit on my wheel again and, using my outside voice, I said oh, no. You did that to me once, it's not happening again. I felt very silly but so faux pro weaving left and right on the gradual hill to ensure there was no benefit given. We got to the hill and I picked up the pace as hard as I could. When I came through the finishing stretch the woman on the sidelines announced that I had dropped Artemis. The race wasn't over, though. I picked up an ABRT rider with a lap or two to go. Initially I wasn't going to let her sit on my wheel either (I was jaded, what can I say) but I wound up taking her in with me to the finish line. 

I guess that wasn't a short synopsis but that's how I saw the race. I went in with no expectations but found some of my old -oh-hell-no attitude and even a little spark of remembering why I love this masochistic sport.

Thanks to the UMD cycling team for hosting the races and thanks to Dominion Cycling Photography for the fun photos!

Rambles for a Monday

So here we are. It's my least favorite time of year; the dregs of winter. It seems like spring should be right around the corner. I'm sorry to be a debbie-downer but ... it's not. It's not super cold but it's cold. I dislike being cold. Almost as much as I dislike the overuse of the word "epic". Almost.

In related news, my new house has a garage. I feel like I won the lottery. My car is not exposed to the elements and it's marginally warmer in the mornings than it would be sitting outside. I don't have to worry about these silly strong winds blowing someone's yard furniture on it. The downside is I don't get the free "poor man's car wash" when it rains. Don't pretend you don't know what I mean.

Anyway, the move is complete. I found my scissors. And a myriad of other "lost" items despite myself. There's tons to do in the house but holding an open house at the end of January was a good incentive to finish unpacking those boxes in the dining room and even hang some artwork. My home feels like a home now!

https://thesufferfest.com/pages/app

My one challenge right now is finding places to ride. I was spoiled living in Clarendon as I could ride out of the house with more than a couple options. I can't even figure out a safe commute to Shirlington from Cameron Station right now. Obviously it wasn't a deal-killer but if anyone has suggestions I'd be grateful.

The lack of riding options isn't super important for the next week or so; I've started the Tour of Sufferlandria at the suggestion of my coach. I'm doing it on the rollers which presented some trouble initially; I thank my little bumpers on the e-motion rollers as I found myself steering in the direction the riders on the screen were going.

That's all I have for now ... as I mentioned in the facebook post ... Nothing special here.