Blogs by Professional Cyclists - Professional Cycling Unplugged™

If only that were a good thing!  Sea Otter was unusually warm.  Although the car was showing 86 degrees on the way to the venue, on the predominantly shadeless course they were seeing lots of 100’s.   It was so warm that the normally long race (2 x 18mile laps) was reduced to 1 lap for the women and 1.5 for the men.  That meant that my strategy went from being patient to wanting to pin it for the sub 1.5hr race.  After my typical slow start the day before, my manager Waldek put $50 on the first corner off the start if I could be the first rider there.  The camera men …and other riders were caught a little off guard with my charge off the line in what is usually a pretty sedated start along the paved track.

Once we hit dirt though the real racing began with a fairly large group at the front switching it up along the undulating double track road.  Into the first Descent I was sitting 4^th wheel until Katerina came flying round the inside of the corner and took over the lead from Georgia and they pulled away from the rest of us.  The descent was beautifully fast winding singletrack followed by a similar climb.  By mid climb I had worked my way up to 2^nd with some passing difficulty, but Georgia had a good gap by this point.  Ideally I would have bridged up to her, but when I tried to dig for that sweet climbing groove I couldn’t find it.  By the top of the next climb Lena Byberg, Katerina and Kelli were still with me and Georgia was still in sight, but off the front.

Across the flat however Lena and I pulled away and the race order for the day was established.  I felt so lucky to have Lena to ride with and be able to focus on something other than how bad your body feels at 100 degrees and how mentally tough Georgia was to hold that pace up front solo.  I had my attacking point decided and was starting to get some life back near the finish.  I attacked on the last climb, but it wasn’t hard enough and Lena came by me to nab first line into the single track.  I tried to get around on a fast corner, but came up a bit short so had to chase her into the finish coming up short with my second third place of the weekend.

That night we celebrated a successful weekend over Thai food in Monterey where you can get a kick ass pumpkin curry.  I then flew home to Kamloops for two days and two rides with my husband Keith before heading to the airport and Europe. 

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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Posted under MTB: ENDURANCE, SEA OTTER CLASSIC

Ahh Sea Otter, it’s been a while.  Unlike the majority of Pro racers out there I have been to Sea Otter a relatively few times; 2003, 2005 and now 2009.  Being here as part of the Luna/ClifBar team means it’s more than just racing, it’s about visiting with our sponsors, parties and getting everything dialled for a great season.

Unlike 2005 where I went through a set of brake pads a race and spent a large portion of the Short track running through mud or averting the wheel enveloping mud bogs this year the sun was shinning, the course was dry and dusty and the riders were looking for ways to stay cool.

The short track was a fairly short loop with 1 climb, a long rough singletrack piece and a couple tight corners. As per usual the race was off and I was having girls stream by me.  Heather Irmiger and my teammate Georgia got off the front and Chloe, Katerina and I made our way into the top 10. It was a tricky course to move up on as passing on the singletrack was no easy feat, but about 4 laps in I surprised my self by working up to the lead two girls.  I should have been more patient, but I’m not really good at that so I went to the front for the climb.  At the top my coach told me the girls behind me were redlined.  I didn’t want to go only 12 minutes in, but thought I should take advantage of the situation.  I got off the front by a couple seconds and felt good.  A chase group of heather Irmiger, Emily Batty and Lene Byberg had formed behind me and for 3.5 laps chased me down.  On last lap Emily did an excellent sling shot out of the group with Lene on her wheel and got onto the single track ahead of me.  Juiced from the climb it was amazing how horrible I felt trying to keep it together across the rough singletrack and at some point, which I honestly don’t remember, Lene also got by.  It was now my time to chase, but there wasn’t enough track left and I rode in for 3^rd.   Heather Irmiger was in the mix all day and got great footage on her helmet cam that you can watch at cyclingdirt.org

I just got a text that women are only doing one lap of the 18 mile xc course so it’s going to be fast and hard out there today.

(6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted under MTB: ENDURANCE, SEA OTTER CLASSIC

So this year I pulled off a first. I actually won my first mtb race of the year.  The Canadian National team flew into Santiago Chile March 17^th for the Pan American Continental Championships.  We were a bit surprised to find that the organization was housing us at 3000m when we were racing at 1000m.   Our house was 40 switchbacks up the mountain.  We weren’t stoked to be staying so high up, but we lucked out with the view and having two great Chilean care takers to prep all our meals for us!

The course was surprisingly technical with its steep, loose rutted descents and single track climbs.  Although it seemed we were out in the middle of nowhere a huge group of Chileans showed up to line the course.  Race day was one of those days where you wake up feeling great and when it comes time to racing your legs just carry you further.  I like those days.

After the Americans set a hard pace from the gun I was able to take over and slowly extend my gap throughout the race to claim the Pan am title.  My teammate Georgia Gould was 2nd and third place went to Heather Irmiger.

Just as I was feeling sharp and in my element in Chile though, Georgia ruled the day at the first US cup in Fontana California.   We flew into the area the morning of the race coming directly from the Luna team camp and summit.  4:30 am wakeup and travel aside I was feeling pretty darn good physically.  Georgia and I started into a back and forth battle where I’d move to the front on the climbs and she’d reel me in on the descents and flat sections.  Finally Georgia was able to snap the chain and pull away from me for the win.

That night we drove back toward San Francisco and I felt my life as a bike racer had really begun.  Lots of time on the road and in airports!

Tomorrow 3 of the 4 people living at my house head off to the Sea Otter Classic.  My unlucky husband gets to stay home and make money!

(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted under MTB: ENDURANCE, SEA OTTER CLASSIC

 When the hotel shuttle driver drove into an area of what appeared to be abandoned warehouses I wasn’t sure what to expect of Ray’s indoor mtb park, but as I stepped inside I was floored!  This place is amazing.  It is a seemingly endless park full of pump tracks, berms, ramps, teeter totters (sp?), jumps and technical lines.   Walking in I was definitely a little intimidated by all the baggy shorts and skilled riders, but luckily a friend Tim was there to take me on a lap of the park.

 I flew in Friday night arriving at the park at 7pm…without my bike. The last time I saw it was as I put it through customs and got the thumbs up.  Well thumbs down for the no show.

 I entered the park on a bike borrowed from Ray.   Thanks Ray! So way wider bars, different brakes and shifters, sneakers and flats and of course my spandex I headed into the park.  It only took a couple runs to forget that I might look out of place and get totally absorbed in the Park.   I was smiling like the kid on the playground I was.   None of the riders had attitude, they were all just there to hang out and have a good time.

Emily, Me and Judy

I got in a couple runs that night and headed back to the hotel to hang out with the other girls and hope my bike would show.  No luck.  At 10 am the next morning the airlines still had no clue where it was.  This is my Olympic bike no less.

 What can you do, but borrow shoes and some spd pedals to be a bit more comfortable and go race the borrowed bike?  We got in some more runs in the am and then it was time to race! 

 The race was a TT.  If we fell off a technical line we were penalized 15 seconds.  Judy Freeman was up first and pulled off a fast 9 min 41 over the 4 lap and 7 technical line course.  No dabs.  I was up next.  First lap was good and I started feeling it.  Heading into the technical lines you had to bring back your heart rate and focus for the skinnies.  Clean.  Another couple laps and skinnies and it’s all going well.  I head into last lap and I hear there’s a 2 second difference between Judy and I.  Not sure in who’s favour.  I clean the last technical line with a grin and head out for the final lap.  All’s good till an innocuous corner going into a ramp and I get distracted and dab.  Gotta giver now.  I cross the finish 1 second behind.  Darn!

 Next up is Melissa Thomas.  She cleans it, but is a ways off our times.  Lindsay bishop puts out another clean run.  Everyone’s riding so well!  Emily Batty is last up and looking good.  She’s flying and shaving seconds off of Judy and I each lap.  Then on line 4 she flies off course, grabs her bike and is back on…and still 1 second ahead after the penalty!   She burns off another hot lap and takes the win in a time of 9.36 and $1200 first prize!

Triflow was the major sponsor and Ray arranged for great prize purses all to be paid in $1 bills.  So we each got a stack of cash and a cool trophy.  Mountain Bike action was there and got lots of great shots so keep an eye out for an upcoming article!  

 Long story short you gotta come ride this place whatever your ability level!  You’ll have a blast, won’t get any attitude and will come out able to pump your bike better, catch air and ride tricky lines with confidence.

Lindsey takes the elevator

 Saturday night and Sunday were all about having fun with a big dinner out and then getting Jimmy and John from MTB action and photographer Ron sellers out riding.  Putting their equipment away, they joined us for a day of riding.  It was a wicked event.

 Special note: Ohio area women you have to get to Ladies weekend!  Feb 20 the park is shut down for just women.  Last year they got 300!  The rest of the weekend is half price and bike rentals are just $10.  You won’t regret it.  In fact I think you’ll all love it!

(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)

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Posted under MTB: ENDURANCE, ROAD BIKE

 But I thought I’d give it a go.  Three years ago, 1 season of skate skiing under my belt and 4 days of classic skiing, my husband Keith and I decided to enter a pursuit loppet ski race.   The race started with 15km of classic skiing, a quick ski swap and then 15km of skate skiing.   I was sore for a week.

 We vowed to actually learn how to ski well before entering another ski race.  Three years later, the memory of that loppett and the pain it entailed where hazy enough in our memories to give it another go.  We signed up for the same loppet, now with 4 seasons of skiing, but with the added pressure of being an Olympian. I should be fast right?  I scoured my closet for my least auspicious racing clothes, a tough battle in a closet full of nice flashy race kits.

 The 5 am wakeup signalled the start of an adventure.  A slightly sketchy drive, with a bit of sliding on black ice and we were in Kelowna at the Telemark Nordic centre.

 This time round rather than eyeing up the 60+ or overweight crowd as my competition and feeling petrified I looked around for the fast looking girls, just in case.  I found a couple decked out in skinsuits, one from the New Zealand National team.  Hmmm.  Didn’t expect that, but does that really alter today’s outcome? Let’s be realistic here.  We had goals.  Keith’s was to not finish last …by as much and mine was to move up from 3^rd last and actually be able to train the next week.

 We lined up for the start on our classic skis.  The gun goes and we’re off.  Up the first climb people are out of the tracks and running up the hill –yes running – full tilt. Dang people can start hard!   Feeling confident in my ability to push myself harder than most people can without blowing I just kept pushing the pace and could actually see one of the skinsuit clad women!  The tucking advice Keith had given me, combined with an mtb racer mentality helped me pick off people on the descents.  The long climb helped me find my stride and push my fitness.  A couple tight turns, a bit of an exciting  crash, more turns and at just over an hour, after a fierce double poling battle with an older gentleman I was entering the transition area to swap boots, skis and hopefully some fluids.  The hole grasping a bottle with poles strapped on is a skill that evades me.  (Feel free to leave pointers for me!)

 I was in 3^rd with no clue how far ahead the two skinsuitted racers were as I headed out onto the skate portion.  Keith was close behind me.  The conditions were good, but the traffic ahead of me had left big scars on the steep climbs.  On some we resorted to a glorified herring bone.

 I chased the idea that women were close ahead and soon enough I was coming across other racers, picking off some guys and then, yes, that orange skin suit is one of the women.  And I was gaining on her.   Another woman, one of the relay racers, was between us and I was able to pace off her to reel in the skinsuited girl –see this is why I didn’t want auspicious clothes, you’re too much of a target!  Now in second I ventured to attempt eating and drinking.  Slowly but surely I downed some Luna sport and cliff shots to prevent fading and stayed upright in the process.  Hard to the finish and I was able to claim 2^nd on the day, a solid 10 minutes off the kiwi.

Didn’t get any pictures but check out this ski video.  Super hilarious.  I didn’t look like them on the climbs, but maybe at the finish

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc8ppRiobus‏

 Keith and I both met our goals, he wasn’t even last and had an epic battle with the winner of the 70+ category –which he proudly won by launching a punishing attach as he jokes the other man had to adjust his pacemaker.

 Loppet organizers know how to hold an event.  There was a great community feel at the free chilli and soup lunch with loads of homemade cookies was well received.

 Next up the Triflow indoor xc challenge at Ray’s mtb park in Cleavland Ohio.  Yes that’s right I’m racing my mountain bike in a warehouse. Should be interesting.  Stay tuned!

(3 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Posted under MTB: ENDURANCE, NON-BIKE, ROAD BIKE