A Solo Trip Down South

While the team was busy contending the SFU Kremese last weekend, I took a trip down south starting in Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday and ending in Somerville, New Jersey on Monday. The plan was to contest 3 NRC (National Racing Calendar - USA) criteriums, in four days, situated approximately 800km from first venue to last. I was guest riding with Vitesse, a US team, the sole other rider being Nicky Wangsgard, an accomplished sprinter from down south. I wasn't sure what to expect going into the races as it was my first big US race of the year, but I was pleasantly surprised. On Friday night, I soon became comfortable in the pack and took a go at an attack - the big teams weren't all that interested and let me go - unfortunately no one was interested and I hung out in front by myself for a couple of laps and then was reeled in. While it didn't really seem like much, being able to be aggressive let me get my feet underneath me and really set the tone for a successful weekend of racing. As the race wound down I was feeling the heat (36 degrees + every day - which is REALLY hot when the race I did the weekend before finished in 11 degrees and pissing rain!) and when they called a "gambler's prime" with one to go, I decided to go for it. Unfortunately I was taken at the line by Catherine Powers (Aaron's Furniture Professional Cycling Team), but it positioned me well (albeit at a heart rate of 203) for the final lap where I just held on for dear life and finished in 12th position - but Nicky got 3rd!
Immediately after the race we jumped in the van for a 6 hour excusion up to Baltimore ending at 3am- lovely city by the way...wouldn't recommend walking around after dark.... Our race on Saturday was a large loop through a city park that didn't really boast corners so much as two chicanes and a 100m short incline to the finish line. Cheerwine was firing on all cylinders after a 1,2 placing the day before by Laura Van Guilder and Kelly Benjamin, but there were numerous other big teams in contention as 90 girls took to the line. The race was again aggressive without anything threatening getting away - mostly as the course did not lend itself to that type of racing. About halfway through a prime was called and as we rounded the final turn I could feel that the enthusiasm was a little lacklustre. I drew even with the front of the pack and realized that no one was watching me, so I decided to go for it. Again, it was Catherine Powers of Aarons that challenged me for the prime, but this time I took the better of her - at the time I wasn't sure what the prime was for - but I am now the owner of Aveda hair products...so that was fun! After the prime, four of us distanced ourselves from the pack being myself, Catherine, Sarah Uhl (Cheerwine) and a Targettraining rider - the numbers were decent and I thought we might have a chance. Unfortunately I was also cooked from the sprint and we were gobbled up pretty quick. Coming through with one lap to go, I was in great position - about 5th wheel in a strung out pack. As we rounded the bend to the bottom of the course you could hear the mass confusion of the leadout trains desperately trying to get organized. Nothing seemed to work and the pack swarmed with about 800m to go. I tried to keep my cool and followed wheels through the chicane (although one cantankerous lady decided to push me into the gravel - on purpose - with abou 400m to go). My experience from the lap earlier told me that the right hand side of the sprint would open up so I followed wheels and in fact the road did open up and I sprinted home to 8th place. Van Guilder took the win ahead of Kate Bates (current World Points Race Champion - T-Mobile) and Theresa Cliff-Ryan (current US crit Champ - Verducci Breakaway).
Going into the final day - the Tour of Somerville - I was pretty happy with how things had been going. I was excited for another day of fun racing and it didn't disappoint. In the early stages, I found myself out front in a small group contesting primes. I wasn't there necessarily on purpose, but I followed wheels and ended up out front. On the first one I was outgunned, but I ended up taking a mid-point prime (I found out later it was a points prime...) which allowed me to become acquainted with the LONG (800m) finishing straight. Things continued to be aggressive with another 90 girls showing up to race on the US holiday Monday and with 3 laps to go, I decided to sit in and rest up the legs. On the final lap, the field started to get antsy. I knew that it was going to be a finish of patience, but I was happy to be in front of a small crash that occured about 900m out from the finish about 3/4 of the way back in the pack. As we came onto the final straight I was trying to fight for a wheel, but apparently not being all the successful as my friend Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) very kindly suggested to me that I might want to find a wheel. I followed her up to the front and quickly moved behind the front girl in the Colavita train as to stay on the outside of the pack. With about 300m to go I heard "Go Jenny" from behind assuming that it was Nicky wanting me to lead her out. I jumped and got on top of the gear. I looked over to my left and could see Kate Bates out of the corner of my eye just before Cliff-Ryan shot by. I stood up to punch it again in a bigger gear and sadly enough was waiting for people to come by. To my left I could see that Bates wasn't really taking any ground out of me and when I passed the crosswalk about 10m from the finish, I couldn't believe that I was still out in the wind. I crossed the line in pure amazement - I had just podiumed at an NRC! After spinning around for about half a lap with wide eyes muttering things to myself, things started to register - unfortunately I needed to be at the airport ASAP! I politely asked the podium people to get it done as fast as possible and went to pack up my bicycle. The podium was super cool and I'm still waiting to get pictures...
The whole experience was great - as you might be able to tell by my lack of ability to make this concise. It was really great to see what we are doing is preparing for the next level. I really do feel that I was able to better read the race due to the way that we have been racing and without a doubt the fitness that I've gained has been invaluable as well. The only thing missing on Monday was my team! I wish that you all could have been down there to celebrate with me - this team ROCKS! Thanks for all your support girls - I mean it when I say I couldn't have done it without you!

The Final Fix

The last of the Quebec based Canada Cup races came and went last Saturday. For this race, I’ll start at the beginning of the week because it was by far the favourite location and race for most.

Mont Tremblant Quebec is located approximately 2 hours outside of Montreal...no idea what direction! It’s kinda like a Whistler of the East. My crew arrived Sunday afternoon after watching the downhill at Bromont. After a delicious dinner of beef fajitias we fell asleep, happy and contented to be in Tremblant.

I woke up early the next morning as I slept on the pull out couch and it was PRETTTYYY uncomfortable! So my ride started at around 7:20AM. It was such a cool ride, I just kept riding this old road out to a little village outside of Tremblant, climbing up different ski hill “braps” on my way. The next day I rode to the top of the Tremblant ski mountain which was AMAZING. It was such a good climb. STEEP and lasted for about an hour. I followed the service road u and all along the road there were millions of trails BUT they were banned to cyclists as the residence there didn't want the mountain to accommodate cyclists!?! The top of the mountain was amazing, so high and sunny. The hills seemed to roll out in front of me like throw rugs. I took a billion pictures!

Wednesday the course finally opened for the one time a year cyclists were allowed to ride Tremblant trails and I took full advantage. I trained really hard on the trails to try and get a good feel for the course. It was sooooo cool. It started on a climb, logging road climb, and then ducked into a technical single track up hill. I had done tons of training runs on the course with the Manitoba girls and I felt confidant going into the race...not to mention the triple brew coffee I was fed before the race. Literally I was shaking. It was INSANE. I’m making it a race ritual! So anyways, Me and crazy frenchie (Adrienne Pichette) got the whole shot at the start of the race despite my shitty starting position (due to the Bromont disaster) and I followed her wheel off the start until the single track where she started to fumble. I passed her for a little while, but basically Adrienne lead the entire race. Second lap came around and I was right with Adrienne still, I got so excited! Given’er up the climb she seemed to be fading, but we remained tight. When the downhill came along I wanted to just soar. But, to my surprise I didn't have any front brakes. The entire brake pad system had FALLEN OUT! I was screwed. I did what I could with a back brake only, but basically lost a lot of time and confidence going down. I got passed by another crazy french girl on the third lap downhill and finished third. I was so ridiculously stoked! It was soooo much fun! Definitely one of the best races of my life.

After the race my boyfriend, Eric, and his parents took me out for an amazing, fancy dinner at the Fairmont hotel. It was WICKED. Sipping on New Zealand white wine, feasting on lobster and an amazing asian buffet we left full and with a successful glow.

BC Cup #3 SFU

Another BC Cup race under our belts! This was a great course, spectator friendly, a couple of good climbs and a nice descent that was just long enough to allow the stragglers to catch back on. Unfortunately Team Giant didn't have there best race due to some sickness and unexpected asthma attacks, however, we still managed to give it our all and took third spot on the podium. The race started with a neutral descent which kept the group all together before the climbing began. I (Leah) set a steady pace the first lap trying to test out the field and see who had their climbing legs. Most of the pack stayed together. It wasn't until the next lap that the group was shattered. Claire attacked on the second lap up the climb and Leah Goldstein and Allison Testroete chased her down forming a gap from the main group. Unfortunately, I wasn't positioned very well and got boxed in as I watched the two girls get away. Claire came back into the chase pack and I started to chase the two girls down. Unfortunately, everyone else seemed to be happy to sit on my wheel and let me do all the work. Finally, two girls decided to start to take a pull, but it was too late. Leah Goldstein was out of sight, however, Allison fell back into the chase pack that included me and Claire. I made a couple of attempts to initiate a break, however, the descent kept bringing people back together. On the last lap, the group was somewhat diminished and my main competitors, Allison and Marnie, were at my side as we were closely approaching the finish line. Thanks to Jeremy, I was given directions up the last short climb towards the finish line. I was out front and feeling confident that second was in the bag, however, Allison came shooting past me at the line and left me to take third. It was a learning experience at its best, next time I will remember to shift to the BIG RING!!! Overall, it was a good race and a good learning experience. I am very excited for next weekend- Provincials!!! The Giant girls will be out in good form and ready to do what they do best- RACE!

Enumclaw RR

The final stage of the weekend featured a road race that topped off the teams success from the crit. The course included one 3 km climb that we rode each of the 4 laps, and one hot spot sprint for points. The nature of an omnium race based on points required us to grab as many points as possible, which included keeping as many Giant girls up at the front until the sprint second lap. Jenelle was feeling sick so she decided to go from the gun as hard as possible, and put us in a great position to watch the other riders work at the front, while she managed to get 55 seconds away from the pack. The pace up the first climb was high, where we eventually caught Jenelle, and our newly found crit rider, GC contender Leah easily matched the fastest riders over the climb. The team worked hard to bring it back together in order to keep our sprinters in contention for the valuable points. Unfortunatly there was a slight mistake in the direction of the course, which I would like to add the T-Mobile womens' team made a wrong turn in stage 2 (Team TT) of Tour de l'Aude this year, mistakes happen. Leah and myself ended up at the front only to watch Stacy Spencer and Kelly Murden sprint for the points. I had a small moment of feeling very small (figuratively speaking of course), and as though there was nothing I could have done other than watch these two sprinters ride much faster than I was. I was relieved to see the group back together and find the Giant sprinters back with us where upon I was motivated once again, someday perhaps i'll be able to sprint, i'm still working on it. The next time up the hill the tempo picked up and one again Leah was able to match the pace of Leah Goldstien (Symmetrics), Alison Testrote (Expresscopy), and Suz Weldon (Wines of Washington) and these girls slipped away from the bunch. Suz Weldon eventually returned to the main group and left the 3 woman break to take up the podium. Leah finished 3rd. The rest of the race continued with relitively little action other than being neutralized a few times for the men...The pace up the climbs split up the group a bit, but everyone was brought back together for a final sprint finish. I did what I like to do near the end, go to the front and hammer, keep my fingers crossed that no one attacks and that I see Jenny fly by me on the way to a victory. Claire was there keeping the pace high and marking riders. We rode the final kilo, speed picking up, and went into the last corner with 200 m to go, wide open sprint, and Jenny beat out Laura Brown and Kelly Murden for the bunch sprint which put her in 3rd. I ended up 10th and Claire 12th.
Overall, successful with a lot more to learn, and in the right direction.
The final note...it was pooring rain and I have a GIANT bruise on my hip and elbow from my less than elegant crit crash.

Bromont Disaster

So Bromont was a complete disaster. We got there on the Monday evening after Baie St Paul, leaving us plenty of time to pre-ride and get to know the course. First arriving, the hotel owners warned us the weather looked pretty bad for the week, but no one really listened as it was 22 degrees outside and SUNNY. We woke up Tuesday morning to pouring rain, wind and 2 degree temperatures. I went for a ride, but it was bitter and very unmotivating. Wednesday was no better, and Wednesday is usually like a mock race day, which means I was go out on to the course and hammer out a ideal race, in this case 3 laps. I got to the end of lap one and felt like screaming I was so cold and uncomfortable, I rode back to the motel after only an hour of riding. Thursday was also prettty disgusting out, although a little bit better so I went out and got the mock race in. By the time our race started Saturday it was actually kinda clear, cold, but clear non the less. To tell you the truth I went into the race not knowing how everything went together. The race commisaires had changed the course all around Friday, my rest day, so I didn't get a chance to pre-ride it again after they made the changes. It started on a flat to climb, so everyone hammered hard to get to the hill first. I was in second, sitting close on the crazy french girls wheel. I felt awesome. So excited and full of adrenaline. She was suffering out front and kept yelling at me in french something I couldn't make out...probably to take the lead for a while, but I'm not going to lie, I didn't, I just kept sitting there. At the top of the climb I felt awful. I kept getting head rushes and finally just threw up. After that little fiasco, I fully blacked out for a second and so then fell down a part of the downhill, flatting my front tire. By this time I was sitting about fourth, but we were in a tight pack. I struggled to change my flat as my hands were so shaky. I fixed it pretty fast and jumped back on. Not even 10 minuted later I flatted again, it was sooo annoying, but in appempt to fix it I ran out of CO2 and couldn't finish the race.

Presently I am sitting in our Tremblant hotel, sipping soy milk and cleaning ma bicyclette. The trails here are amazing, I am crazy about this course. It's going to be a fun weekend!

Leah's First Win! With many more to come...

Saturday afternoon was GIANT TIME yet again down in Enumclaw, Washington. The team took our test run from the Tuesday nighter earlier in the week where we placed 1,2 and applied it against a much stronger field and came out victorious. The Enumclaw crit was the second stage of a three stage omnium points race and we were firing on all cylinders after a somewhat lacklustre TT had left our team's strategy direction wide open.
Right from the gun, the race proved to be interesting with the eventual ominium leader Kele Murdin (Team Ultralink) going down in the first corner of the race. The course is a technical figure eight (fun!) and the ante was upped by scattered showers that eventually turned into torrential rain. Off the bat, I moved to the front in an attempt to keep the pace high. Half a lap in, I realized that Stacey Spencer (Colavita) had decided to let me get a gap, so I decided to start working it and punched it out of the corners for the next few laps. In my stint off the front (I think it was between 4-6 laps) I managed to get up to a 9 second gap and two primes - one useful ($50) and one ridiculous ("handmade" jewlery - let me know if you want it!), but eventually I was eaten back up.
The meat of the race was then punctuated by numerous primes (of which I managed to come 2nd in 2 - but of course 2nd in primes doesn't mean anything!) and a wreck - yet again in corner one - this one claiming our very own Alena. She hit the ground and slid out, but luckily nothing that would stay with her other than road rash and she was able to come back strong for Sunday's roadrace.
With about three laps to go, after a prime had been called, the heavens decided to really open up. Leah and myself were near the front and Jeremy made the call to have Leah go for it as she was our GC hope going into the next day. As appears to be customary in NW racing, the girls watched her ride away and only about a lap later realized that this was potentially VERY dangerous with such an engine out front. Leah hammered and rode the crit course like it was nobody's business while Claire and I marked wheels near the front. The Symmetrics duo of Leah Goldstein and Marni Hambleton made a couple of efforts to bring her back, but without the cooperation of the pack, Leah's lead grew to 10+ seconds in the dying laps of the race.
With just under one lap to go for the field, it became apparent to me (and probably everyone else) that she was going to stay away - which was incredible, but made my job clear. I positioned myself behind Alison Testeroete's (Expresscopy.com) who was on Murdin's wheel. We shot out of the final chicane and jammed the last 200m, but I came up a little short on Testeroete - however giving Giant 1 and 3 - not a bad day at the office!
A couple of notes on the race:
1) Leah, I bet you didn't think that you're first win would be in a crit! How awesome is she and how great is the team that we managed to get our GC rider to win the crit???
2) Pickle rocked out in her first 1-3 crit and fought to stay with the front group - you are a star!
3) Awesome work girls - I'm really, REALLY proud of us!

Baie St Paul Canada Cup #1

Our first Canada Cup race of the season commenced at 12:00 noon Sunday May 13th. Here all of elite men and women, and junior men and women started. I was so nervous at the start, but I kept repeating in my head to have fun and relax. It was just a race. Starting out was wicked. I got so excited. A crazy french girl gav’er off the start and I stuck on her wheel. The course was really cool. Not really like any other I had been on. It was very flowy and didn’t have any real climbs. Up down, up down.... for 20km. Myself and three other girls switched positions for the first 2 laps, but on our final lap I put the hammer down and tried to stay with the crazy french girl. I ran out of water really close to the beginning of the lap, so it’s kind of a fuzzy scene. I got super dehydrated and pretty delirious. I raced like mad though. I wanted to catch crazy frenchie SOOO much. I didn’t end up catching her though, I finished a little less than a minute back, second place of the junior women. It was AWESOME. I was SOO stoked on my final results.

The Rat Race

This past weekend was my first cross country marathon bike race. It was held in Roberts Creek on the Sunshin-ing Coast. Waking up to rain wasn't exactly my idea of a good time, but as we neared the race start, the clouds disappeared and the skies smiled down. Today was a good day I decided.

The race commenced shortly after 10:30AM. With a gun to signal go and 2 logging trucks creating a scary, loud tunnel we were off on our 48 km pain filled bike ride. Starting the race out feeling awesome, I sprinted up close to the front. This race was on home turf and everyone I knew and loved was there watching and cheering. It was awesome. I felt so appreciated. The first 12 km was a massive, vertical climb up a local favourite, Pumpkin Patch..note to self, ride DOWN Pumpkin Patch. No, it was tough, but I had spent countless hours going over lines and repeating the hill so I knew exactly how I wanted the race to go. I got to the hill and didn't feel great, which was a little discouraging, but it takes time to warm up and I needed to respect that of my body. After a while of climbing and breathing hard, my body felt warm. I was then having fun. The climb just kept ascending, it was like a never ending nightmare of mud and slick rock. When we finally did reach the top, again, there was a huge crowd of loved ones cheering me on.
Getting to the decent I wanted to make up some time. I was sitting about 10th over all woman and wasn't really to content with that placing. I sprinted as hard as I could down the hill, basically having no control at all. My arms were like jello and the trails were so rutted out and muddy that my eyes were closed. The whole way down I screamed I had no brakes so people would move HAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH. It was cool. When I finally reached the bottom of the first decent there was a feed station, my mom was happily waiting with my friends and brother. STOKED to have such an amazing support team mountain biking, and with a new bottle of gatoraded-water. I started to ascend one more time. The climbing in that was ruthless. JEEZZEEEE.....
Then some more stuff happened, in which I would explain but it basically is the same as above and that would just bore you. So I will skip to the ending....
The last decent was approaching and I was sitting 5th woman. I knew at the bottom of this decent I had a little uphill sprint and then the finish line. I went hard along the downhill and nearing the uphill road I saw my dad. Just seeing his face light up wanted to make me cry. I hadn't really been getting along with him lately and to see him proud of me and appreciating what I was doing was the best part of the race for sure. "GO SHORTYYYYY" he screamed and I sprinted like mad to that finish line.
I finished 5th woman and first junior, but best of all, had a SUPER fun race. I was feeling like lately all my races were based on contending other people. I went into this race in a different mind frame. I wanted to race this race for myself, not for others. It was so good. I did things because I wanted and didn't base my decisions on what would please other people.
Thank you Rod and Tanya, you guys are awesome Race organisers. The Rat Race 2007 was a huge success and we were lucky to benefit from all your hard work.

bye bye cat 4

Well i must say it was rather fun while it lasted but alas i must join the big girls in their game.
this weekend signaled the end of cat 4 riding for me, but not to worry i went out with a bang.

After arriving to the Saturday rr with just enough time to sign on , get changed and warm up ( thanks to a directionally challenged driver ) the two giant "kids" lined up to score some BC team points and cause some pain ( for both ourselves and our competitors ). Within the first quarter lap we were accomplishing our goal. Without and conscious effort on the team's part the pack had fragmented into several smaller clumps with the front group only registering 6 ( some credit must however go to the new, but fast Megan Rathwell for pulling the unwilling group up the first long climb ) by the time we got to the top of the WALL OF DOOM the lead pack was down to 4 with Megan Rathwell powering off the front. After some shared effort with one of the local ride girls and some yo-yoing I Finaly caught up with her just before the end of the lap, only to have her slip away again when we reached the WALL. But a certain spectator wasn't about to let me loose her and followed me yelling for me to ride faster ( i was pretty sure that wasn't possible but a scary guy in a large truck is pretty good motivation ) with about 7 km to go i caught her and sat on her wheel waiting for her to make me pull or for her to attack , but neither happened and it came down to a sprint for first , after her power housing the course i had the legs and took the win by several bike lenghts.

Sunday morning came far to early and i dawned my skin suit at 7:30 am and started warming up for what was to be my hilliest time trial yet, now i must admit that time trials are not my favourite form of punishment but this one was much less horrible and i ended up 3rd ( which ment that i needed to win the crit to keep the overall )

As Sunday afternoon rolled around i was excited about the technical but flat crit that i was about to embark on. After umpteen times around the course i lined up front and center , ready. the pace was moderate from the gun and picked up a bit for a few of the laps but nothing that would really shatter the group. because of my solo status and the nasty headwind i sat out of the wind in second place for 90 percent of the race watching for anything dangerous but nothing really presented itself and it wasn't until the prime lap that the speed picked up again with Liz from local ride making a serious effort for the three points , but after some good cornering i had a gap and sprinted for the line and took the points. When i crossed the line and looked back i realized that i had quite a gap and made an effort to stay away but the group pulled me back and i took my second wheel spot back with no opposition . In the final lap Rachel Canning and i jumped and seceded in acquiring a small gap which we kept to the line.

well im going to miss not being the poor sucker suffering off the back but my dues must be paid and im down with suffering as long as i learn somthing aling the way.
bye bye cat 4