Pace Bend RR

Pace Bend RR
Originally uploaded by cyclesq.

Notice my new Power Tap!

Pace Bend RR

Pace Bend RR
Originally uploaded by cyclesq.

Sunny and warm Pace Bend road race.

rainy & cold Walburg RR

rainy & cold Walburg RR
Originally uploaded by cyclesq.

I thought about bringing my rain jacket and then totally forgot it. Next time I will remember for sure to toss it in my race bag.

I raced in Austin this past weekend. It was my first of the season so I really didn't have a lot of expectations going into to these. I had no idea where my fitness was compared to others and I wanted to see how long I could stay in. Really that was my goal, just to stay in the p/1/2 women's field and not get dropped. I did manage to stay in and finish with the pack both days. Saturday we raced Walburg and it was cold and rainy. It rained the entire race, except the last 5 miles. It was so cold I could not feel my feet and my arms were really stiff. Jen McRae went off and we could not chase her down. Then Beth, my teammate went and made a break with two other girls. So, I just hung in the pack for the finish. I really thought I could take the field sprint but then again, I could not feel my feet or my legs. Plus, it was an uphill finish. I struggled to sprint and ended up 2nd in the sprint and 6th overall. Beth got 2nd overall so that was really good for our team morale.

Sunday was a beautiful day. It was 68 degrees and sunny. In fact I have already started my farmer's tan just from yesterday's race. A break went on the first lap and we thought it was too early and that no way it was actually going to stick. One chic was brought back in but the other girl stayed aways for the rest of the race and won the whole thing, solo! For sure, good for her! After numerous attacks, counters, breaks and pacelines, Beth, Jen and Shannon Koch finally got away on the 6th lap. The field let them go as the teams were all up the road. Again I thought about the sprint and tried to conserve as much as possible. But again, it was an uphill sprint. Actually up 2 hills to the finish. So I blew after the first hill and limped pathetically across the line. I'm not even sure what place I got. Beth took 4th and Danielle took 7th (I think). I haven't actually seen the results from yesterday so I'm not really sure.

But it was a good weekend and I had alot of fun. I was happy with my fitness and I think I am right on track for where I need to be at this early part of the season. I will be ready to rock n'roll for some flat crit action, for sure. Now I am in desperate need for sleep. We got back to OKC at 1:30 last night or in the morning and I had to be in court in Fairview at 9:00 this morning. My alarm went off this morning at 6:30 and I was not real enthused about my 4 1/2 hours of sleep. Then I got to drive 2 hours to Fairview and then another 30 minutes to Enid to eat lunch with my mom and my brother and then drive another 1 1/2 hours back to OKC. So, I am pretty much done driving for a few days. I may even walk home and leave my car at work. Not really, but that is how bad I do not want to drive right now.

Oklahoma City Gazette

For all you OKC, Norman and Edmond folks.....be sure to pick-up the latest Gazette and flip to page 10! And tell all your friends too. Especially ones who get in car wrecks or who go to jail.

BRRRRR

It is cold. Not so much today, but from last Friday until yesterday, it has been cold. The ground has been covered in ice and the roads are slushly. So, I have not ridden outside since last Wednesday. I have instead been riding my trusty trainer. Yesterday, I finally bought a Power Tap. Charles hooked it up last night and I rode an hour with it. We downloaded all the info on the computer and Charles analyzed it all for me. I was somewhat annoyed with the whole thing. I think maybe it was better for me NOT to know what little watts I am pushing. It was a little bit of a blow to my psyche. But I am going to race with it this weekend and then see where I am. I know I go alot harder and push myself more in a race than I do on the trainer.

We have been recording the Tour of California with TEVO. And again, I am annoyed with that. Apparantly the Gonzaga basketball game ran about 15 minutes late and pushed the race back. So, we didn't get the final sprint. I mean we got all the way to the final 800 km point where the lead outs were starting and then it was done. Recording over! I really wanted to watch Brad Huff take 4th in the sprint. But, Tevo had other plans. So, last night I set it to go 30 minutes longer than the actual program so this little mishap doesn't happen again.

And today is Wednesday. Hump day to be exact. My high school basketball coach used to always say that. I always thought it sounded funny, but then again, I was in high school so pretty much everything sounded funny. He always said that if you get over the Wednesday hump, the rest of the week is downhill for the weekend. And our practices were always super hard on Wednesday. We would go easy Monday and hit it a little harder on Tuesday and then all out on Wednesday. Thursday was easy recovery and then we had games on Friday. So, I guess I need to go hard on my bike today, just because it is hump day. And I am racing this weekend.

My teammate, Beth, raced Valley of the Sun in Phoenix last weekend. She did a little race recap with some pictures on our team web-site. So you should check it out at: austinflyers.com

I have been religiously watching the Olympics every evening and last night was no different. I generally like all the events and have a tremendous amount of respect for all the athletes. However, last night I had a difficult time watching the men's figure skating. I guess it was the "long program" or whatever. But it was way too long to hold my attention. I found it odd that that these guys fell so many times. And toward the end of their program the commentators would say, "oh he is so tired". I mean don't these guys practice and train constatnly for these types of competitions? I watched Apollo Ohno in the speedskating and he was hardly even breathing. And even after the snowcross final, Seth Wescott was not that winded. Maybe I am just not understaning the whole dancing on ice thing. Don't get me wrong, I couldn't ice skate to save my life. I mean, I have never been on ice skates and I haven't been been on roller skates since I broke my arm in the 4th grade during a birthday party at Skatetown. So, I'm sure it is a difficult task. But...why so many falls? I just don't get it. Maybe it is just the pressure of competing in the Olypics that the nerves just get the better of you. Maybe I just don't like seeing guys in frilly, lacy, purple skinsuits either. Although I have enjoyed most of the other guys in their skinsuits, like Bode Miller and Apollo Ohno. Theirs don't have ruffles on them though. Although I think Bode could pull off the purple ruffles....

Team Joy Rides Team Camp

Team Joy Rides Training Camp
Originally uploaded by cyclesq.

This is from Team Camp #2. The elite team girls all have black helmets on. I think we are missing one more elite team girl. But I am 3rd wheel back on the right side with arm and knee warmers on.

I was wrong about standing up with Power Cranks. It can be done, but it is hard. I rode outside last night with the Power Cranks on Amanda's 30 plus pound Raleigh bike with the down tube shifters and full on reflector set. It was HARD. I mean my hamstrings are so sore today and my lower back is killing me today. I rode for about an hour and then I did some up hill sprints. And they were so much harder on that bike than on my normal race bike. But I think I will get stronger from riding this one. At least that is the plan.

So, Charles left today. He is on his way to Angel Fire, NM right now. He said he is going to ride his bike but I really think he is going to ski and snowboard behind my back instead. I really love love love to ski and I am dying to try snowboarding so I am a little bitter that he is going to the snowy mountains. But I'm sure he'll have a blast.

I am hoping to get in some good riding this weekend if the temperatures are somewhat decent anyway. I may be stuck on the trainer inside instead. One of my teammates is going to Vally of the Sun in Phoenix this weekend so I am anxious to see how she does. My first race is next weekend in Austin and I am getting so excited! I want to know where I am as far as fitness compared to the other chics!

http://www.oumedcenter.com/CustomPage.asp?guidCustomContentID={EAEE6907-7968-4257-A858-0FFD37AF3F73}


This is Amanda and those are her Power Cranks and her training bike. Remember her name because she's going to the Olympic in 08!

Power Cranks

Power Cranks
Originally uploaded by cyclesq.

The real feel temp is 15 degrees outside right now, so this is where I'll be shortly! I think the high is going to be 38....

I haven't been riding much since camp. I rode easy on the trainer Tuesday night while watching Duke and North Carolina play basketball. It was an awesome game. Duke wasn't firing on all cylinders but they won anyway. So, I was happy for that. I felt like poop though on my bike. I was not really tired but I was so sleepy. I thought I actually could take a nap while riding. I cut it short with only 45 minutes because I just really didn't want to be riding. I wanted to lay down and watch the game instead. And then Wednesday, I didn't ride at all. Charles scored tickets to the Hornets v. Seattle Supersonics NBA game and I was not turning that down. Holly hooked us up with awesome seats. And it was a close game all the way to the end. Even Charles was into it...or maybe it was just the Honeybees that he was into! But it was fun. Last night I rode the trainer again. Except I was on Amanda's training bike. It is like 15 years old and weighs a good 35lbsplus it has the old down tube shifters. It doesn't matter on the trainer, but just putting this in perspective. It also has Power Cranks on it, which is the reason I am riding it. Those things are so hard for me to ride. I realized last night that my pedal stroke really is THAT bad. It used to be horrible and then I spent last winter on a fixed gear and I thought I had fixed the problems. But, there is no hiding a sloppy pedal stroke with the Power Cranks. My hamstrings are so sore today. I guess I need to be pulling up more when I pedal. Something I thought I did, but I guess not. And my left leg needs some tuning. I found out that my right leg is much stronger than my left. Who new? And one more new discovery...you cannot stand up with Power Cranks. Luckily I was on the trainer becasue I would have seriously crashed trying to stand up while pedaling those suckers. So, that is my new training toy, for now anyway. Maybe after a couple weeks it will be easier and my pedal stroke will be better. We'll see....

And I "won" my first criminal case yesterday. Even though it was in city court, it was still a misdemeanor drug charge and I got it amended to a non-drug charge, which was the objective. So, I am happy about that. Plus I got to see a friend of mine from law school while I was in court. I rarely see girls I went to school with. Usually I see the same 5 or 6 guys from law school but this was the first time to see another chic from law shcool in court doing criminal defense work. So that was cool.

It is supposed to be 32 degrees for a high tomorrow. So I am looking forward to a 4 hour ride.....(lol)

I haven't been riding much since camp. I rode easy on the trainer Tuesday night while watching Duke and North Carolina play basketball. It was an awesome game. Duke wasn't firing on all cylinders but they won anyway. So, I was happy for that. I felt like poop though on my bike. I was not really tired but I was so sleepy. I thought I actually could take a nap while riding. I cut it short with only 45 minutes because I just really didn't want to be riding. I wanted to lay down and watch the game instead. And then Wednesday, I didn't ride at all. Charles scored tickets to the Hornets v. Seattle Supersonics NBA game and I was not turning that down. Holly hooked us up with awesome seats. And it was a close game all the way to the end. Even Charles was into it...or maybe it was just the Honeybees that he was into! But it was fun. Last night I rode the trainer again. Except I was on Amanda's training bike. It is like 15 years old and weighs a good 35lbsplus it has the old down tube shifters. It doesn't matter on the trainer, but just putting this in perspective. It also has Power Cranks on it, which is the reason I am riding it. Those things are so hard for me to ride. I realized last night that my pedal stroke really is THAT bad. It used to be horrible and then I spent last winter on a fixed gear and I thought I had fixed the problems. But, there is no hiding a sloppy pedal stroke with the Power Cranks. My hamstrings are so sore today. I guess I need to be pulling up more when I pedal. Something I thought I did, but I guess not. And my left leg needs some tuning. I found out that my right leg is much stronger than my left. Who new? And one more new discovery...you cannot stand up with Power Cranks. Luckily I was on the trainer becasue I would have seriously crashed trying to stand up while pedaling those suckers. So, that is my new training toy, for now anyway. Maybe after a couple weeks it will be easier and my pedal stroke will be better. We'll see....

And I "won" my first criminal case yesterday. Even though it was in city court, it was still a misdemeanor drug charge and I got it amended to a non-drug charge, which was the objective. So, I am happy about that. Plus I got to see a friend of mine from law school while I was in court. I rarely see girls I went to school with. Usually I see the same 5 or 6 guys from law school but this was the first time to see another chic from law shcool in court doing criminal defense work. So that was cool.

It is supposed to be 32 degrees for a high tomorrow. So I am looking forward to a 4 hour ride.....(lol)

I haven't been riding much since camp. I rode easy on the trainer Tuesday night while watching Duke and North Carolina play basketball. It was an awesome game. Duke wasn't firing on all cylinders but they won anyway. So, I was happy for that. I felt like poop though on my bike. I was not really tired but I was so sleepy. I thought I actually could take a nap while riding. I cut it short with only 45 minutes because I just really didn't want to be riding. I wanted to lay down and watch the game instead. And then Wednesday, I didn't ride at all. Charles scored tickets to the Hornets v. Seattle Supersonics NBA game and I was not turning that down. Holly hooked us up with awesome seats. And it was a close game all the way to the end. Even Charles was into it...or maybe it was just the Honeybees that he was into! But it was fun. Last night I rode the trainer again. Except I was on Amanda's training bike. It is like 15 years old and weighs a good 35lbsplus it has the old down tube shifters. It doesn't matter on the trainer, but just putting this in perspective. It also has Power Cranks on it, which is the reason I am riding it. Those things are so hard for me to ride. I realized last night that my pedal stroke really is THAT bad. It used to be horrible and then I spent last winter on a fixed gear and I thought I had fixed the problems. But, there is no hiding a sloppy pedal stroke with the Power Cranks. My hamstrings are so sore today. I guess I need to be pulling up more when I pedal. Something I thought I did, but I guess not. And my left leg needs some tuning. I found out that my right leg is much stronger than my left. Who new? And one more new discovery...you cannot stand up with Power Cranks. Luckily I was on the trainer becasue I would have seriously crashed trying to stand up while pedaling those suckers. So, that is my new training toy, for now anyway. Maybe after a couple weeks it will be easier and my pedal stroke will be better. We'll see....

And I "won" my first criminal case yesterday. Even though it was in city court, it was still a misdemeanor drug charge and I got it amended to a non-drug charge, which was the objective. So, I am happy about that. Plus I got to see a friend of mine from law school while I was in court. I rarely see girls I went to school with. Usually I see the same 5 or 6 guys from law school but this was the first time to see another chic from law shcool in court doing criminal defense work. So that was cool.

It is supposed to be 32 degrees for a high tomorrow. So I am looking forward to a 4 hour ride.....(lol)

Team Camp 2

Day two of camp started way too early just like day 1. We met at Leander High School at 9:00 for a 4 hour ride. We managed to get Joby (promoto1.com) to be our follow vehicle. It was nice to have him shield us from cars and allow us to float throw stop signs and intersections. Plus, he knows that area like the back of his hand so we didn't have to worry about directions. It was awesome to be able to shed my wind vest,gloves, knee warmers and eventually arm warmers and put them in his car instead of cramming all that in my back jersey pockets. He also made us sandwiches and had plenty of water. We had a photographer along for the ride too. He was constantly popping up in the middle of the road to snap some photos of us. Or pulling up beside me while I was at the front pulling into the massive head wind. I'm sure that one will be a lovely photo!

Our ride was pretty hard. It ended up being 75 miles and took us 4:15. But it seemed like we were out there forever. We had a 25 mph cross wind most of the ride and with 11 girls, it was hard to find an easy spot to ride in. It was also pretty hilly. Not at all like the roads I am used to riding. After the 3 1/2 hour point, I was pretty spent. I think the hills and the wind finally had taken their toll. Not to mention the lack of sleep that I had.

Saturday night we took team and individual pictures then went to dinner. After dinner we hit a couple bars. One of which was Lance Armstrong's bar/club called Club Six. It was nice at first and then I started to get really sleepy and cranky. Since I wasn't drinking, my patience level was falling fast. Then the girls started taking body shots off of random guys which I will admit, was pretty humorous. And then the dancing began. I stood and watched for a while but my legs were killing me. I found a spot at a table in the corner and sorta hid out for at least an hour. I didn't want to be the party pooper and make everyone leave. Besides, I had to drive everyone home. And that is exactly what I did. There is nothing better than driving someone else's car in a city that you have never been to when you have no idea where you are going and trying to eat a burrito from Taco Cabana with three drunk girls. Fun, fun, fun.....that's all I have to say about all that stuff. Finally we got to Beth's house in one piece and I hit the sack at 2:30 AM. Only 4 1/2 hours past my bedtime! Now you can see why I was not feeling too hot on the ride Sunday morning. I can't imagine how the drunk hung over girls managed.

I left Austin at 4:00 and made it into my driveway at 9:15. Not too bad but I was so pumped full of coffee, I had a hard time settling down. I took yesterday off and didn't even look at my bike. Today I am planning on trying some power cranks on a borrowed bike from a friend of mine. Since it is 40 degrees out today, I'll probably be on the trainer, AGAIN!

I'll post pictures of tema camp as soon as I get them.

Team Camp

I'm in Austin, Texas for the weekend for our second training camp. I got in late last night and my alarm went off way too early this morning. I am staying with one of my teammates, Beth, and the team met here this morning at 7:30. We rolled out to meet the ATC (Austin Tri Cyclists) group ride. I thought, oh god...a bunch of tri geeks!!! But to my surprise it was mostly all the top pro 1/2 guys from Austin along with some pretty salty masters and cat 3 guys. It was CRAZY!!! I swear...there were 75 people on the group ride. I have never done a group ride with that many people before. Jen McCrae, our team coach, said to be sure to stay in the top 20. I thought that would be near the back but after I saw the mass of cyclist coming at us, I realized the top 20 was pretty much the front. The ride took off pretty good and then a paceline formed at the front and it was on. It was pretty hilly and I was struggling up most of the hills. But I hung on for over half of the ride and then a gap opened up and I just didn't have it in my legs to close it. So I was off the main pack of only about 15 people with 2 other guys and we were rotating and chasing like crazy to catch back on. It was tough. People were getting spit off the lead pack and literally going backwards when we went by them. Three of my teammates were able to stay with the lead pack which it is pretty impressive. We regrouped and did 30ish miles as a team back to Beth's house. It is a beautiful day and I really wanted to ride some more. I felt really good on the ride today even though I struggled a bit at first. Once I got the cobwebs out, I felt awesome. It seems like my trips to Mt. Scott are paying off.

After the ride we had lunch here at Beth's together and our team chiropractor came over and did adjustments and some massage therapies for all of us. Now I am ready for a shower and a nap. We have team photos tonight at our sponsor bike shop, Bicycle Sport Shop, and then a team dinner. I think we are headed to Lance Armstrong's club after that but I'm not sure how long I'll make it. I'm not much of a night owl. Tomorrow is a four hour ride in the Austin hill country so that should be fun. I am looking forward to riding in some more sunshine. Hopefully it will be another good day on the bike.

CARS

It has been awhile. But it happened again last night. I hate cars...or I should say I hate the drivers of cars who either don't pay attention to anyone but themselves or who just really don't give s*** about anyone but themselves. I'm not sure which of those scenarios are more prevalent, but either way....it sucks for cyclists. At least my new team clothing didn't get torn and I don't have my new team bike yet so I was able to mess up my other one instead. I guess tonight I need to put on three blinkies instead of the two that I normally wear.