Chantilly Crit: In which I begin my ’emo’ cycling phase.

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Chantilly Crit The Course: An office park, two corners, 20 miles The Field: Cat 3 women, racing with the cat 1/2 women The Finish: 1st, 5th overall Despite the generally poor weather, this was a smooth, normal crit. The field was strong and women kept attacking, but nothing stuck, as moments after somebody would go up the road, the front of the pack would start sprinting and reel her in. I worked too hard and stayed in the wind too much (can't seem to help it and/or figure out where to put myself), but came into the final corner as the second wheel. That was nice, until I started leading out stronger sprinters (oops) and then had to brake quickly to avoid crashing as I crossed wheels with another rider. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy field sprints? LOVE THEM. I want to do them everywhere I ...continue reading.

Tour of the Battenkill

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Tour of the Battenkill in Cambridge, NY The Course: 1 lap, 64 miles, 25% dirt roads, lots of climbing The Field: Cat 3 women, 60 starters (my biggest starting field yet) The Finish: 1st, in a solo breakaway All the advice for this race said to make sure to be near the front for the climbs and the dirt sections, so I started on the line. After the neutral roll out, I dropped into the pack a little, and then a whole hell of a lot: I was so eager to avoid crossing wheels with anyone that I let girl after girl slide past me until I had worked myself into the back of the field with no space to move up. Monika was nowhere to be seen ahead of me - it turned out she had slipped back as well. I had to wait until the field ...continue reading.

Fulton Road Race

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Fulton Road Race in Peach Bottom, PA The Course: 3 laps, 30 miles total, rolling hills, uphill finish The Field: 1/2/3/4 women The Finish: 3rd, in a field sprint The start was slow rolling, which worked out well since it took half a mile to get my left foot clipped in. Monika (my teammate and 'twin sister' according to a spectator this weekend) and I were near the front and stayed there throughout the race. The field had some strong riders and none of the attacks stuck; the girls would immediately speed up and reel in the attackers. We spent the entire race in a tight, silent pack and I was reticent to make any moves that would (a) burn up my energy and get reeled in anyway and (b) tire me out before Battenkill the next day. We rolled into the final stretch in a group, one ...continue reading.

Salisbury RR: It takes two to tango.

Posted on by lindsay
This report, like the 31K race, will be short. I woke up brutally early after a crappy week, but somehow still managed to feel race-ready by the time I rolled up to the line. My pre-race nerves were unusually strong, but I got it together enough to talk race strategy on the line with Monika from XO Communications/Battley Harley-Davidson. The start was very restrained and the first lap was controlled as we covered the 6-ish mile rolling course as a group. After that, Monika found a good place to put a gap on the field and we pulled away, taking pulls for the remaining two laps. The sprint finish was up a hill, and I squeaked ahead to win by less than two seconds. It was my first time not riding a race alone and I realized quickly that having another rider to work with is pretty cool. Not only does ...continue reading.

Regardless, I’m going to have to keep shaving my legs.

Posted on by lindsay
While I was doing a recovery ride the other night on my road bike, I was joined briefly by people on mountain bikes. At least that's what I think they were...it's been so long since I've ridden trails, I can't recognize anything without skinny tires. It seems ironic that I went pro in cross country racing and immediately switched to road racing, where I am a beginner getting by on luck and the fitness carried over from riding up mountains. I can't clip in and out of my damn Speedplays, there is always chain grease on my right calf, and I regularly forget to use the drops. Packs of riders make me nervous, I keep instinctively trying to pass the person whose wheel I'm sitting on, and I want to close my eyes in sharp corners to avoid crashing. This was supposed to be the season in which I felt ...continue reading.

Walton Park Crit: Still being recognized as the girl from that OTHER event.

Posted on by lindsay
Saturday: When Jeff Cup was postponed (no hard feelings there, except for the part where I hope Charlottesville awoke today to massive snow drifts, but in a very nice, non-bitter way), I joined the legions of racers flocking to the Walton Park Crit on Saturday. My opinion about the course seems sort of irrelevant, since I'm new to the road racing scene. Um, it was paved? There were corners? No complaints here. Well, one, actually: it was very cold. I almost raced with my Rapha softshell jacket under my PVC vest (what, you think I'm going to put pinholes in that jacket? Dude. I'd rather pin the number directly to my flesh), but decided against it at the last moment to avoid being unnecessarily bulky and hot. Other than the chill, the event was great. I didn't crash in any of the corners (which I'm still considering cause for celebration) ...continue reading.