Leonardtown: In which Joe Jefferson finds 28 creative ways to avoid admitting he does not know my name.

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Leonardtown MABRA Crit Championship The Course: 20 miles The Field: Pro 1/2/3 women The Finish: 6th This was not my day. I don't know why - maybe I was tired from Poolesville, maybe I didn't do what I should have done to recover properly and prepare for this race, maybe it was just an off day with no explanation beyond that. I know I'm having a less than great day when I'm acutely aware of how many laps remain, and also when I regularly think of pulling out of the race. It's a crappy internal dialogue and one I should have shut off the second it started, but I didn't and that's that. The neutralization of our race with six laps to go sucked, but I don't think it either hurt or helped me. The race was a very normal crit: there were lots of strong riders, good attacks, shifts ...continue reading.

I’ll take a road race on the rocks, please.

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Poolesville Road Race The Course: 42 miles, 4 laps The Field: Pro 1/2/3 women The Finish: 1st The morning of Poolesville did not go quite as planned. Instead of a peaceful pre-race morning with breakfast and episodes of Gossip Girl, there was life drama and nonsense that had me leaving the house 45 minutes late unsure of what I'd thrown into my gear bags and unable to stop trying to cry the contacts out of my eyes. HOT. And also very pro. After the neutral roll-out, I started riding hard with no plan in mind and no specific goal of attacking. When things in life feel shitty, I like to ride hard because then the hurting is the good kind of hurt, the kind that comes from suffering on a bike, and that makes everything else hurt less. I stayed on the front for a while hammering mindlessly, but ...continue reading.

Jeff Cup: And then there were none.

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Jefferson Cup Road Race The Course: 5 laps for 50 miles total The Field: 1/2 women run concurrently with 3 women The Finish: 4th By the time I got to the neutral rollout for Jeff Cup at 9am, I was nearly shaking from lack of sleep and general exhaustion. I didn't even have the energy to feel nervous. (Monika's plan for conserving energy during breakfast: "No laughing!" Followed by laughter.) It was really nice to sit at the start line with women who were chatty and friendly, as opposed to ones who were willing to shank you for your spot on the line (although I genuinely miss the regular crowd of Speed Week ladies). The race started and the first four laps were pretty uneventful - the Sticky Fingers riders launched a few attacks to stir up the field, the Virginia Asset Group girls kept things moving along, ...continue reading.

Speed Week: Dilworth Crit

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Dilworth Criterium The Course: 50 minutes, two left turns The Field: Pro 1/2/3 women The Finish: 20th I felt good on the warm up, but quickly realized after the race started that the previous five races had taken their toll and I was tired. Moved around in the field more successfully than in earlier races, but didn't have the same level of recovery between efforts I'd usually have. I wanted to try for another prime, so I gunned it on the back side of the course on a prime lap and thought I was clear as I approached the line, only to be surprised by a sprinter jumping off my wheel to beat me. At that point, I was frustrated, blown up, and off the front, so I soft-pedaled until the field caught up and rejoined the group. There was another point where I was on the front ...continue reading.

Speed Week: Spartanburg Crit

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Spartanburg Criterium The Course: 50 laps, 4 right turns The Field: Pro 1/2/3 women The Finish: 21st and a prime! I was nervous in the pack for the first 25 or so laps - it felt fast and aggressive on the short course, and while my legs and energy were ready to go, I wasn't comfortable doing anything meaningful with either. Managed to move up a bit, but quickly slid back after feeling timid and anxious. Then I realized that feeling so scared was stupid and pointless, so I started getting more confident. I went to the front and didn't mind doing the work for the rest of that lap, and then the announcer called a prime on the next lap and I was hoping to get it and check that off my list for Speed Week. I sprinted through the start/finish stretch to win the prime, and ...continue reading.

Speed Week: Walterboro Crit

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Downtown Walterboro Criterium The Course: 25 laps, 4 right turns The Field: Pro 1/2/3 women The Finish: 26th I felt tired and flat going into the race, but once we got started, I came around and had a good time. The course was bumpy and the last two corners before the start/finish stretch were tight and slowed the field a lot, but I...suddenly have no motivation to write this race report. None. Let's wrap this up quickly. Highlight of the race: Leading the field for nearly a full lap and almost winning a prime (darn LVG and her awesome speed putting me into second in the sprint to the line). Lowlight of the race: Pain in my left foot and an ongoing argument between my saddle and tender parts. Moving forward: I need to work on riding comfortably and consistently towards the front of the peloton. I can ...continue reading.