Madera, Chowchilla, BFE -- I live LARGE
Where are these fabulous places that Velopromo chooses? Well, it starts with the 120 to 99 and then South. This time this was rather south and damn, damn, H O T! Sizzling moi. I am not a slight person, but the heat makes me feel like a little ladybug frying on the pavement.
The Crit was started 40 minutes late which made it even hotter. It wasn't too fast and there didn't seem to be any attempts to go off the front that were going to stick. At minute 16, I started to feel pretty bad. I didn't realize that the temperature was going to have that much affect. I was drinking a lot and a few minutes later, I threw up in my mouth. Great start to the three stages. Poor Breego flatted. I was worried she coudln't handle the RR track as her hand was pretty messed up. I almost got taken out by an overzealous turn from rear left to in front of me right.
Anyway, it was more fun to be there with my ladies and seeing all the others racing out in the heat. My results were not superb at all. The TT was so damn hard. I got 11th place, but every pedal stroke was agony. My average HR for the TT was 180. I tried and tried to keep it down, but it just kept creeping up! At the end of the TT it was 189. OUCH!
The dinner was a blast, us CRC ladies and the Vities went to dinner at Sal's mexican. I think they forgot to put our order in, but it was fun anyway!
The RR was hell. Our start time was super late and it was already really hot! I was going to try and hold on but it was so hard! I went through 8 Clif Shots over the almost 4 hours and 11 or so water bottles. If it hadn't been for Marcela and Heather from Metro Minterific, I would have given up. I got a new saddle, but had not ridden it for more than 2 hours. The pain I felt was like nothing I have ever felt before. Before I felt like dying, there was a tap of wheels and falling Bellas. I felt bad, a Bella went down right in front of me. I slammed on my breaks went sideways and almost went down, too... but I managed to keep upright. Just after I realized I would be OK, another Bella came down in front of me and I ran over her hand. Janelle was caught up in the crash and I yelled at her to get up. When she caught on, I gave her a water bottle.
Poor Breego flatted again, but found Jessica in the 2nd lap to ride with. I was just so happy it was over. We were supposed to check out after the race and even the check out lady wasn't there. It took us so long!! Those 2 miles back to the car were hell.
Again, one of the best times all weekend was the In N Out in Merced!
So Sorry Tink
Dear Tinkerbell:
I am so sorry to be a bad bike owner and for strapping on those horrible TT bars that make you look off center and ridiculous! I feel like a mother who puts a headband with a big flower on my baby's bald head so you know that she is really a girl.
I promise to be good to you in the future... I even cleaned your cassette and got you a new shiney white saddle. Does that make up for it?
Your Non-Tri Owner/Rider
Tintin goes to Belgium
So Tintin is actually Belgian and rather than a bike racer he's a journalist. I am having issues with the similarities between Rebellin and Tintin. Maybe Rebellin has a dog named Snowy?
Nonetheless, nice job on Fleche Wallone! He got his pay from Amstel.
Boss Uh Ooooooo
So we knew this was going to happen, but it still makes me sad. Someone so beautiful should be allowed to ride no matter what. The issue I have, once again, is why not have a fair trial? Why not actually charge the guy with something for real rather than throwing him out?? So sad. I of course would be very happy to offer my legal services for free.
Obviously old photos... but I took these with my loving heart. I even road paradise the day before the Grand Prix when I was supposed to be taking it easy because you can't see Basso and not tag along???
UGH!
Landis B-samples contain synthetic testosterone:
I am so sad and upset about this... but what the hell? How do I know this? Why is there always a leak to L'Equipe? Bad USADA, Bad WADA.
I love Floyd's response:
"This is yet another in a series of malicious actions by USADA that tramples my right to have my case heard in fair and just way," said Landis. "How can I be expected to prove my innocence while USADA endeavors to break their own rules at every turn? I’m infuriated by the behavior of USADA and the LNDD. Together, they have turned this proceeding into a full-scale attack on my civil rights and a mockery of justice."
Wind-tee Wente
I missed the road race as I needed to go things around the house and well, I wasn't too bummed as it is such a hard race. I was very sad to find out that Anny Henry was involved in a very bad crash. I heard from her husband Russ that she is healing well. Breego was also taken out early in her race and Emily was caught up in the Anny crash. Bummer. Glad everyone is in one piece.
Also, poor Sam was in a serious crash coming down from Pantoll last Sunday. She swerved to miss a car that came out onto Hwy 1 without seeing her. She landed on her head... thank god for the helmet!! She's banged up but alive and healing. I am never happy to hear about crashes, but it is always good news when people are OK and healing.
I spent Saturday breathing in paint fumes. I learned a valuable lesson: it takes three times the amount of paint to cover a darker color. NOTED. My hands were so tired from holding the roller that I could barely cut the yummy grilled asparagus I had for dinner. I had no problem eating the pizza. Recommendation: Pizetta 211. YUMMERS.
Here's Forrest and the youngest member of Clif cycling, Gunnar.
Anywho... the race. There is a reason there are windfarms in Livermore. Yikes. The race was pretty fast and everyone was trying as hard as possible to not be in the wind. The largest team present was Proman and I knew that with their strength and numbers, they would get a successful break going: and they did! But wait... who's in that break with them? Oh, it's SUPER VIRGINIA! Or Drink of Water as I like to call her. I was so proud, yet again. I may be slow and fat these days, but at least I have a kick ass teamie who makes me proud.
Speaking of slow and fat, how I pulled out fourth place, I do not know. I always feel like a cheater when this happens as really, I was sucking most of the race, but decided to fight for a very good place in the end. I followed Illiana's wheel and she was on Proman's wheels. The finish was a very long straight into the awful wind. I got left in the wind for a moment and on the bot dots and moved over. Karla told me that she had to slow when I did that. I felt awful, but I was trying to get out of the wind.
Virgil got 2nd to Emily Zell. I got a bottle of wine and a t-shirt.
Lil' Lil and the rest of Sunday
After my butt kicking ride in the wind, I got to see my sister + family. There was a shoe sale going on at a hot store on Fillmore and I needed a reason to not go and add to my shoe armoire. Lily was the ticket!
It actually turned out to be a fabulous day in the city and what a great day to spend in Golden Gate Park.
While I was hanging out at the Japanese Tea Garden, Virginia was hanging onto the field at Can-o-screws and Kat Carroll was ripping the legs off of everyone! Go Kat!! Go Virgil for hanging on... I am so humbled and impressed. She's so praux!
Santa Rosa #2 and other stuff
After the Oredigger debacle, I took a week off of racing. I have concluded that I am not worthy of a powertap and I am not worthy of fancy blingy wheels. So instead, I ordered my new cross bike for Winter riding in Colorado.
After feeling sorry for myself for the rental bike race at elevation, I licked my wounds and came out and raced both the 3/4 and 1/2/3 races at Santa Rosa. I really like this course and so I did not question racing this over Sea Slaughter. In addition, after my loud explosion after lap 2 of the circuit last year, I had not real question of whether I should drive down to Monterey or not.
I grabbed the official CRC tent from Breego on Friday night and played with her cat Mo. Thank god I did! I warmed up under it as it poured! The race was surprisingly dry and about 4 Stanford girls, 4 Norcal velos and a handful of others showed for the race. There were about 25 of us total. I was worried that the Stanford girls and Norcal girls had enough to get away. They tried but nothing stuck. It was down to a mass sprint. Iliana won the race overall, but was 1st in the 30+. I came in 4th overall which made me 3rd.
Virginia showed up for the 1/2/3 with 6 others. All 8 of us raced. It was annoying as no one wanted to pull and Virginia and I found ourselves in front a lot. I wanted to help her get away and we tried a few times. Finally a Norcal lady went for it and the Morgan Stanley chased her down, Virgil jumped on her wheel and they went. When they caught the Norcal, she was spent and sat up. The break was on. I tried to slow the chase down and with only 6, it took us a while to get organized and I certainly wasn't helping. I was a little too excited to be a part of this and was trying to help my team mate. A minty-fresh got on the front and I drifted up to 2nd wheel. She yelled at me to follow through and I wouldn't. I had a really easy time after that staying in the last place and letting people drift in front. I was nervous that the Norcal girls might go for another break and get 3rd and 4th. But they didn't. Again, a mass sprint. I was 3rd in the sprint for 5th place.
Herve ended up winning his race. I was so excited for him!! Forrest lead him out - - how nice of Forrest!
I toyed with the idea of racing Santa Cruz today, but I am not nearly as strong as Virginia and with all the super strong ladies who had not been allowed to work out all their angst at Sea Otter due to the weather were going to race, I decided against it.
Have I mentioned how much I love our sponsor, Poggio? LOVE THEM! I met Breego at the bridge at 8:05 after reluctantly leaving Paris Roubaix live on Cycling.tv with Stuie on the move. We went and hung out in the sun at Poggio looking at the pretty Saucy people and then I got dragged on a 3 hour ride with my legs not wanting to be there. I made my way home alone as I coulnd't continue along and felt awful holding back Tad, Sean and Chilly B. When I reached for the Gu to try and hold on, I knew it was too late!
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Breego and Tad are checking out their polarized fancy sunglasses.
I spent the afternoon with my sister's family and that includes my adorable niece, Lily.
My New Home
I have photos of the darling bungalow I really, really wanted. I was actually offered the dream bungalow and ended up turning it down. The lease that was offered was as constricting as my lease in Switzerland. My car was the car allowed to be parked in front, I was to have no guests for more than 7 days, I was to let them know when I was gone more than 7 days. I think you get the picture. I settled on my number two choice which actually had a few plusses like a claw-foot tub, fire place, new stainless steel appliances.
Here's the hood I will be living in:
Altitude sickness
I decided to race this Sunday here in Colorado. The Oredigger classic. Why not? The altitude in Golden is only over 6,000 feet! Well, I can think of many reasons why not. I cannot catch my breath even when I am walking. I went for a bike ride yesterday into the wind to Golden and felt like dying! Oh boy, well, I decided why not.
Some nice guys lent me a trainer and I did my work out. I drank two full bottles of water before the race and saw little black dots when I was going hard. The race included ten ladies, 1 cat 3(me), 1 cat 4 and the rest were 1s and 2s.
The Excel Sport ladies turned on the power from the start. The course was really hard. Huge twisty downhill which was super fun, but with a downhill comes a long awful uphill. The hill was similar to Sausalito's crit, but long. I think the hill was even longer than the Ronde Circuit hill. After the first time up the hill my heart was pounding and I just didn't feel like I could get enough air in every breath.
I was happy as I didn't get lapped until lap 5. At the very last hill, the cat 4 lapped me. Therefore, I came in dead last! After the race, the girl who came in 2nd said: "great race! was that your first?"
I wanted to kill her. I now know what altitude really does to someone. It's great as I have not been hungry, I have not needed too much sleep and constantly feel like I am high on a ton of caffein...
Ho hummm, it was still fun!
Yesterday, I met a nice older guy who showed me around on my ride and he even came out to cheer me on today. That was so nice to hear "common, Vera!". I took some photos of my ride and will post those as soon as I am home tomorrow night.
Labels: Altitude sickness
