Roslyn Bike Festival, Sunday, July 27th...

I took two weeks off of that healthy lifestyle thing.  I've been camping with girlfriends and daughters then followed a week of s'mores with one more week at Raman's mom's lake house.  While it's been a really great vacation I was feeling it today on that climb.  800 excrutiating feet of elevation climb per lap (two laps for beginner's class) was reminding me that there are several women in my class that are really strong climbers.  I wish I had ridden my bike a little bit!

The day on a whole was great as it represented all that is great about a mountain bike race.  Raman, Audrey and I set out early to drive over the pass.  It was raining on the westside but as we came over the pass the sun poked out.  Lots of folks were at the race (all my competition - so much for attrition helping me to a series podium) and we got to hang out and visit with everyone after we finished up our race.  The course was new to me and although I am not sure that the continuous climbing makes me want to rush right back over there one of the reasons I like this series is the introduction to new places to ride.  I did end up with 5th place and I was so close to 4th place that I felt good about my riding.  No injuries, no broken bike bits so all in all a great time!

Third place seems to be a really good place for me.  This is the second time in a row that I have scored third in the Indie Series.  I went to this last race in Bellingham not expecting to place since I hadn't had a chance to preride and I wasn't really familiar with riding in the area.  I met up with the usual group of women from my class and many of them suggested that the ride would be suited to me.  The course I raced on was three short loops.  It basically is up and down through swoopy single track that is not particularly technical with a couple of drops that really make you pay attention.  Many of the women I ride with are really strong climbers but fear speedy downhills so I can usually catch them there if they've pulled ahead.

This Sunday I started out strong and was third heading up the first big hill.  Sure enough Leigh pulled right by me and she shouted out that I would see her on the downhill.  Sadly, I did see her in the fern bed next to the first big drop and that was the last I saw of the competitor I was most interested in beating.  I say sadly becuase it doesn't seem quite as much of a thrill to beat someone because they've fallen off the bike!  Nearly every woman in my class is inspirational and hilarious.  I've gotten to know a little more about them each race and find that while the thrill of trying out new rides, competing and riding my bike ranks pretty high on why I would spend my weekends doing this I also enjoy seeing these folks.

We've been discussing what race group we'll all do next year.  None of the women that I am talking with are sweeping the first place podium and all of us are wary of the prospect of the "long Loops" at the race venues that seem to be far more strenous than what we're riding now.  We did watch the Open class and saw more than 25 to 30 riders.  If we can actually ride against women that are closer in age to ourselves it may be worth it to switch up.  We'll see how the rest of the year goes.

This ride in Bellingham I did end up getting really hot and near the end of the  first loop I was skeptical I was going to be able to really keep going but there's nothing to motivate you like seeing the rider in front of you push a little more than you are.  I kept going and had a pretty good ride.

Two weeks to go to Roslyn.  Again I haven't ridden there and we won't be there until shortly before the race so how it will go is a mystery....

Second day in the Bike Park.  Still love it as much as I did last year!  Still a little scared!

I came up to the Dirt Series women’s mt. bike camp two weeks ago and rode one day xc and one DH.  I had a great time there and did take away some new skills but mostly I just got a chance to feel the big heavy bike rolling over anything in front of it again. 

Today I got back to my favorite run, Crank It Up.  It is just too fun.  The first run down was a little intimidating as some of the jumps are different this year and this morning they were painting one of the boards so part of the trail is closed off (not a lot of warning so I nearly crashed into a pylon) .   The weather couldn’t have been better today, reminding me of what a magical place Whistler is.  A big thanks to Alex and Raman for the riding.  It was a great day!

Again Don and Sharon saved us.  Last year it was Sharon stepping up at the very last minute to watch over Audrey while Raman and I raced.  We had arrived late to the course due to a serious miscalculation in how long it takes to get to Leavenworth from Redmond.  This year the Elkins brought us bladders for the Camelbaks that I had cleverly emptied and left in the freezer the week before.  Were it not for the hydration pack I would not have made it up that hill.

The race was well attended in my class (Beginning women 19+) with 21 women riding.  It is difficult to gauge where you are in the pack because of the start at this ride.  It’s a bit of a cluster and everyone is off and headed up the steep hill while some of the men that have started ahead of us are still mucking around with gearing, chains, huffing and puffing, etc.  As we spread out I was fairly sure of a spot at 8^th or 9^th.  I saw a tremendously fit looking woman just ahead of me and tried to stay on her tail.  I did well with that for nearly 40 minutes but as we reached the top of the hill she pulled ahead.  I came across Don and then eventually Raman.  I got a bit of adrenaline out of that and pushed right to the top.  As I started downhill I could see  the fit woman not far ahead and flew by her.  Raman came up on me and literally blew by me.  I tried to stay on his tail but didn’t have much luck with that.   At both of the river crossings I caught another woman so I figured myself at 5^th at best.  Right near the bottom I got passed by a man that was crazy on fire fast, how do they do that?  I came in and Sharon and Megan told me that I had gotten 2^nd.  I didn’t think it was possible (and in fact it wasn’t exactly right) but I did finish in 3^rd overall.  Turns out that Raman had actually helped the 1^st place woman up the hill, thanks, and the 2^nd place woman was only 12 seconds in front of me.  So close and yet so far.

I’ve checked out the standing on the series and find that Leigh Kilclien is leading.  She is the woman I had pegged as the one to beat prior to the Mudder.  Guess now everyone else thinks so too.  She’s had some technical issues so if she has her bike all tuned up at the next race I’ll have my hands full.

I recently became a board member for the BBTC (Backcountry Bicycle Trails Club).  One of my first gigs was to host a trialside BBQ at Tiger Mountain yesterday.  The plan was to bring out a tent, a bbq and some volunteers to spread the word about what the BBTC is up to.  Trail & Mt. Bike Advocacy, Trail Work, Bike Camps, Ride Calendars and Maps is the jist of it.  We are hoping to increase our supporter base and the best way I can think of is to let some of the mountain biking community know what we do.

The weather cooperated, it was sunny and warm and the mountain was covered in riders.  It was also covered in snow.  Preston is open but the first mile of it is a snow ride.  That didn't deter a vast majority of the 529 team from showing up.  Halfway through the afternoon a huge pack of riders came off the mountain sporting various iterations of 529 apparel and lots of crazy yellow bikes.  I was a little jealous that I was flipping burgers while they had been on the trail but I met some great new folks and had a great time. 

Thanks to all that came out and stopped by the BBTC tent.  It was great to see all of you and it was inspiring to see people's reaction to P529 and know that I'm a part of it.

Saturday morning dawned with snow showers and hail storms and the last thing I wanted to do was to get my bike ready for the first event of the season.  Begrudgingly I packed up my inclement weather gear and told Raman I was in for the “not-a-race” ride the next day.  I had just one ride on my new bike and I was absolutely ready to try it out I had just hoped it would have been a little sunny!

When I reached the parking lot at South SeaTac and found familiar faces and friendly new ones the sun started peaking it’s head out.  A good start.  The four people that made up my team have never ridden in the Four Hours of SeaTac so we weren’t completely sure what to expect.  What we found was  a great course.  Swoopy and fun, not technical and enough small climbs to remind me that this is excersize as well as great big fun.  Using the time honored technique of flipping a coin we divided into pairs and headed out with our little relay markers attatched to our handlebars.  Larry and I went out of the gate at a race pace and within the first few moments I was taken over by adrenaline and got right into race thinking.  We finished our lap “early” – less than 30 minutes and vowed to take the next lap slower.  Our teammates, Raman and Mike did the same right after us.  Each lap we slowed a little but never quite got the timing right.  We didn’t win.  We did however have a great time.  I got a chance to see some friends from the Indie Series that I haven’t seen since last summer.  I met some new people, Chris Peterson who completely saved me with his knowledge of deraileurs and tools and Kat from Trips for Kids Seattle who let me know about the AMAZING program she runs.   John Lang, the brand new BBTC Executive Director was there and I had an opportunity to spend sometime getting to chat about the direction of BBTC in the future.

This ride is all about fun.  It’s non-competative but still encouraging and challenging.  There is clearly an air of competition among the riders but it’s not about beating the other riders it is about winning yourself.  As the fours of riding wraps up the BBQ starts becoming really popular and there’s a lot of hanging and chatting about what the future season holds for each of us.  The sun was shining, not a drop of rain fell on our tent and we packed up and headed for home a little tired but really glad we had come.

I'm not competative.  That's what I had dropped into conversation with my friend before she just about lost the iced tea she was drinking.  Well, I guess I'm a little competative.   I raced in the Beginner Women 35+ Indie Series this summer and loved it. 

Coming to the first race of the season I was filled with anxiety.  I didn't know how I would stack up against the other women in terms of technical ability and endurance.  I wasn't sure how well I could ride on a course that I'd never seen before and most of all I didn't want to embarass myself or the folks that had let me register under their team name.

As the race began I honestly stayed back to see what would happen expecting a mad dash to the first corner.  Not so much.  The competition seemed on par with what I could take.  Halfway through the first race I was riding alone wondering what I had gotten myself into.  There I was, in the woods, no one in front or behind as far as I could see and not a real good idea of where I was in the standings and a heartrate that was pegged.  My motivation was wavering when all of a sudden a small squirrel popped out on the trail in front of me.  It starts running away from me at what I can only assume is rocket propelled speed.  I pedal along for a while thinking about the speed of the squirrel and my speed and the fact that it is out pacing me seriously on 2 inch legs.  Anger and embarrasement fired me up.  I couldn't be beat by a *^&%$# rodent!  I ended up finishing in 3rd that day.

Coming to the last race of the season I found that a podium series finish was a possibility.  I knew what my competition was like and I knew what I would have to do.  At the starting line I found that the .6 mile climb I was expecting was actually a 5 mile fire road.  Big Difference!  I managed to take the lead for a while but lost it on the dreaded climb.  I stayed close to the first place woman and when I came across the line in second I can honestly say that no bike ride has ever made me so exhausted but completely happy.

I did not get to race in all of the races this year because I have this lovely, young daughter.  She's not completely ready to hang out by herself while I'm out and about on the trail.  I am thankful to Megan and Sharon and all the other folks that kept an eye on Audrey while I was out chasing squirrels this year if it weren't for their generosity and caring I couldn't have done any of the races.

The season gave to me exactly what I had hoped for - new trails and some fun weekends.  Raman and I got to ride the courses together and Audrey even participated in the Youth Series.  (She's five and she'll tell anyone who'll listen that she's won a medal in a mt. bike race!)  It was big fun and a great motivation to build my strength and ability as a rider. 

For 2008 all the rodents on the trail better watch out!