The Pre-Season Comes to a Close

Well the last few weekends have been quite busy! My pre-season racing has come to a close and now it's time for MTB season to officially start.

Here is a quick re-cap of the last two weekends:

(Thanks to Greg for all of the great photos the last 2 weekends!)

Mar 17-19: San Dimas Stage Race. I knew that 3 days of road racing would be good prep for 4 days of racing in a row at Sea Otter. I learned alot from doing these events, which was really only my 2nd time in an official road event (Boulevard being the first). My best event of the weekend was the 3.8 miles up Glendora Mountain Road time trial (19th/54 riders. Cat 3 and 4 combined). I passed three other racers along the way and we had all started at 30 second intervals. I was pretty pleased. However, during the road race I made some critical novice errors that cost me any kind of decent showing. I ended up a rather embarassing 35th place! EEEEK! However it was still great training, since I was in a chase group or on my own for alot of the race! It was definately a fast road race, not meant for climbers (like Boulevard was), so I paid the price. Day three was my first criterium EVER and it went pretty well. Some say it was the fastest crit they have ever done. It was definately fast and never let up! I stayed with the lead pack for the first half, then fell into a chase group. In the end, I finished 28th, but with a gap of only 33 seconds behind the leader. not bad for my first crit! plus NO one crashed and I made it through a 3 day stage race alive and still wanting to get on a bike again! :o) All in all, a great experience and trained me to do solid warm-ups and decent cool downs and to work on nutrition before and after the races.

SDSR Road Race: The joyous KOM climb

Men's 4 crash at the finish (same time my race was finishing! Only good reason I was dropped)

March 25-26: Redlands Classic: I decided to do the Savage Hills Challenge put on by the Rotary Club here in Redlands. We did 60 miles with at least 5,000 feet of climbing (not nearly as much as Breathless Agony, but more than I would have liked to do day before a race). It felt like more than 5,000 feet of climbing... Might need to get someone's GPS results! We did 7 individual *hill climbs* that definatley put us to the test. The hardest being the Smiley Drive climb which was prob 1.5 miles long with grades of 22%. I realized that I probably could have used more gears ! It was certainly a challenge and I would feel very tired the rest of the day. Sore legs all night again.. yuk!

**** NOTE! Just recived confirmation from GPS results that the ride had 6,500 feet of climbing. Yep, I knew it was more than 5,000. Sure felt like it!

Jonathan competed in his first crit today (men's 5s) and dominated nearly the whole race. He made an impressive break from the group with a few laps ago, but unfortuantely was engulfed by the peleton by the finish. In any event, he had a great race and it was fun to be a spectator.

Today was also my women's 3/4 crit as part of the Redlands Classic. Had all sorts of friends, co-workers and some family out there cheering us on. Teri and Joy also joined the crew as well as many of the gals from San Dimas Stage Race. I knew it would be a tough race. The course had some hairy turns which caused a few crashes later in the race. Teri and I managed to stay with the lead pack the WHOLE race which was by far better than I though I would do with my dead legs from all the climbing the day before! Joy worked in a chase group and won a prime as the chase group leader (yay!). I was very very happy with my results for my 2nd crit of my career. Ended up 16th, Teri was 11th. Being in the lead group, we held a steady clip, with an average around 23 mph and all finished very close together. I was definatley pleased with how my legs operated after such a greuling ride the day before. Guess that means the work is paying off and that I will be more ready to handle the multiple race days at Sea Otter. We will see though, as Sea Otter is BIG TIME. Espeically since people like GUNN-RITA DAHLE (3 time World Champion, cover of Velo News multiple times, etc etc) will be racing with us. EEEEK! Exciting, but only makes the competition more intense.

Leaning into the hairpin turn

There is no doubt I have the whitest legs in Southern Cal

Joy wins a prime as lead of the chase group!

Teri takes a turn in front

Just a cool picture...

Photo Essay: Southridge "Fontucky" XC

Murphy was looking "innocent" as he sniffed out unexpecting people's food items... Greg and Murphy watched me in my first pro XC race of the season (a training race of sorts): Southridge Winter Series Final. All the usual suspects were there, and in addition fellow Team K&N rider Matt came to root us on, and teammate Teri was there to race.

The pro race begins: Pro ladies included Jimena, Tommara, Carolyn, Teri, Chrissy, Meggan, Mandy and myself. I think this may have been the largest turnout ever for women, let alone pro women at a Southridge race!

The course conditions were great! It was also nice to get the first race of the season under my belt. I will also note that this race acted as a whip .. to whip my butt into gear and work hard! Yes yes.... I have some more work to do, but alas, it's only March and technically my season officially starts April 2 (ya ya, i know it's just around the corner!). Thanks to Teri for making me add this one to my schedule!

On Birthday Eve

Well, it's the eve before I begin the final year of my twenties (I can show you my ID if you are one of the non-believers). I can't believe it's this time of year already. When the birthday rolls around, it means Sea Otter is right around the corner. MTB race season is technically upon us! Only this year, it's scarier; there are no guarantees and every race will be very hard work.

The photo to the right was taken by Greg at 2005 Brian Head NORBA XC. It actually makes me look like I have good form. Looking through the photos of other racers it was obvious that Greg scared the bee-jee-zuz out of every racer going through this section as he was basically hidden in the foliage.

I found out today that Jonathan "JW" Weaver will be gracing our presense for shizzle: 3/26-4/6. He noted that he will be in attendance at the first two Fast and Furious Tuesday night rides of the season, and will also be mixing it up at the Redlands Classic Crit (as I will be too).

Had a good weekend of hilly rides after a hellacious work week (in prep for a presentation that went very yesterday well might I add!). Did the leg-burner club road ride (around 4 hrs) on Sat along with Joy, Bev and the usual club suspects. Sunday was a couple hour MTB with Joy at Southridge. The course was in good condition: nice and tacky which is my favorite!

NEWS FLASH!!! BEER FACTOID: FAT TIRE AMBER ALE is FINALLY available in Redlands! This famed beer from my old residence of Colorado has had 3 official sightings in the area:

1. Charlie Jewell's (22 oz bombers available... I am waiting for the day they have it on tap!)
2. Gerrard's Market (22 oz bombers)
3. My fridge! (well. Greg bought them at Gerrard's)

Other notable Pisces friends (and a few Aries who make the cut) who I am sharing birthdays with this week and next: Jose, Chris W, James, Desi, Val, and both of my Uncle Chris's! The list goes on, but March is certainly a popular month.

In terms of celebrities, I am aware that I share a birthday with Mickey Dolenz (of The Monkees fame), and James VanDerBeek (of Dawson's Creek fame.. born the same year even). OK i am waiting for the comments about that one. Greg will be the first one to make fun of the fact that I know this.