Winning isn’t everything, but wanting to win is (Vince Lombardi)

My main road cycling goals for the year, thus far, have been:

* win (SRS) Pemberton criterium and Road Race- because it was my first road race ever (last year) and I came very last and remember the feeling like it was yesterday (won them both)
* win a stage at (NRS) Tour de Perth (won 2 stages)
* win a stage at (NRS) Mooball, NSW (won the TT stage, a little unexpected, but nonetheless meeting the goal)
* win the (SRS) state road race...well, this is where my story starts and attaining all road goals for the year finishes.

SRS #6- WA State Road Race; 114kms out and back + 1 x circuit lap; 1000m ascending

I had that feeling this morning (well, for the last few days, but I was hoping the rest would make it go away), that feeling where nothing works (inc. your bike) and everything hurts. To top it off, it was raining.

We had a reasonable group, with all of the usual suspects, plus a few new faces. Rebecca Halliday; having her second race, and Anna Kauffmann having her first- tough call with the first race being the State road race, but impressive to see them out there having a go. Someone I have never raced before; Nardine O'Connor (she may have done one of the SRS whilst I was racing over east) and Kelly Grey (who started with us for the Tour de Perth). I was disappointed that Clare Morgan was injured and unable to race, and Jo Bennett DNS, as both are skilled riders that would have made the race more interesting. Maybe next year, we need to be patient.

Not much happened until the turnaround point, a few attacks but nothing that was going to get away on this course. To be honest, I can't remember much of the race specifics, I wasn't feeling so good and coughing a fair bit, riding in a straight line even proved interesting. Andrew was riding in a following vehicle and has mostly filled me in. We had issues with rolling over, some riders just wanted to sit on the front, not roll through and time trial (which is fine is you can keep a decent pace), others who would roll through and then the others who wouldn't. The real race began from the turnaround point. Nardine O'Connor was off the front and no one seemed interested in chasing her. Someone attacked and Sarah, Rebecca, Melissa and I got away for a few minutes, but couldn't hold onto it and the bunch caught us.

The winning move came with a series of attacks (one attack and two counterattacks) on the same hill, Melissa, then Sarah (or the other way around) then Rebecca. I got the first two, but could not go with Rebecca and she was off the front solo. Lots of things were going through my mind as she was 50m in front.

We were slowly losing riders off the back, if the girls are not going to roll through and do turns, a group has to attack to avoid having riders "sitting on". If we all actively rolled through we would bring back breaks really easily, few wanted to put themselves on the line (I will come back to this) to make a good race of it. For the final 15kms I found myself with Sarah, Melissa and Cherie (I was impressed with Cherie's ride) and was again the main driver of the group, with the others mostly unable or unwilling to work. I felt for Melissa (she is still U19), I wouldn't wish restricted gears on anyone.

With Rebecca and Nardine still up the road, I worked to try and pull at least, Nardine back (we could see that she had fallen off Rebecca's wheel). We pulled onto the final circuit and I eased off the pace (expecting to get rolled for the sprint, for what we thought was third, assuming that the girls were too far in front). Unknown to me we had passed Nardine in amongst all of the men and Rebecca was only a few 100m in front of us. So Rebecca won, (there was unfortunately no sprint) for my second, Melissa third and Sarah forth (third Open Woman).

I was coming back to "laying it on the line…"Rebecca won because she laid it all on the line and had a go with a gutsy ride. I didn’t lay it all on the line and came second as a result. Congrats to Rebecca, I am not sure, but it may be her first state title, for road anyway. It was good to see Melissa actually putting her hand up for the ‘most aggressive rider’ jersey.

Cycling lesson #34: Have a go, why wouldn’t you have a red hot go?

Race data:
Av speed: 34km/hr, Max speed: 70km/hr
Av HR: 162bpm, Max HR: 190bpm

In the other state races for the day; a similar situation occurred with the U17 girls with my hill climbing buddy, Bella King (2nd) and the Rickettes (Michaela-4th and Jessica Allan-1st), with Rebecca Mumme (NDCC)- 3rd.

A few of my friends from my Sunday Hills ride were having a hit out in the Masters divisions (http://southperthcycling.blogspot.com/). I am unsure of the final results, but hear that Peter Mah came 2nd with Bruce doing a heap of work to bring back breaks. Good to see Stuart, Mark and a few of the other guys out there, who are much more hardcore than ‘I have pulled my hammy’ Ryan.

Off to Kalgoorlie for my favourite race of the year this week (Australia’s richest handicap race- Menzies to Kalgoorlie). Nothing serious, this will be for fun.

If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up some place else (Yogi Berra)

Planning an overseas cycling trip would be easy- right? Perhaps, not at this stage of the season. But because of my tenacious-ness and desire to achieve it as a goal for the year, it might just all fall into place. A special thank you to those who are helping me out. All this training and I am busting at the seams to do a serious amount of new racing- soon!

We have our WA state road race this weekend, and as defending champion, I am looking forward to the race. I am hoping for a good turn out too, Cycling WA has about 15 women listed, surely that is some sort of record for WA, certainly since I have been riding anyway. Has anyone spoken to the weather man? Can we have less rain than the last time we did that course, please? I still remember my face hurting from the rain drops at Tour de Perth...so bring on the sunshine.
ciao ciao

Pain is weakness leaving the body

SRS #5- Dardanup (WA) 65kms, 600m ascending.

An early, cold start this morning for the 2 and a bit hour drive to Dardanup. We were starting the same time as the C grade men (but not in the same race). This creates confusion as you need to keep an eye on the wheels you want to, mixed in with people who are not even in your race. If a woman goes up the road (the men have got smarter this year and do not chase), and you are in the wrong position and surrounded by men, it is harder to get out (of the bunch) to chase her down (because she is not in their race). The C grade men are mostly beginner or more mature riders with less tactical race skills, this makes rolling through, chasing down attacks and group riding more interesting. It proved to be an interesting training race in many ways. After a week of “Death Valley”, big gear efforts that made me cry-seriously (and I love big gears) and HR efforts, it was a matter of suck it and see how the little Fleet girl would back up.

There was a bit of alliance building in the Dardanup Hall carpark this morning and I was trying to guess who was working with who before the race started (or whom as it turned out…but I will come back to this). Early on in the race, Rebecca Armstrong was looking to go off the front, perhaps looking for someone to go with her, I thought about it (with only the two of us it was a bit early to stay away) and then I thought about letting her go for a bit and working to pull her back. I am trying to get away from negative racing and encourage the women to ‘have a go’ rather than rolling around and sprinting at the end, so we let her go unchallenged. The men make it interesting and she was joined by a few making a bunch of 4 or 5? and stayed away for just over half of the race.

Team EH Bike Services – Sarah Fraser (and Keith Gill) moved to the front, controlling the bunch. So my conclusion was Sarah and Rebecca were working together (it has been a while since this has happened, but all good). I wondered what Melissa’s plan was, it has been suggested strongly on numerous occasions that she try something different to avoid a bunch sprint. I rode up next to Melissa and straight out asked her if she was working with anyone today; “nothing, I am riding solo” (this is important to the story).

Rebecca’s break was caught with about 20kms to go, shortly thereafter Sarah attacked on the peak of the climb and got away solo. Shortly after one of the men did a big attack (catching me off guard) and joined Sarah. There were two of them, so I assumed (incorrectly) that our bunch (of about 6 now) was going to work to get them back. We were joined by a bunch from the back (making about 12 riders). In short, over about 15kms the bunch of 12 riders was unsuccessful in pulling back a 2 rider 30-40sec (max) break. I was so very disappointed that everyone seemed to be happy to sit in for the bunch sprint to take 3rd. I sat up for the final sprint.

At the end when I asked Melissa what was going on, she replied “We had Sarah up the road”. It was at this point that I felt honored, and confused, it seems 3 of the State’s best riders were working together to beat me? How awesome! I could not even respond to Mel's comment, I was so fatigued, and had to get off my bike and fall in a heap-soon. This is going to be great for me, making me a stronger, faster, smarter racer. What a perfect end to the training week!

Race data:

Av speed: 34km/h, Av HR: 164bpm, Max speed: 65km/hr, Max HR: 190bpm,

Women starters: 10 (with C grade Men starters: 20-ish).

Results: 1. Sarah-Jeanne Fraser 2. Melissa Hoskins 3. Holly McClellan

Luck is when opportunity knocks and you answer...

Davina's training treat -what you have all been hanging onto your seat for, I am sure:

I have a few skills that I want to do some focus work on; bike handling and close riding. I thought that a fun way to do this would be to try...BMX. I got in contact with the State BMX coach; the FAB Mr Karl Mustchin (pictured here) and arranged to have a go. I got Mum to go through some of my brother's motorbike clothes to find something to wear (street cred. and all) and Karl was going to bring the rest for me, what a champ.

So I rock up with less apprehension than rocking up to the track for the first time, I can now ride a bike at least. There were the standard gags about me falling off (and just for the record, I didn't) and with the track being wet... The 'dirt' I was expecting was more like little rocks and the corners were concrete (like an outdoor track).

I have never seen BMX racing before so Karl took the time to explain the basic skills, starting in a gate (good track stand practise) and how to do jumps. I wasn't sure how I would go, but I seem to do okay and got excited about doing the smallest jumps (few cms max, no bigger I am sure). Thankfully no stacks (there was one close call), but it was seriously, really good fun. The clearly skilled, Karl was jumping left and right for metres in the air, showing me what is was really about, I was very impressed.

After quite a few course efforts, it was about 300-400m long, I was starting to feel my altitude training efforts from earlier in the afternoon. Andrew had me do a 55 min DVD session (on the windtrainer, with altitude) titled something like: Big Gear Effort Training. I loved it...after it was finished.

Anyway, I really like BMX (not that I need another cycling discipline to add to my cycling CV, nor another Bike to purchase/maintain- my Luke would be less than impressed). But I will be back to the BMX track. Karl will be off to China (for the BMX World Champs- WA has great representation) for a few weeks and this will give my still really sore, broken toe some more time to heal, BMX was not so good for it. A big thank you to Karl for looking after me and the loan of all his equipment.

On another note that brightened up my day further; I am starting to get some responses back about my US cycling race team queries...maybe, just maybe, it will happen. But we wont get too excited just yet, I don't like disappointment.

I'll be racing in Dardanup this weekend, round #5 of the Women's SRS. Need to win some more points to make up for the races I've missed, so watch out ladies (I am not at all competitive, am I?).

Sending a big smile xx

a week in the life of...

Planning...

I am almost settled in back home, I love coming home after trips away. But I need a plan, what to do next. I am thinking of doing some criterium and road racing in the US, just a thought. How to do this, who or which team to do this with and (most importantly) how much is it all going to cost, is what I am trying to sort out this week. Anyone have any suggestions?

Training...somewhat different

The lovely Darryl Benson is having some time off from work, so I have taken this as an opportunity to try some different things in my training program. Rides with the Fleet Guys were not going to fit in so, this "little (or not so little, but getting smaller) Fleet Girl" rocked up to this week's Glen Parkers Thursday morning ride, unsure of what to expect. Based upon no real experience, just perception, I was scared. But I have to say I was pleasantly surprised when no one seemed to mind too much that I joined in- that was perfect for me. I was thankful for some adult conversation and impressed by the safe riding practices of the small group. I spend a great deal of my training riding with seriously awesome athletes (we will come back to this point on athletes) but are constantly impressed when someone I meet for the first time knows my name, or has seen me race (and has taken the time to remember).

A special thank you to Bryce MDR (Symmetry Cycle Coaching) for a motorpace session this morning. Just to make sure I was racing the Club race in York this weekend, completely baked (not half baked), I had my first introduction to "Death Valley". I can now relate to what Fitzy and Semple crap on about now. So (well before the crack of dawn) we set off. Cherie (Bonasera) seemed to be in the hurt box as much as me and Brad Robson (a promising junior) was smashing it up on the front. It was all good, until the rain. What was with that?

I have a special training treat lined up for myself next week...going to try something that might surprise a few people. Will keep you posted, will certainly make for good reading (if you enjoy laughing at my expense).

Bonus stuff...

Whilst on the search for a team to ride with in the US I came across this on the Proman Women's Cycling Team website (written by their Team Sprinter). If you are male, you might not be able to relate. http://www.promanracing.com/media/Are_you_an_Athlete.pdf
When I first started reading it, I thought: here we go. Then, it said a few things that hit a few spots in me that I have been hiding from. So I would like to announce that "I am an athlete", because I have been avoiding saying it.

Sad news, I have just seen on Adam Semple's website that Ben King has been involved in a huge crash and will be coming home from Europe today. We are thinking of you Ben and wish you all the best for a speedy and full recovery.

Til next week's training treat report.
Dxx

NRS- Murrwillambah (NSW) May 1-4th, 2008 (Mooball)

I got a card once that said: The great thing in this world is not so much where you stand, as in what direction you are moving. This sums up how I feel about my last week of racing, and I am on the move. My story goes like this;

After flying to Brisbane on a midnight flight earlier than the team (it was cheaper) then hanging out in Brisbane for 8 hours until they arrived, we set out on our journey from Brisbane airport to Hastings Point (northern NSW). It should have taken about 2 hours, but after a number of very serious accidents on the M1 freeway, we were planning to stop for dinner en route at 7pm (some 5 hours later). Eventually we arrived and were all very keen to sleep.

The “WA Team” consisted of;
Elite Women: myself and Rebecca Armstrong (Beck was staying in alternate accommodation arranged through her Dirt Roads TID program)
U19 Girls: Melissa Hoskins, Camille Pallett, Sarah Kent
U19 Boys: Patrick Gill, Sam Davis (“aka DOC-Duty of Care”), Mark Bailey (Albany), Michael Freiberg, Luke Durbridge, Matt Puzey (Albany).
Our support crew was Darryl Benson, and Mels parents; Amanda and Peter Hoskins.
N.B. The Rickettes were staying with Ricki Lee in alternate accommodation and Matt Puzey was staying with Brett Gillespie, who is currently also based in Albany (so I am told).
For me, the event had three stages; Stage 1: 24.2km Time Trial (Thursday), Stage 2 105kms Road Race (Saturday), Stage 3 69km Road Race (combined with the U19 girls on Sunday).

Stage 1: 24.2km TT. It was pretty much flat, a little rough in parts, a little bit of undulation but nothing that you would call a hill. It was going to suit me nicely, the wind was up a bit, I felt it but no one else seemed to complain. I had been seeded first for the Elite Women, I told you it would only be a matter of time, and this seemed to give me some confidence because someone at Cycling Australia also expected that I might win (whoo hoo). But at the same time, the expectation was that I would win; and this works for me too.

Personally, I had a bit of a shocker of a morning and my race prep was less than ideal. However, the temperature was good, the sun was out, I was plenty warmed up and the very last rider off. I spoke with Andrew (over the phone back in Perth), he sorted me out and I was even early for the start line (somewhat of a novelty with me and TTs). In front of me was Carlee Taylor (Miss Amy Gillett scholarship 2008) and then Carly Hibberd (came 2nd on GC at Tour de Perth-MB coaching), Carlee was a good target one minute ahead of me.

Based on last years times I expected that I would need to average 41kms/hr. But after about 5-10kms I was sitting nowhere near that, I am not sure if it was windier, the roads were rougher (something about lots of rain to the region) or the standard of athletes was lower. We had to ride from the start, up the coast and back past the start; Darryl signaled that I was 3 seconds up on Carlee after about 4.5kms. I could see Carlee in her white Jayco SA Skinsuit at points off in the distance, once I was sure that I must have lost her and was convinced that I was riding crap, but then there she was with Carly Hibberd sitting just in front of her.

We were on the home stretch back with about 8kms to go, I watched Carlee go past a street pole and counted the seconds up to estimate how far I was behind her, about 30 seconds. I was very surprised, but smiled to myself, the pain was nearly over. It is about this stage in races that I get my second wind, somewhere close to the finish. But instead of pushing harder I seemed to cruise (it is easy for me to say this now as the race is over, maybe I had nothing left…). I sprinted for the line (remembering very clearly Ruth Corset beating me by less than a second in Tassie), nearly catching Carly Hibberd in the process (she started 2 mins in front of me). I crossed the line and immediately looked for someone to tell me how I went, a split time from Carlee to me, but no one was around. I rode up to the cars and everyone was packing up or had ridden home.

I rolled back to the start line and Carlee yells at me “I think you got it”, I was actually pretty stoked that she knew who I was…then her coach (SAIS Head Coach; Gary West) came and congratulated me “unofficially”. Do you know how good it was to see my name at the top of the results board? I seriously love that feeling. I am still not quite sure who Rebecca Barwick is, I am really not good with who the other girls are, but am compiling a list. There was a bit of a common theme happening with me and TTs…maybe it is just the flatter courses, because I dont think it is the TT bit.

Top 5 Elite Women Time Trial
1. SUMMERS, Davina (WA) 37:25.8
2. BARWICK, Rebecca (ACT) 37:30.0
3. TAYLOR, Carlee (SA) 37:57.5
4. ROWNEY, Loren (QLD) 37:59.4
5. GRIFFITHS, Helen (QLD) 38:01.9

In an effort to over-analyse things (as I do) I have compared the times of the girls who completed the TT in both 2007 and 2008;

GRIFFITHS, Helen 37:49.81 and 38:01.9 = 12 secs slower in 2008

ROY, Sarah 39:14.53 and 38:20.0 = 54 secs faster in 2008

YOUNG, Liz 37:19.01 and 38:32.8 = 1min, 13 secs slower in 2008

HIBBERD, Carly 38:38.48 and 39:10.0 = 32 secs slower in 2008

ALWAY, Suzanne 38:27.31 and 39:32.1 = 1 min, 5 secs slower in 2008

I find it hard to believe that all these girls (minus Sarah Roy, some training me thinks) would be in less form than 12 months earlier and come to the conclusion that the conditions were tougher- agree?

I won some money (this makes my Luke very happy) and this little Australian kangaroo stuffed toy thing. In the words of the great Muz- 'One small step for mankind, one giant leap for Davina'. Beck Armstrong (WA) came 15th. In the U19 girls; Sarah Kent came 3rd, Melissa came 5th, Camille DNS as she was unwell. In the U19 boys Patty chose not to ride the TT, Sam did well to finish 21st, Mark 27th, and Puzey 34th.

Stage 2: 105km Road Race- Elite Women.
This morning was an early start for me with everyone else racing later in the day. Darryl and I set off before sunrise (I had to find some lights to put on my bike). For me, today was 6 laps of a hilly circuit with over 2000m of ascending (ouch, seriously, ouch). They were shorter hills that the Sunday course, but after 6 laps, there was going to be so many hills. Basically, I was climbing quite well (for me), I was positioned well in the bunch, saw the moves as they happened and went with what I could. I am not sure if I am getting better at where to be in the bunch, or I have some street cred. after winning the TT, so the riders let me be where I want, just another dynamic to women’s racing, I am learning.

On the third lap, I was involved in chasing an attack on a hill, and then a counter attack, but I began to fatigue really quickly. I looked down and realized that I had been chasing up a hill in my big chain ring. Not a smart move. Before I popped, I eased off and climbed steadily over the hill. I was off the back with some of the other girls, we chased for most of the next (4th) lap to get back on and succeeded right before the start of the next set of climbs. Again, I was positioned well and saw the moves coming, went with the first few, then just didn’t have it to go with one. I was about mid-pack with #119 BEST, Tracey, a bunch of about 13 in front of me. Everyone else, that was still riding, was too far behind to wait for.

Tracey and I stayed together for about half a lap, but she was whipping-it up the hills and I had nothing left, I was spent and had dug deep in the first 4 laps. I time trialed home to finish 14th (or there about, official results are still to be posted). I was happy with my race, the efforts that I put in when it was really hurting. I saw a glimpse of something today, that made be really believe for the first time that I will be one of those girls smashing it on the front, sometime soon. I have to be patient, I know.

Beck finished about 9th, and had a good day, she should be happy. In the U19 girls race, Mel finished about 11th with some bad cramps, Camille DNF. Final results TBA.

Stage 3: 69km Road Race (combined with the U19 girls).
It was not a good sign when it hurt to get out of bed as I woke this morning. We were flying out tonight so had to get everything packed up as well as getting everything ready for the race. Our race was a reasonable sized group of about 50 with the U19 girls in addition to the Elite Women for a 10:05 start. The course had 4 main hills in it, we started in Murrwillumbah racing to Mooball and then doing a big lap of a circuit and come in for the same finish as yesterday.

The race was very aggressive, which was awesome and the top 8 or so girls were making the rest of us hurt and chase…a lot. So it went like this: 8kms into the race was the first main hill, I got dropped with quite a few other girls and got back on with help from the descent just before the turn around in Mooball. We then went back over the hill we had just come over and I got dropped again (there is a pattern here, I am aware) a bigger group this time and we fought to get back on successfully, just prior to the third hill.

About half the field got dropped on the third hill, less and less were making to back on to the main group of 8, who seemed to actually be hurting each other as well as the rest of us. The whole race had been on the rivet, I was not focusing on drinking and eating like I usually do, just hanging on, it was like a very long points score race, with hills. I was thirsty and looking forward to the feed station. The descents were quite technical in some parts, especially with the potholes and inexperienced riders. Not that I can talk, but I actually did well today on the cornering and descending, I think I was too fatigued to be scared so just went with it. It did occur to me that it would hurt considerably if I fell off at any stage.
The forth climb was the steepest after a gradual ascent to the base of the climb, the girls stomped up it, I could not hang on to the front 8 despite being in good position, just didn’t have enough kick in me. Some of the riders were out the hoop at the base, a few of us finished at the top together and formed a nice little chasing group for the final 10kms to the finish. If only the girls were interested in chasing. In this group there was Kirsty Braun (yesterday’s elite women winner), Ashlee Ankudinoff (NSW), Beck Armstrong (WA) and Melissa Hoskins (WA). Beck did some very strong efforts on the front, she was probably one to the closest ones to staying with the front group and I suggest may have been spewing that she had not been able to stay with them…thus chasing really hard. Kirsty also wanted to be up there and was working hard.

After a while it was clear that we were not going to get back on, no one else would catch us and hurting yourself on the front would not do you any favours for the finish, especially with everyone else sitting on. I did what I had to do on the front, no more, no less. Also, there were one or two AIS TID girls (they mostly look the same in their kits) who did some work, everyone else was along for the ride. I finished 3rd in our bunch sprint, I would have liked to win it but did a “Ryan” and over geared too early. The finish was flat, not downhill, 11 cog was not required for the final 250m. But my timing was perfect, thanks to a lesson I learnt in Albany last weekend. Mel finished right behind me and Beck somewhere in our bunch. I expect that I got somewhere between 10-12th place. Final results TBA. Again, I got the feeling today that I can be up there with these girls, I can see that I am improving and getting better every race. A block of training that will be coined “Operation Hill Climb” and I will be on track to win the RRs too. So I have 6 out of 10 podium finishes for the NRS events thus far, not a bad effort. The BBB wet-weather booties got a run all event (much to the embarrassment-by-association for Patty and Sam). They made my toe feel so much better, will stick with the cut out shoe, thongs and slippers for another week and see where we are at.

Whilst being away I missed the SRS race in Collie on the weekend. By all reports, it was a standard WA chicks race. Sarah Fraser winning the bunch sprint, Linda Evans 2nd, Hol third. I wonder if they awarded the jersey at the event, how the points table is traveling and whether I am going to have a chance of winning this series if I miss quite a few of the races being away at NRS events.

So what is next, you ask? I am racing York this weekend, hoping some of the newer girls to racing will come along (I am happy to help them out). Three weeks time is the State Road Race. But need to sit down and re-assess my aims and goals- job for this week.

Happy Riding xx