There are two types of bike riders…the ones that have fallen off and the ones that are about to (Brian Taylor).

My new residence for the remaining time in the USA will be in Kutztown, PA. The athlete accommodation is located about 16kms from the (Valley Preferred) Lehigh Valley velodrome. In my apartment (which is pictured both from the front and rear) is Peter Fitzpatrick (AUS), Warren Scott (AUS), Haseem Mclean (TRI) and Jude Codrington (TRI). In the apartment next door is Dougie (Repacholi- from my home town, Perth) and Simon van Velthooven (NZL).

I have been getting out on some nice recovery rides and taking in the beautiful country side…not that I am a country type of girl, but after visiting New York the other week, I am not sure I am a city girl so much either.

The complete champ, Kacey Manderfield (Verducci/Breakaway) has loaned me her car for the time whilst I am here (she is off racing in Carolina), so I have ventured out (only as required) and driven very carefully on the right hand side of the road. It would be pure gold entertainment to have been able to watch me constantly chant “keep right” at myself.

So onto the crashes…
We were waiting for the rain to pass to ride the Derby (the main local group ride, legend has it that Darryl Benson was one of the first riders to start the Derby…back in the day). The rain did pass, but too late to get to the start of the ride so we just went on our own; Pete, Wazza, Simon and I - Dougie decided to do windtrainer training instead, smart move. We rode across this one-way metal grated bridge; Peter and Simon first, then Warren and I. Wazz's bike slipped on the still damp bridge and he stacked it right in front of me, I had nowhere to go but slide into him and his bike. Just think of 2 people and 2 bikes sliding on a cheese grater.

So I am okay, just very stiff, sore, bruised and cut up a bit. My wrist is clicking funny and I can't use my left thumb, my back hurts to pedal/walk/move etc. My bike will need some work done to it and some new stuff, thank goodness I brought that spare pair of shoes as mine will need to be fixed also.

Wazza is now at hospital with a broken wrist/hand (requiring both pins and a plate), stitches in his lip and a 7cm long, very deep cut on his other hand- he had lost a lot of blood (photo attached, he was smiling at the jokes we were telling him to try and keep him with us until the car arrived to get him to hospital). I was very impressed with Simon’s responsiveness and first aid in the situation. Wazz was not wearing a helmet...so I have two suggestions for the punters: Learn first aid and always wear your helmet (even if you are just rolling down the street).

On a similar note, Scott Sunderland broke his collarbone at the track last night (Tuesday), he came down with Haseem and another guy. I understand Scott will be coming home on the weekend to have some surgery.

I have entered both a local road race and circuit race for the weekend after track racing on Friday, assuming I feel up to it. Friday night's race program is kerien’s (with the heats in the morning), 1-mile track record attempt and 5-mile track record attempt. I am going to do them all, the money is up to 12th in the keriens and 6th in both the record attempts.

Control the controllables; your attitude and your effort (Jennie Finch, Softball Player)

The International Tour de Toona (NRC) Criterium
(version 1, still waiting for video and photos)
Altoona, PA
Sunday, 27th July, 2008
65km criterium

Results (top 5):
1 Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine Cycling)
2 Iona Wynter Parks (Colavita/Sutter Home)
3 Jacquelyn Crowell (Team Kenda Tire)
4 Davina Summers
5 Tina Pic (Colavita/Sutter Home)
Full results

Race Data:
HR avg: 179bpm
HR max: 184bpm
Speed avg: 37.5km/hr
Speed max: 58.3km/hr

Race report (edited from cyclingnews.com): (and just for the record, I am not racing for the USA).

Laura Van Gilder added another victory to her career tally of over three hundred career wins, winning the International Tour de Toona’s downtown criterium. Van Gilder won a two-up sprint ahead of break away companion Iona Wynter Park (Colavita-Sutter Home). Jacquelyn Crowell (Kenda Tire) won a two-up sprint to take third place ahead of chase group companion Davina Summers (USA). The pair broke away from the main field with nine laps to go and held off the chasing bunch for the last podium place.
"I didn’t know what to expect because it’s a really well known race with a lot of money so I thought I should come out and see what would happen," said Crowell pleased with a podium finish.

The Tour de Toona was well known for offering equal prize money between the Pro men and women peloton, unchanged in lieu of the event’s considerable downsize. Race directors Larry Bilotto and Rick Geist continued to pave the way for sport parity offering a $15,000 prize purse to each field. "I have always been a big believer in the women’s peloton deserving the same prize money as the men but, for the same distance raced," said Geist.
The pro women’s field took on the same 65-kilometre criterium as the men and with the same vigor.

Third placed, Crowell started a string of attacks on the first lap. She was eventually pegged back by the third lap and immediately countered by Van Gilder and Wynter-Park.
The pair gained a sizeable lead over the circuit’s grueling hills and technical chicanes, courtesy of Van Gilders fast-paced tempo. "I didn’t have that many options available for me in a break with Van Gilder," said Wynter-Park. She was obliged to sit on the winner’s wheel given that her team’s leading sprinter, Tina Pic, sat back in the field. "There are some classy ways to do it and some not so classy ways to do it," continued Wynter-Park. "Once we got further away, my only options were to try to attack her on certain points of the course or lastly to sprint in the end, hoping that she was tired from her work in the break."

With no significant organization from the main field, the pair’s lead grew to over one minute. Upon seeing twelve laps to go, Australian Laura McCaughey (Juice Plus) launched herself into what looked like a potential bridge to the leaders. However, the main field felt her threat to the remaining podium place and quickly pulled her back.

Summers countered McCaughey’s return, gaining ten seconds on the field before Crowell bridged across to her. The pair dangled behind the leaders, securing their third and fourth places.

My attack was not calculated, I was just riding up the main hill, thinking: I don’t like the way this race is playing out, some of the teams needed to get together and attack, we turned the corner and before I knew it I was off, around the moto (Damian (XP Multimedia), who was videoing the race) and down the hill.

We had a fun 3 ½ hour drive to the race, my temporary room mate; the hilarious Kacey Manderfield (Verducci/Breakaway) and I were catching a ride with Kate Veronneau (Kutztown Cutters) and her fiancee, Mike (plus their dog, Major). I was extremely impressed with the organisation of the event and was asked by the Director if I would “come back and do the stage race next year?”

So, for my last NRC race in the USA for 2008, I was pleased with my result. How incredibly impressive was it to be standing on the podium with some of the most awesome riders in the USA/world.

Sometimes in life it’s the little things that are the big things

Grandview Grand Prix
Presented by Spinners Cycling
Lancaster, PA
Saturday, July 26, 2008

18 laps of a 1mi neighbourhood course (29kms), 6 turns/lap; a little rise and a slightly downhill sweeping left hand finish. Weather: 84F, low humidity, winds light variable. 52 starters, including the Cat 4 women.

Results (top 5):
1 SUMMERS Davina
2 PAULL Jacqueline (Watchung Wheelmen/High Gear Cyclery)
3 FARINA Robin (Cheerwine/Southeastern Cyclisomo)
4 EVERS Sonja (C3-Sollay.com)
5 WHITSON Genevieve (Port Nicholson)
Full results

With the NRC Tour de Toona criterium tomorrow, I wanted to race today… but didn’t. I always worry about getting in a wreck, doing too much etc etc. After my aggressive effort last week in the local criterium, I was going to make myself race a little smarter, sit in a little more today. Also, there were some good riders and significant team numbers, so before the race started I decided to back myself for a bunch sprint.

Most dominate was the (single) Cheerwine rider, Robin Farina. Right from the word go she wanted to control the race, keeping the pace high or form a break, which was great to see. The girls started to drop, one by one and I could hear their laboured breathing as I rode past. The Cheerwine rider got away with a HUB team member (HUB had a team of 5 riders in the race). I was happy to let them be away for a little bit, then another HUB rider went off the front to join them, I followed her wheel up to the break. Of the break of four, Robin (Cheerwine) was pulling hard, one of the HUB girls was rolling through, the other was not. The bunch had now split into two and the front bunch (or chase group) had now caught us (making about 10 or so riders).

I was having some bike problems, one of my brakes was not working (perhaps due to one of the many potholes I had just ridden over). I was trying to stay wide out of the path of other riders for a few laps whilst working out whether it was legitimate to pull into the pits and take a free lap. I have seen at the Bay Crits how the guys take a free lap for the smallest bike mechanical, I didn’t want it to seem like I was having a free lap to rest. In the end, I decided I had one brake and I shouldn’t really need to use it.

A preme announced with around 7 laps to go, I was too far back in the field to go for it, well I could have gone, but some of the teams looked as though they were teaming up for the preme win. Then with about 4 laps to go there was another preme, more money was up this time and I was in a better position to go for it. I was thinking that Robin (Cheerwine) would be the one to beat overall, she deserved the money, and I got to have a practice run at the final sprint.

The final lap came and I was in a reasonable position about 5th wheel when Robin (Cheerwine) attacked up the small hill the course had before the finish, maybe 500-600 metres to go. She had a rider on her wheel (Jacqueline PAULL (Watchung Wheelmen/High Gear Cyclery), I kicked a little to go with them and the three of us were away (I had a bit of chasing to do to get on). I was patient and sat third wheel for the corner and start of the decline, with about 100m to go, Jacqueline started to sprint around the Cheerwine rider, I went around them both for the win, by about a bike length.

I liked how the race organizers included the Cat 4 women in our race, asking them to start towards the rear of the field on the startline and they had their own Category prizes. I thought this was a good way of introducing new women into racing, almost a separate race, but keeping the overall numbers high.

Special thanks to Nina Santiago (and her Mum) for driving me to the race.

Don’t be afraid of the truth, just people’s interpretation of it

Tuesday night pro-am Track Racing
Lehigh Valley Velo

I was feeling pretty good, and looking forward to racing. Kaarle McCullock and Laura McCaughney were racing in the Cat2/3Men for tonight. I felt that I had not raced well enough on the track to warrant upgrading myself just yet so was with the women, which for the most part were from the USA. I was on the watch for Dana Feiss and the crowd favourite, Nina Santiago (coached by Kurt).

First race for the night was a 2km Scratch race; 6 laps. I attacked from the beginning, it took about a lap to respond, not much happened until 1.5 to go, I was about 4th wheel and went and held it to win by about 4 bike lengths. NICE.

Second race was a 20 lap Scratch race. I attacked early in the race and went away with Nina for a few laps, we were caught by the field and the next lap a preme was called. There was money up (Luke loves it when I win food money) so I wanted to win it. I had to dig in hard to win it as being off the front hurt. There was a good counter attack from Kate. No one chased her and the race had a sketchy bit where I was encouraging the girls to keep riding through or taking turns. There was an instance where the first four girls all pulled up (I was fifth wheel) and it was a little unexpected. So the bunch slowed down significantly on the banking and the was little room for many of the riders at the back or up the top, a little hairy.

To keep the race honest, the organizers announced a bunch preme, that I won also and Kate Vereno was realed back in with the bunch responding to the preme. Some of the “Young Medalists” riders (a group of juniors coached by a lady named May-Britt) seemed to be racing in a style similar to the Rick Lee/Budget Forklift juniors. Dana Feiss attacked early with about 2 laps to go, I responded third wheel behind Kate. Kate did not have enough to get Dana, I went around Kate but could not get Dana on the line, and got second. I won the two premes, so was happy enough with that.

Third and final women’s race for the night was a 10km (30 lap) Points Race (Sprint every 6 laps; 24, 18, 12, 6, 0). The first sprint I came about 5th.. I remember thinking, this is no way to win the omnium for the night. I won the second sprint after blocking for Nina and the girls started coming over the top of me (I put them on the hip and Nina got second), third sprint Nina won and I got second. Forth sprint I thought it was a lap earlier than it was, so went. Dana was challenging me all the way (I crossed the line first, and we heard the bell and both realized what we had done) so it was game-on for the next lap, she came over me and then I over her again for the sprint win. By this stage I was seeing stars and I was hoping that Dana was too. I don’t even know who won the final sprint, I got about 3rd. But it was enough to win the race and the night. Each event had omnium points for the overall prize money. Tonight I was racing for experience, winning money was a bonus. Apologies to all of the girls’ names that I am still yet to learn who contributed to the races.
I have had time to reflect and am pleased that I am racing well and all of my training and efforts before I left are coming together. I am learning a great deal and am pleased with the positive response that I am getting from those who are reading about my achievements (and lessons).

Wednesday I had a day off and we went to New York for a look around. We went up the Empire State Building, to a super Guitar store to pick up something very important for my lovely husband and a look around the shops. We made it back to Trexlertown for the final drinks at the roller party (yes, there was races on the rollers). I am hoping there will be another one whilst I am here so I can see all the fun. There is no Track racing this Friday night, I have arranged a local criterium on Saturday, and the Tour de Toona NRC criterium on Sunday.

Stay safe

“…just pedal faster than the others” (Luke Summers)

The Comeback Criterium presented by Swashbuckler/PaRenFaire.com
New Holland, Lancaster County, PA- 23 laps (0.7mi course), 6 left turns, 1 right turn.



Max Speed: 49.2km/hr
Av Speed: 36km/hr
Max HR: 182bpm
Av HR: 167bpm

A 12:05 start with just over 1 hour drive to get to the race. It was a local race with some reasonable riders (Sarah, Nonnie Howard, Kristy Swope, Betty Tyrell, Lorainne Lipfert, Jackie Paull). I felt very welcomed by the friendliness of the riders, this would assist in keeping their women's participation numbers high I remember thinking. Right from the time that I got out of Kurt's car, there were women riders saying hello, I had never met these women, yet they were so friendly and welcoming. It was an Open race, not a big field and there were some Cat 4 women at the start line. I had no idea what the standard would be like so I tested the waters by attacking in the first 20metres (before the first corner, like at the WA state 100km champs). I had been instructed (by Kurt) to attack through the corners particularly and hurt the girls as much as I could in the wind on the back side of the course. I was finding my legs, despite going on a hard 3 hr plus ride on Saturday after racing on Friday night. I was enjoying the left hand turns.

I attacked at least once every lap for the whole race- I was committed to hurting the field. I had split the field split from 18 to 10 early on, I felt for the Cat 3/4 women. With a good counter attack, there was a Masters USA TT champ (Betty)off the front, I was okay with letting her sit out there for a bit, just keeping an eye on her and making sure that I could go off the front and get to her, no one else was chasing, they were all looking at me. Then there was an announcement for the one and only prime for the race. There was a pair of $250 Hutchinson single tires up for grabs. The USA TT champ was about 9 secs in front of our group, I had just over 1km to make up this time and win the tires (I was thinking that Luke would be really impressed with this). So I dug in and went off the front and got her just before the line. It hurt and Kurt was encouraging me to work with her and stay away, but the bunch had chased me and we were joined by two other riders.

We picked up two lapped riders (one with a team mate in the four) but dropped then a few laps later. There was four of us with 5 laps to go, I kept attacking every lap. With one lap to go I was able to stay away for a 5 second win over the other three riders, with the bunch lead by Nonnie. You Tube video finish with thanks to Kristy Swope.

I chatted with some of the women at the end of the race, spoke to the Hutchinson tire rep and thanked him for my prime prize. The event organizer has encouraged me to race some more of their events whilst I am here. I deserved a Quiznos sandwich for lunch and a nap this afternoon. We watched Simon Gerrans win a stage of the tour and Cadel no longer be in yellow (for tomorrow anyway). Local race report(which will make you laugh) can be found: Sturdy Girls Cycling and final results will be posted on Bike reg in good time.
Thanks to Kurt for the race info, I had on idea on the timing between groups etc.

Legs nearly re-located...

World Series of Bicycling- 2008 (Track)
Festival of Speed- Featuring the 10km International Women’s Challenge.
Friday night, 18th July, 2008

Sprint Qualifiers were at 5pm, I figured that I had nothing to lose by having a go at these, it had been nearly a year since I had done a flying 200m. On a longer track, such as this 333m, the (fastest) line that you take to maximise your speed is different from our home track in Perth. Kaarle McCullock (now known as McCola from Art the announcer), Laura McCaughney, Liz Reap-Carlson, Dana Feiss and a few more USA girls were all good sprinters. Only 12 would qualify and the enduros like Cath Cheatley were not having a go, like me, perhaps not wanted to shown up by the sprint talents of Kaarle. Kaarle qualified first with a time of 11.8secs. I was 5th with 12.6secs, I was happy enough with this actually. The wind was up and with my deep dish wheels I certainly felt the wind going through turns 3 and 4 on the effort, I was actually concerned that I would not stay on my bike, interesting experience for being on the track.
Sprint first round (3-up- 2 laps): I was against Nina Santiago (USA) coached by Kurt (pictured here), and Dana Fiess (USA). I played it well, taking them high, until I took my eye off Fiess for a second, as I was about to jump, she jumped first and it was all over (I got second).

Sprint repecharge: Again, Jack Simes was my holder (pictured below). We were told that the first three would make it through to the next round. This didn’t seem right as we would be here all night, so I asked again; it doesn’t matter if I come 1st, 2nd or third? The answer was again yes, so I am thinking we are in for a long night and all I needed to do was come second. So second I came.

There was some confusion after this, as basically I needed to come first in the repecharge to stay in the sprints, as Jack had heard them say the bit about coming 1-3rd and making it through, he went a questioned the decision. They could not even tell me when I was next racing and what places it would be for. I was a little bit disheartened by the organisation of the racing.

In the end they remembered us, I raced a 4-up for 7th-10th. Jack suggested that I keep the pace high, save something for the back straight, and something for the finsh. So I lead out (drawing 1- closest to the bottom of the track) and kept the lead for the whole race, coming 7th overall. I was disappointed, and would have like to had held onto my fifth spot from qualifying. I won money for this however.

Next race; moving forward. The Supersprint. I have never raced one of these before, basically it is a elimination/miss-and-out until half of the field is gone, then it turns into a scratch race. So if there is 20 girls, the first 10 laps are an elimination, then the last 10 are a scratch race (first across the line is the winner). I was playing (what is called) the Devil at the back of the race, not wanted to get caught underneath. So just sitting at the back and sprinting through turn 4 to come over the bunch just before the line. Girls were getting eliminated and the call over the loud speaker (whilst we were on the back straight) that everyone was safe and it was now a scratch race. I went to settle in at the back of the bunch (rather than sitting high on the track) and crossed the line last (half a lap later). I was called that I had been eliminated, I was confused as we had just been told that we were all safe. So I came off and watched the rest of the race from the pits. Needless to say I wasn’t happy.

Final race for the night was, 10km International Women’s Challenge. I was keen to do well in this, it was a straight out scratch race, nice and simple. Rick Lee’s Budget Forklift girls were there, so they were being aggressive off the front, no one was really chasing and there was a bit of negativity from the group. Mikala Anderson was off the front for a few laps, I was happy to leave her out there for a bit, but then the bunch was not pulling turning and bringing her back. I attacked and met up with her quickly (at this point, I should have kept on going, as we were pretty far ahead in the field, she sat up and the Budget girls were chasing me down, I know these tactics).

I started talking to the other girls in the bunch, explaining what was going to happen with the Budget girls continuing to attack and that we needed to work together the chase and counter. In the last few laps there was some good moves, I put in a big chase with about 4 laps to go and thought I was done, but then found something (granted, a little late) to move up from about 10th spot to finish third. I was happy with this, Laura McCaughney won (although it quite clearly says Cheatley on the electronic scoreboard (see photo). Main results. Interesting first experience at the Lehigh Valley Velodrome. I am now pretty comfortable with the track and look forward to racing again on Tuesday night for Pro-am (which is professional riders and amateurs mixed, for no prize money). There is no Friday night racing this week, so I am arranging some crit/road racing.

We watched the racing on TV on Saturday arvo (as you do when you are staying in Trexlertown) and had the commentry on it, which was good fun. I have been for rides and hanging out with such pioneers and influential people of cycling in the US; I went for a ride with Jack Simes (velos first Director and first Race Director of criterium racing in the USA) (pictured here with Kurt), chatted and rode with Paul Pearson (one American first pro team riders- Shimano/Panasonic) and met Bill Strickland (Bicycling Magazine Editor) at post-racing drinks. Dougie and Scottie are riding like champs.

Ciao for now, thanks for reading

The body is an adaptive organism

A very long (fun) drive in Carson’s WRX from Bend, OR down to San Fran, CA (all day) and a midnight flight from the west coast to Philadelphia (east coast) brings me to Trexlertown, PA. I got a brief tour on the trip past CraterMountain, OR (pictured, with water in it), the Golden Gate Bridge, CA (also pictured), and a burger joint that served on rollerblades (very American). I have started the second section of my tour and it has a big track (velo) focus.

I have come half way around the world to one of the world’s most respected tracks: (Valley Prefferred) Lehigh Valley Velodrome http://www.lvvelo.org/ . I feel right at home as Dougie (Repacholi-WA) is here- there is yet more interesting variations in his surname. David Short (AIS) has a team of Scott Sunderland, Karlee McCullock, Jason Niblett. Laura McCaughney (TAS) has been in the US for quite a few months racing with Juice Plus NC and is doing a bit of track now. Rick Lee, Audrey Anderson and the Budget juniors from around Australia have been here for the last few weeks and are heading home at the end of the week. Cath Cheatley (NZ, Cheerwine) is training and racing here for the next week or so also.

So for the women, some great talent, along with the USA girls, that I will get to race against on Friday night at the International Women’s Challenge. The track is a 333m outdoor concrete track (photos attached) and it is quite different from our one at home in Perth. There are many big name guys here from all over the world, but I don’t know any of them. I am staying with a guy named Kurt Begemann from the velo in an apartment in Macungie (pictured here) about 1.5kms from the track. Just before I came there was a track meet called Tandemonium. There was 11 tandem bikes on the track, Kurt and Beers (aka Speedie- Team Rite Aid) won the National sprint title.

After Cascade Stage race and big road trip I have tried to take it easy for a few days…allow my body to adapt and recover a little. I have checked out the racing schedule (both for track and road) and tried to set myself up. I have got the ‘transitional’ shopping list down and are enjoying the warm weather. I did a quick roll over the track this morning, and motorpace with Jack (the original velo Director) who knows Darryl Benson.

I hear some terrible news from home, a serious crash involving a car and a group of cyclist on Brookton Hwy. I am thinking of those who are involved and sending my love. On another note, I hear the Bali Bombers who killed my brother are to face the firing squad in the next few days. I am struggling a little to deal with this so far away from home, my family and loved ones. I am enjoying everyone’s emails (or blog comments) so keep them coming. I am pleased the handsome ladies are training hard and having fun.

Congrats to the Australians at the Junior World Championships, all the USA juniors here cannot believe how we keep getting great results at a Junior level, year after year. Very impressive.

Now off to find some track legs…to have a crack at some UCI points for tomorrow night.

Cycling- a sport where suffering is admired

2008 Bend Memorial Clinic CASCADE CYCLING CLASSIC, July 9-13, Bend Oregon
Sunday- Stage 6, 115km circuit race course profile (I thought circuit races are suppose to be flatter…).

Final day was here, and I had made it all in one piece. No wrecks, no timecuts and my legs were still working (well mostly). I was a bit sentimental when I got into Anny and Russ’s car this morning, my first stage race was nearly over. Today I was going to try and do what I could to speak to a few race directors about their team’s plans for 2009 and let them know that I was interested. I wanted to finish the tour in the top 20 on GC. There were two main hills in today’s race; the hill up to the Feed station and the QOM (plus the funky bit after that just kept going…and going…and hurting).
We had to do 4 laps of the circuit, it was again another HOT day and we were racing at 1:05pm. I knew that I would need to ride myself into the race (I could hear the voice of reason), but when your warm-up hurts it is not a good sign. I don’t usually train this much net alone race this distance. So, as usual, the pace was ON right from the start. Molly wanted to have a hit out in the first lap and we had planned to set up a lead-out and/or sweeper for her. I was keen to have a go at being a sweeper…but she decided to have a go solo. The counters, counter, counters began. I was being smarter today and sitting in more, these hills were going to HURT and I was not going to come 30th something today. I understand that this is still very respectable in this talent-full field of 90ish racer, but I wanted to do better still.

I got dropped on the first lap and got together with a group and chased like demons to get back on. On the next lap (still not quite ridden in yet) I got dropped again and we chased again, a smaller group now as riders were falling off and staying off everywhere. It came through the radio that Katherine Mathis (Webcor) had a mechanical issue and was just in front of us, if joined our group she would be able to work with us and pull us back to the main bunch. I yelled out to her as we rode past and asked if she was okay (being encouraging) as she seemed injured. It worked a treat and she was on our group within a few miles and we were working to get her (and us) back to the bunch. One of the SHO-VAC girls in our group came off going through the sharp right turn at the round-about. She was on the front, the rider second wheel had to take the other side of the median and I managed to make it through, watching her slide out and away from me, close call.

I was so badly in the hurt box that it did not hurt anymore and I just wanted to finish, but my polar said only 60kms, surely it can’t be that long. I was feeding well from the feed station which was great as going back to the car to get feed just seemed too hard today. Jane was around my group and the other girls were in bunches behind. The race had been all broken up from lap 1.

TIBCO and Kristin Armstrong were off the front, which meant the pace would slow down a little (just enough for me to be able to breathe). As we were climbing into greater altitude, the air was so dry and it was getting hotter. The final two laps were pure pain for me, there were times when I was thinking, what am I doing, this is crazy. It was very windy and I was missing radio instructions as I could not hear them. I called through that it was windy (the guys didn’t realize and had no idea what I was talking about) then a huge tumble weed flew across the road in front of us and nearly took out the riders. We had to brush the sticks and grass off the front of our bikes. The guys could understand what I was saying now and happily repeated the finishing instructions. It was good to have Jane around me, we were encouraging each other, depending on who was more in the hurt zone at any given time.

I was focusing on getting good position and Rob was doing a great job through the radio just being the calm voice of reason "position, position, position…it is everything". For me, it was a lack of confidence that I was not moving right to the front on the downhills, I knew where I needed to be, I just didn’t feel like I deserved to be at the front with these really awesome riders. But then, I had a choice to make, get over it and get good position and be able to make the climb with the group/at the front of the group or not.

We had the final QOM Climb and the call was to give it everything, this was going to decide the final race and GC placings. I found my extra bit (who knows where I hide it) and climbed with the front of the group, girls were dropping like flies and all I could hear was Rob talking me through the climb. I was just doing as I was told and the finish line could not come fast enough. We got to the QOM, but then the bit after that just kept going on. We started to descend and the sign was 5km to the finish (I was enjoying the signs being in kms, just one thing that I did not have to try and translate).
Apparently it was all downhill to the finish, but as we went straight through the round-about (where we had previously gone right and that girl had crashed in front of me) was unknown territory. I can’t really remember much but there were some little bergs and I was just hanging on. There was a bunch sprint for third and I could see all the teams lining up their riders for lead outs etc, again, so cool to watch, I was just wishing I had a lead-out rider. I got up as far to the front as I could and held it for as long as I could to cross the line 14th. I was so pleased with this on a stage that was not suited to me. But as one of the girls requested that I stop saying this as she is a hill climber and I have finished better than her on most of the hilly stages. Jane finished in the group behind some 36seconds later. Full results. 14th place today gave me 18th on final GC and first out of my team. Goal attained, I was stoked, final GC results

We celebrated with a yummy team BBQ for dinner at Jane’s host family house. I spent the night relaxing by the river, staring at the stars sipping my water to rehydrate. Carson had made up a slide show of great photos from the race and of the Metromint girls so we got a great little presentation. We watched Cadel (Evans) get back onto the bunch after coming down in the tour. Tomorrow, Carson is driving me down to San Fran airport for me to fly to the east coast for the next stage in my incredible journey. A big thank you to Metromint for their team support (team photo above) and Barry & Jessica for sharing their house (pictured here) with us for the last week.

How goes the battle? (Mary Canning)

2008 Bend Memorial Clinic CASCADE CYCLING CLASSIC, July 9-13, Bend Oregon
Saturday- Stage 5, 110km road race course profile (the hilliest road race of them all).


avHR 142bpm
maxHR 179bpm
av speed 34.5km/hr
max speed 73.6km/hr

I struggled out of bed today and piled into Anny and Russ’s car, it seemed like groundhog day and we were a well-oiled machine with getting to the starts on time. This was the first day that we were doing a shorter course than the Pro 1 men. They started at the bottom of the first hill and we started halfway up it. I did a reasonable warm-up in case the girls wanted to go right from the start up the hill, but it didn’t help, they still smashed it and I was off the back on the first climb, in a world of hurt. All the girls that had taken the easier options in the TT and crit yesterday were making us all hurt. Most of us formed a group and chased back on, I was remembering something David Short said to me about riding myself back into the race. I rode myself back in alright, straight to the front to get in two breaks (that were caught) and basically sat too close to the front, taking the wind and being a part of bringing back breaks. It was really exciting, there were attacks, and counters and counters and counters…the whole time on the flats until TIBCO got a rider away. Yuki and I were encouraging the other team riders to come to the front, Anny did well. Molly was well positioned for the final long climb, I was well positioned but chose the wrong gear and when the moves went I thought that I just didn’t have anything left (which I didn’t but would have had more if I had of been in my small chain ring) so didn’t question the gear I was in. Once I realized, I made up positions on the climb, but it was so long and near the finish that I was never going to get back the 40 or so positions that I had lost. So I dragged a train of about 4 girls up the hill, none wanted to work, so once I felt good enough, I attacked off the front to get up to the next group (thanks the girls back home, I can now do this). I caught the next group and we had a sprint for the line, Jane was in this group, I let her have the sprint (for 39th place mind you). I am a little disappointed with today, but have again learnt so, so much. The photos tell my story of pain, I wasn’t giving in though. I am 21st on GC currently. Last stage tomorrow, I would like to finish top 20 on CG and highest out of my team, bring on the circuit race.

Chewing…then spewing

2008 Bend Memorial Clinic CASCADE CYCLING CLASSIC, July 9-13, Bend Oregon

Stage 3 25km TT, course profile (half seriously uphill, then return).
no race data as I lost my polar just before the turn around...but for the first 10.4kms my avHR was 171bpm with a max of 179bpm.

I woke up early this morning to covert my road bike (with ksyriums) into the best time trial machine that I could, all the while really wishing that I had my TT bike here. I had packed some TT bars that I was loaning from Andrew, I had managed to borrow a spare TT HED front clincher from Molly and a rear Zipp 404 from Anny. I bought a TT helmet (everything in the US is cheaper and they gave me a good discount), so I would fit in with the gang. I am starting to like TTs, and despite the serious incline on the way out, it meant a romping downhill return. I have been climbing quite well this week, so I wouldn’t lose that much time on the uphill and do well on the downhill. All the girls had really nice TT bikes, discs or deep dish singles at least, the gear here is very impressive, I could spend all day just looking.

Rob (Metromint support and radio adviser extraordinaire) was going to follow Jane as she was now highest on GC, about 1 minute ahead of me after her awesome effort in yesterday’s break away. I was the 60th rider to start, with 30 second intervals and the guy holding me nearly dropped me on the line. I was going really well up the hill, I could see the girl in front and I was catching her, she was also catching the girl in front of her. All was good until about 11kms when I went over a big bump (the roads were not the best) and knocked my polar from my bars, it was about to fall off. I decided to pull it off and stuff it down my shirt, but as I did this I went over another bump and it flew off onto the road.

I didn’t know what to do, all I could think about was how much it costs and how Luke would be upset if I had to buy a new one and that I would be racing for primes at the crit tonight instead of a high placing to be able to pay for it. I couldn’t decide whether to stop and look for it or forget about it and keep going. Of course, I lost heaps of time as I was yelling at (anyone who would listen) that I had lost it and could they try and find it. I got to the turn-around point and then went past the spot I'd lost it, thinking again should I stop? It is hard to determine just how much time I wasted, but maybe 30-40 secs. Anyway, during this time I managed to pass all the girls that I had been chasing, they were very fatigued at the top of the hill and I passed a few together.

Then I got passed by a lady in red State Champion kit, (I now know to be Ruth Clemence, Bicycle Johns) and I was then like a bull to a red flag (or whatever the saying is). I was determined not to let anyone pass me, US state champion or not. I tried to re-focus on the race and forget about my polar. Ruth and I stuck within sight for the rest of the race, she would again pass me on the small sections of uphill and I would go past her on the downhill. She was clearly an awesome time trialist. I was unsure of where the finish line was and (incorrectly) assumed that it was the end of the cones, I got out of the saddle to start my sprint finish and crossed the line at the same time. I had no idea how I had gone, and all I was worried about was finding my polar.

Rob helped me speak to the Commasaires and one of the moto guys looked for ages and found it, a little scratched but as good as new, I was so happy. Most of my rest time between the TT and the crit had been taken up by looking for the polar, I was exhausted by the time we started the crit. We had not been advised of the results from the TT and were unsure if some of our girls had made the time cut. Some really fast times were put out in the TT, we had done the maths and it was going to be close depending on how generous they were going to be. Molly ended up being 12th and I was 15th, Jane 22nd with Full TT results. I was now 20th on GC, with Jane 16secs in front of me. Our team was 3rd for the TT team results. I assumed that we would ride for Jane in the Crit.

Stage 4- Downtown criterium, 60 minutes

I was starting to get nervous for the Criterium, which is out of character for me since being in the US. As there was no expectations for me at any of these races, I have just gone with the flow, done my best and that was that. I had expectations for this race and when people asked, I was marketing myself as a road sprinter. I would be happy with top 10. Jessica and Barry (my FAB host housing parents) were on the sideline waving an Australian flag, and I think the entire town of Bend was also there. The weather was still very warm despite the 5:45pm start time. The course was an L shape (refer to the course maps above) with 5 right turns and 1 left. There were cobbles, a median strip and drains on the course, just to make it interesting.

About 6 girls had been time-cut, then a protest and all the girls were allowed to start. Yuki was one of them and started the criterium without a warm-up. I chatted to Jane before the race, she had no expectations for the crit and was happy to do whatever she could to help me out. The pace was on from the word go, it seems Kristin Armstrong (going to the Olympics in a few weeks) wanted to stay out of trouble from wrecks so just put on the pace and strung us all out…and out…and out. I could hear through the radio that Molly was off the back early on and was making her way back when she got caught behind the first and only crash. I heard the girls going down behind me and shuttered at the thought it could be me next.

I was mostly well positioned and it was great to have Jen (dislocated shoulder from Stage 1) on the sidelines with a radio giving out guidance. But it all came to a stop as my radio was not working from about 15mins in (I got the one that Jen had crashed in and my sweat had gotten into where it had cracked and was not working). That was the last I heard or saw of a team mate for the rest of the race. Basically, it was one of the fastest races I had been in and with so many corners and your wheels slipping on the cobbles…but I had a choice to make, did I want to be there and hurt and be happy at the end, or pull out after the time cut and get an adjusted time. No one would have cared either way, but me. These girls are so skillful, so well trained and I wanted so much to beat all of them.
I was so badly in the hurt box but I guess so was everyone. I was looking for a good wheel and found one, Brooke Miller with one lap to go, then lost it. Found a Value-Act lead out train and thought this was as close to the front as I physically could make it. I then discovered what a “sweeper’s” job in a lead out is. I have never heard of this term or such a role, but basically as Russ (Metromint support that rivals my husband’s dedication) put it: where you tail the sprinter and deliberately drop the wheel of the sprinter to make it more difficult for the rider behind to get a ride, it is not done dangerously, but just enough to make it terribly difficult for someone to sprint over the sprinter. I finished 11th and 17th on GC out of 86 racers, Criterium full results. Happy to have survived another day, disappointed to not be in the top 10, but close. I have to get some perspective, as Murray Hall would say “you have only been in the sport 10 minutes”. I managed a quick hello to Peter Dawson (Rock Racing) as he was starting the men’s race. The night was topped off with a spew, as I was walking back to my team cars, past the BJs girls warming down I threw up all over my handlebars. So to Holly and her last comment on my blog about seeing suffering…suffered I did, straight home to sleep I went. Did I mention anywhere that my legs hurt?

still chewing...

2008 Bend Memorial Clinic CASCADE CYCLING CLASSIC, July 9-13, Bend Oregon

Stage 2 128kms, course profile (big hill at the end).
Max speed: 70km/hr
Av speed: 32km/hr
Max HR: 184bpm
Av HR: 142bpm

Many more photos are on the race website or Carson's site.
Our team was sitting 6th in the team ratings and I was 20th on CG, it was good news after a day where we lost a rider (Jen does not need surgery but will be out for the rest of the season). BJs lost Kerryn Charmers (an Australian rider who had surgery this morning on her lower leg after breaking it yesterday). Yuki and I were sitting up towards the front of the bunch, there were quite a few attacks early, Yuki bridged a gap to get in a break, but it got caught. Touchstone and TIBCO were keen to get riders up on CG, all the main pro teams all had someone already there. I had not seen any of our other riders for a while and called through the radio “Where are you guys?”. Jane responded and came up to the front at the right time, a good break went off the front and she was in perfect position to bridge, and did she go for it. She made it to the break of 7 and it stayed away for the day.


There were many several attempts bridge but with the wind up so much it seemed difficult, we were not trying as we knew that Jane was up there. The final long climb came and I was again happy with how I climbed, I couldn’t stick with the front bunch but put in a good sprint for 22nd place (one of the girls who finished just behind me started the sprint…I had to). Jane finished 12th in a great day for our team. Full stage results are here. I have been racing quite conservatively in the hills, and just staying out of trouble. Tomorrow is the TT in the morning, we have Molly who is a TT specialist so should do well and the crit in the evening, which I am hoping to do well in. Tomorrow should be more my day, so we will see what it brings. Jane is now 1 minute ahead of me on CG, so we may be riding for her in the crit.
For what happened with all the really good riders, it is written up in cyclingnews.

Bite off more than you can chew, then chew like hell (Dr Meghan Thomas)

2008 Bend Memorial Clinic CASCADE CYCLING CLASSIC, July 9-13, Bend Oregon

Bend is about 3900ft above sea level, so the air is pretty thin up here. There is still heaps of snow on the mountains (see photo) and one of our courses has needed to be adjusted.

Carson (the ROAD magazine photographer who drove me up here) and I are staying with a lovely couple, Jessica and Barry. Jessica is Australian, which is great. She left me a note at my door this morning, saying goodluck- I feel like I am at home. There is a bit of a circus about the stage race as Levi Leiphmer and Chris Horner are racing as Astana did not get a start in the tour de france. When we arrived in Bend, we went out for a quick ride of the TT course and waved at the riders going by just before we started (as you do), Carson tells me that I just waved to Levi (I was thinking he was joking) but it really was.

Peter Dawson (Rock Racing) is here, I am yet to see him though. Rock won the men’s race today. For the ladies, we have some of the best bike racers in the world, Kristin Armstrong, Katharine Mathis etc etc etc… perspective on a hilly 5-day (6 stage) race, I am going to get. Basically, I had not been able to arrange a team start for superweek (a huge week of criterium racing) so Cascade, as a race for experience was my next best option for this time. I have been working on my hill climbing and trying some new things…as you have to make it to the front of the finish to have a good sprint.

My team consists of Jen Joynt (climber), Jane Robertson (sprinter), Molly Van Houweling (TT specialist), Yukie Nakamura (climber), Anny Henry (all-rounder) and Carrie Eller (all-rounder) and I. Pre-race is pictured here.

Stage 1: 132km Road Race, stage profile
It was hot- about 44 degrees Celsius, which is well over 100 Farinheight. We were all sweating before warm up. The stage had two main hills in it, the QOM in the middle and the final finishing climb (up a ski slope mountain). I was seriously scared about not making the time cut, that would have to be embarrassing. After giving my spare gloves to a Cheerwine rider, Marisa Asplund-Owens (she now knows my name, we all have to start somewhere), we were off. We took a tea break early on (toilet stop, just like the men. Of course I had no idea what was going on when more than half of the field stopped and dropped their pants to urinate on the side of the road- it was very Kathy Watt).

There were a few attacks, before the first big climb (73kms). I took the hill pretty easy, as I was not sure what these mountains were like and ‘bonking’ (the USA word of choice for hitting the wall) on the first climb would not be a good start for me. But then got to the top and thought, was that it? I finished the QOM about half way through the field, and then chased solidly to get back up the positions as soon as I could as it flattened out. The race was then stopped for about an hour as there was a very serious crash in the mens’ race (in front of us). Ben Brooks (an Australian rider from Team Type 1) needed to be stabilized then taken to hospital after coming off on one of the (many) cattle crossings.

The little bunch that I finished with also re-started with everyone who finished behind. This was good for some of my team mates who had been caught up in a wreck (USA word for crash), but not so good for me. It would have come back together again on the descent however. The groups in front of us started with the time gaps that had been recorded at the QOM. The bunch caught the group in front, leaving a strong group of 7 in the lead. They stayed away for the whole race.

We battled the wind on the constant 40km rise up to the final steep hill finish (it was that special type of wind that keeps coming from all angles). Jen was caught behind a big wreck and separated her shoulder joint- she had to be taken to hospital and is now out of the race. Lindsay Myers and I were nearly taken out by a motorbike that had stopped in the left hand lane and I cannot believe that we did not come off.

I was not positioned as well as I would have liked for the final climb (according to my Polar and unit conversions we still had another few kms before turning at the base of the climb) but as we turned and the gradient seriously increased, it was clear. There was not many people that passed me on the climb and I was moving up. I went past all of our team riders that were in front of me and past Lindsay, I tried to catch yet another girl on the line with a bit of a sprint and a throw (you can always practice and I don’t care that I was trying for 19th place). So finished 20th, my goodness. I was so happy and the highest on CG for my team, and I was so worried about not making the time cut today. The results have been posted online and will also be on cycling news.

The end of the day finished with a recovery period at the hospital, waiting to see how Jen's shoulder was (pictured here). I need to get some rest for tomorrow, hoping for another survival day like today.
With love from your little “sickalist” who is claiming an all-rounder title for today. I think I might stick with my new climbing technique- a big thank you to Ben King for his advice on this.