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.