Race Report: MO PRO

After my experiences in 3/4 races last year, I swore them off.  No more big events with 3/4 fields.  Dangerous, squirrely, skin destroying.  Yep, that lasted nine months.  This event had been branded Tour de Grove the last two years, but this year Mike Weiss renamed it to better represent all the venues involved.  He and the Big Shark event staff did an outstanding job with it.  I may be a bit biased though!  


Friday--LOOP de LOOP Grand Prix

The weather was perfect for the race.  I got to the course early enough to take a few laps on the course since this was a new venue for me.  The race started on Delmar and was a hint of an uphill.  At "turn 1" the hill kicked up a bit more.  Turns one and two really were turns, it was more of a sweep.  The back side of the course was long and downhill, very bumpy.  Turn three was tight and narrow and there was only a block until turn four and back to the start/finish straight.  

I warmed up on the road, doing a few efforts/sprints to get my heart race going.  

Ready to race, smile and all.  Great night to reconnect with lots of friends.  *Photo Credit: Don McKinney

Strung out around a corner.  *Photo credit: Don McKinney

Gettin' my sprint on . . . didn't quite get that preme. 

There was a good mix of local and out of town ladies, a lot of whom I've never raced with before.  We had about 14 women on the line.  During announcements they told us we'd have six premes in the race.  Carrie Clay (Big Shark Racing) led us out quickly.  There was little attack on the backside that was quickly brought back.  At the line we got the bell for the first preme.  We regrouped.  Someone went again on the backside and I responded.  We rounded onto the finishing straight and I was sitting third wheel and no one was seemingly sprinting so I took off and easily got the preme.  For the next eight laps or so, it was preme lap, off lap, preme lap, off lap.  The $50 cash preme was fourth in the line up.  I was in good position for it, but didn't go early enough on my sprint.  Skylar (Team TIBCO), Kelly (Bike America Racing) and I were off the pack with about 75 meters but I couldn't get them to keep going. With four to go, Carrie moved back to the front and stayed there for three laps.  Everyone sat in and let her do the work.  She started getting sloppy with one to go and finally someone else took over.  As we approached turn three, the pace really picked up.  Once we hit the finishing straight it was moving quickly.  The sprint went a little early, about 250 meters.  I did okay, but it was only good enough to net me fifth.  I talked to Carrie after the race and she asked a question I can remember asking myself when I started racing "how do you get off the front?"  My response--stop pedaling.

Saturday--Tour de Grove

Trainer tent!  I couldn't ask for better friends to train with and race against.  *photo credit: Don McKinney

The ladies are on the line.  *Photo credit: Don McKinney

And we're off! *Photo credit: Don McKinney

  

Finishing sprint.  What the what? *photo credit: Don McKinney

This is the prime event of the weekend--the biggest payouts.  I was excited when I saw the course.  They had repaved the sketchy corner and it was smooth.  I warmed up on a trainer because the neighborhood is a little iffy.  We had about 21 girls in the race, some of them fresh legged.  This course is a bit longer (1.7 miles) and more technical(about 7 turns).  I had two other teammates racing which worked out well.  We didn't go out as quickly.  The first lap was more moderate because some of the girls had never ridden the course.  I noticed when we passed the wheel pit at the beginning of lap two a girl was jumping in, it struck me as odd, but I didn't know what happened until later.  We got to the small chicane on the back of the course and I jumped.  I tried to get off, but they were on me quickly.  I led through the last turn and sat back in.  There were two premes in the race.  I sprinted for both of them, but wasn't really close.  I made sure to race smart though.  Tara (Big Shark Racing) and I talked mid race and kept trying to wear down the group, but to no avail.  Everyone stuck.  With two to go, it got very squirrelly.  Some of the girls who had sat in the entire race swarmed the front and were trying to take corners five wide.  A few dicey moments but everyone stayed up.  It again came down to the sprint.  I knew this one would go early, as soon as we rounded the corner.  I wasn't in a great position for it though.  I sprinted well, but crossed the line in fifth.  What I later found out was the girl who "won" was the girl who came in after lap one.  She didn't start the race on time and was a lap down the entire race.  That gave me a fourth on the day.

Sunday--Dutchtown Classic

All lined up and ready to go.  Finally! *Photo credit: Don McKinney

Breakaway!  What was I thinking! *Photo credit: Don McKinney

LOVE working with these ladies!  Top notch racers! *Photo credit: Don McKinney

Sharks leading the pack! *Photo credit: Don McKinney

This course is one of my favorites.  It's about a mile and a half and has about seven turns.  It was another trainer warm up.  We had a smaller group, and I again had two teammates.  Tara and I talked to Kelly from KC and decided we would try to get away from the start.  The races starts uphill and weaves through a chicane right away.  Our idea of out of sight out of mind.  We all executed perfectly, but Skylar let the pack right up to us.  By turn four they were on Tara's wheel.  We sat up and sat in.  The first preme went at lap four.  Tara and I moved to the front.  As we were going down the backside of the course, I told her to just keep increasing the pace slowly, nothing to draw attention.  We rounded turn seven and I slid in behind her and she kept steadily increasing the pace.  I could hear/sense some of the other girls moving into place, but I knew where I wanted to jump.  We hit the bottom of the hills and the flags and I took off.  I crossed the line and looked back and no one was close so I put my head down and went.  I kept telling myself "you're a time trialist, pretend that's what you're doing".  I rounded turn four and hit the wind but pushed through.  I still had a nice gap through the start/finish and kept pushing.  When I hit the wind again I looked back with the group was within ten meters so I sat up.  For the rest of the race the attacks either came on the uphill at the start/finish or between turns two and three.  Nothing was able to stay away, although we did drop several girls through constant pushing.  The other preme was uneventful. Trish Clark (Walt's Bike Shop) led the entire lap and kept her lead until the sprint.  We came to the final lap and everyone was moving into position.  The sprint started a little earlier than I was ready for, especially with it being uphill.  I ended up in fifth.

Race Report: Tour de Grove

I had been looking forward to the Grove since last season.  The courses are fun, the fields were great sizes, and this year it was earlier, meaning cooler weather.  This was definitely a case of be careful what you wish for.

Midtown Alley

It all started Friday night . . . 

It was in the low 70s, windy and overcast at race time. I got a good warm up in and my legs felt ok. The course was a long rectangle, wide streets on the sides, short one block and narrow on the ends. The pavement was rough in spots, with manhole covers and holes, especially in the corners. I'm guessing we had about 20 in our 3/4 field. Most of the race was pretty uneventful. We'd speed through the front side of the course, slow down on the top end and the backside due to the wind, and gain momentum through turn three and four to the finish. There were two primes. I couldn't get good positioning for either one. A break went off after the first, but it was brought back within a lap. At some point in turn one, I hit a hole or crack and my front wheel seemed to wobble a bit.  It was very windy, so at that point, I attributed the wobble to the wind and high profile wheels. 

The race all came down to the finish. I knew I needed to focus on positioning going into the third turn because that was what would make the sprint. I was fine for three, but I got pinched out in turn four. We came onto the finishing straight and the sprint was on. I was up and gaining, sitting about fourth. I think I hit a hole because the next thing I knew my front wheel was wobbling. I tried to ride it out, but couldn't hold it. I remember feeling my bike fly out from under me and wondering if I'd ever stop sliding. The only other thought I had was “at least I didn’t hit my head.”  The next thing I remember is seeing Steph running towards.  Richard helped me up, and Walker was snapping photos like crazy.  I tried to smile through it all be because I didn’t want anyone to worry about me.  My left side is pretty raw, shoulder to ankle and I have a little damage on the right side.  After the fall Lee took a look at my bike and my front wheel was barely held in.  I’m assuming that the holes I hit knocked my skewer/wheel loose, causing the wonkiness.  I’ll never know for sure, but I’m happy nothing is broken on me or the bike.  It’s also of note that this was my first, and hopefully, last DNF in a race.

The Grove
Saturday was better because I finished, but that’s about the only good thing I can say. It was a cold, rainy race...about 52 at start. I prerode the course and ended up with a flat, got that changed and decided to warm up on the trainer. We had about 24 women on the line. I took the lead the first half lap and then settled in the pack. The course was a technical one with about six or seven turns. My goal was just to sit in and be in a good spot for the sprint. All was fine until four to go. We were around turn four when a girl slid out. I moved to avoid her, but she took out Jamie who landed square in front of me and I hit her and went down. I got up, grabbed my bike and hauled it to the pit. Steven straightened my bars and I waited for the pack.  I asked multiple times if we got our free lap. There were six of us in the crash. We jumped in, went through the start/finished and got two to go.

We headed into turn one and another girl slid out. I moved left to avoid her. That put me in line for the curb. Gotta love cx skills cause I hopped it, cut through the grass, and hopped back on the back of the pack. We got around the course, got the bell. Everything was great until the final turns. The pack had been skiddish there all race so I was concerned. I saw the first girl go down slide across so I moved right. She hit someone else who came straight towards me. As I tried to move further right, I slid out. I got up and finished the race but have no clue how I actually finished. I was pretty discouraged. A few bumps/bruises and the bike is fine.  However what really soured me was that we (the six of us in the first crash) were not given our free lap.  We were technically a lap down when we jumped back on the group.  I would have chased and not been involved in the other two incidents had we been told that at the pit.  Frustrating!!!

Dutchtown Classic

Our weather was much the same Sunday as it was on Saturday, chilly and rainy. The course/event was a new one. It started on an uphill and went directly into a right turn and an immediate left. Next was a quarter mile straight with a soft s-turn into the wind. That went into a right turn to a false flat and a long gradual downhill that ended with a sharp right. Another right led to the finishing straight. It was about 400 meters to the start/finish with about half of it uphill. The pavement was beautiful. I think we took 12 to the line, and thankfully they were all women who knew how to ride a bike in rain. There were a few surges early in the race, but nothing got away. I'm not sure when we started shedding people, but about 15 minutes in I realized we were down to nine. We got the first prime bell and I was feeling good. The sprint started at the bottom of the hill. I crossed the line third, but no where near the girl who took it. We came back together as a group. I think it was the next lap that a girl wiped out in the last turn. I was just happy to avoid her. That split the pack even more and Britta and Jamie got off on a break. I had Skyler (Tibco), Tulsa Tough, and Ashley with me. We organized our chase and went after them. Everyone but the Tulsa girl was giving her all. At that point I wasn't sure whether she was doing all she could or sandbagging. After two laps of chasing they rang the prime bell. I knew Jamie and Britta would cat and mouse and possibly slow so it was time to make our move. I took the lead going into the downhill turn and caught Jamie at the line. Britta pulled away.

Catching Jamie at the prime. Had to wear lots of gear to keep all my bandages in place. *Photo credit: Mike Dawson

We spent the next few laps trying to chase Britta down, but the Tulsa girl would take 10-20 second pulls and slide out. By this point we had dropped Skylar. At about three to go we couldn't catch Britta. I concentrated on placement and riding smart for the finish. Jamie went on the downhill on our last lap. Ashley reacted and went after her and I stayed on Ashley's wheel. We hit the hill and I was out of my saddle. Ashley pulled in front of Jamie and away from me. I pulled past Jamie and took third. The Tulsa girl had enough in her to go for the sprint and take Jamie as well.

Overall I felt good in the race. I was timid in the last two corners every lap. If the others had been smart, they could have taken me there. I also think we should have worked hard to shell the Tulsa girl because she was content to let us work for her. This was also a race I really had to talk myself through. After two laps, I was second guessing myself. When we narrowed the field, I knew if I stayed in I would get upgrade points and payout. That kept me going. The more women we dropped, the more I got into the race. When we got it down to five, all I could think was podium and ending on a great note.

Finally, a good result!  *Photo credit:  Mike Dawson

Race Report: Tour de Grove

What a great weekend of racing! Mike Weiss and everyone at Big Shark did an outstanding job of creating an event for the Tour de Grove. I think the Grove events can only get better and attrack more racers and spectators each year.

Saturday started at Midtown Alley. It was hot and humid...very reminscent of last week in Tulsa. And, my heart rate reacted to the heat the same way it did the weekend before. I was running fast! I jumped on a trainer for the warm up and did about an hour warm up. I didn't feel like I was doing hard efforts, but my heart rate was running really high. I didn't pre ride the course because of the timing of our race, but wasn't worried about it because it was a basic rectangle, four-corner crit. The the north and south borders were long straight aways, the east and west were one block long. The backside was a gradual downhill with the start finish being a gradual up hill.

Fourteen Cat 3/4 women pulled to the line. I knew, or knew of, most of them. We got the pre race instructions and were off. Vanessa immediately began pushing our pace. She is known for her strong, relentless attacks and Saturday was no different. We were several laps in, staying together as a field, when she launched another attack on the east side, we went through the corner after her and she pulled off--broken spoke. Another lap or two and they rang the bell for a prime. That's always what I like to hear! I watched my pack position through the course. We made turn four and I started my move. This was such a long straightaway, I knew my timing was critical. I decided to go at the barricades and made my move. It was a good decision, an easy prime.

Crossing the line for the prime. *Photo credit: Paul Pate

I knew I didn't have it in me with the heat & humidity to stay away so I sat up and tried to get back in. Nobody was budging. I sat on front for about three quarters of a lap, in the wind. I finally eased back in when another attack went off. We hit the start/finish and got four to go. I looked at my data and was running a 192 heart rate--I felt really taxed. I stayed on with the group until we hit corner four. They got a small gap on me then. For the next two laps, Ashley and I worked to get back on, trying to catch Kate and another rider off the back. I was spent and knew it. I finally was able to jump back on in turn three of the last lap. We made turn four and the sprint started way early. I didn't have it in me to give. I didn't sit up, but I couldn't give as much as I would have liked. Ninth place for me. It was disheartening because I know I'm stronger. I didn't give as much for the prime as I have in other races, but just couldn't hold the race together.

I hung out and watched the other races and got to enter my kids in their first race. They were both excited as they pulled to the line. Callie had another little boy in her heat. He was about an inch shorter than she is, but was already riding without training wheels and boy could he move! She finished 2nd but and got to bring home a teddy bear. Andy's group was next up. He had a few more in his group and cruised to an easy 3rd place finish to bring home a bear as well. They were all smiles afterwards. The big win for me was that Callie said to wanted to race again (Andy did as well) on Sunday. I may get the little diva to be an athlete after all!

I headed to the street sprints Saturday night. It was nothin' but ugly. I lined up and was in the second heat. Carrie Cash, pro rider, another cat 1 rider and the winner of my earlier race were in my heat as well as another girl. Top three were to advance. We got the signal and were off. I was geared wrong off the line. I made up a significant amount of ground on the Cat 1 rider, but ended up fourth and didn't move on. That just added to my frustration about my results on Saturday afternoon. The crabby bug had bit me in the butt!

Sunday morning I was in a foul mood. I was still mad at myself over Saturday's results. I was contemplating forgoing the race and just doing the 80 mile ride with the group. Instead, we got packed up and headed over to the course. It was a three mile, 13 corner circuit race. I got to watch my friend Eric celebrate his 40th with running the 5K--he won his age group. Also, I wanted to preride it before the other races went off. I made a quick lap and made some note of some tight corners. The course would be interesting.

I hit the trainer area and got set up. Sunday's races were over an hour late getting started, so I went easy and got off the bike a few times during warm ups. I made sure to do some hard efforts on the trainer because, like last Sunday in Tulsa, my heart rate was way low. I jumped back on the course with a few laps to go in the master's race. I rode it with Teresa and Courtney and we discussed our strategies. Today was Teresa's "A race" so we talked about how to support her. We made it back around and watched the finish of the race and got on course. I pulled right up to the line and took my place. We had 16 women in our field today.

The whistle blew and I struggled to get in my pedals. UGH! Turn 2 and the first attack was launched by Vanessa. We reacted and brought her back, but it set the tone for the whole race. Attack after attack was launched. Two laps in, another Proctor girl lauched an attack between turns 11 and 12. She had a little gap and bombed into corner twelve. The corners were tight and close and she hit a rough patch and grabbed a handful of front brake. Can you say endo?

Proctor girl hitting the deck. Never grab a handful of front brake! Photo credit: Paul Pate

Video of the crash. *Credit to John Musselman

I think everyone made else made it through ok, but we definitely raced more heads up for the last three laps. The attacks and responses continued to come with no one getting anywhere. It was all about riding heads up and placement for the last lap. We got the bell and began our last trip around the course. Around turn nine, Vanessa faked an attack and sat up. The pack responded and sat up when she did. There goes Tara. I had warned our Cat 3 racers about her--that she would try to go from the front. The Hub girls responded and worked to pull her back. I was worried about going that hot into turns 12 and 13 but she got reeled in just prior to them. We hit the last turn and onto the finish straight. Time to sprint. While Saturday night's sprints didn't turn out for me, I at least had that knowledge about what the sprint was like. I stood up and went with the girls. I'm not sure who the two were immediately in front of me, but I made short work of passing them. Allison had a bike length on me and I still had life in my legs. I had no idea how much gear I had left--I had been spinning up and adding gear like crazy. Please, please, please let me have more. Click--there it was! I pulled along side and then ahead. Yes! I was on Teresa's wheel with 10 yards to go. I probably couldn't have caught her and didn't want to try. This was her race. She took third, I took fourth. I felt great and still could have given more.

Heading through the finishing straight.

The new kits look great from behind too!

*Photo credit: Paul Pate
The rest of the day was spent hanging out and guarding my corner! It was a great vantage point for the pro Women's and Men's races. Of course, epic is the theme of my life and the end of the Pro Men's race was just that. With eight laps to go, a thunderstorm moved in and the rain came. We got soaked to the bone! The officials made a wise move to shorten the race and called one lap to go. In the midst of that last lap, some how four cars got on the course and one of them stalled. It was mayhem getting them off, including pushing the van, but everyone came through safely.

Great racing, great accompanying events, excellent venue--it can only continue to get better!