Crit Nats and Travel Hell

So, I need to fire my travel agent....oh yea, that's me!! Here's the itinerary I gave myself: leave Fri night at 8:30 from Seattle, then go to Sacramento and at 12:30am fly to Dallas, arriving at 5:30am local time (3:30am MY time)..then a awesome 2 hr lay over in Dallas, finally flying to Chicago..arriving about 10am. And due to the 2 stops, and multiple interruptions with take off and landing....I barely got any sleep!

Once I arrived, I immediately took a nap...then off to the race! My team rode great...Kat ended up in the winning break..and raced her way to her first podium finish (just 4mo into her NRC career....yea, she's freakin' scary fast/savvy, a great combo). I didn't feel great (I wonder why)...and was cornering like a Cat4...which I attribute to witnessing too many crashes this season, and robbing me of the aggressive 'no fear' needed to sneak into corners....but thanks to the women of the pelaton...I was quickly reminded to snap out of it...and Sun I did!

Crit nats: good race, good team work..we made waves, every rider did their job...and in the end Nicole snipped a second place finish...her first comment after the race was "I can win that!!" the most confident statement from her all season!!

Then, I was back to the airport at 6:30pm..and home at Midnight...a long weekend, but a good one!!

That's all for now!

The thrills of Sprint drills

So, I've recently been introduced to Momentum training and the Institute of New Medicine...a group of 3 highly skilled, multi-disciplinary sports medicine doctors/acupuncture-ists/nutritionist/coaching guys. I won a prime at the Cascade crit (the prime where Mari H screamed at me as I passed her to take it "What the Hell are you doing"...hmmmmm, 'winning this prime' I thought)...and glad I did! It was a initial consult with all three. So I got a nutritional analysis, blood work, bike fit, lactate testing...and much more.

That sounds great...but the lactate test was brutal. So, I was thinking 'at least it's not a VO2 max test'...well that's what I get for thinking. That's EXACTLY what it was. He (Dave Jordan of Momentum training) hooks my bike up to a computrainer (ie the NO HIDING MACHINE)..starts me at a easy 150watts, then adds 30watts every 3 min..and CONSTANTLY pricks my finger for lactate analysis....all well and good until I'm screaming, ripping the bars off my bike to try and keep the 360watts after 20some minutes...thinking, bloody liar...this is just a way to quantify what a wuss I really am! After I scared out all the client in the building w/ my wallowing and grunting....he FINALLY says I'm done....

And lucky me, the test shows...I'm ready for some VO2 WORKOUTS the next day...hmmmm, I wonder what that's like, can't be any worse than the test right? NO...wrong again. This time we basically repeat the hardest part of the test about 40million times..or 6. And this time we see that I really DO suck...I was never able to keep the 'prescribed' watts..and the intervals keep getting shorter and shorter..and the pain grows and grows! Actually, it was the first time in years I've done VO2 TRAINING...I thought that was called racing. Oh well, now I know NOT to go 120% in the first 15sec of a 1:45min interval, cause it's HELL!!


I'm once again counting my lucky stars...what a coincidence for me to win that prime...and be introduced to this group that can address of all the critical parts of my training....and ones that are GROSSLY lacking. So, I've got my liquid vitamins/minerals, new bike fit, and a new understanding of PAIN...so bring it on Downers Grove!! And thanks to Dave, Peter, William...a new sense of confidence to finish off my season!

Check them out: www.mo-training.com, and www.inewmed.com

And here is a great picture of what PAIN looks like...for those who need a visual!
http://www.chrissyruiter.com/journal/8-16-05.htm (I tried to steel the pic, like she has done of MINE....but it wont work....)

Happy Birthday to ME!

me at three!










Blaa Blaa Blaa...another one bites the dust, another hole in the belt, another lost nut (as Mike would say...or did suggest as a good little saying),another year older is my point! No pictures yet...still in bed enjoying my Birthday coffee, no wait I knocked it all over the floor, because Mike chose to do my B-Day breakfast at 6:45AM....sweet, I just get to enjoy my Birthday for an extra few hours now ( I had planned a nice sleep-in on the 'ol birthday morning, but playing on my new computer is about the same)...

So, Birthday plans?? Sit down, this is exciting...I'm going to Starbucks, then WORK!! I can't wait, it will be great!! Then probably a ride later, dinner, and bed! Man, I hope I can handle all the excitement. Remember when you would count down the days till your birthday? And make birthday wish lists....when did the switch to COMPLETE denial of yet another birthday (which is difficult with the Racing Age we have to put on our cycling liscenes...which is the age you will be on Dec 31th).

Ok, that's all for now...now go read Chrissy's newest entries, www.Chrissyruiter.com (new stuff)..and count the cute spelling errors. Like how she describes the wand at the airport that they use for metal detector...as the beater...damn she makes me laugh!!

See ya guys!!

Partay time

So, now it's time to celebrate MY birthday...and this time in a reasonable manner! I invited a few friends over to play our new Trivial Pursuit (sorry if that's spelled wrong, spell check isn't working) 90s edition. And I got a huge surprize from Mike....a new laptop as seen below!





And a hot new sweater from Kari!!


Then came the icing...I mean cake (but all I see is the icing, my favorite)



It was fun having people over to our new home! Especially when it's all about ME!! The only bad part is I'm OLD!!

More photos

Kele's best effort at "No, I'm not going hard, is this hard for you??" (I'm wearing my Starbuck's Duetto Kit...so I look different....the ONLY time I've worn it actually! It's a new local team)



Good things come in small packages...that's what I think of KJ (which is actually KD, or kadee...but KJ just rolls off the tongue better) another veteran Basis rider!!



I know you're thinking.."she looks so familiar, but I just can't place her...." think newspaper, barbie make-up...yea, she's the newest rider and hence the game (as see in previous bloggs)...but don't worry, you'll be seeing A LOT more from this power house!!




This is Mike!!

I can add photos.....SAAWWEETT...look

So, I want you to guess how many different items Chrissy has stashed...no, NOT in her jersey pockets (those are full)...but in the back of her shorts....the closest guess gets her digits!!!




Ok, now here we see the results of Nicole's cruel "We've got a new rider" games! This was the end result of 15 minutes w/ only newspaper and barbie makeup for our best ren-dish-ion (I can't spell this one) of Britney Spears! If you can guess who one, I'll give you a super sweet.....mmmmm, yea we'll figure it out later...cause I don't really remember who won (another Nicole rule w/ all OFF the bike games, no one wins)

If you can't read the print, it says "Mike's better side" heehee


Here Chrissy and I are putting our heads together to come up with the aspect ratio of the turbulent flow and therefore increased drag coefficient generated by Chrissy's pig-tails in a 40K TT....it's top secret, sorry I can't tell you!


At first, it's difficult to see the humor in this photo (taken at the New Zealand World Cup race in Feb)..but this was the break, and if you look at the girl in white shorts (next to me, I think) she TOTALLY pee'd like MID race...it was the nastiest thing...did I mention she was German...I mean the race was only like 60miles, you'd think she could hold it...and that wasn't the first time, she peed on another day too...man, if I had those kind of 'issues' I'd be riding for a team w/ at least a DARK color shorts...

Birthday Smirfday.....

So yesterday was Mike's 34th birthday (it's so weird to be able to remember celebrating his 24th birthday w/ him....man, it's been a while...and we're still happy..hmmm who would have thunk it!!)

....so, ya know the way it goes "Whatever you want to do for your 'special day' honey!'

Unfortunately, when he said .."let's take the day off work and go for a ride"...I didn't stop and think that if he was taking the ENTIRE day off work (one of his coveted holiday days) this must be some SERIOUS ride....no, no, not me...all I heard is NO WORK, blaa blaa bike, blaaa cake....

So he comes home Monday night w/ this 50 page map of every twist and turn from some nerd program at Boeing...which sent us through some freakin' pasture, and one lane overgrown PATH..thank god we didn't get any flats....

Anyway, after he knew I had already agreed, he went on to emphasized the "not ONE, not TWO, but THREE different ferry rides" (red flag!!...if you are taking 3 different ferries, says the voice inside my head, there must be a lot of distance between each)..."and we can have lunch on the ocean...blaa blaa 100miles"

"Sure honey, whatever you....wait da minute???? did you say 100 MILES???"

Now I'm screwed, I cant piss and moan about his 'special ride' he's spent so much time planning...and he's putting so much effort into explaining it to me...but BLOODY HELL 100miles is about the LAST thing I want to do....I just wanted a day off work, maybe a coffee shop ride and some damn CAKE....

Now, it was beautiful, and we did get some (all freakin day, 9am-8pm to be exact) US time...which is a rarity these days....and it was nice to watch someone you love REALLY enjoy themselves (cause all I was doing was counting EACH mile...and sucking wheel)! And hey the ferries (all 3) were pretty cool...at least for the first 2 minutes.

Naaaaa, honey I'm just kidding...It was a super-duper day...Especially the lunch part, and the ice cream part, then the beer/cake part....

Well, my 31st b-day is next Monday...and Mike I'll be expecting you to join ME in my 'special day'.....now remember we spent 11hr on your little excursion...so I've got a 9am Spa day planned....I can't wait for some more US time whilst we get matching mani/pedi's, waxes, and facials....we'll both leave beautiful....because hey were teamies right???? (sound familiar Mike!)

So, I'm headed to bed cause I'm completely exhausted!

Home sweet Home!!

Well, the BOA was...Exciting...Heartbreaking, leg breaking, and a huge success for Nicole Freedman!!! The money brought a full field, throw barriers, wind, big risks...and that's a great recipe for crash. Gina Grain went down on an early lap...and I happened to be far enough behind I saw her once she landed...and it was the single most heartbreaking/most scary thing I have experienced as a racer so far. This season seems to be plagued w/ horrible crashes and tragedies...Leigh Goldstien (spelled wrong) had a horrible crash at Cascade, Suzie Weldon crashed at some local crit, a Cat 4 women is now permanently paralyzed from her waist down after injuries sustained at the Toona crit, we all heard about the horrible tragedy that fell on the Australian team...and now Gina...I just cracked....ENOUGH already...it is a constant reminder of the risks we take each time we race! My deepest sympathies to Gina and her team...I wish her a speedy recovery..she's a great rider, and person...I hope to see her again soon!

Then after a delay whilst Gina was cared for....the race was reduced to 10 screaming laps, w/ several $500/$1000 primes...then a phenomenal show of speed from the fastest women in the country...Ina won, followed by Tina, and our very own NICOLE FREEDMAN rocking in at third!! I'm so proud of Nicole's ride yesterday, she literally rode her heart out, and that's why I love this team...nice job Nicole (although I know you'll never read this, unless instructed to by others). After we had the usual 3hr shuffle of cars/bags/bikes...and then dinner and drinks all around!

After a brief nap, we were off to the airport..Luckily Eric packed my bike, as I wasn't in such a great state at 3am....so I get to the airport, and once again have NO idea what airline, time...I know I came in on United...and lucky for me I see two cyclist who know me, and saw me in the exact same clothes a few hours earlier....yea, I impressed them!!

somehow I found my airline, and it was a direct flight Charlotte to Seattle (5.5 hrs)...and they didn't even charge me for my bike!!

and now...I'm headed to watch a local crit...it's 60 degrees and NO humidity...I love the summers here!!

So everyone, be safe...Cherish each day, stop and smell the roses, today cause life is short!

New photos on my website.....

Hey guys...so all morning, I have been re-sizing photos...and adding funny quotes...so you have to check them out....I hope you still respect me when you're done!
if you go to Chrissy's website and look at her stories from 8/4 you will get more info on our stay here in NC!

Kele's Photo Page

HOLY MACCARONI IM A BLOGGER NOW

This is yet another new noun to add to my new vocabulary of web lingo. Damn, I feel so cool!

Jeez, we have had a week off between Toona and Bank of America...and SOO many stories!
We are going shopping in Blowing Rock now.....so I'll tell you more later

Stories from the road

DUDE, TOTALLY BEST MOMENT OF ALTOONA 2005...it was Blair County RR stage...there is a break of about 10 off the front, 2 Ford'ettes, 1 T-moBILE, 1 Cola-veta (the point is MOST teams represented)...EXCEPT Webcor...so they are ALL at the front DRILLING it trying to catch..and the gap is hovering around 1 min...And Nicole casually rolls up to Christine Thorburn (Leader of Webcor) and says "So, what do you guys think about stopping for a pee break??"....I love our team!

Did you know...Lance was on Letterman Mon night, and a wrap up show on OLN last nigt. It's amazing that he's done....my entire cycling career (if it can be called a career) he has been IT for american cycing...I'm excited to see how the american cycling will continue to develop...
Has anyone read "Tour de Force" by somebody Croyle (I think)? It's awesome. A great read, cool insight into the Tour, and some great Juice. I'd love to read Ulrich's biography..but I here it's not in English...anyone know different??

We were traveling from Altoona to N. Carolina for the Bank of Amer Crit....and on the trip down, T-moblie truck passes us (Chrissyruider.com may have photos)...and Nicole holds up a message as they pass "CHARLOETTE CRIT CANCELLED...GO HOME". It was sooooo funny! I'm not sure they took the bait...I don't even know if they laughed...which is fine because we laughed for days!!!

I've just been reminded of yet ANOTHER highlight from the season....so let's go back to Joe Martin (near Farretville, Ak in May). It's just so happened the Victory Brewing team was staying just around the corner from US, lucky for them! So one of our riders, suffering from Insomnia (or they just planned it)snuck over after dark with the children of our host family to post our "Go Ford-Basis Women" signs in their front yard!! And the Victory team must have really wanted to support us, because the sign stayed up week (or they never noticed). That was a source of many a chuckel as we passed each morning and night! Thanks Victory!!