Enumclaw boys!

So this weekend...I DIDN'T RACE...yea! I watched racing, almost the same right?

So here are the garage boys in action:





Cat 3s, kickin it!


Nathen gets called up for the Crit!


Earlier that week, I did a crit clinic for the Starbuck's girls!

Cutie Patootie...and Wenachee

This is what Mike does when he gets home from work...and he's so cute!! Notice the hole in the sock...and he's got at least 10 brand new pairs in his drawer (Thanks Mrs. Murdin)...that's his grandfather's shirt (Murfar)...











Here you can see his belt peeking out..and what is that he's eating? That would be the standard after work snack...toast w/ orange marmalade, and cheese...wierdo







Here he is not so cute...diggin deep in the crit at Wenachee stage race...where he ended up 13th...and survived a 6mi torturous steep climb 2x...40min of sweet pain...

His teammates did well also....Nathen Smith a smokin 9th GC, and made front group on that haneous (sp?) climb...Jason Bethel killed Mike in the TT, narrowly missed the points on the crit (it was an omnium)...he always races hard, and did yet again this weekend!

Joe Martin...oh yea!

First we had a RR...and all I remember is long climb...worked hard, thank god I have someone to ride w/....and we caught more and more ppl, ending w/ a group of ~40, behind the front group of ~25 by ~8min...which pretty much ended any hopes of GC riding...that's nothing new! Hiroko made the front group...great riding, by a great girl!

Then there was a second RR, w/ a much shorter climb (and Thanks to Laura Van Gilder for giving me the daily run down of the courses...w/o the valuable bits of info on this course I wouldn't have made the front group over the climb). It split the second time up the climb....but came back together ~20mi to the finish...about the same time I literally rolled off the front of the group...and they let me go...by a long shot...so then I HAD to take advantage...I managed to stay off for about 10mi....but Colavita smelled the finish line, and the chase ensewed (sp?)...and I was swallowed up ~4mi from the finish (it's funny, last year Candice got off on the last lap, and I chased her alone...and got caught 10mi to finish...someday I'll make it to the finish). This stage ended in a bunch sprint...but on the left where I was our lead motorcycle decided to STOP as the pack is sprinting around him...then he realized he was in the pack, and guns it to move, very narrowly missing a rider, and completely ending any hopes of a sprint for me....oh well, I was happy w/ my ride! It was a solid effort, but I can't hold off such strong, organized teams...but I won't quit tryin'.

Later that day was the TT! How I love those uphill TTs (NOT). I must admit, I was not mentally into this ride. I had Katherine Bates chasing me...and passing me....Alisha rode an awesome ride, as well as her teammate Erin Willock who won w/ a 9:40ish ride...and me? well, I was close w/ a 12:07...YEA, need to work on that...Hiroko and Jen rode strong (honestly cannot remember their finish...but you can bet they were ahead of ME)

Here's the Crit....oh my gosh, it was fast and furious....a split happened like lap 5...and as you can see from this picture where I was on that split!

I want to send my condolences to Kristin Lassaso (sp?), she crashed hard on a pothole right where this photo was taken, of course the fastest part of the course. I heard she fx her collerbone...I send her my best wishes for a speedy recovery...she's a super strong rider...and great girl...I hope to see her back soon!!


Again, Webcore and Alisha rode awesome...Alisha and Kori Sehafer (ahhh, this is why I never put names up)...got off the front and made up time launching Alisha into 2nd on GC! I am so excited for her!

So, that was that...good strong fields, good racing...we'll do it again soon!

Chrissy GETS 10th at Stage of Tour de Load

Hells yea Chrissy! Way to go! Top 10 at Load (and yes that spelling IS intentional!)....I'm so happy for her...apparently she was in the front group, and smoke em...as we say! I'm as so proud of her...she races w/ such grit, I think of her often when I'm struggling in a race! Good job girl! Can't wait to see you soon!

Wichita State Photos

This is where I went to undergrad and grad school...Wichita State University...home of the Wheat Shockers...









This is my best friend in the hole world (I know WHOLE)...we've been best friends since Sophmore year in High School, at East High! She has 3 beautiful girls, and one beautiful husband! It's awesome that our lives are so different, yet we've managed to stay close!









This is my opposite brother Isaac...and his favorite shorts he's had for MANY years...I say opposite because, we are! He's super smart, and a Junior at Benedictine College studing BioChem (pre Med)...we went for a short ride for Ice Cream (you might think about a little more air in those tires, Smarty Pants)


Dr. Jekel (not sure here) and Mr. Hyde...you guess which is which








After Ice Cream w/ Isaac, it was off to Joe Martin...Jay Blankenship was kind enough to give me a ride down there...

Wichita, Kansas...is home!

So, I'm 'home' between Gila and Joe Martin...for 3 days. I grew up here in Wichita, in this house, from age 13-26....oh the memories..

This is where my Mom does her magic...home cookin..nothin's better!

Before we had computers, we had pictures...and Mom made collages..or colleges, or co-la-ge....each frame is a different one of her children....

Here's the eager clinic goers, ready to learn some sweet skills from Nicole (we put on a Clinic Tues and Wed night...Tues was for more beginner riders, and Wed was more race skills)

A little bike high jump, and bike limbo....get low Nicole...aww yea!

Beth can do it too!

After all that monkey'n around...it's time to eat...right Beth and Nicole!!

And more eating after Wed's clinic...the classic Wed eatery...On the Border....(we used to eat here EVERY Wed after the weekly crit/circuit race)

This is Mike's all time favorite burrito...the chicken burrito..w/ the CREAM sauce..something he's searching for all over the Northwest....to no avail as of yet...so enjoy the view Mike...and NO, I didn't eat this...I had the obligatory SALAD!!

Gila fun stuff!

Ok, so that was the racing part..now I'll show you my pictures:


We arrived at El Paso airport, unloaded and built our bikes...then waited to be picked up...From the left is Jen Joynt, Jane Ziegler, and Hiroko Shimasomething...






Hmm, corner 2 of the crit course...this should be interesting...









Check it out, the safety Police WITHOUT a helmet... but check out that quad!! The 3/4 women's field should be VERY afraid, this girl is bringin her A game!! Oh, this is Beth McGilley...a good friend...you should know her name by now!!








VERY SERIOUS warm ups for the TT..









If looks could kill....ouch











Too bad this race isn't won in the first 3 pedal strokes...cauz MAN I would have SO won!






This is how the 'Pros' pin thier numbers...









This is the clan I stayed w/ in Silver City...from Left...Keck, Trey, Beth, and Magic fingers Lisa Lomax (massage therapist, and oh SO much more...works/lives in Wichita). And Jackie, Beth is showing you that she's drinking WATER, like a good girl!! I was very well fed all week at this table!!



Here's Beth, schoolin us on how to stick to a wheel!!










Keck retires from racing...doesn't that look much more fun than suffering on a bike!!









YEA, we're DONE!! Here's to another dose of whooped up on! FYI, it's Hiroko, Jen C (standing), Noel (guest Mtn biker extrodinare), Jen Joynt, Crazy Jane, U Know WHO??
That's all from 2006 Gila...see ya next year!

Gila (pronounced HEEla, not Geela)

Day by Day race reports
Let's make this short and sweet:
Day 1: TT , had great conditions, felt good, result SUCKED...no idea why...but that's all I had that day...Ann Samplonious tore it up, beating Kristin Armstrong by 2osome seconds...Impressive!

Day 2: Moogily-Woogily stage...there was a crash right before the second sprint, I narrowly avoided...but most my teammates had to chase after that...Especially Jane Z who chased for ~1hr alone...but showed some great grit and caught just in time to climb the 6.7mi finishing motion...I unfortunately had a small chain malfunction (it dropped to the outside of my big ring wrapping itself around the crank x2)...the next malfunction was the roof rack from which they tried to retrieve a spare bike for me due to the complexity of the chain wrappage...yet the rack proved to be more difficult to maneuver, therefore plan B was instated w/ replacing my chain...so then I was off, a lonely 6.7mi up to the finish...as hard as I could..

Day 3: Fort Bayard day...today I had a BIOmechanical...on the first climb (up to Pinos Altos)...Caught the chase group (w/ all my teammies) at the base of the best decent all year, and then the main peloton at the base of the next climb...once again found myself alone midway up the feed zone climb...but was able to help a teammate home in some terrific winds....I have to mention, Hiroko has the best attitude of any racer I've ever met...she had a very lonely day..and after > 4hr alone in horrible winds she was still positive and smiling...thanks for the lesson in 'keep it in perspective'...

Day 4: Crit...Finally I felt like myself again on the bike....chase some breaks...none stuck...except the solo of Austin Powers (ok, I know that's not her name, but it's funny) she is the downhill skier who is riding awesome...I love when these fairly new riders come out and school all these 'big Pro' teams, reminding us yet again...anyone can do this, don't flatter yourselves...so the rest of us ended in a bunch sprint...

Day 5: The Gila Monster...not much happened in the first 63mi..the typical early break went off...and was caught at the base of the final 3mi climb...plus 15mi of rollers....I actually had ppl to ride w/ this year....but nothing to write home about...

All in all, not my best performance...not pleased...searching for that ride where I take a lot of risks and am rewarded w/ good results...next week is Joe Martin...maybe I'll find it there

Silver City here I come!

Well, we arrived Monday afternoon...flew in from Atlanta...got settled w/ my friend Beth (remember the one peeing behind the car...), her hubby Keck, and friend Trey (all from Wichita). Beth and I went for a ride that turned into a comedy off calamities for me on my bike..
First, as I was headed down the 20% pitch of driveway, my bars rolled and I nearly stuck my noes in my headset...whoops, forgot to tighten my bars...then get riding w/ Beth on a bumpy road..and hear this horrible clatter coming from my rear wheel...I checked and hey what do ya know my cassette is loose, sweet...but not big enough deal to turn around...were chatting and I’m trying to pretend I CAN breath (we’re at about 6200ft here)...when I realize my knees are hitting my chest...wait a minute, that’s not right, I look down and the black tape that marks my seat height is no longer there but now crumpled into a ball...my seatpost has dropped like 3 inches...so luckily Beth has an allen key and I tighten away but it got no tighter..and I realize the bolts are stripped SWEET now I get to stand the rest of the ride!
So, we ride home...and as I dismount and pick my bike up to put in the garage my front wheel falls off...hmm, I wonder how long that was loose!
Hopefully that was all of my mechanicals wrapped up into one ride!