Peoria

Hell ride tomorrow to Peoria & back wish us luck ^_^

Just like Lance, we Blend like Daggers

Saturday was the best of holiday merriment; all of us cozied up at the Shire, baking pies and giving haircuts.  B.Chan and I baked a pumpkin (actually squash) pie and an apple pie. We ate a lot of cookies.  We really honed our domestic skills.  The next morning we all got up and stood in the kitchen around D.Penn's new espresso maker (a gift from me!) and made espresso shots for about two hours.  Wired!  Axel also made his delicious steel cut oats.  B.Chan and I rode trainers for an hour and a half while watching "Love Actually"  Ahhh  we did um where you pedal with one foot really fast until your cadence goes all wack.  I really need to work on my pedal stroke.  I need to get insoles for my shoes so they fit better, and then adjust my cleats maybe.

Besides getting fast, our job is to convince the boys that staying around in Champaign for the next few years to work at the bike shop is a lame idea.  GO WEST!  If Becky gets into grad school, she's moving to Oregon and there's really no excuse for us not to follow.  Oregon is the golden land of bikes and chocolate seaside cyclocross heaven with old trees and colorful wooden houses.  Did I mention cyclocross?

Now I am at my parents house in So.IL and unfortunately the weather sucks.  Usually I look forward to 10 degrees warmer than Champaign, but today we got a lot of ice and sleet.  Tomorrow is supposed to clear off in the afternoon and Christmas is supposed to be gorgeous.  I guess my dad and I will get our annual holiday ride in.  I really just want to take off on a long ass epic ride...    but today I rode my parents old trainer (better than I expected it to be!) and watched "Pretty Woman".  

I am getting psyched about road season and spent a couple of hours looking at the race schedule and at different races and stuff.  It would be awesome to do really well this season.  I want to do a stage race in the mountains so bad.  Racing is confusing to me.  I don't get the point system for catting up.  Do I have to calculate this?  Also I don't understand women's racing.  Do women have separate races from the men's big races?  Sometimes there are women's categories, but not always.  

Lonnie & Roz told me today that "Wally" is the first gender neutral movie.  The viewer assigns gender to the characters.  I am skeptical; must watch.  Until recently, I thought bikes were gender-neutral...

the jersey:

Hooray!

Well, I polished off my last final yesterday morning, and now it is time to ride bikes, finish grad school applications, and ride bikes some more.

Yesterday A. Miles and I rode trainers. We do the same workouts as Lance. Because we want to be fast. Like daggers.

I rode over to CC to meet Karl and try on WILD CARD kits. Which was silly seeing as I already knew what I wanted to order. My plan was to ride from there but as soon as I left it started sleeting and I slid out a few too many times and wimped out. So now I get to ride my trainer. And think about the orange bar tape I'm going to put on the Litespeed to match my lovely kit. Yaaaay!

growl.

i went to Unexceptional [Grill] Racer's blog and she mentioned the junior who won the state cross race:

"he was very polite as he sped past me, calling out '[T]! Coming by!' with a South Chicago Wheelman hot on his heels,"

Well, good.  I am glad.  

grrr

grrrrr

The accumulation of ice on the roads is an excellent excuse not to deliver today.  B.Chan and I are going to ride trainers.  Looks like there will be no outdoor rides this weekend either...the weather is really bad.  Delivering yesterday was not so great; I had a few back-to-back far-away runs that took forever, and I had to give out free samples so didn't get tips for a little bit.  slow in snow la la

hare krishna hare krishna krishna krishna hare hare hare rama hare rama rama rama hare hare

what happened to the fotos of when we went to Teutopolis with anne-marie?  i feel like there were pictures on facebook.  umm  that was cold and my moms neon striped watermelon outfit did not keep me warm.  

MMm I wish I had more bike-related things to say.  I'm kind of a low-life considering I go to work when I feel like it and work = delivering sandwiches.  As long as my ebay stuff gets bids, today can be considered to be a productive day, fiscally speaking.  That gives me time to focus on getting fast and staying healthy and fostering meaningful relationships and expanding my mind and chanting hare krishna and making smoothies with my vita-mix, of which I am quite thankful, blah blah blah, this is all so funny...  

I just really need to remember to brush my teeth today.  That is going to be the greatest struggle when I go pro.  

On future rides, chant:

Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna
Krishna Krishna
Hare Hare
Hare Rama
Hare Rama
Rama Rama
Hare Hare

And be happy.

...and check the hat rack

because sometimes it IS that simple  

Wash your hands + lock your stuff up + watch out for ice

+ ride bikes.

repeat.

if only it were that simple....

sunday same same

Today B.Chan called me at 10:14 to see if I wanted to ride.  I wasn't sure...I was thinking about the pancake/oatmeal stack I was going to make for breakfast.  Dan and I were making breakfast when Joe called and said he was coming over to ride trainers.  Since we obviously have to be more badass than D.Penn and Joe, I called B.Chan and said I would be ready after pancakes.  Becky, Axel and I headed south at about 1:30 or so.  The wind was fierce again but we rode a comfortable pace.  The whole way we were thinking about a tentative late December ride to Baltimore to celebrate Axel's 23rd year.  (ARG!)  Before we go to Sedorus, B.Chan turned around because she had to work, and Axel and I continued south.  We passed Sedorus on our right and rode until the road came to a T.  Then we turned left and rode for a while until I said it we should go back toward town...it was going to get dark and I didn't have lights.  The tailwind was sweet and my legs seemed to have recovered from yesterday more than I had expected.  We got back to town around 4ish.  Aw..today's ride was a bonding experience for Axel and me; though a mere precursor to the hellish and most badass Baltimore ride ever ever ever and ever and ever and ever and ever (Kinsey throwback)....

I am selling my Fuji Touring wheels to a guy in Asheville.  He is going to ride the Blue Ridge Parkway in late December.  Crazy.

The kitten has yet to learn how to ride a bicycle.

Pictured is my first road bike: posted for posterity.  

Saturday ride

Killa ride today !  I was tired on the way over to meet the group...  We fought a strong wind from the south for 30 miles and then turned around and sailed home.  I almost dropped off a few times on the way out but managed to hold on.  I hadn't been on a group ride in months, so I was a bit nervous.  Also, I am not really used to riding my new bike yet outside: it feels so much more flimsy and light than my cross bike or fixie!  The lobster gloves didn't really help my handling confidence either.  On the way back I felt a lot stronger and really cranked cranky crankkkkkkked.  Nick was also tired, and I think everyone else was feeling the wind.  I need to do more group rides though, to get more comfortable and push myself a bit... ahhh so now I am at home feeling a bit goofy ^_^ listening to house music, petting the kitty and trying not to move my legs  ...

I ordered a powertap last night.  I soon will be training...with POWER.

It's taken me a week to write about the State X race...  Sunday:  Dan, Nick and I drive to Chicago for the state race.  B.Chan and Axel were unable to come unfortunately, but for valid reasons.  Despite being a bit skeptical about my fitness after 2 weeks off, I felt great before the race!  It was COLD!  And we were right on the lake in Chicago--so cool.  The course was technical: there was a bit that went down a steep hill and under a bridge, then sharp left turn up a steep hill, then a long slow climb, then down through some barriers and up another steep hill with a barrier...then there was the embankment..and it was snowy!  It was slick and snowy, and it was melting so getting slushier.  I love technical stuff...this was great.  For once I didn't feel sick to my stomach either YES.  

I got a bad start and there was a bottleneck affect and i had to make my way to the front.  I got up there though and felt great--my lungs felt good and i wasn't about to die after the 2nd lap.  I passed the third place and was gaining on the 2nd place girl.  I felt pretty secure about it..i actually felt strong !  Eileen was in front and I didn't see her though.  On the third lap I was climbing a steep slick hill after the bridge bit and I hear someone behind me say "hurry up!" so I climbed..umm duh... and then he was behind me on a flat section and he said "Junior coming up behind!" and since there was a narrow track in the snow and I was in front, I stayed where I was and said "Go around me--or tell me which side!" and he yelled back "Oh, so you're going to fight me for it?!?" and went right through, knocking me down.  Then the Junior who was following him almost crashed into me but missed, and the kid who knocked me down was laughing and climbing.... I got pretty damn pissed.  I got up but the 3rd place girl passed me and the 2nd was way way ahead.  So my reaction was shitty...I was so pissed off that I didn't go quite as hard as I should have.  I am angry at myself for reacting as such.. that's the last time I give up just because someone is being a dumbass.  I think I finished 4th.  After the race I went to find the Junior (xXx) who took em out.  I spotted him and as I approached I heard his buddy say "hey, nice job taking that guy out on the 3rd lap!" ...when he said that I was like "HEY--that wasn't cool.  Next time pick a fucking side and go around"  he said "...ok...um...nice race"   ... fuck...you..     (the photo shows the douchebag Junior)

 note: taking out a women's cat 4 is really lame...  especially if you are a junior, in first place of a field of 3 people, two of whom are half your height.  lame.  

So on a different note, I am delivering a lot more.  I worked for JJ three times this week, and Thursday I did twice as many deliveries as usual, and made twice as much $$$.  It's so fun!  Every day it gets more fun and I feel stronger.  Next week I'll deliver 3 or 4 times, depending on my legs.  Today has been the best lazy rest day...  

This weekend I need to plan the Texas trip!  B.CHan PLAN!

delivered again today; it was cold.  wore many layers and made lots of $$$.  I also scored some kilts!  3 of them!  well, 2 are kiltish skirts that pass.  Nick is definitely the most pleased with his kilt.  

Texas bike & Kilts

hi!  hells yes riding again !  when i got back sunday everyone at the Shire went on a cold ride...felt so good, AND initiated by Axel  :-)  !  Monday we were going to ride cross but it was so cold and snowy so we rode trainers for an hour.  Tuesday I did the shop ride and yesterday I drank beer.  Today I delivered and now I'm wiped.  I'll hopefully deliver tomorrow also...    SO the shop is dead in winter and I will not be needed ...  YAY!  I think I'll deliver for Jimmy Johns more--maybe 3 days a week--and definitely ride more.  Even though its less $$ I'm looking forward to having more time and getting fast fast fast at bikes.  I might pick up a class at Parkland in the spring ...we will see.  Tomorrow I have a mission:  look for kilts for us to wear at the cross race on Sunday 

Oh !  I think it might be good if we ride part of the Texas segment of the Adventure Cyclists Southern Tier route.  It looks like it will be warm enough, the roads will be decent, we can get good maps, there are places to camp, and the route looks relatively interesting and fun.  Want to order maps? 

nekkie wins woooot

So "nothing" wins on the poll!  Umm until today I thought that meant that "nothing" means no costumes--like we would be wearing normal kits and shit...  but then i just realized it means naked.  Does it mean naked?  Are we racing naked?  

I must douse myself with scented oils.

Last night I had a dream that you were racing in a shopping cart. I'm not sure how it worked, but it was excellent.

T-giving

happy thanksgiving !

baltimore sounds like fun.  asheville would be a great place to explore if i had a bike...  yesterday Roz and Cooper (the dog) and I went running but didn't run a whole lot.  The neighborhood where my uncle and aunt live is super hilly... uughh     we are trying again today, mostly so we can tire the dog out so he doesn't try to steal the turkey.

I made pies: pumpkin that is actually sweet potato, and pecan.  They are vegan.  The sweet potato pie is going to be fab but the goo that oozed out of the pecan pie tasted fishy.  I think the maple syrup that we used (substitute for corn syrup) was old.  Maybe some fish got into it. 

Yesterday at the grocery store we had to cross barriers with the shopping carts in order to get to our car.  It was difficult to shoulder.

Daily lesson from Rosalind:

"have you been using sun protection?  spf 15 is not adequate for cycling outdoors.  You are going to get wrinkly and i don't want people thinking you are my mom or anything.." 

BaltimRRR

Question of the day: Why don't I live in Baltimore?

I'm currently visiting Uncle Bob and MB, who live in Baltimore County, about 15 miles outside of Baltimore proper. I got in a little more than an hour today before I realized my seat clamp was loose and I had forgotten water and food and had to turn back. Lame. But it was definitely the most exciting hour+ I've put in since riding at Bandelier. There are some rolling hills, some short steep hills and some long slow hills. It was about 40 degrees outside and the wind was minimal. It was really exciting to be exploring a new area on my bike.

In addition to riding I made pita chips and am working on the last steps of apple pie assemblege. There is also a feta/scallion dip going, the beginning of stuffing and other goodies. I have a feeling tomorrow's spread is going to be quite impressive. Thanksgiving really is the best holiday ever.

After food prep George and I made a quick store run to pick up gatorade and other last minute Tanksgiving supplies. Tomorrow morning I'm going to head out for a couple hours (with hydration!) before festivities begin.

Hrrm Natchez Trace. I agree that it would be risky. I've been kinda worried about the cold weather campingfor a while now. I do like this idea of Arizona or Texas. Honestly, not that fond of the idea of shipping my bike, but what's a girl to do? I was in the Davis Mountains in west Texas for a couple days over the summer and it was really pretty and had nice roads. I'm not sure what winter is like down there, but that could be something to look into. If we could somehow get to Big Bend that would be super super fun. All good stuff.

Happy Thanksgiving!

nachez trace brr

I think the trace might be too cold in january.  we will have to camp because there aren't too many places to stay right off the route.  Even if its in the low 40s during the day, it will be freezing at night...    i'm thinking maybe we can take the train or fly to texas or arizona and bike there instead?  the nachez trace might be too much of a gamble...if the weather is too shitty we'll have to call it off.  plane tix aren't to pricey on southwest (to arizona, texas, etc..) and shipping bikes isnt too much of a problem if we do it soon enough and stuff.  we can camp along the way for sure because it will be warm enough..  hmm  what do you think B.Chan?  I'll look into it more, for specific bike routes and stuff.

So sad news:  my doggie died.  He had to be euthanized because he had kidney failure.  I feel bad because my fam and I are in North Carolina for T-giving and Jesse is alone at the vet :-(   Oh doggie doggie we've had him since I was 12 ...  he was such a sweetie big brown doggie chocolate lab ...   Now Axel, I can empathize.  

Reporting in from Columbus, OH....

Driving sucks.

My Natchez Trace literature came in the mail a couple days ago. So I will look that over and we can compare. You're right. It is going to be really freaking cold. That's okay. We'll feel hardcore. Cuz we are. RAR!

today i might try to create a training plan in the airport. or i'll stare blankly at the moving walkway and listen to public enemy. hmmm.. actually it is time to start thinking about nachez trace! today i'm on my way to asheville, a city through which the blue ridge parkway passes. the Parkway was my first non-supported ride. we carried our gear and camped; i went with my dad and his buddy dale. i learned to feel pretty righteous on my loaded Fuji Touring when those triathlete cats on Orbeas passed us and yelled "only a little bit further!" ugh or the college boys who got their daddies to sag them in their RVs.. HA! day trippers anyway time to plan Nachez Trace. It's going to be cold. Cold. Cold. And creepy south. No big hills though, and perfect January timing for some solid foundation miles. I'll talk it up with my parents--they rode it a few years ago--and get some tips. BChan, we'll be loading up on fried catfish soon if all goes right. YacK! It'll be great.

Dec 7th costumes +

The only grrrl at the Wildcard meeting? Yay that makes us two only grrrls now yaaaa! So how much would it cost for us to order our own kits? i'll look into it as soon as i have real internet. i'm thinking of wearing my onesie to the Dec. 7th race. Adorable. Maybe I could rig some animal ears for my helmet. Dashing. I might even cut holes in the bottom of the PJ feet for my cleats so everyone gets the full affect; i think tucking them into the shoe might detract from the cuteness. Is it ok to use fake blood too? I love fake blood. Bloody sleepover, bloody X-mas morning; maybe I'll carry a box wrapped as a gift that you can put your hand in and feel eyeballs aka peeled grapes. yack..just kidding.

Today I ran more. It was not any more fun than it was the other day. I can't remember if I ran yesterday or not... Tomorrow I might run again. run run run run run nananananana stupidrun. I cant remember if I wrote this, but I'm staying with my grandma for the week. No bike; that's why I'm running. Uhh I could write a book about visiting my grandmother but it would fillup too much space on the blog and you wouldnt be able to see the badass barrier clearing BChan pic.

A friend from highschool, Megan, says she might move to Urbana. She could easily be a fastgrrrl; she's getting into triathlons and could be converted. She's been teaching bodypump classes at Gold's gym for a while. Must follow up on this...

IIIII'MMMM Excited.

I went to the Wild Card meeting on Wednesday. I was the only girl. It was awkward. But they all seem nice and I'm really excited for the cycling camp in So.Ill.

Jerseys yes. yes. So we need 8 more... who wants one. They're going to be very naice. Design coming soon.

Thanksgiving break is upon me and I'm heading out to Baltimeerrr to ride some bikes, visit the Smithsonian, write papers and oh yeah visit the fam. It should be fun though, Tanksgiving is my fav.

In more exciting news, the conclusion of the Chicago Cyclocross Cup is on December 7th at Montrose Harbor in Chicago. Naturally the crew is dressing up, but as what? Please cast your votes below. We will consider write-in suggestions, as long as they are creative, crude or otherwise make me laugh.

Btw, we've been stealing pics from Velogrrrl's Flickr site. If you're reading this, thanks Grrrl.

That's all for now, and if you are leaving town for the holiday travel safely.

last night i dreamed i was winning a road race. it was more like a cross race on a road bike. yay.

to make our own wildcard jerseys--queen of hearts---we need to order at least 10 jerseys. must find 8 more queens. ha !

bikeless

this morning i ran suicide sprints in a cemetary on grass and sprinted up a small hill a few times. it was 25 degrees out aaaaand running sucks. however, i feel a lot less sore today than after my longer run a couple of days ago. i bought a book about training and am starting to get pumped. i kind of want a powertap shhhh powertap or hot wheels? powertap? hot wheels? cross season is so fun and it makes me a bit nervous about road. but we got time..

B.Chan: We need to set some goals! Like, big goals and then more specific goals. One of them should be to Cat up to 3's at the beginning of the season. I think we need to be more specific though, like think about certain races, etc. We should also come up with a more concrete training plan. Obviously we will both have different ones...but we should work on this together. I havn't had a chance to work on our trip stuff b/c my G-ma has dial-up and I get frustrated at how slow it is...but I'll work on that after I get back.. So ya, what do you think?

props to "Sandpit Chan"

...and yes, BChan owned the sandpit as the only one in our Cat of 22 to make it through! Yes ! I was not as excited about racing Sunday because the course looked so flat. I like technical stuff and hills because wind and flatness just get me... I just feel so small and slow because there is so much ground and so much air. With a hill, at least I know where it starts and ends. It's stupid and I'll get over it because I live in central Illinois. Anyways, I finished 2nd. I finally beat the overall #1 of the series, Eileen Neville, but the Vision Quest(?) grrrl came in first. I had a shitty start but got in the front pack halfway through the first lap. Going over the barriers were sloppy but my remounts were a lot smoother. (Thats what she said). I tried to catch #1 --not counting the collegiate girl who should be pro--but it wasn't happening. I pedalled through turns and didn't brake much except for one corner where I always braked and got pissed off because I braked especially because that's where the crew was standing and shouting at me not to brake... (what?) Overall good race, fun, but not as fun as the week before. Can't wait till the one in Chicago ^_^

Now I am visiting my grandmother in New Hampshire. No bike. I ran today and now it hurts.. Today I ran on pavement and grass and did a few pathetic intervals, but next time I want to run sprints in the cemetary nextdoor because it's grassy.

I want to change my hairstyle but I have few options.

Goodnight!

BBRRR!!!!

Yesterday's race in Lansing IL was a blast. As in a cold blast of freezing wind. Miz Miles did quite well, but I'll let her update y'all on that. I finished. And realize that it is definitely time to get back on the bike. For the record though, I made it through the sand pit. Take that. Yeeaaahhhh.

$ $ $ !

update: $100 purse for women's 4's race on sunday

yay!

+ unique prizes.

PS: I <3 Poprad

this blog thing is weird.  i feel like im talking to myself.

dead legs

Because I will not be on a bike for 10 days due to a Thanksgiving time trip I have been trying to wear myself out.  Today I delivered and rode a trainer and.... legs  are dead.  That's all.

Oh!  I might get to race Sunday in Lansing!  My plane leaves at 8:30 pm from Midway, so if my crew decides to accommodate (to use Nick's word) my schedule...then....I get to race.....

We see.  ehh     

RAR!!

! ! !

yea, that's right kids..