Atlanta Heat and Smok’in Race Weekend

We traveled to Atlanta this weekend for the Sandy Springs races. Saturday I was the official feed zone coordinator. This job is not an easy one! Between avoiding newbie’s who throw the water bottles at the cyclist, the hot sun, and red ant attacks, the job is a stressful one, to say the least. After doing some research about the road course, I opted not to race, so I slept in and saved my legs for Sunday. Sean and Rodney raced the Pro 1, 2, riding a delightful 80 miles at 2:30 in 90 degree weather. My job consisted of a total of 30 seconds in a 3 ½ hour time frame, but the guys were happy to have cold water. Sean finished a strong 6^th although was in a bad place at the finish when both legs came out of the clips and the lock down started, a sign of pain to come later in the evening. I made it out in good shape with a nice summer tan (trying to work off the cycling tan-a sign I'm a strong cyclist, which I don't want to give people that imprecision) and only a few red ant bites.

Sunday morning came earlier than we thought. We woke to the smell of homemade biscuits and bacon that my Aunt and Uncle prepared for breakfast. I will admit I was not particularly stoked to race. If I had not prepaid I may have headed back to Clemson. And as I walked outside to leave, the thick smoke from the forest fires confirmed those thoughts. I thought to myself, “How could I possible race in a chimney?” I bucked up and tried to get myself ready for the 40 minutes of hell I was getting ready to endure. When I got to the course and got my number I realized they had reversed the course. This isn’t good, I thought to myself. I called Sean and got the confirmation, “Oh, that’s not good for you.” The race had around 15 girls and was run extremely well. The girls who run the Algabra Women’s Cat 4 series are always friendly and run a great series. I rode the first part of the race smart, at least I thought. There was a fast downhill and a long uphill that turned into the wind. I focused on being the first on the downhill and into the tight turn, but ended up pulling entirely too much on the uphill. Note, photo above. Thanks to True Speed Photo for great pictures! I got spit out the back with 4 laps to go and according the results got 12^th. We feel pretty confident I got more like 9^th, but at that point it didn’t really matter. I won a prime of bars, which I figure comes out to me paying approximately $2 a lap to race. So in hindsight, due to my lack of legs, fatigue, pulling to much, and inability to breathe quality oxygen, I just didn’t have it. Luckily, Sean finished a strong 8^th in the Pro 1, 2 race and won some money for us. At least he paid for the gas and I have some food to eat for the week. We head to Indiana this week for a short trip and the bikes will be staying at home for some much needed R & R. Oh, did I mention Sunday was our 6 year anniversary? And we were at a bike race... And I am writing this on Memorial Day because I have to work and Clemson doesn't consider it a holiday. How Unamerican!!!!!!

I didn't show up for class...

This may not seem to be a big deal to most of you, however, when you are the professor and you don’t show up for the first day of class, its really tacky! It really was a calendar mix up! I feel my life has slowly gone down the shitter now. Sean eats all my cookies, cake, and moldy cheese, I throw hissy fits over the smallest things, I forget to show up to class, and I can barely remember how to shift my bike. I think I am going to give it all up and become a Professional Aquaglider. I know my lackey will be down with it!

Cowboy Up

Sean told me when I moved from the farm and settled down with him my dreams of a big truck with dual exhaust, tractors, and the wearing of a cowboy hat needed to end. After almost a decade I think I am breaking him down. He is still wearing Rudy’s, cycling socks, and playing an Ipod, but I’ll take it! I think the boots will be next.

Frostbite in May?

The question of the Saturday morning ride was, “is 50 degrees the same temperature in January as it is in May?” Although there were differing opinions, my hands said yes and were proof that it is indeed the same temperature; red, swollen, and fingernails turning blue. Scott showed up to the ride in all winter gear, warm and happy! Becky wore only a sleeveless jersey, admitting it was a little cool while Patty, Emily, and me dressed more conservative with long sleeves. Luckily, it did warm up and turned out to be a great day to be in the saddle. I was happy my bike boy finally took er' to the shop to put on my new components, which have been sitting in the bike room for over 2 months, only after loosing my chain numerous times, riding with clicking sounds, and people dodging bike parts in the pack. Carolina Triathlon added the special touch with a hot pink cable end and already people have noticed the new pizzazz!

Living the Buy Nothing Life

I am taking a break this morning from drowning in statistical outputs and finishing my damn dissertation to post an interesting article. Adbusters is a magazine I enjoy to rummage through and they featured the compact lifestyle blog I referenced about questing the real motives behind your daily purchases.

Stated in the article, “Money and debts seem to be ruling our life,” observes Rúna Björg Gartharsdóttir, a Compacter in Iceland. She explains to Adbusters that she joined the Compact to escape what she calls the “vicious cycle” of consumerism – the chronic overwork to be able to spend more; the social disintegration resulting from overwork; the environmental damage caused by consumer waste; conflict over resources to supply consumer demand. In other words, a myriad of problems loosely bound by the innocent desire for an iPod or a luxury car collection.

I don't think I could have said it better! Not that I have the money (since most of it goes towards the pro cycling fund), so I will stick with my trailer, recycle, and shop at thrift stores.

Our Home in the Boro

Although we were excited about the blue smurf home, we could not agree on the contract, i.e. closing date, etc. As a result we have decided to rent from a faculty member in our college who recently built a home. It is 2 miles from campus, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, wood floors, and a great backyard for the woofs. It was such a relief to get this taken care of and in hindsight, not buy a home. I have to focus on graduating and Sean has a summer of cycling to train for. All in all, a good decision. As always, you all are welcome. Plenty of queen beds and bike racks.

New Home in Statesboro

Georgia House

Pink Envy

I realize after chatting with various cyclist Tuesday at Donaldson there may be pink envy circulating the cycling scene. One rider commented there was so much pink in the pack it looked like camouflage and he couldn’t tell us apart. Another cyclist, for anonymity purposes I won’t name names, Cass, made a dig at my new ultra hip retro Smith sunglasses by saying as she rode off, “and they’re pink!” So as a result I thought I would take inventory of everything I owned pink. I don’t know if it makes us ride faster or not, but we sure look good doing it! And don’t worry, our new kits will be here soon, so it will be even pinker at Donaldson, plus who knows maybe we'll get a pink team car (although I refuse to sell MaryKay!)

Pink:
Helmet
Accent color in cycling shoes
Handlebar tape
Water bottles
Kit
Sunglasses (Multiple pairs)
Chaco’s
Dress shirts and skirts
Caroline’s sprinkles and icing on baked goods

Road Racing 101

I will admit I have been racing for over 8 years and feel I’ve seen it all. Road race starts in downpours, criteriums in parking lots, women smoking after beating me in a mountain bike race, men crying at 3am during 24 hours of Snowshoe, to name a few, however, the Walnut Grove road race in Spartanburg was a first for me. I had no thoughts of grandeur starting this race. One lap was 27 miles (we did 2) and a teammate (Dawn) warned me not to pre-ride the course, which was my first indication there were hills. A Southerner would call this course rolling and a Midwesterner would call it hilly as shit! I will side with the ladder. I was hoping to stay in the race long enough to help some teammates get up the road (Susan in particular). I made it about 15 miles until the long, almost 1 mile, hill and intense climbing pace spit me out the back. I know I am not a climber and was fine riding the course without the pack. I finished the first lap with Madonna, who pulled off fearing her mechanical would get worse and I decided to ride the 2^nd loop solo. The clouds were clearing and the sun was shining…what a beautiful day to ride!

At the start of the race we were informed there would be no wheel truck or support however, there would be a race official with us and corner marshals. I did regret not attaching my spare tire pack on the seat, but it was too late. According to USCF rules the race needed to be 60 miles to get a feed, we only did 52, so I had just enough to finish the race (2 water bottles, one GU, one bar, and 6 cliff shot gummy squares). On the 2^nd lap, about 10 miles in, I missed a crucial turn. The course was not marked and the corner marshal left. I thought the turn looked familiar, but couldn’t imagine a marshal not being there. So I kept going, and going, and with a strong tailwind…going. I reached a T in the road and realized nothing looked familiar and I was officially lost! (If I would have turned onto HWY 146 I would have ended up in Woodruff.) On a serious note my vulnerability hit me at that moment. I had no cell phone, map of the course, or spare tire in addition, no idea where I was or where the parking lot was. I decided to turn around and head back to the missed turn. Fuming, climbing into a fierce headwind I stirred up a vulture in the woods feasting. I feared it was another lost lone rider and reassured myself I would not join the carnage. I picked up another cyclist lost and quickly corrected his mistake. I’m sure he thought he found a real gem when I yelled the F word everything other pedal stroke. Needless to say I found the course and navigated my way back to the finish. Paul and Caroline gave me a much needed illegal feed 5 miles from the finish. I rode over 10 miles out of my way and was without water for 45 minutes. I realize it may look funny to start a race with my mountain bike MacGyverette kit, which looks like a camelback, but would be well worth the heckling. It has a first aid kit, spare tubes, pump, extra food, maps of the course, sunscreen, coffee maker, etc. (you get the picture!). Fortunately, I did finish the race, DFL, and other riders lost the course found their way back as well. Our team rode a great race on a very hard course! Questions to ask at the start line next time:

1) Do I need a que sheet?

2) Is the course marked?

3) Should I bring my touring bike with baskets to carry my gear?