Scenic Page Valley

Another nice race held in scenic Page Valley with views of rolling farmland and happy frolicking cows enjoying mtn views of Massanutten and Shenandoah. Ahhhh vacation. The drive through Luray and beyond was a nice break from the traffic and pollution of northern VA. We stopped for sandwiches at Main Street deli in Luray just a few blocks up from the bike shop and then headed on to Camp Roosevelt on Massanutten. Our 'easy' hour long ride from camp had no traffic, no stop signs. We rode for a whole hour with no interuptions and we were able to do two decent climbs in that hour up to Edinburg and Edith gaps. Camp was nice and secluded. No smores because I ate all the marshmallows from last week's attempt for camp fire smores in Millersburg. No cracy wild people, but there was wildlife.The sound of a black bear rummaging in a garbage can had kept me up all night fearing for my life.

Morning arises and we got to the race an hour and half earlier than expected. A few folks were sleeping in their cars waiting for their race. The turnout for the race was disappointingly small despite it being a MABRA series event and also the VA state RR championship. Plenty of entertainment in between races with a bluegrass band, and some local crafts vendors selling baskets, honey, pottery and horse pictures. Although with feeding Judd's race and then getting ready for my own, I was only able to enjoy about 1 min of the music. They were all gone by time the race finished except the potter - smart because I used the prize money to buy a momento to remind me of lovely Page Valley.

The race - oh yes, that right I went there for a race. Depsite the 5 pre-regd riders, turned out we had about 12 women I think in the 1-3 race. Rachel Warner set early pace and Christine W then set pace on the early section of the first hill. The field split near the top of the hill and Rachel and Amity pulled Amanda, Ainhoa, and I around for most of the remaining 41 mile race. I didn't feel quite as much pizzazz as last time at this course a few weeks ago. I suffered a little more on the hills and the flats. Amity pulled us girls up the hills and on the flats despite it being her first race in a few months because of an injury. In the end our group of five were together at the finish and Amity and Amanda set early pace up the climb. Rachel attacked with about 300m to go and got the win. Ainhoa got me within a few feet of the finish line for 2nd. And third got me the VA cat 3 champ medal - whoo hoo. Christine rounded out the top 3 for the VA senior women.

Now what - two weekends with no racing......

CX season on the horizon

My goals for the season (set back in February) primarily focused on racing mtn bikes. I had no idea I would end up a roadie. Looking back I think it's really cool to say I've raced a "full road season" with a great bunch of teammates I love and against some swell girls in the MABRA. We are fortunate to have so many races in such a short drive and races for women of all levels instead of one race where you get pulled on lap 2 since you couldn't hang with the 'pros'. The road season is almost over and I'll admit, I'm already looking forward to next year, as are my teammates. But until then, I am determined to get each of them out on a cx bike or a mtn bike at least once in the "off season".

Now I'm looking forward to the cx season to see who's returning to the sport, what new teams will have emerged, what surprises are going to pop up on the stage, how much has the competition improved. After last season I wasn't sure I wanted to travel the whole East Coast again, but upon seeing the UCI calendar I'm once again excited about the races here in the Mid-Atlantic and possibly going back to NC, KY, of course New England. So much for not travelling much this fall. Perhaps a trip across country or a cross the world would be fun too. All this fun packed into 3 and 1/2 months - now that's a full season.

Next week I'll be dusting off the bikes, stretching the tubies, replacing the cables (well Judd will be) and will see if I can still remember how to do the Leprauchan leap....the first cyclocross practice begins on Wed in September at a park near you - you'll see adults riding through the grass on 'road bikes' carrying their bikes up stairs and over curbs and logs, and riding zig-zags down the little grassy hills. Oh just a few more weeks until the travelling circus resumes.

I'm not your Mamacita!

Regardless of race, age or whatever all men are "Dirty old men". I've finally come to accept that. It's almost somewhat amusing, cute, and at times pitiful but in an I-almost-feel-sorry-for-you kind of way, but guys are guys. Despite this realization, I'm still caught off guard when riding along the W&OD in my own little world and all of a sudden I hear someone yell something. "Ehhh Mamacita!" Yeah I'd prefer the calling out as opposed to a groping, and sometimes the yelling out is better than the creepy elevator eyes. The most amusing is when someones whips their head around and swerves on the bike into the other lane almost causing an accident. I really don't see what the big deal is. Keep it in your imagination guys and just accept that yeah chicks ride bikes too, get over it. And just because we are riding solo, doesn't mean we are riding a bike in order to pick up guys with "big calves". And guys, having an expensive bike doesn't prove to women that you have money - it just means you are selfish and spend money on your own stuff rather than your lady. And if we are riding slow it is not an invitation to strike up an awkward chat with your hopes that it leads to an invitation for a different kind of ride later.

New favorite race

Every once in a while a new race comes along that just makes you smile when you think back about it, eventhough you suffered through it. Last year Pleasant Valley in MD this year Page Valley in VA. Hats off to the promoters for starting new races. Both races have great courses, great course set up, locals enjoying the race as well.

Page Valley - nestled between Shenandoah Natl Park and Massanutten mtn had gorgeous mtn views like VT, and rolling farmland in the valley like upstate NY. The course was flat with some good tricky corners, two nice little grinding hills that wares down the competition, and some fun downhills.

A lot of people felt that their race was one lap too long as you could tell by the number of riders that finished compared to starting. It was hot and the hills take their toll. It was a race of attrition.

The women's age graded 30+ race, I think first time VA offered it, had a small field but many strong MABRA cat4s, even some gals frm MD. Although I've been racing for a while, most of the women in the race had been racing only a few months. It was really nice to see so many new women coming into the sport - of all ages.

No cash on the line. Just medals for the VA women. Racing for the sake of racing.

The race was off to a dreadfully slow start which was going to be miserable in the sun and heat if it remained so. It was frustrating watching the field attempt to pick up the pace to maybe 14mph on the flats but some riders refused to pull through and so the pace would slow to 10mph. Eventually things got going, someone has to make a sacrafice. Everyone says to not work, but if no one worked, where would we be.

Amy W from NCVC put in some great attacks and Lynn and the Artemis girls too to get the blood flowing and eventually the pace picked up as we completed lap 1 of 4ish. At the end of lap 1 I dropped my chain did a cyclocross dismount and put the chain back on, pedaled, dropped the chain again - trying my best to not pull a Christina Briseno and curse the Fword in front of the moto ref. I smiled and waved the wheel truck to go ahead and I struggled to put the darn chain back on two more times before continuing on. Got a lucky break when the field apparently took a wrong turn, and I caught back on.

The field finally got organized and got into a nice rotating paceline everyone sharing the workload and taking short pulls. The MABRA has a great bunch of cat4s this year and I was happy to finally meet and ride with some of them. The pace had picked up and the field had whittled out some riders. However it was the pace up the hill by Catharine and Ainhoa that caused the remaining field to split. We came up on the hill through the feedzone and I got dropped as my chain had another spell of falling off. This time with kids around I once again had to hold my tongue. And just smiled in my frustration as I was forced to start pedaling from a standstill at the steepest part of the hill. I put my head down and put my hands in the drops (which is rare) and TTd away after I crested the hill. I passed an Artemis girl and felt bad I wasn't able to give her a wheel to hang on to. I eventually caught up to Cat and Ainhoa and the three of us kept the pace going, each of us trying to do equal work.

On the last lap, we were all tired, thirsty, starting to cramp. We had over a minute gap but kept the pace steady. We went up the 2nd to last hill side-by-side (no one wanted to be behind me incase my chain fell off again). On the final climb we were still side by side. I kept fearing the chain would fall off so pedaled gingerly but strong and tried to pedal faster as Ainhoa powered by with a few meters to go but I wasn't able to spin the legs any quicker on that damn hill. Catharine finished right behind me. Amy from NCVC had an awesome finish for 4th.

Good lesson in adversity.

The finish was made sweeter with the Dr. Pepper from the little girls on the side of the road at the finish line, selling ice cold sodas and water for a $1.

It was a really great race and will go down as one of my favorites.

Speaking of favorites, favorite spectator was the old lady in her lawn chair smoking a cigarette and waving an American flag as the races went by. Love it.