Batman sighted at cross race!

Notice the flames.

This hill was torture. I was bleeding all over the barriers.

Very windy day. Costume falling apart. Just like the rider.

On lap one, my seat cranked backwards. I had to stop - kept slipping off the back of it - and Jay pounded it down a bit to this position. Still not comfortable.

A very fun ride. 2nd place today. I got beat by the Easter Bunny.

Another cross race. Whee.

The Gibbs Lake Showdown. Crispy sunny windy Sunday. The course was more like a mountain bike race. Long straight single track through woods. A couple of painful uphills, one with 11 logs. One screaming fast downhill sweeper on dirt.

Twisty stuff next to a lake. (With a submerged picnic table.)

Live band.

BBQ pork sandwiches. Free beer. Six USA Cycling officials. Yep. SIX. Interesting, aye?

It was a blast. We started with about 8-10 women. I started in the back as my usual. The start was a bit slow so I took the opportunity to move to the front. We stayed together for the first two laps and then the three of us who were taking turns at the front started pulling away from the rest. We stayed together for a while until one of the painful hills which was greasy on the sides and had a loose crevice in the middle. My little meat sticks couldn't hang. I liked having the elbow room finally. I kept the gas on just in case, but I stayed in third all the way to the end. I practiced my technique and had a blast

Ahhhh. Fall. 80 degrees. Huh? What!?

Devil's Lake State Park again. Only an hour drive.


Steps on trails were built by the CCC in the early 40s.

Madcross

So, I finally raced again. Madcross. Jonathan Page, Tim Johnson, the Wells brothers and more. Very exciting to watch the pros. Madison's first UCI cross race. I raced the first of the double cross weekend days. Saturday was sunny and hot. There were about 15 gals in my race. The start was fast but not really red line, and I let everyone duke it out in front of me as I hadn't ridden the start and it was gravel with a tight blind turn. My goal was just to finish, have fun, and not get hurt. I was a bit nervous the previous day doing a pre-ride of the course. My thumb still hurts when the bike vibrates and it reminds me just how quickly one can go from "fun" to "ouch" - in a blink of the eye. So, "careful" was my middle, first and last name.

I watched a few girls ride away from the pack. I was near the back of the pack headed into the first barrier and was the first over and back on the bike. Whee. That was fun. I was just riding conservatively and trying to not get hurt. After about 2 laps, someone yelled at a girl behind me that she was in 6th place. Hmm. Must mean I'm 5th. Wow. Not bad. I kept riding hard, but not too hard. Easy around the twisty sections. Don't want to hurt myself. I was coming up on a girl wearing black and passed her. Nice long pony tail. (Random oxygen deprived thought.) My right forearm still isn't 102% so I wanted to use my left arm to pick up the bike. After a couple more laps I starting to get the hang of my drive side dismount. I also remembered what Jay said about accelerating out of turns. Okay. I'll stand. That's fun. It hurt. I pulled away. That's cool. Pedal pedal pedal.
One lap to go. I see a purple and white jersey a bit ahead of me. Hmm. "Can I get her?" I say to myself. I respond firmly "Stop that! Go easy. You don't care. You don't want to get hurt." Pedal pedal pedal and she's a bit closer. Pedal pedal pedal. Not really trying too hard. Fast pavement. Chicane. Gap closed. Had to hit the brakes behind her on the off camber s-turn. Fast downhill to an uphill tight left. Got her on the inside and stood and hammered away. She fought and wasn't too far behind me. I went all out for the rest of the lap. Started bleeding out my eyeballs. Over the barrier I go. Opened the gap even more. Took it easy through the twisty off-camber section and hammered the flats and hills to the uphill bumpy finish. Felt like I was going to puke crossing the finish. I had to stop and hang on to the fence for a while. It was awesome.

I thought I finished 5th or 6th or so and was suprised when the results showed me in 3rd! If I had been thinking I could have figured that out, but a lack of oxygen and lack of concern didn't allow that. It was a fun but bumpy race. I made $35. After paying $30 entry fee and $4 for a sandwich, I broke even. I may do that again soon.

Oh, what's up with the shorts you're asking? Very comfortable. Those are part of my Dakotech kit Dan K swagged us. JyGreen is for the company his buddy Shawn Jyawook owns called Jyco which makes environmentally friendly weather stripping for cars.

What time is it in India?

Amazing Manderfield!!!

August 24: Chris Thater Memorial, Binghamton, New York

On the podium with two of pro cycling's greatest racers!!!! It's a beautiful thing.

Who Needs Colorado?!?!

When you have Devil's Lake State Park an hour away from your house...

Superweek

Kacey is a stud. She keeps the sprinter's jersey and Teresa wins yellow!!!!
Why is Shawn Meredith racing Superweek? and when did he join Kelly Benefits?

Day 4 - Czech Republic to Austria

Goodbye Cesky Krumlov. Morning view out our window.

Hello beautiful bike ride. Crossing the mountains on the way to Austria. Lots of 10, 12 and 15% grades.



Trek Travel full support.
Nice downhill.

Poppy fields everywhere.

Ho hum. Yet another castle. Nove Hrady.

Lunch stop. Last meal in the Czech Republic.



But it was a fun one!
Border crossing into Austria. Nobody there. Carried our passports for nothing.

Looking back at C.R.
Looking into Austria.
Too many beautiful pics of the afternoon ride in Austria. That'll have to be another post. It was the best day of riding I think I've ever had on my bike.