Bunny on Wheels

Friday Night Track 6/19

Goals
My goals were to hang in and get some practice in before AVC.

Race
Scratch (15 laps) - There were 10 women in our race.  Half way through the field got split in half.  Luckily tonight there was enough women so even though we got split there was enough in each group to work together and have some fun. 

Points Race (5x6) - Again the field was split.  The group I was in was small so we ended up pulling to the rail and getting back in with main field.  I hung in the rest of the race.

Miss & Out (8 riders) - I got 5th.  I rode on Karla's wheel and felt very comfortable.  But I made the mistake I've been making all season, I forgot who was behind me and ended up getting pulled.  I rode well while I was in there though.

Result
I learned that I need to suffer more.  Katie Norton really showed me how the ability to suffer can pay off. She is able to hang with the fast girls because she just pushes and pushes.  I need to do that.  AVC will be my time to really suffer. 

Goals
My goals were to hang in and get some practice in before AVC.

Race
Scratch (15 laps) - There were 10 women in our race.  Half way through the field got split in half.  Luckily tonight there was enough women so even though we got split there was enough in each group to work together and have some fun. 

Points Race (5x6) - Again the field was split.  The group I was in was small so we ended up pulling to the rail and getting back in with main field.  I hung in the rest of the race.

Miss & Out (8 riders) - I got 5th.  I rode on Karla's wheel and felt very comfortable.  But I made the mistake I've been making all season, I forgot who was behind me and ended up getting pulled.  I rode well while I was in there though.

Result
I learned that I need to suffer more.  Katie Norton really showed me how the ability to suffer can pay off. She is able to hang with the fast girls because she just pushes and pushes.  I need to do that.  AVC will be my time to really suffer. 

2-Wheel Crit

Goals
My plan was to sit in and see how I felt.  I was tired from Dash for Cash and wasn't sure if my legs were up to another race.

Race
The course this year was different than last year.  This course was more like a circuit race and it was awesome!  See Jeff's race report for a detailed course description.  There weren't a lot of women, 20-25 something like that.  I sat in but it was a little difficult to sit in the whole time.  There weren't any other Mouse ladies so I teamed up with Team Integrate (Lala and Jami's team).  The Colativa and Dolce girls were battling it out for control of the race.  The last couple laps were pretty fast and the pack broke up around the third corner of the last lap.  I tried to grab a wheel but Colativa was blocking and girls were starting to go backwards.  I got up the little hill and saw the field sprint, realized no one was close behind me so I sat up and rolled to the line. 

Result
I finished 10th out of 25.  This was a fun race.  I learned that right now I don't have the endurance for two crits in one weekend and I should start thinking about getting primes.  I've never really tried for a prime, it might be fun to get some swag.  :)

Goals
My plan was to sit in and see how I felt.  I was tired from Dash for Cash and wasn't sure if my legs were up to another race.

Race
The course this year was different than last year.  This course was more like a circuit race and it was awesome!  See Jeff's race report for a detailed course description.  There weren't a lot of women, 20-25 something like that.  I sat in but it was a little difficult to sit in the whole time.  There weren't any other Mouse ladies so I teamed up with Team Integrate (Lala and Jami's team).  The Colativa and Dolce girls were battling it out for control of the race.  The last couple laps were pretty fast and the pack broke up around the third corner of the last lap.  I tried to grab a wheel but Colativa was blocking and girls were starting to go backwards.  I got up the little hill and saw the field sprint, realized no one was close behind me so I sat up and rolled to the line. 

Result
I finished 10th out of 25.  This was a fun race.  I learned that right now I don't have the endurance for two crits in one weekend and I should start thinking about getting primes.  I've never really tried for a prime, it might be fun to get some swag.  :)

ICCC Dash for Cash

Goals
Win!  Well... that was my plan at least.  Got 3rd instead.

Race
This race has a nice course, four corners and fast.  The cash primes picked the pace up a bit but as soon as the pack caught the sprinters we'd slow way down.  No one really wanted to work.  Half way through I had a close call into turn 4.  Some girls swung out real wide and pushed me into the curb.  But track has taught me many things and one is that you can scrap along the rail, in this case a curb, and be fine.  So I kept it upright. 

I just sat in the whole race and "coiled".  Got behind Jamie and Lala (Mary Glenn) for the last couple laps.  They pulled me to the front and would have been a perfect lead out if not for the long train of Velo-Girls who didn't set up the corner and swung out wide.  Again I scraped along the curb.  By the time I was able to recover Lala (1st) and another girl (2nd) were half way to the finish.  I sprinted and passed a few girls for 3rd.

Result
I finished 3rd out of 40.  I didn't win but 3rd isn't too bad.  I got a few upgrade points.  But most importantly everyone stayed upright.  Lost a surprising amount of plastic off my pedal and left shoe but I didn't go down.  I'm feeling good with my result.  I know I could have done better if those girls hadn't pulled such a newbie mistake but that's racing :)

Goals
Win!  Well... that was my plan at least.  Got 3rd instead.

Race
This race has a nice course, four corners and fast.  The cash primes picked the pace up a bit but as soon as the pack caught the sprinters we'd slow way down.  No one really wanted to work.  Half way through I had a close call into turn 4.  Some girls swung out real wide and pushed me into the curb.  But track has taught me many things and one is that you can scrap along the rail, in this case a curb, and be fine.  So I kept it upright. 

I just sat in the whole race and "coiled".  Got behind Jamie and Lala (Mary Glenn) for the last couple laps.  They pulled me to the front and would have been a perfect lead out if not for the long train of Velo-Girls who didn't set up the corner and swung out wide.  Again I scraped along the curb.  By the time I was able to recover Lala (1st) and another girl (2nd) were half way to the finish.  I sprinted and passed a few girls for 3rd.

Result
I finished 3rd out of 40.  I didn't win but 3rd isn't too bad.  I got a few upgrade points.  But most importantly everyone stayed upright.  Lost a surprising amount of plastic off my pedal and left shoe but I didn't go down.  I'm feeling good with my result.  I know I could have done better if those girls hadn't pulled such a newbie mistake but that's racing :)

Get Ready for Summer #4

Goals
I just wanted to try some new things out.  AVC is only a month away so I wanted to try out a new gearing for the Keirin.  Today was going to be about trying new things.

Race
Keirin - I wanted to try a new gearing, 50x15.  This is the biggest gear inch I've ever ridden.  I think it'll be great for AVC.  However, today it was too big for me.  I always have a hard time with new gearings at first.  I just couldn't turn it over. 

Scratch Race (24 laps) - So I was in the pack and keep feeling like I was working way too hard.  My legs felt terrible and I could barely keep up.  I got dropped with 9 to go.  When I was behind the pack I started to hear a strange noise.  I rolled up to the rail and was going to jump back in when the pack came around.  I jumped and my bike made a very odd noise that wouldn't go away.  I started hearing a chunky sound and my bike felt wrong.  I immediatley pulled off.  I brought my bike over to Nole and he said the cones in the hub of my back wheel were loose. 

Miss & Out (12 riders) - My legs were done.  After pushing a big gear for the Keirin and riding on a messed up wheel my legs were done.

Result
So I wanted to try new things and I kind of did that.  I didn't really get a chance in the sctach race since my wheel sounded like it was going to explode.  Hopefully nothing is too wrong with it.  The 50x15 will be great for AVC once I get use to it.  I still had a great day and lots of fun even if the racing part didn't really go right.

Goals
I just wanted to try some new things out.  AVC is only a month away so I wanted to try out a new gearing for the Keirin.  Today was going to be about trying new things.

Race
Keirin - I wanted to try a new gearing, 50x15.  This is the biggest gear inch I've ever ridden.  I think it'll be great for AVC.  However, today it was too big for me.  I always have a hard time with new gearings at first.  I just couldn't turn it over. 

Scratch Race (24 laps) - So I was in the pack and keep feeling like I was working way too hard.  My legs felt terrible and I could barely keep up.  I got dropped with 9 to go.  When I was behind the pack I started to hear a strange noise.  I rolled up to the rail and was going to jump back in when the pack came around.  I jumped and my bike made a very odd noise that wouldn't go away.  I started hearing a chunky sound and my bike felt wrong.  I immediatley pulled off.  I brought my bike over to Nole and he said the cones in the hub of my back wheel were loose. 

Miss & Out (12 riders) - My legs were done.  After pushing a big gear for the Keirin and riding on a messed up wheel my legs were done.

Result
So I wanted to try new things and I kind of did that.  I didn't really get a chance in the sctach race since my wheel sounded like it was going to explode.  Hopefully nothing is too wrong with it.  The 50x15 will be great for AVC once I get use to it.  I still had a great day and lots of fun even if the racing part didn't really go right.

Memorial Day Crit

Goals
Originally my goal at the beginning of the season was to win this race.  However, after racing on Friday night it was completely apparent I would not have the legs to win.  So again I had no real goals.

Race
This race was sketchy.  Thankfully no one crashed but there was a lot of bad riding.  I rode most of the race at the back.  I tried to ride on the side in the middle but there was too much wind for me to ride easily there.  With three to go Emma tried to bring me up to the front.  I was on her wheel and some girl jumped out of the pack and pushed me out of the course.  I hit four cones.  And not just sort of hit them, I ran right of the top of them.  After that I just hung out in the back and wanted to finish the race safely. 

Result
I finished 40th out of 45 or so.  Not much to say about this race.  It was sketchy and I was happy just to finish rubber side down.

Goals
Originally my goal at the beginning of the season was to win this race.  However, after racing on Friday night it was completely apparent I would not have the legs to win.  So again I had no real goals.

Race
This race was sketchy.  Thankfully no one crashed but there was a lot of bad riding.  I rode most of the race at the back.  I tried to ride on the side in the middle but there was too much wind for me to ride easily there.  With three to go Emma tried to bring me up to the front.  I was on her wheel and some girl jumped out of the pack and pushed me out of the course.  I hit four cones.  And not just sort of hit them, I ran right of the top of them.  After that I just hung out in the back and wanted to finish the race safely. 

Result
I finished 40th out of 45 or so.  Not much to say about this race.  It was sketchy and I was happy just to finish rubber side down.

Friday Night Track 5/22

Goals
I didn't really have any goals.  I know you're supposed to go into every race with a plan and a goal but I had spent the last couple week studying for finals.  I hadn't been on my bike at all for a good week and a half.  So I didn't really know what to expect or how I'd feel, I just really wanted to race.

Race
Scratch (25 laps) - My legs felt terrible and I raced terribly.  There were only 8 or 9 women and I couldn't find a comfortable place to sit out of the wind.  I had a hard time keeping up.

Points Race (5x6) - I got lapped twice.  If it wasn't for the wonderful Jen Cooler I'd have gotten dropped way earlier.  We worked together several times to bridge back up to the pack.  That race hurt a lot.

Match Sprint (4 riders) - We were supposed to do a Miss & Out but there was only four of us left.  We did a four up match sprint.  I got second behind Megan.  This was a fun quick race, just what I wanted.

Result
No real results expect that I know it really hurts to race after not riding for two weeks.  I had fun and the last race made me feel a lot better.  Overall this night was painful but still enjoyable.

Goals
I didn't really have any goals.  I know you're supposed to go into every race with a plan and a goal but I had spent the last couple week studying for finals.  I hadn't been on my bike at all for a good week and a half.  So I didn't really know what to expect or how I'd feel, I just really wanted to race.

Race
Scratch (25 laps) - My legs felt terrible and I raced terribly.  There were only 8 or 9 women and I couldn't find a comfortable place to sit out of the wind.  I had a hard time keeping up.

Points Race (5x6) - I got lapped twice.  If it wasn't for the wonderful Jen Cooler I'd have gotten dropped way earlier.  We worked together several times to bridge back up to the pack.  That race hurt a lot.

Match Sprint (4 riders) - We were supposed to do a Miss & Out but there was only four of us left.  We did a four up match sprint.  I got second behind Megan.  This was a fun quick race, just what I wanted.

Result
No real results expect that I know it really hurts to race after not riding for two weeks.  I had fun and the last race made me feel a lot better.  Overall this night was painful but still enjoyable.

Friday Night Track 5/08

Goals
My goals were to try and hang with the fast girls.  I wanted to place and get some upgrade points.  But mainly I wanted to see if I've gotten faster since the last Friday night, last summer.  And the answer is yes!

Race
Scratch (25 laps) - 5th out of 12!  I finished 5th, but as Beth says, "got 2nd in the field sprint". I hung with the pack and felt really good.  There were lots of attacks and at some point Beth, Hanan and Julie broke away.  It was obvious after a few laps that no one wanted to try and catch them.  With 3 to go I tried to set myself up for a sprint but didn't time it right and ended up further back than I wanted.  So by the time I started my sprint Kelly was too far away to catch.  But I got 5th, which is good for an upgrade point! :)

Points Race (5x6) - I was able to stick with the pack for most of the race.  I kept getting 5th in the early sprints. I could tell pretty quickly I wasn't going to have the legs to get points.  Sticking with the pack became pretty difficult by the end of the race.  I got gapped many times but somehow was able to dig deep and get back to the field.  Not sure how I managed to get back as many times as I did.  The ladies seemed to slow down just enough to let me catch back on.  So I didn't place but I finished.

Miss & Out (12 riders) - I was so tired after that points race.  It took everything I had left to finish that race so I had nothing for the Miss & Out.  I was 2nd out because I wasn't pay attention and Kelly boxed me in. 

Result
I am one top 5 finish closer to my Cat 2 upgrade.  The first Friday night race was awesome!  There were tons of new women out racing, since Beth and Annabell had just done their clinic.  I am very happy with my race and I hope I can do better next Friday night.  I love track!

Goals
My goals were to try and hang with the fast girls.  I wanted to place and get some upgrade points.  But mainly I wanted to see if I've gotten faster since the last Friday night, last summer.  And the answer is yes!

Race
Scratch (25 laps) - 5th out of 12!  I finished 5th, but as Beth says, "got 2nd in the field sprint". I hung with the pack and felt really good.  There were lots of attacks and at some point Beth, Hanan and Julie broke away.  It was obvious after a few laps that no one wanted to try and catch them.  With 3 to go I tried to set myself up for a sprint but didn't time it right and ended up further back than I wanted.  So by the time I started my sprint Kelly was too far away to catch.  But I got 5th, which is good for an upgrade point! :)

Points Race (5x6) - I was able to stick with the pack for most of the race.  I kept getting 5th in the early sprints. I could tell pretty quickly I wasn't going to have the legs to get points.  Sticking with the pack became pretty difficult by the end of the race.  I got gapped many times but somehow was able to dig deep and get back to the field.  Not sure how I managed to get back as many times as I did.  The ladies seemed to slow down just enough to let me catch back on.  So I didn't place but I finished.

Miss & Out (12 riders) - I was so tired after that points race.  It took everything I had left to finish that race so I had nothing for the Miss & Out.  I was 2nd out because I wasn't pay attention and Kelly boxed me in. 

Result
I am one top 5 finish closer to my Cat 2 upgrade.  The first Friday night race was awesome!  There were tons of new women out racing, since Beth and Annabell had just done their clinic.  I am very happy with my race and I hope I can do better next Friday night.  I love track!

Cat's Hill Criterium

Goals
My goal was to suffer and finish with the pack.

Race
Got a great warm up and rolled to the line with Bev, Bergen and Emily.  First time up the hill my front shifter jammed.  I tried fixing it while mashing in the big ring but only got half way up the hill.  I had to unclip and fix it.  Marja tried to give me a push start but the hill's too steep.  I jumped off and ran up the rest.  Sadly by the time I got back on the bike the pack was too far away to catch.  My race was over :(

Result
DFL.  My race was over before it started.  Next year... next year...

Wednesday Night Track 4/29

Goals
Hang on... my legs were still tired from Sunday.  I realized it would probably be a good idea to ride sometime in between racing on the weekend and racing on Wednesday. :(

Race
Points Race (3X4) - I hung on for most of the race and I only got lapped by the lead rider.  This was my best points race in the B's yet!

Scratch Race (12 laps) - I was able to stick with the pack for most of the race.  Jay won!

Miss & Out (24 riders) - My legs just weren't able to move.  I was first out.

B/C Points Race (4x5) - I got dropped half way through and pulled up to the rail.  I got back in the pack and finished.

Result
Tired legs... need to ride more and stretch more.

Goals
Hang on... my legs were still tired from Sunday.  I realized it would probably be a good idea to ride sometime in between racing on the weekend and racing on Wednesday. :(

Race
Points Race (3X4) - I hung on for most of the race and I only got lapped by the lead rider.  This was my best points race in the B's yet!

Scratch Race (12 laps) - I was able to stick with the pack for most of the race.  Jay won!

Miss & Out (24 riders) - My legs just weren't able to move.  I was first out.

B/C Points Race (4x5) - I got dropped half way through and pulled up to the rail.  I got back in the pack and finished.

Result
Tired legs... need to ride more and stretch more.

Wente Criterium

Goals
I wanted to win or at least place well.  I've been getting my butt kicked at the track in the B races so I needed to be reassured that it's actually making me faster, stronger and fitter. 

Race
I raced in the Women's 4 race with Marja and Emma.  We didn't have much of a plan.  The other teams had a lot more girls than us so we decided to let them fight it out and we'd just sit in and wait.  I sat in the whole race.  I moved around and stayed out of the wind.  I picked three girls that I thought would place high.  The plan was to get on one of their wheels and have them lead me out.  Unfortunately the three girls I picked who normally do very well, didn't.  With one to go I found myself at the back.  So I moved to the front and by the last turn I was in the middle of the pack.  There wasn't any open lines since i was in the middle middle of the pack.   A bunch of the girls started their sprints from too far back so there was a lot of me trying to get around them.  I got blocked behind some girls and had to slow down to squeeze through.  After all that mess, I ended up 4th!

Result
I finished 4th out of 40.  I learned a few things in this race.  Racing with the boys in the B's race is making me faster, stronger and fitter.  I reallly need to learn how to do a road sprint.  And I need to be at the front on the last lap.  But it's hard to complain since this is my best result in a crit.  Yay!  Next time I'll set myself up better.