Alison Tetrick

Off-season.  The time of year where a particular activity, usually a sport, is not engaged in.  Apparently, this is the time of year where off-season begins. 

The off-season is a new concept for me.  Is there ever a time of year that you don’t want to ride your bike?  The weather seems perfect now, and the roads are calling my name.  The charity rides are just getting rolling, and I don’t require much, just a good cause, food and support!  Why can’t the off-season occur when it is dreary and rainy, not warm and balmy?  I know in January it will be difficult to get on my bike, but in late September, the weather is too perfect to not be on your bike.  However, the off-season is beginning, and I must relish in the fact that I do not have to be on my bike.  Have to?  I thought I “got to” be on my bike. 

Sport aside, I tried approaching this with a business savvy mind.  If cycling is my business, this is the time of year that the business is a particular sphere is slack.  Does this give me an excuse to slack?  Possibly.  For the next month or so, I can go on an adventure.  Possibly add some cross-training and play a little.  Then, it will be back to work.  I don’t feel like I need the break now, but I know that come June next year, after 6 steady months of racing, I will be craving a break.  I won’t be able to take that break, so I will need to recall that time in October where I was allowed to relax and recharge.  I need to remember this time of freedom without structure in order to keep my focus through the long stretches of the season.

Did I say I was lacking structure?  Possibly, yet Charlie seems to have prescribed a couple of 1 min and 5 min tests today to see where I am before the end.  Sounds fun, eh?

Maybe I will start the off-season next week.  This weekend I have Levi’s Gran Fondo and I meeting with Steve Hed.  Yes, off-season can begin next week… I will just procrastinate for now.

A week spent in Vegas is tough on anyone, except this week wasn’t your typical trip to Las Vegas.  Interbike 2009.  The industry’s bike show.  This was my first trip to Interbike, and I had heard about its chaos, but nothing could have prepared me for the overwhelming show, and my intense schedule.

Ritchey Logic brought me to Vegas to help them out with their booth at the show.  I had structured hours to sit at their booth and assist their clients, as well as organize their meetings.  What free time that I did have, I was pulled in every other direction.  I was at the Look USA Cycles booth demonstrating the new Look Keo Pedal adjustment. I was meeting with Steve Hed at HED wheels.  I was with LJ and Brooke representing our sponsors.  I was signing autographs with Floyd Landis. I was racing a night crit at Mandalay Bay.  It was crazy.  When do you eat? Late. When do you get off your feet? Never. When do you ride your bike? You don’t.

The week flew by and before I knew it, I was back in Marin, trying to remember the blur of neon lights, bicycle components, and carbon fabrication.

My highlights were:

• Seeing all the guys at Look, and having Fred adjust my cleats using their new system.  Our French/English barrier was cleared up, as he used simple language with me.  “No” “Stop” Done. 
• Asking Ming at Look if I could just take a couple of bikes home with me, like the beautiful pursuit bike, and he said that he didn’t have it in my size…right…

Cleat Adjustment at Look

• Paying $7.50 for a weak latte. Coffee is horrible in Vegas, so if I was going to pay $3.75 for weak drip coffee, I was going going to try to get a “real” cup of coffee.  I loved my Peets coffee yesterday. Strong and good. 
• No time to eat lunch, so lunch could be trail mix, Almond Joy, beef jerky, and Wheat Thins.  My pre-race meal was a package of Nutter Butters and Oreos.
• The SRM VII.  Finally, we no longer have to velcro, tape, chewing gum, anything you can find or construct to attach the powermeter to the TT bike!  It is smaller, more battery life, and comes in fun colors.  Can we say, time for an upgrade? Yeah, right…but it was good to see Uli since the last time I saw him was in Lucca!
• Meeting with Steve Hed.  Yeah, the genius behind the best wheels in the world.  He is the aerodynamic guru, and I can’t wait to work with him regarding my time trial.  What a great, humble guy, willing to help.  He did say I wasn’t dainty by any means, and that we should use what I have. Power. ha.  Well put, Steve.  I told him that I might only eat lettuce between now and when I meet with him next.  RIght.
• Having a poster saying that there was going to be an autograph session with me. With me? Ha, no one wants my autograph, BUT if Floyd Landis will be there, they will line up for the entire length of the showroom.

Nice Poster.

• Signing with Floyd Landis, and having him give me a $100 casino chip for my valuable autograph.  I know he was joking, but you better believe I took that casino chip.  He was a ton of fun, and kept Brooke and I in stitches the entire hour, we were laughing so hard.  He may not be riding much now, but he is sure having fun…

Autographs Please.

• Racing at night in Vegas was fun.  It was a small field, not the best course, but there was some good racing, and why not, we are in Vegas.

Mandalay Bay turned Criterium

• Trying to escape Vegas and getting stuck on the airplane, the Marin Airporter and everything else with a bunch of mechanics, shops, and dealers STILL re-hashing Vegas.  We left, guys!  Ah!
• Playing Foosball with the ClifBar Team, Brooke and I, Christian Vandevelde, Zabriskie, and many others in the tournament, and all loosing… and hearing Dave Towle, say, “The one thing we can say about this, is that professional cyclists make horrible fooseball players..” The little players were painted with our team kits, and were so cute.  Garmin. TIBCO. BMC.  It was fun.

Team TIBCO Foosball Player

• Walking around, being a part of Team TIBCO and visiting my sponsors.  I love them, and it was great to support them because of all the support they give the team!
• Everyone in my cycling world, all congregated in one place.  It was craziness in a nutshell.

Upon my return, I must say that I am glad I woke up in Marin this morning.  There were no neon lights, no chaos, and I could sleep and rest.  I am so glad I got to go to Interbike, but I am also so relieved it only comes but once a year.  I have a year to recover until I give it another go.

Thanks to all the support and great products!

Autumn Equinox.  The transition from summer to winter.  Welcome, Autumn. 

This morning, Marin welcomed the arrival of Autumn with one of the most spectacular mornings.  The air was clear, and was lacking the crisp autumn feeling.  It was absolutely balmy.  A true blue bird morning. 

Welcome, Autumn.
With the changes in seasons, it is with great satisfaction that I begin wrapping up the 2009 racing season as well.  What a great year.  A year full of challenges, successes, failures, but most importantly, growth.  I have no choice but to continue to build on this year as I anxiously await the next season.  I am not the most patient person, and a part of me wants 2010 to happen now.  I want to attack it head on, yet I know the month of upcoming rest and refocus will help energize me and increase my determination and resilience for next year.  I need to remain glued to the target, each day is a new day of development and one closer step to my goal. 
Autumn is such a beautiful time of year.  It is a time of transitions as we segue into the next season.  Not only is my very best friend named after this time of the year, but I have always had a special place for this time of year.  I love the summer, and I love all the good things that go with it, but you can’t live in the summer forever.  You have to start winding down, reflecting, and getting ready for winter.  This is the time of the year we can recognize how thankful we are for our friends, our family, and our faith.  The weather is predictable, we can go for long rides if we want, yet we don’t have to.  We can truly slow down and appreciate the changes not only in the weather, but the changes in the world as well.  We don’t have to let life fly by, we can sit down for just a moment and appreciate where we are…
However, the days are getting shorter and there is less light for the late afternoon bike rides.  Please be careful out there, and be smart.  The light is getting lower, and cyclist are more difficult for cars to see.
On a very personal note, one of my good friends, Monique Petrov, was recently involved in a terrible collision with a vehicle on Lucas Valley Road while she was returning from a training ride.   MoP was planning to head to Kona to compete at the Ironman World Championships in a couple of weeks, and now has had to undergo over 18 hours of surgery and is miraculously healing, although still in intensive care.  She is a dedicated athlete, and she is strong.  She will recover, but she needs all our thoughts and prayers.  She is truly an inspiration and such an amazing woman.  She has already surpassed the doctor’s expectations.  With our continued support and her stamina, she will maintain this promising path of recovery.  If you would like to check in on her, there has been a blog created for her.  Send her some love!
I am happy Autumn is here, and I am also content that the cold weather also hasn’t started creeping in.  That’s why I like this season, it allows us to be transitioned into the next season without shocking our systems into winter right away.  Be thankful for the little things out there, and slow down just for a minute to appreciate the warm sun, cool air, and this transitional time of year. 

Be thankful.  Welcome, Autumn.

On to summer in Las Vegas now!  Interbike here I come.

Another day in the office.  Yet, my office is the roads of West Marin. 

I often think of bike riding as an escape.  When I can get on my bike, the weight of the day is released and the adventure doors are swung wide open.  The options are endless, the great outdoors awaits, and it is my time to either reflect, or converse with a friend.  Contrary to popular belief, I can be quiet for times and just enjoy the day, but I don’t mind the company on the road either.  However, when it is your job to be on your bike, through the good days and bad days, can it still be viewed as an escape? 

When working, and you can manage to squeeze a few hours in on the bike, you are lucky.  You view those couple of hours as a “treat”.  It is your time to play, gain fitness, improve your mood, and just enjoy the day.  Bike riding can be an escape and a treat. 

When discussing with a friend yesterday during the ZTeam’s Mini GranFondo, that this was “all in a days work” for me, I got to thinking.  Really?  Is this my office?  Do I view this as a job?  Absolutely.  Cycling has evolved into something I take seriously.  I am focused.  I am driven.  I am determined.  Just because I am all these things, doesn’t mean that I don’t love my job.  My job is the bike, and that is the greatest treat of all.  No, you don’t love your job every day, but more often then not, I love my job. 

Summer is still lingering here in Marin, and there is no better time to get out on your bike.  Tis the season of Grand Tour of Charity Rides and predictable weather.  Go for it.  Treat yourself, and allow a little time to escape into the great outdoors this week!  Do it for me, considering I will be under the neon lights of Vegas and missing my escape as another part of the job take precedence.  Work beckons this week, and it won’t be on the bike.  Come next, I will be looking for an escape again…

Saturday, I will be doing the Chileno Valley Classic, benefiting the NorCal MTB League… Check it out!

The Countdown to Interbike has begun.

I am so excited to be going to Interbike for my first time.  I am not going as a spectator, but going as an employee.  An employee for Ritchey Logic.  It’s all part of the job.  I love their gear, and am excited to help them out for the week.  They will be keeping me busy there, and any free time that I do have will be spent with LJ and Brooke as we visit some of our other sponsors.  Look. HED. Sram.  Love it.  It will be exhausting, but a great way to conclude the 2009 Season.

If you are going to be at Interbike, say hi!

Brooke and I will be racing on Thursday at 7:20pm @Mandalay Bay.  It is the USA Crit Series FINALS.  It will be my last race of the year, and I am ready to make the most of it.  Regardless, we will put on a good show.  I can’t wait to race with again!  My legs are feeling the itch to race… Bring it on.

With one of my favorites, Bob Cullinan

It is the time of year for goodbyes.  Our season is winding down, and my teammates are going in their separate directions.  It is a time of growth, relocation, and reflection.  Although teammates may change as contracts expire, but the friendships and bonds formed will never fail.  This year I have made great friendships through respect, competition, and vulnerability.  I love these women, and can’t’ wait until we can all see each other again next season, even if we are wearing different colors.  

I recently had to say goodbye to my Kiwi teammate, Rush, as she went back to NZ.  We became great friends during her time in “America” and I was under her NZ tutelage while she was here. When recieving an e-mail from her, I would allow myself 30min to try to translate it before giving in to call her up, and ask what language she was speaking. 

I learned not only the necessity of “partay shoes” on every trip, but I also learned some valuable Kiwi slang.  If you want to go on a ride later in the “arvo” that means afternoon.  ”Giving it heaps” means trying really hard, and those Kiwis can race their bikes… When Rush says she likes your “jandals” she doesn’t have a lisp, or a speech impediment, she just likes your flip-flops.  It isn’t rare to crave a “lolly”, or something sweet,  and a “sammie” is also known as a sandwich.  You gotta love it, and be a little jealous that you can’t talk like that.  Something about a blonde Kiwi talking in that adorable accent just makes it irresistible.  I am glad I was able to learn some of these phrases throughout the year, but without that accent, it just isn’t the same.  Rush may be wearing different colors next year, but she will still be a great friend, I mean “mate”. 

Another teammate, Kat,  brought this quote to my attention yesterday, and I really liked it.  

It is lucky that it is not windy today. Strange, how in some way one always has the impression of being fortunate, how some chance happening, perhaps infinitesimal, stops us crossing the threshold of despair and allows us to live. It is raining, but it is not windy. – primo Levi, survival in Auschwitz

I think that is so important for us to keep having the “half-full” mentality from training to working to life.  By “giving it heaps” in everything we do, we may not always succeed, but we gain the piece of mind that we gave it was we had, “heaps”.  I will remind myself of this on those windy days.  At least it isn’t raining.

At the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle--about to go SWIMMING!

  

Best Buddies.  An amazing non-profit organization that through volunteers, creates friendship, employment, and leadership for people with intellectual and development disabilities.  An amazing charity.

Audi Best Buddies Challenge Hearst Castle. An amazing ride from Carmel to San Simeon that through team formation and donations, raises money to support such an awesome charity.  It is more then just a ride, it is an experience. A Five Star Ride.

SVB. Silicon Valley Bank, one of Team TIBCO’s main sponsors.  Also, the top fundraising team of the Best Buddies Challenge, not to mention the FASTEST team across the line for the 100mile ride (these guys are FIT and STRONG).  A group of successful, caring people, driven to dedicating themselves to not only their own individual and company health and fitness, but also donating and volunteering for Best Buddies.  The SVB team, with 67 members, raised 117,460.25 for the cause.  Incredible.  I take great pride in my inspiring sponsors.   

The Challenge, which came in differing distances, from 100miles, 100k, 35miles, or 15miles, inspired people to get active, to train to ride, walk, run, and have it go for a cause.  The ride was breathtaking.  100miles on Hwy1, fully supported and escorted.  It was a true 5star ride. 

I envisioned great support and food, meandering down the coast stopping every 20miles eating another danish, having some coffee, and casually arrive in San Simeon.  Perhaps even stopping for photo opportunities of Big Sur, elephant seals, and the scenery.   Wrong.  Best Buddies can be a race (for those that desire such a challenge).  May the best team win.  SVB has been the reigning champions of the ride, and were determined to not let their winning streak end.  They had trained, they had recruited pro riders (this is where I come in), and they were ready to dominate.  Wait, what about the rest stops?  We don’t stop they told me.  We press on towards our goal, and we win.  Uh oh.  I thought my season was coming to an end?  But, what is a group ride without a little friendly competition?  I’m in.  7am start.  Game On.  The start was very pro.  Big banners, bands, and I even got a VIP “call-up”.  Ah.  Life is good as a pro. 

We rolled down the coast alongside very supportive CHP officers (closed the road for us), and the new Audi R8.  This car is sweet with a V10, but was escorting us going 20+mph instead of the blistering speeds it was built for.  The driver entertained me with blaring country music along the way.  Great support, like I said.  The first rest stop flew by without a care, and we kept spinning out the miles.  Some pro Jelly Belly and Garmin riders were also there.  Finally, on mile 70, I HAD to stop.  I sprinted ahead to take a quick natural break, and someone thought I was attacking.  Panic ensued and as I jumped back on my bike, the “peloton” was nowhere in sight.  Ouch.  I had to chase, chase, chase to get back on… I was on the bike recovering, when LJ told me it was time for the “plan” and to get to the front.  I had spent most of the day on the front keeping the pace steady, but high.  Brooke explained the plan… We were going to leadout Aaron.  It was 7miles to go.  She said keep the pace high, then light it up with 1miles to go.  A 7mile leadout?  Ok, I do what I am told.  I got to the front and started riding tempo.  I had to cover some last minute surges.  Aaron cramped with 1mile to go.  We had to improvise, and get Greg on my wheel, Brooke jumped.  We did not win the sprint, but we were close.  We got to the end of the ride to a beautiful BBQ (grass fed Hearst Ranch Beef) on a warm beach in San Simeon, and massages.  So pro.  So five star.

That was just the beginning.  We went up to the Hearst Ranch to participate in the Friendship Races, which was a criterium on tandem bikes, with a “buddy”.  My buddy was Nathan, and we were ready to rock.  It was awesome to participate in this event, and make Nathan laugh, smile and have a blast.  It was my first time on a tandem bike, and it was challenging, but we were along for the ride.  I like being a Best Buddy.  Although we didn’t win, at least we didn’t crash like Miss USA!  Nathan and I were victorious on so many levels. 

Rider #4

After a quick transition, we went up to the gourmet BBQ at the ranch.  There was a private concert by Ciara, and the best food EVER.  SVB got a classic “podium” for being the top team, and I was proud to be a part of such a great group of individuals were are successful on so many levels.  The rest of the party was up at the castle (VIP only), Hearst Castle, in the Neptune Pool (which is spring fed and non-chlorinated) and private tours (which is pretty extensive in a 90,000sqf mansion).  And I thought the ride was 5star?  I was in for an even larger then life experience.

Throughout the weekend, I not only made great friends, life changing buddies, but reconnected with some of our inspiring sponsors that not only support my dreams and ambitions, but provide opportunities for those that are not as fortunate as myself.  I can only begin to count down the days until next year’s Best Buddies Challenge.  Start training to win again, because everyone feels the success at the end of the day there.  Everyone is supporting a great cause, gaining fitness, and interacting with friends and those that need friends.  An epic weekend, where everyone is treated to a 5 star royalty. 

The Best Buddies Challenge was a success.  Sign me up next year!

Today’s ride started out with the best of intentions.  3hrs easy.  It was a beautiful day outside.  Warm, little wind, and the entirity of West Marin at my fingertips.  I shouldn’t be complaining, should I? 

Yet, it was just one of those days.  Those days where your legs are heavy, your heart isn’t in it, and your beautiful ride becomes a sticky drudge.  You are no longer floating on the pedals, you are stamping.  You are moving like molasses.  All you want is the ride to be over, yet you keep moving slower…and slower…and slower… My normal 3hr loop took 3.5hr.

Whatever happened, I did not feel the love today.  Normally in this instance, I would just turn around, head home, and call it a day.  This week is a rest week, and the training isn’t pivotal.  However, once I realized my hopeless ride, I was at the “point of no return”.  The point where it was just as far to turn around and head home, as it was to keep the same route.  Ugh.  I was frustrated and feeling sorry for myself.  I know I am not going to get any sympathy for this.  I was on Hwy1, it was 92degrees, and I had a tailwind (kinda, more like a crosswind–if you ask me).  I considered hitchhiking home, but then noted that probably wouldn’t be the best idea…

When under these conflicting feelings, your mind goes into overdrive and I desperately was trying to find the happy balance…finding something.  I tried to hunt for blackberries, and found none.  At the end of the day, I mucked through it, yet was frustrated with my poor attitude.  I guess some days you have it, and some days you don’t. 

I might be ready for a change.  A day off the bike tomorrow, maybe a run or a walk…then on to the Best Buddies Challenge this weekend.  Riding from Carmel to Hearst Castle.  I am excited to ride with the SVB guys and I am happy to be doing it for such a great cause!

Ah.  Life is good, I guess I am just expressing that even on the best days, we can have a bad day.  Lucky for me, I didn’t hitchhike, I made it home, and it was a beautiful day to be outside.  With the best of intentions, I ended the day with my feet up the couch, eating a good dinner, and thanking God for my many blessings.

Welcome to Missouri.  The Show Me State.

At the conclusion of the Tour of Missouri Women’s Series, all I have to say is…Team TIBCO showed Missouri a thing or two.  Maybe next year there will be Women’s TofMO?

The Tour of Missouri Women’s Series = 4 Crits

TIBCO wins = 4

TIBCO dominated Tour of MIssouri Women’s Series.  Nice work, ladies.

Sunday’s crit was another tough day.  It started raining about 3 minutes into the crit.  Not enough rain to clean the roads of the oil and residue, so the roads become as slick as ice. Thus, 16 minutes into the race there was a big crash.  The race was neutralized for 14 minutes.  There is nothing as sobering as a crash mid race.  The entire vibe of the race was changed…

All that comes to mind is that nice old French doctor that I met in the ambulance after my crash in Stage 5 of La Route… He said, “Aw…pretty girls, why do you race your bicycles….such pretty girls…”

Why do we do this?  Such peril we put ourselves in… For what? For sport, for fun, for dreams, for goals, for….the love of it all I guess.

The mood of the race changed for awhile, then we were able to light it up once again… After some solid teamwork, Brooke won Day 3.  This one came down to a photo finish…butg BLWM knew she had it, who else could win that race, but none other then Brooke Miller?

Today.  Final Stage.  It was the official first day of the Tour of Missouri.  The crowds were epic.  We raced in Downtown St. Louis…with the Gateway Arch in the background…The race was hard and fast, but once again, a break was not going to go up the road.  The pace was too fast, and the course wasn’t selective enough.  It was going to come down to a bunch sprint.  Perfect.  Just what we wanted.  I covered some moves…then wanted to cover some more.  Kat rode up alongside of me after I had launched off of the front, she said sternly, “Don’t do that again unless I tell you to you…” “Yes, Ma’am.”.

3 laps to go. I get to the front to keep the tempo high.  A VAC rider launches…I need to keep a steady tempo, but real in the riders as they attack.  We must keep the group together for Brooke.  One lap to go, I light it up…pull through.  Attacks happen…Kat jumps, pulls BLWM to the final corner…and Brooke sprints for the win!

We won we won!  Brooke Miller, 4 for 4. Team TIBCO, 4 for 4.  Wow.  I think you call that a clean sweep.  Don’t you?

I think we showed the Show Me State a thing or two.

Rain, rain go away, come again after Labor Day.

Woke up in St. Louis to rain.  Not a mere drizzle, but a pretty consistent Midwest thunderstorm.  Humid, wet, rain.  There goes our morning ride plans.  Oh well.  Another big breakfast and then on to the important things.  Lounging, and contemplating racing. 

Day 2.  Start time, approx 3:30, but it was delayed until 4:00.  Oh well.  The kids race must go on, and we will be delayed.  Props to those kids out there racing!  HUGE groups of little ones.

The course had some slight false flats, or rollers, and was longer then usual.  1.3 miles long.  We started the race.  I tried to pull a BLWM, and attack first.  Did it.  Attacked out of Corner#1.  Just to warm-up.  The onslaught continued throughout the race.  The course was wide open.  Too open for a break to go up the road.  Yet, the attacking continued.  It was a good race, but not a selective course.  Things started heating up with about 20 minutes to go… There was a solo Type1 rider off the front, and we were surfing the moves, getting ready for the last minute bombs to go off.  And, then bam, they started happening.  5 laps to go, I bridged up to the break, and sat on…sorry, ladies, but I got me a good sprinter back there, I will just watch.  Ha.  We were caught with 2 to go…then Colavita started there leadout.  5 girls deep.  I was ready to do something.  BLWM told me to wait, and wait and did.  She surfed the CV leadout, and was managing fine.  We let them do their work.  Then Tina jumped with KB on her wheel.  This was dangerous, so Kat made such an amazing move.  She jumped with everything she had, and bridged up, closed the gap, with BLWM on her wheel.  Kat swung in the inside and was first through the final corner.  The jumps happened, and Brooke (BLWM) jumped around for another W!  Nice! 

It was amazing to watch the TIBCO train reshuffle and race our bikes… You can plan for a bike race, but you can’t plan the bike race.  Things happen.  You need to re-shuffle and get ready to adapt to the changes.  Way to adapt, to change, to stay in the bike race, and still win!  With the little numbers, we were required to respond to the late attacks, and then, let the other teams do their work, and still won.  I love having confidence in my team. 

2 down. 2 to go.