Friday Announcements

Do you remember the bulletin at school?  They would give you the weekly announcements… What the cafeteria was serving, and what games there were coming up…what club was looking for members.  I know, you get the point.

This is going to be my bulletin for the day.  Announcements of some upcoming events.  Get ready for some great riding.

On deck.

Gateway Cup.

More racing more racing! I will be heading to St. Louis, Missouri to participate at the Gateway Cup over Labor Day weekend with Team TIBCO.  I am excited for the opportunity to close out my season with those 4 days of racing.  I hope I can get some speed in my legs before I get there.  Stage racing is so much fun, but those 4 crits are going to be brutal!  Mission this week: need for speed.  Can you say, 105rpm?  Thanks, coach.

Interbike.

I will be going Interbike for Ritchey Logic.  I am excited.  Look for me at the Ritchey booth, and I will also be doing the iBikeTweetUp … Which should be fun, as well as racing at the USA Crit Finals there!  As if Vegas isn’t enough, I am settling in for a busy week at my first trip to Interbike… I hear it is exhausting, but it should be a good time to explore what is new in the cycling world. 

Best Buddies Challenge.

A good cause, a good ride, with good sponsors.  I can’t wait to ride from Carmel to Hertz Castle for the Best Buddies Challenge!  One of Team TIBCO’s sponsors, SVB, is a main sponsor for this great ride.  Not only is this ride going to be expertly supported, but will be so much fun to ride with our sponsors for a great reason, Best Buddies, a foundation that helps the intellectually disabled.  I told the guys at SVB that I have been training pretty hard for this, so I am ready to do my share of the work down the coast.  First person there, wins. 

Levi’s King Ridge Gran Fondo Ride

When I was in Italy, we followed the Gran Fondo paint on the roads for directions to a ride.  The pain read, GF, or something like that to show us routes that the Italians use for these events.  A Gran Fondo is a celebrated Italian tradition, and it is a long, mass start ride that although it isn’t a race, people are timed and try to complete efficiently.  Levi is bringing this event to California, and it is started in Santa Rosa.  I am will be doing the Gran Fondo, which is 103 miles… There are other distances as well, and maybe you can come check them out! Levi’s King Ridge Gran Fondo will be a great time to get riding and enjoy good food, company, and perhaps a little friendly competition.   

Oh, how could I forget my final annoucement…

Team TIBCO 2010

You got it.  I have signed with Team TIBCO for the 2010 season, officially!  I am so excited to be a part of this team again, and my position has moved up from “developmental” to know I am officially on the roster as a full-time rider.  I get to be one of the big girls now!  I am looking forward to the opportunity to race with this great group of women in the next season.  Linda Jackson is an inspiring person who is going to take this team to the next level.  I cannot wait to be an integral part of this team and our mission- domination!  We have an exciting year coming up, including racing domestically and internationally.  Time to get ready for a full year next year of racing.  It will either break me, or make me.  Love it.

Leap of Faith

You know that first time that you have to take that step.  That one step that leaves you feeling vulnerable.  That first time you tell someone that you love them.  The butterflies in your stomach, the choking of the words, and that sense that you are losing control.  You don’t know what the response will be, you don’t want to get rejected, you don’t want to catch a glimpse of uncertainty in their eyes.  You want to see belief.  You want to grasp a mutual feeling.  As you search for this, look for it, you don’t want to be mislead.  You don’t want to be told just what you want to hear, you want the truth.  But, there is still that moment.  That leap of faith moment, where you have to utter what you really feel.

No, I am not telling someone that I love them for this first time… However, as this year winds down, I am starting to plan my goals not only for this year, but for the next 2 years…the next 6 years and beyond.  My family knows what I want to do.  Now it is the time to start telling some other people.  My coach.  My team director.  Etc.

I got to discuss my goals, my true, real goals, with my coach, Charlie Livermore.  We got to talk about my last 6 weeks of racing, and then where we are now, and where we can go into the future.  Charlie is great because he doesn’t feed me what I want to hear, but instead he approaches the situation, the goals, realistically and tells me that I better get ready for the ride.  I have to buck up and get ready to work hard.  The things that have come easily for me, will still come easily, but I will need to take on a new approach.  Get ready for some hard work, some dedication, and some determination. 

I am not one to discuss my workouts here, but today was great.  It was great, not because it was easy or what I wanted to do.  If you know me, I don’t think high cadence is a party by any means… However, it was structure, it had a purpose, and it was what I was supposed to do.  I nailed it.  Kind of.  Actually, I started to fade towards the end.  But that makes it a good workout, right?  When you have to dig to find something to finish it.  Find anything within yourself to complete it.  It wasn’t perfect, but it was good. 

The three hours I spent with CL yesterday at EPTC not only proved that I can talk just about anyone’s ear off, but that I can take the next step towards my plan for the next couple of years.    The good news is that I do not have to do it by myself.  I am so blessed to have the support of God, family, friends, and a great coach. 

Hopefully I have more days like today, but I know that everyday won’t be like this.  I need to take this day, and file it.  File it for the days where I am prescribed to do something that I don’t want to do.  Something that is hard, and not fun.  I need to remember my goals, remember my plans, and buck up and do that hard stuff too. 

It is all a leap of faith, but it is nice to have a plan as well.

Survival Doesn't Win

I am stubborn.  I get something in my head, and I go with it.  I have a one track mind at times, and all I see is that little goal or decision and I just press towards it.  Sometimes this is the reason for success, and sometimes it is the cause of failure.  I think that is what you call stubborn.  Stubbornness isn’t so bad, anyway.  It means I have resolve, and determination. Right?

I decided to do the University Road Race yesterday.  Why?  Because I wanted to.  I happen to love that race.  I love that race because it is one of the first races that I got to compete in last year and realize that I belonged in the Pro1/2 field.  Now, this year, I am doing it knowing that I belong and knowing that I may even have an advantage.  Besides, I missed my friends at the races.  If I can take on crazy Italians in the European peloton, surely I can take on the University Road Race (even if I have a cracked sternum).  I love it. 

The course is about 3 miles long.  You climb 1.5 miles, then descend 1.5 miles.  Pretty simple.  Up up up.  Down down down.  I like simple.  You don’t have to think much with a simple race of attrition, or so I thought.

Linda had warned me that I shouldn’t race.  I still can’t get out of the saddle because of my chest injury from the crash.  She said, “Ali, you have done this race before, you know it is really hard…” I said, “I know, it is completely brutal, and that’s why I am doing it!”  She said, “And, that’s why I love you..”  Ha.  What can I say?  I am a glutton for punishment.  The harder the race the better.

The race was fun.  It was great to get back to a NorCal race and see all the familiar faces.  I loved seeing the Dolce Vita women out there.  I love those girls.  I felt at home with them, and happy to be among friends and former teammates.  I took it upon myself to make the race hard.  Why not?  And hard we made it. 

Attacks, attacks, a selection occurred.  With a 15 lap race, the attacks occurred on lap 1.  Once the selection happened, which is likely on a course like this, of pure attrition, it slowed slightly.  People were relieved to make the selection.  Why let is slow down now?  I attacked the selection group of 7, and formed a break of 3.  Lap count, 11 to go.  Ha.  We worked the break.  We got 1 minute, then up to 2 minutes.  With 3 laps to go, I decided to attack the break.  The break was now 2.  2 people.  How do I win?  I started planning, devising, strategizing.  I need to learn to win.  Now, Alison, figure it out. 

I attacked, she countered.  Ouch.  I clawed back on.  That hurt.  The cat and mouse began.  I was riding, justtrying to look at her body language out of the corner of my eye.  My peripheal vision became extremly sensitive to jittery moves, heaving breathing, and any sign of a fight, of a attack, or whatever she would throw at me, maybe a grenade, maybe a kick.  You never know.  Trying to listen for shifting, looking for muscle twitches, looking for a sign. 

Olivia, my break mate, is the Irish TT National Champion, and she is heading back in a week for another run at her title.  She is a tremendous athlete anda friend.  I tried to take that out of sight, I tried to be cut throat.  I felt like my cat, stalking a prey.  1 lap to go.  I attacked, she countered.  Once again, I found myself clawing, scraping, scrambling back on.  That really hurt.  I went from feeling golden, feeling invincible, to feeling the pain zone in full force.  This is where the mistake happened.  I was in pain.  Literal, seeing red, pain.  That hill hurt.  I was so focused on my suffering, I forgot a very important fact.  She was hurting too.  I needed to counter her attack.  Honestly, it never crossed my mind.  Oops.  That just surprises me, because I know that, usually.  But, when you add a little suffering, a little heat, and a little pressure, your “book” knowledge is thrown out the window, and I went into survival mode.  Really?  Survival mode?  You don’t win bike races by surviving.  Final time up the hill, I knew I had to go before she did because she has a bigger jump then me.  I tried to attack on the descent.  Not once, but 3 times.  That wasn’t smart, as I was told by the motorcycle escort.  He said, “Doh!  Why is she doing that!”  This is coming from the nicest escort ever, as he did remind me to drink water as well throughout the race.  I attacked 2 more times, and she jumped for the line.  I was cooked.  O rode a great race, great girl, and I took 2nd.  I got an awesome Velo Promo tShirt though.  I love it. 

The best part of the race was the debriefing following the race with Brooke and LJ.  It was great to learn what I shoulda, coulda, woulda done.  I love them.  I have the strength, I have the legs, now on to the winning.  The more I need to learn, the more I am excited to work with my team in the upcoming months… Next time I am in that situation, hopefully I remember what to do, and I don’t block out the more painful option.  Don’t recover, counter attack.  It is funny how “logical” you get when in the red, yet to win, you must make a very “illogical” choice, and risk more pain, more suffering, but it may work.  Right?

More races on tap.  I will be heading to Missouri for Labor Day Weekend to race the Gateway Cup Series with Team TIBCO.  4 crits, 4 days.  Bring on the speed.

Life Lessons

Podium Kisses

I’m back in Marin, and reflecting on the previous couple of weeks.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to race my bike in Europe.  I can’t believe it is all happening!  I didn’t just get to go to Europe and survive an epic tour, but I got to RACE it. 

Surviving and racing are two entirely different methods and abilities.  I am looking forward to more experiences like that.  Don’t get me wrong, there were times during the race, where the peloton is strung out for a k and all you can do is bury yourself into the wheel in front of you.  The desperation of finding a draft for survival is key.  Then, when the pain subsides, the peloton lets up for a moment, just a moment, you launch an attack of your own.  Why do this to myself? I discovered the pain is all the same, but there is something satisfactory when you initiate the pain, instead of sitting and waiting for someone else to make the critical move.  When you feel yourself wanting recovery, and relieved when it is available…that is the time. Go for it.  If you are hurting, someone else is as well.  The cat and mouse.  The attacks.  The accelerations.  The survival.  The game.  That is is bike racing. 

I can’t express how much I appreciate people like Rick Rockhold who helped sponsor me to be able to travel and to race.  Unbelievable support and friendship.  I feel so blessed for such an amazing support system.  People last year told me I could do it and I know they are still surprised I am here, and this year, I am racing for the US National Team and Team TIBCO? Crazy.

Although bike racing isn’t rocket science, and it doesn’t solve the world’s problems, I think we can take little life lessons from bike racing.

I learned that win, lose, or draw, aggressive riding gets you somewhere.  Although it may not get you a win, it may get you a podium kiss.  If the kiss isn’t your thing, it also gets you respect.  In life, it may not be aggressive riding but it may be just being decisive.  To make a plan, make a move, believe in it, believe in yourself, believe in your teammates (or colleagues).  Maybe we don’t do it for the glory, although the flowers and kisses are nice, we do it because we believe we can.  You don’t always get the champagne, but you get the satisfaction of trying.  Pushing your limits, and not holding back.  Somedays you may win, somedays you may fail, but you know that you are committed and strong.  And, that podium isn’t so bad either. 

The Group at a Beautiful Roman Bridge

There are the days that you need to relax, uncoil, and enjoy the scenery.  Bike racing isn’t about going hard all the time, it is about going hard at the right times.  I am very talented at riding my bike very slowly at times.  I will never lose this skill.  There are important days where it doesn’t matter your watts, your heartrate, your calorie expenditure, it just matters to enjoy the outdoors, enjoy the company, and enjoy life.  Work shouldn’t be all work all the time.  We are all allowed to play every now and again, and remember why we do what we do.  We love it. 

On our way to Pisa

All roads do NOT in fact lead to Rome.  Surely there is a paved road between Lucca and Pisa, but why take the simple route?  Why take the same path that everyone else does?  It is the adventure of life that keeps us going.  Each path that we chose in our lives takes us somewhere, but it isn’t always the destination that matters, it is the adventure that we achieve along the way.  We may not make it to Pisa, we may not always make the team, we may not always achieve all of our expectations, but we enjoy the ride just the same.  Dirt roads or not.  Typical methods or not.  We learn, we grow, we laugh and that is what matter the most.

Roadside Fuel

You are taught what you should do, and how you should prepare, but you also need to be prepared to live a little.  Maybe it isn’t always about the gels, the bars, and the proper protocol.  Maybe sometimes it is about enjoying the local flavor, stopping on the side of the road to “sample” the local “fuel”.  Peaches anyone?  We know what our bodies require for optimized performance, and I know my body appreciates the variety, and the ability to branch out.  Locally grown, organically grown, sometimes supporting the local farmers is not always a possibility.  However, when you get the luxury of that first juicy bite into a ripe plum that is warm from the summer sunshine, you remember to appreciate the simple things in life.  Slow down every now and again and just enjoy life’s simplest pleasures. 

Sunflower Fields

Water Stop on a Hot Day

When you are in a bind, or maybe just hot, humid weather, be trusting and fill up those bottles, cool off, and rely on your friends and family to support you.  Sometimes our saving grace isn’t where we expect it, and sometimes it is.  Keep your eyes open looking for that familiar comfort of a water spicket helps your recognize your support when you truly need it the most.  And, remember, you should be drinking at least one bottle per hour when riding.  Much more liquid may be necessary when the weather is hotter.  Sorry, had to lecture momentarily.

Enjoy the View

Finally, don’t forget to let others enjoy the view as well.  If we are constantly thinking about ourselves, we forget to let those around us relax a little as well, sit back, and to peruse the surroundings with us.  My Look 585 likes to look around every once in a while too. I try not to forget to let her enjoy what she does too.  Why should I be the only lucky one?  Remember to extend appreciation to those that help us in life.  It may be a friend, it may be a riding partner, it may be a dog, or it may be your faithful bicycle…appreciate them.  Thank them.  Sit back, and let them take the spotlight. 

No, bike racing isn’t rocket science, but it is sure fun.  We can take practical life lessons from just about anything, why not riding our bicycles.  I am glad to be home, and I am looking forward to returning.  Have a home base and a community of support is so nice to come back to…

Thank you for the ride..

The Trip to Pisa.

On Monday, our last day in Lucca…We had the best idea, but good intentions don’t always end in the best result.  We decided that we were going to take a trip to Pisa, Italy.  Why not? It is only about 35k from Lucca.  Easy, right?  Everyone should see the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa.  We filled our pockets with the typical tourist accessories.  Cameras, sunblock, and the typical CrackBerry.  What an adventure.

We set off trustingly following our mechanic, who is our tour guide to Pisa.  Our brave and fearless leader takes us towards the beach, and then a couple of lefts… another left… another left…a dead end…and then a right.  And finally, a dirt road.  It took us that long to figure out he didn’t know where we were going. 

Where were we? 

Everyone gets up on the dirt embankment to see if we can spot Pisa, or a road, or anything??

We continued on the dirt roads of Toscana.  Looking for anything.  Landmark?  Nothing.  A police helicopter began circling us, and we figured we weren’t in the best location for exploration.  Finally, we called mercy.  We turned around, gave up on Pisa.  We went to the beach.

The beach wasn’t so bad.  We got cappuccino, gelato, Coca-cola Light, and then headed home.  When consuming such treats on a ride, I consider them “fueling”, and not bad.  Gelato or a bar?  I choose the gelato…

We never made it to Pisa, but we saw the beach.  I will be back to Italy next year hopefully because I really need to see this infamous tower.  A failed attempt, regardless of the best intentions.  Mission failed.  Next time, Pisa, next time…