The post with New Stuff

So... it's been a busy time around the Porkchop house... we've been busy spending our hard-earned cash on some new stuff around the house.  And, while I hate parting with our dollars with stuff that doesn't have wheels (teehee), I admit that it's been money VERY well spent.  We're both so happy about the house (inside and out) right now, that we're just... well... like pigs in poop (as the saying goes).

So, the one thing that doesn't show so well in photos is the new electrical work that we had done.  NO MORE BLOWING CIRCUITS!  YESSSSS!!!!  WE can actually run two appliances in the kitchen without cringing!  What an awesome change!

And then, there's the stuff that we CAN take photos of...

The new fence:

We no longer have to look at the piles of garbage that get blown into the old chain link fence.  Car headlights from the lot behind can no longer stream through our rear windows.  We can sit peacefully in our backyard.  AND... it looks absolutely lovely!  Who knew that we had such a nice backyard?!  Next summer, we'll do some nice landscaping back there and we'll have a true oasis!

The New Dining Room:

Well, it's really the same old dining room that it has been, except that we repainted, knocked out the old corner cabinets and put in these new beautiful ones, and made some new cornices for the windows.  The room is amazing.  Truly one of my favorite rooms in the house, suddenly.  It's clean, it's crisp, the light that comes through the light filtering blinds keeps it airy and nice.  And, it's GREEN!  Which is my favorite color, after all!  :)

I've ben getting out on the Mountain Bike again lately... which has also been nice.  It's been MANY years since I did some riding in the woods.  So much has changed since those days.  People no longer ride wooden wheels, there are these strange things called shocks, and the bikes practically pedal themselves.  ;)  OK - I might be exaggerating a bit.  BUT... this is the first time I've ever ridden a full-suspension OR a 29 inch wheel, so it's quite different than "the old days."  I still kinda suck at it... but I'm determined to spend this off-season getting less sucky.  I might even do a race next weekend.  Maybe.  Perhaps... Perchance.

Happy October, everyone!!!  Halloween is just around the corner (the BEST holiday EVER)!  I hope you have your costumes ready!  :)

That Time of Year Again...

Yep... it's that time of year again... when I go back to classes full time, start to zip through the weeks like they're standing still.  That time of year when the weather gets a little cooler (YAY!), the days get a little shorter (BOO!), and my cycling life gets a little calmer (Meh).

It's been a truly amazing race season for me.  I was not really sure if I would EVER have a race season like this again.  I feared that the surgery in December would be the end of my high end competitive career and I would have to settle for something new in my cycling journey.  But... I was very lucky and I'm now writing this post on the back end of a cycling season that proved to be one of the best that I've had in a long time.  It might not seem that way from the list of results that appear on my USA Cycling page, but a number next to my name in a long list of names doesn't necessarily tell you much.

The season started out hard - I was doing the Spring Series races in NJ against the Master's Men and getting my doors blown off.  The few times I was able to stay with them to the end, I was on the rivet the entire time and would sleep for hours when I got home.  The good side of that was... my back and my nerve weren't hurting.

As the race season got going, I started to feel stronger.  My training began to come together, I started contending sprints and upping the pace on group rides.  I started getting out on longer rides with the Bordas and Hauber that increased my endurance.  Things were looking good.

As the race season got going, I found myself on the steps of the podium a few times - which I NEVER would have expected after the way I felt after surgery.  I ended up 3rd in the NJ State Elite Road Race, 2nd at the Freedom Tour, and 1st in the NJ State 35+ Master's Road Race.  I brought home a State Champ jersey thanks to amazing help from a new friend and future 2015 teammate Meredith Ehn!

I raced a dozen professional level races, including 7 days of the Tour of America's Dairylands.  I think that's more professional racing then I've done since I got my Cat 2 upgrade a few years back!  I wasn't finding the podium (or even seeing it from a distance!) at any of those races... but I was finishing with the field (sometimes), and even managing to launch some attacks and make some moves in the races now and then.

And, all through this, my back and nerve have felt great.

I've made one other major change this year that I'm super stoked about.  I've decided to hire a new coach for the 2015 season.  It's been a while since I've had a coach.  Obviously, the last two years have been a total wash, so it's not like I've needed one.  But, as this season neared completion and I thought about 2015, I realized that I really need to be accountable to someone.  I need someone looking at my data and telling me to kick it up a notch.  I feel REALLY fortunate that the person that I wanted to work with was thrilled to work with me.  I know that I'll only benefit under the watchful eye of Tina Pic as I work my way through this off-season in preparation for another great year of racing in 2015.

So, to say that 2014 was a good year would be an understatement.  It's been fantastic.  I've never felt so lucky in all of my life.  Truly.

Thank you to my amazing husband for putting up with me this summer and being so unbelievably supportive as I jumped back into racing with both feet and all 10 toes.  I couldn't ask for a better partner to share my life with and I am so thankful for his belief and patience!  He puts up with a LOT and I will likely spend all of my off-season finding ways to thank him for 2014 and start paying forward for 2015!

Wyoming Visit: Part 1

OK... so... I've been home for about a week and haven't had time to write this post.  So, here goes...

The trip out west was more awesome than anticipated.  Not only did I get to spend some wonderful time with my parents and my sister, brother-in-law and niece, but we had some amazing experiences out on our journeys.

Here's how it went.

We traveled over the mountain to try to see the wild horses.  On our way over the Big Horns, we stopped at Shell Falls.  It was a beautiful site with hummingbirds buzzing your head and the beautiful sound of rushing water through the canyon.

Then, we headed into Greybull and onward to find the McCullough Peaks Horses just west of the city.  Knowing that this was all a giant crapshoot - we might drive out there and see absolutely nothing, we had our cameras and binoculars at the ready.  As we neared the end of the gravel road that cuts through the horse range, I began to lose faith - we were going to go home empty handed - my mother yells, "There they are!"

And, there they were... a herd of between 100-125 horses galloping along the fence line directly toward our car and the road upon which we were driving.  We got up to the next cattle guard and stopped.  I got out.  Here's what we saw...

It was amazing.  I just kept shooting and shooting as they ran across in front of the car.  Beautiful painted horses, strong stallions leading the groups, BABIES!  It was so cool.  As we drove up to the end of the road, it opened up to a vista of the badlands:

OK - that's it for now.  More to come later!

Birds and Bunnies and stuff...

So, another trip to the John Heinz Nature Preserve yielded a few more decent shots with the borrowed zoom lens.  I'm getting the hang of the settings and managed to catch some decent shots this time around.  I admit that I'm jealous of Christian's 500mm zoom - but beggar's can't be choosers, and I'm just pleased as punch that he's willing to let me borrow the 300mm for my upcoming trip west.

So, here's a few shots I got today, including some digital manipulations... not bad, says I... not bad.

Sometimes, You Just Have to Destroy Stuff

And, sometimes, that destruction happens at 7am in your dining room...

We've had these cabinets since we moved in.  They have about 4 coats of paint on them, the doors (removed in this first photo) don't shut right and constantly get stuck.  They are, in essence, a mess.  So, we finally decided that we would splurge a bit and replace them.  The question then became... how hard are these going to be to remove?

So, this morning, I guess I was a bit bored - or maybe just motivated - but, I decided to find out just how hard it would be.

When I got to this point, I was feeling pretty confident that it would be easy...

Then, I encountered the anchor screws that had four coats of paint over them.  Hmmmm.... after a bit of sweat equity, I got those out.  After that, it was a breeze!  The whole thing just popped off the wall.  Success!

Behind the cabinet, I discovered wall paper that's probably been there since the 1950s.  Lovely.  It, too, had been painted over several times...

I've decided that I'll sand it all down really well, fill in the few minor holes that were the result of removing screws and a few nails, and repaint.  After all, we're going to put in some new cabinets like the ones in the final photo in a few weeks, so there's no real reason to go crazy returning the wall surface to a state of perfection.

Possible paint colors - sage green with a light brownish accent wall?  Maybe?  Perhaps?  Perchance?

Considering that the cabinets are coming unfinished, if anyone wishes to join me for a staining, sanding, and polyurethaning party sometime later this month, please let me know.  Volunteers will be fed, provided with beverages of their choosing, and (of course) will have the joy of my company for a few hours!  :)

The Freedom Tour

I loved this race last year.  It was one of the only races that I was able to enter last year, and I managed to eke out a $50 prime.  I was ecstatic.

This year, I was looking forward to the race again.  Then, I saw the start list.

My gut reaction was... "oh, crap... this is going to be HARD!"  Which, I might add, is a good thing!  But, as a non-sprinter going up against the likes of Amy Cutler, LVG, Deb Leedale-Brown, Lauren Dag, and Kristin Lotito... I was not sure what would happen.  I was determined to race hard and aggressive and do what I could to help Meredith find the dollars with a top 10 finish.  She launched early in the race and snagged a cash prime, so things were already looking good.  

The race was super aggressive, which I love!  As expected, Lauren launched some strong attacks to try to stay away.  The group would let her get a gap and then slowly start dragging her back in.  One attack saw me try to bridge up to her... as I got closer, LVG came around me and we kept up the pace.  But, with three strong riders up the road, the peloton decided that we needed to come back into the group.  

Things continued fast and furious up until the end of the race.  As we crossed the line with two to go, my legs suddenly felt great, so I launched.  I got a nice gap on the field and immediately turned on TT-mode.  I was feeling great and when I came through the start/finish and heard the bell, I knew that I had a slim chance of holding them off to the end.  I just put my head down and kept riding as hard as I could.  As I took the final turn to the finish, I heard the whir of rear hubs behind me.  I jumped out of the saddle and took the final hill with everything that I had.  Amy Cutler came around me just as I crested the hill and I just kept up the best I could.  I managed to hold off the rest of the stacked field for 2nd place!  

Even as I write this, I'm a bit shocked at the finish.  I'm thrilled by it, but still can't quite believe that it worked out like it did.  It will go down in my cycling resume as one of my best races to date.

A huge thank you today goes out to Kelley, Meredith, and Deb...whose support at this race and all season has been amazing.  You ladies are truly amazing sportswomen.  I admire and appreciate you every day!

The Thursday That Sucked...

I've had a very different relationship with aunts and uncles and cousins - even grandparents - than a lot of people that I know.  We lived no closer than four and a half hours away from my extended family my entire life.  Unlike my nieces and nephews who play with their cousins on a nearly daily basis and who live (literally) around the corner from a set of grandparents, I saw these members of my family once or twice a year.  I never really got to know some of them the way that they knew one another, or the way my nieces and nephews know their cousins or Mr. Porkchop and me.  I'm not complaining about this, mind you... they became VERY special people to me because I saw them infrequently.

I remember cherishing every moment that I spent with my grandparents.  As an adult, I've continued to cherish moments with my last surviving Grandmother, who is just the sweetest and funniest woman.  I love to hear her tell stories about meeting my grandfather, the great flood in Cincinnati, and other things that she remembers.  I sometimes wonder if the cousins who see her everyday know these stories, too?  I hope that they've asked her about her life, like we do when we visit.  I hope that they listen to her amazing stories so that we can share those stories with the next generation.  But, sometimes, when something is so close to you - you forget how special it is.

I also remember how I always felt about my godparents.  My godparents are my dad's brother and his wife (my aunt and uncle).  Their family is structured exactly like ours - three kids, two girls and one boy, the boy in the middle.

When we traveled to Cincy to visit family, we often stayed with them.  Because all of the kids had a built in cousin playmate, it seemed to make the most sense, I guess.  Plus, my dad and his brother are very close.  They even look enough alike that when my cousin's kids were babies, they would run to MY dad thinking that it was their grandfather.

My godparents are so special to me.  Getting birthday cards or Christmas cards and gifts from them was always special.  Spending time with them was always special.  They thought of me, and I them, in a particular way.  There was a comfort with them that I didn't necessarily feel with other aunts and uncles.  I fit with them in a way that seemed serendipitous.  How did my parents know, when they were selected as my godparents, what a perfect fit they would be?

Such a little thing, the title of godparent.  In reality, it means almost nothing...there's no legal bind or expectation.  But, knowing that they are my godparents has always meant something big to me.  I suppose that's why I was so touched and excited to become godparent to Little E.  I hope that Mr. Porkchop and I can be special to her the way that my godparents are special to me.  I will do everything I can to make sure that happens.

Yesterday, I got some news that hit me in the gut like a swift kick.  My godfather has been diagnosed with Parkinson's.  He's had some symptoms for a while, and it seems that this diagnosis was more of a confirmation for the family than anything else, but that doesn't make hearing it any easier.  I'm not sure that I've completely let the reality set in, but I guess that's why I'm writing this.  Writing has become a way for me to work things out in my head.  And, in my heart.

Parkinson's.  No one knows where it comes from.  It might be genetic.  It might be environmental.  It might just be.  But, wherever it comes from, there's no stopping it.  There is no cure.  There are medications that can help slow it down or minimize some of the symptoms.  There are surgeries that can be undergone to implant things in the brain to counteract the effects.  But, both of these options are temporary fixes.  Eventually, as the illness progresses, the medications and implants lose effectiveness.  The progression is slow, but inevitable.  And, that might be the scariest part.  Right now, he is trying to decide how to proceed and treat the disease.  He's a strong, wonderful, funny, sweet man.  And, he has the most amazing family to support him through this.  He is infinitely lucky in that regard.

I don't know when I will next see my godfather.  Since moving out east, it's been difficult to get back to the Midwest, though I've managed it a few times.  I've already chatted a bit with my cousin (his daughter) about coming back out just to spend time with the family, but I'm not sure when I can do that.  For now, I will do what I can from here and hope to see him soon.

A Look at What's Ahead

A quick glimpse of what is ahead.

Note: these photos are not mine... obviously.  If they were, this post would be about the fact that I discovered time travel.  Which would probably be way, way cooler.

The planning stages of my trip west have begun... it will include seeing some of the following...

Shell Falls

 Medicine Wheel

 Steamboat Rock

Wild Mustangs!!!

I cannot wait to continue to experiment with my new camera!  Plus, the chance to spend time with my parents, my sister and bro-in-law, and little E is just awesome.  Wish us well in finding the mustang herds and getting some good shots of them once we do!  It's a bit of a crap-shoot, but I have hope and faith that we will find them!

Wahooey!  Or, should I say, "YEEHAW!"

Touring with the Fishes...

BChan and I headed just up the road from home to Somerdale, NJ to race the Tour de Fish!  It's a brand new race this year that I hope continues for next year.  It was awesome!  There was only a small women's field, but I believe that we put on a good show... lots of attacks, counter-attacks, and moves that ended in a small 7-woman field sprint for the line.

I tried, as always, to get away from the field.  I'm still feeling good from my time at ToAD - despite a little hamstring tendon soreness that popped up this week - so I'm going to ride that high for as long as possible.  I was super attentive to BChan during the race, too.  Wanting to make sure that, since they weren't letting me get anywhere, that she was comfortable and safe in the group.

We took a couple of primes - mine was for coffee (yes, and thank you!).  And, then this happened...

BChan took the win!  It was one of our better lead outs in terms of timing.  She and I are REALLY getting a nice rhythm going and have had some really quality lead outs in the last couple of races.  I LOVE being a lead out rider, as I know that my sprint is not going to take me to the line in most fields.  Leading her out and watching her kill it is a really, really awesome feeling!

I then hopped in the 45+ field with Kelley to do a little more top end riding and just hang at the back. For the most part, it was great.  She and I ride with quite a few of these guys every week at Greentree, so they know us and are pretty awesome.  Ron Short caught both Kelley and I in this photo on his GoPro!

And, she and I are respectful of the fact that we're in a men's race.  We just sit toward the back.  We aren't there to contest sprints or primes.  We're solid wheels (or so I was told post race by at least two guys), and we're just there for some training.  Apparently, much like the drivers who want to kill cyclists just because we're there, some men become angry jerk-wads just because we're there.

I was amazed that she and I were harassed mid-race by one of the riders.  I admit that I probably riled him up by calling him on some of his dangerous moves.  But, he's a Cat 1, so CLEARLY, he knows how to ride his bike.  Plus, me... being a lowly woman... should not dare to CORRECT his dangerous riding when it threatens my health and well-being.  He cut me off once, pushing me toward the curb and into the one sandy section on the course.  We were at the back, so his move was unnecessary and dangerous.  I told him that, "Hey, dude... not necessary."

On the next lap, he decided that, once again, it was necessary to squeeze in between me and the curb to move up from 35th to 33rd position.  I said, "That's TWICE... come on, man!"  He pulled in front of me, and began to gesture for me to leave the race, while he basically brake checked me.  OK... he was going to try to crash me out.  I opened my big mouth again and said, "Yeah, dude... real classy."

I then watched him make some equally squirrely moves around some of the other guys (moving up on the right, along the curb, in a curve, with about 5 inches of room).  Decision made - this guy is an idiot.  I avoided him for the remainder of the race, as he moved to the front.  He came back to the back again at the end and kept looking over his shoulder at me.  This time, I said nothing and just rode my bike.

After the race, I not only heard numerous guys complaining about him, but Kelley had left the race because he had deliberately cut her off and gestured for her to leave the race, too.  And, after brushing his wheel as he crossed two bikes in front of her, she did.  For her own safety and fear that he would, in fact, cause her to go down.

I was shocked by this behavior.  Truly.  What was the danger in us being there?  I can tell you for CERTAIN, that I was a stronger, safer, and more steady wheel than quite a few of the men in that race.  I was at the back.  I was not bothering anyone.  Other than the fact that I called this guy out on being dangerous - which he IS - what was the problem for him that I was there?

I am a woman.

That's it.

Period. End of story.

In fact, he was ballsy enough to say this to some of my friends who asked him what his problem was and why he was being a jerk to Kelley and me.  "Because women don't belong in our race."  Wow.  OK.  Noted - you're a sexist pig.  Got it.

Maybe I should have kept my mouth shut.  But, when someone does something stupid and dangerous on a training ride, training crit, race, etc.  I tell them.  It's important to tell someone if they're dangerous.  Maybe they don't know it.  Maybe they don't realize what they've just done and telling them will make them more aware in the future.  I don't know... but, I do know one thing... I am allowed to race in men's fields.  I am capable of racing in men's fields.  And, I will continue to race in men's fields when I deem it necessary.

I appreciate that Danger Dude's girlfriend apologized to Kelley and I on his behalf.  She's a quality racer and woman and I am sorry that she felt that she needed to be sorry for him.  But, I appreciate that she did.  I *hope* that he eventually feels sorry - or is shamed enough by his fellow gentlemen racers to understand that his actions were dangerous and wrong.  But, I'm not holding my breath on that one.  I know to avoid him (and keep my female yap shut) in the future.

Oh, and to the dude who kept looking over his shoulder as we came to the finish to make sure that "a girl" didn't beat him in the sprint - nice job man... you got me!

That's a Mighty Big Lens You Have There...

I borrowed a friend's 300mm lens and we went out this morning to take photos of some birds and stuff. Once I figured out that I had screwed up the settings on my camera, I managed to get a few okay shots for my first ever ornithological photo outing.

Not too shabby.  Already looking forward to our next outing!

Confessions of a Porkchop

Confession #1: I like the Book of Faces.

Honestly, I do.  It's fun to post fun, silly, self-deprecating, self-glorifying, or otherwise goofy stuff on there and have my "audience of friends" respond in some way or another.  It's amazing to keep in touch with my best high school friends (who now live all over the nation and the globe) and see their children growing up... learning how to walk and talk and such.  It's wonderful to be able to be connected to so many people in one place (it certainly makes Movie Night invites far simpler!).  But, a strange - though not unexpected? - thing has happened because of the FacePage.

Friendship is changing dramatically.

No longer is friendship defined by long chats on the phone about someone's day or life, it's defined by a series of "likes" attached to often purposely vague (see definition in the Urban Dictionary) posts that leave the reader "wanting more."  It's like the cliffhanger at the end of an episode of True Blood.  Never give them the answers, just treat them like your audience.

And, yes... Confession #2: I am as guilty of doing this as anyone.

Life on the page of faces is either orgasmically perfect or downright abysmal.  And, either way, the posts are intended to intrigue the "fans" enough to beg for more.  "Your life sucks right now?  REALLY?  TELL ME MORE!!!!"

But, I'm supposed to believe that these "fans" are my "friends?"

Friendship is no longer defined by really KNOWING someone.  It's defined by whether or not the person on the other side of a computer screen felt like clicking "Accept Friendship Request" after a cup of coffee one sluggish Thursday (THROWBACK THURSDAY!!) morning.  Maybe it was National Friend Someone on FaceBook Day and you just got lucky?

OK, so there's only a National UNFRIEND day... but I digress.

Maybe it's always been like this, and the Tome of People has just made it more and more obvious.  I feel like friendship is being defined less and less by a mutual desire to be close and be friends.

Confession #3: I am NOT the world's greatest friend!

I have lost people because I got too busy, or I got distracted by a boy, or I got caught up in my work, or I just didn't FEEL like picking up the phone and calling.  I've been selfish - probably more times that I will ever care to recount.  I've been hurt and I've hurt others.  I will always be sorry for actions that pained someone that I considered a friend... but, it happens.

But, here's the thing... every time I've done one of the crappy things listed above... I've LOST someone.    They've stopped answering or returning my calls.  They've told me frankly that I'm a jerk and they don't want to hang with me anymore.  They've simply walked away.

And, here's where Facebook becomes particularly strange.  Because you are "in touch" everyday, people have begun to think it's enough.  It's become enough that I commented on your post today - isn't that the same as actually TALKING to you?  It has ceased to really matter if the only time we talk is when you need something or when something really great is happening to you, because I should already know all about your life from stalking you on Facebook.  And vice versa.

Confession #4: IT'S NOT ENOUGH.

While a text or an instant message now and again to check in is good and helps to maintain the relationship... it's not enough.  And, Dear Reader, I'm saying this to myself right now as I ponder the fact that I haven't seen one of my dearest friends in MONTHS because she and I are both so stupidly busy and distracted. The best we seem to get at the moment is a series of texts now and again saying, "You ok?"  "You still alive?"  "You got any free days THIS week for pho dinner?!?!"  But, notice that this instance is defined not from a lack of interest or trying, but from the realities of life.  I hope that she knows that I think about her every day...

So, what do we do?  Is friendship simply doomed to become something that requires a computer to interface?  Will we lose touch with one another slowly, but definitively, over time?  Or, can it be saved?

Is it about WHO we choose to befriend?  Recently, NPR did a piece about choosing friends and the relationship to genetics... very interesting stuff.

I have no answers to these questions, folks.  I did a Google Search, but all that came up were links to Seventeen Magazine and How To Wikis written by who knows who!  Methinks this is something that the interwebs actually can't help us with.  GASP!

Confession #5: I will post a link to this on Facebook.  Gotta make sure my "fans" know what I'm thinking!

MOAR Racing!!

So, after being home from ToAD for less than a week, there were a couple of races to do!  This weekend was the NJ State Master's Championship Road Race and the MABRA Senior Criterium Championships.  Since I had gotten the jersey last year somewhat by default (there were only 5 women racing and I was the only lady in the 35+ category), I was excited to have a field of 20+ riders for the NJ State Road Race.  Of those, 5 were in-state 35+ riders.  Me, Meredith, Chris from CRCA, and Nicole and Shannon from EPS. I had competition!  YAY!

So, the race started out as I expected.  Chris had two teammates working for her, and Meredith and I were clearly marked riders.  Every move we made was covered by a rider from CRCA.  They launched a few attacks, but it was mostly just to make us chase.  The race was definitely dictated by the 35+ riders, which was fine by me.

We came into the finish of lap 1 all together.  Then, I launched an attack.  I got away with one of the CRCA riders and made a decent gap on the field.  Of course, she wouldn't work (I didn't even ask her to pull through, as I know the game well enough!!).  We stayed away for a large portion of the final lap until we were pulled back in by a group of 6 that included Chris from CRCA and Meredith.  OK... the podium was set... now, what would the order be?

As soon as we were caught, Chris launched a counter-attack.  Somewhere in there, I found the legs to hop up onto her wheel, which caused her to shut down and come back into the group.  Meredith (my top secret collaborator for the day) went to the front and set a nice, steady pace that would deter any additional attacks, but still let me get my legs back together.

I sat in for the remainder of the final lap, waiting for the sprint and hoping that I hadn't burned my legs out too much.  I felt confident coming into the final hill, but knew that this was not going to be easy.  As the speed ramped up, I sat in a good position behind Chris, her teammate, and Meredith.  When a gap opened and I saw my shot, I took it.  I launched up the climb toward the line and just gritted my teeth.  I was 3rd across the line behind Kristie Nichols (a PA rider from QCW) and Jacqui Paull (a NJ rider in the 45+ category).

I did it!  I was the first 35+ woman across the line!

I'm super happy to have the gold medal and championship jersey for another year!  And, I'm happy to have shared a podium with two stand-up ladies who raced hard and definitely made this a great day!  

On Sunday, we hit the road south for the MABRA Championship race in Frederick, MD.  It was a stacked field.  Did I mention that it was stacked?  I mean... stacked.  By the way... the field was STACKED.  

OK... on to the race.

It was just me and BChan, with a Finkrafty Meredith by our side again (have I mentioned how much I adore this woman??  She is radder than rad!).  We had a feeling that it was going to come down to a sprint... the only team out in force was Artemis, and we weren't sure what their tactic might be.  So, we knew that we would need to be reactive to the big names in the field (Alexis Zink, Michelle Miller, Mary Breed, Sue McQuiston, etc.), and be ready for a wicked fast leadout for BChan at the end.

Meredith and I rode near the front for nearly the whole race.  Which was good, because it was a bit of a Sketchtober Fest out there!  Amazing that we didn't have any crashes... but, I digress.

We made sure that we stayed on any moves that looked like they were dangerous.   I even launched an attach of my own, getting off the front solo for a few laps before being pulled back in.  Hey... I gotta try, right?!?  :)

In the end, it all stayed pretty much together and it was my job to get BChan to the front for the leadout.  She rolled up next to me, and I knew that was my queue.  I made a move up to the front with her on my wheel, just as we rolled through with 1 to go.  As we made the first turn, she began directing me, "Go, Chop!"  "Harder, Chop!"  "MORE, CHOP!"  That BChan is a slave driver!  :)  It was GREAT!!!  I made it through turn 3 before my legs began to blow... I ramped it up one final time and then she and the field came around me!  I was DONE.  And, by done, I mean, dropped it immediately into my small chain ring and pedaled one watt through to the finish line.  

We timed it a bit too early, but BChan held on for a 5th place podium finish.  

All said and done, it was a fun weekend of racing for the CAWES ladies.  Thanks to the promoters for continuing to give us ladies the chance to rip each other's legs off and race our bikes!

ToAD in photos!

For a full recap of our racing at ToAD, please go here...

And now for some real fun... Fluffy Unicorn's journeys to the land of cheese!!

Reading some Canterbury Tales...

Jamming to some Morning Parade...

Driving from Chicago to Milwaukee...

Pinning numbers...

 COFFEETS!!!

MOAR COFFEETS!!!

 ALWAYS wear your helmet...

And, don't forget to stack your bikes neatly in the house...

Already counting down the days until next year's race!