The Race That Makes Me All Fidgety

For whatever reason... and, honestly, I can't explain why... Lower Providence has always been a race that makes my anxiety level rise.  I think it's a combination of it being early in the year, always fast, sometimes sketchy, and never easy. So, I could cough it up to early season jitters, but I swear that there's just something about it.

This year, I think that I was extra nervous and excited because we had a strong contingent of teammates going in and a strong field with which to contend.  We're still getting our team tactics under our belts, but things are already going so very well.  This team is solid together and we really have great communication on and off the bike.

So, as expected, the race started out fast and furious.  There were a few attacks launched, but the field was very attentive and nothing was getting very far up the road before being pulled back.  Normally, this race has quite a few primes, which give opportunities for counter attacks.  This year, there was only one - and with 9 laps to go, it was simply too early in the race to make a move for the break.  So, it came down to a field sprint.

There were a few sketchy moments in the race - especially early on as some riders were jockeying for position on lap 2.  I have no idea who it was, and thank goodness for our early season bumping drills, but someone tried to squeeze between me and another rider and all I felt was her hands on the back of my arm.  I was like, "SRSLY?  It's the 2nd lap of the race and you're trying to put yourself where you simply don't fit.  WHY?"  Sometimes you just need to remember to stay calm and be smart.  A race is not won in the corners - so making silly moves there is not worth it.  And, it's not won in the 2nd lap because you wiggled your way in between two riders mid-pack.  THINK before you decide to try to push your way around a field.  Is it really worth it right at this moment?  A little argy bargy in a sprint is understandable and it happens (though it's also easy to avoid!), but not on the 2nd lap of a 19 lap race.  Come on...

All in all, we raced well.  We launched attacks, covered everything else that moved, and lined up nicely for the sprint.  Though our train at the end got slightly derailed by an attack between turns 2-3, we still managed to reposition well for the final corner and straight and take 3rd and 4th on the day.

 Riding hard with the stellar Laura Van Gilder on my wheel.  I think it was like her 7th race of the day or something!  Beast!

The team lined up and ready for the last lap and the final sprint.  Rachel Rubino from Level 11 is a wicked strong rider and a solid wheel in the pack - I'm loving having her out there in these races!

Up next is the always windy and always fun Navy Yard Criterium on Saturday and the Pedricktown Road Race on Sunday.

Putting on My Fancy Shoes....

Imma just leave this here...

Stin looking super HAWT with his racing shoes.  I think he's ready for Lower Providence on Sunday!

Le Sigh... he's SO gorgeous!!!

And Thus... Race Season Begins

This weekend, the winter weather decided to continue to hang around and race with us.  As of Monday morning, I truly believe that we've finally left the freezing temps of winter (and the SNOW) behind us.  But, winter didn't seem capable of letting us go without one last blast.

Saturday was the Cherry Blossom Circuit Race.  A completely flat 2.2 mile course with one real corner, it wasn't the sort of technical race that I really crave, but it was a PERFECT first team race of the year.

The Cat 4 team had a strong contingent lining up on a VERY cold morning with a sky threatening to rain/snow at any moment.  Victoria, Danielle, Alli and Nikki were ready to go!!  The girls had a great race, despite a crash in the final corner (none of our ladies went down, but a few got caught behind it), Alli finished a strong 7th on the day.  A shout out to the ladies who went down (some of them in their first race ever)... glad you're all ok and I know that you'll get back out there and fight another day.

I was stoked to line up for my first team race with Gabby, Andy, and Emily.  We had a good idea of tactics for the day, particularly saving Emily for the field sprint if it came to it.

Our race was a nicely stacked field with Anna and Lauren from Happy and Healthy, Amy from Fearless Femmes, Kathryn "Cyclocross" Cummings, and Mim Gilbert and several other the girls from CRCA/Dave Jordan.  And, that's just a small sampling... it was a great field for an early race.

Since our pre-race warm up was pretty much non-existent, I took the first lap at the front just to get the legs moving.  After that, we had 8 laps to try to make something happen.  Lauren and Anna were, of course, more than happy (and healthy) to launch attacks and counter attacks.  As were we!  It made the race fun and gave us a few chances for the possibility of breaks.  Unfortunately, nothing was able to get away, as the field was very attentive and gave chase whenever they could.

With two laps to go, Andy went to the front and put her time trialist hat on.  She sat there for a lap and a half, drilling the pace, keeping the pack strung out, and not allowing any final attacks to happen.  After she pulled off, she tucked back in for the finish, and Gabby and I went to the front.  Gabby turned herself inside out to put me and Emily in a perfect position to launch for the line.  I led Emily out and manage to finish 9th myself - with which I am quite content.

Emily sprinted to 2nd place behind Amy, with Lauren close behind in 3rd.  That's one awesome looking podium!  :)

Sunday found Mr. Porkchop and I driving down to Cape May Court House for the first event of the NJ Time Trial Cup series.  I'm not necessarily going for the cup, but I'm working hard to dial in the TT bike to be ready for Nationals in 42 days!  YIKES!!  It's going to be here SO fast!

Nikki and I were there despite the temps in the low 30s.  Thankfully, the sun made itself present and that helped a LOT in keeping us from being absolutely miserable.  ;)  Look, we were able to smile for a photo!  

The TT was a little over 7 miles along a flat stretch of road.  There was a decent headwind on the way out which kept the speeds a little lower than I would have liked.  And, on the way back, the tailwind that I expected to have, wasn't really there!  Typical of NJ!  ;)  Every once in a while you'd feel the wind at your back and think - YESSSS.... and then it would go away!

I felt like absolute CRUD at the start of the race... with not a lot of warm up, the cold weather, and the crit effort in my legs from the day before, I was worried that it was going to be "one of those days."  But, I quickly pushed the thought from my mind and willed my legs to keep going.  Within about a half mile, they loosened up and I was able to settle in for the rest of the race.  I felt good after that and was even able to pop out of the saddle for a sprint at the end.

I was quite thrilled when results were posted and I was 2nd - only 10 seconds behind Shannon Kaplan, who's a truly awesome TT specialist! Sorry that our "podium shot" doesn't include Anne Marie Miller who finished 3rd or my kit - it was FREEZING and I simply had to change into warm clothes!!

I'm very excited to continue racing the TT bike - and the next attempt will be this upcoming weekend at the Allamuchy TT.  I'll be there with several teammates, and the weather will be spring like, so I'm sure that we're going to have an absolute blast!  :)

Lindback Lecture...

I went to campus the other day to give my Lindback Lecture... it's an opportunity given to award winners to talk about their teaching methods, or what gives them inspiration, or (really) whatever they want... and people come to hear this.  I think it's a pretty cool thing - to see inside the mind of your colleagues once in a while - see what makes them tick - and perhaps get some inspiration yourself.

So... I was nervous to give this talk - I mean, would people really want to hear this stuff?  But, nonetheless, I arrived to a rather packed room... gulp.

In my typical manner - I told a few jokes, showed some silly slides, and spoke about something really dear to my heart.  First of all, I spoke about completion and how important that is to our students.  Secondly, I spoke about how my self-reflection during the pursuit of my doctoral degree helped me to become a better teacher.

This is perhaps my favorite part of my talk... because it's from the heart and it's true:

"I think that completing my degree also helped me with a sense of perspective that impacts my life and my teaching.  I'm an Art Historian.  To be clear, I am a nineteenth century Americanist whose dissertation and research focus is posthumous portrait painign and phtoography of children.

Yep, I wrote a dissertation on images of deceased children. And, yes, they gave me a PhD for that!

Though the project that I'm currently working on during my sabbatical may "help" the social interactions of people in some way, I am not out here finding cures for disease.  I am not changing the global economy.  My impact is not (and will never be) global, or even national... but, as a professor, it will be local and it will be powerful.

I chuckle a bit when people seem impressed that I have a PhD.  Yes, it's impressive, I suppose... otherwise, I wouldn't be so excited to get mail addressed to DOCTOR Porkchop (mainly envelops from campus and my mom!)... BUT - if you are tenacious and dedicated... a PhD is not impossible.  It's doable.  It just takes time.

Remembering that I am really just another student - chugging along the path of academic toward a degree helps to keep things in perspective.  And, while I haven't officially taken on a post-doctorate position, I believe that teaching IS my post-doc.  It is an opportunity to constantly push my and my students' intellectual boundaries and abilities.  By keeping THAT in perspective, I hope that I am a student for the rest of my life!"

I got some pretty amazing feedback from colleagues after the talk... I guess all those nerves were for naught... people actually liked it!

As much as I am enjoying my sabbatical, I'm actually very excited to get back to work in the Fall.  I miss my classes, I miss the classroom, I miss my awesome colleagues, and I miss my students.  So, as I continue to chug along doing research and getting ideas about how to tackle the next project, I'll be ever grateful for the honor of being a Lindback award winner.

Fun photo from my talk with the mourning biscuits made especially for the event and my awesome colleagues.

Tapping Some Power with PowerTap

My racing goals this year include taking a stab at Master's Nationals.  The road race is not exactly in my wheelhouse - with long climbs and a generally hilly and long course.  And, the race schedule is such that I'd have to do the road race, then the crit, and THEN the TT on three consecutive days.  Since my racing style is really more in line with crits and TTs, that's where I'm focusing.  In reality, my hope is simply to have fun.  I think I have a podium shot, otherwise, I suppose that I wouldn't bother to go, but I really just want to be a part of and enjoy the spectacle of Nationals!  If I bring home some bling, all the better!

I've been spending a lot of quality time with my brand new TT bike.  We're becoming quite close, Miss Pig-E and I, and we have been enjoying some intense training on the quieter roads of South Jersey.  Thanks to team sponsor PowerTap, I've been able to test out the latest product in their amazing line, their P1 Pedals.

So, as He-Man once said...

It's been amazing to see how my TT power output relates to my road bike riding.  The difference in conservation and use of energy is really interesting.  And, the pedals make for some intriguing data - like right vs left leg power ratios.

So, anyway... I thought it would be cool to do a little review of them for our awesome sponsor and for anyone out there looking to get into the world of power...

1.  Set up is a piece of ...

(No?  Not getting it?  It's the band Cake!!  Geez.... )

SRSLY - easy peasy.  You just put 'em on da bike, add batteries, and start pedaling.  BOOM - they work.  You need to make one adjustment in your settings for the crank arm length on your bike, but that's it.  You're in business.  Calibration on each power up is also easy and their data collection is quite lovely, so you know that they are accurate.  

2. I typically ride Speedplay pedals.  These are a proprietary version of Look-style pedals - you need to use the PowerTap cleats with the pedals - Look cleats will not work with them.  

For me, the Look style is a bit of a problem.  I used Look pedals originally and switched to Speedplay because I had a hell of a time clipping in at races.  This is a big issue at crits where riders are busting off of the line at full speed.  If you aren't clipped in, you go from in the pack to off the back in seconds.  But, I'm not using these for crits!  They're for TT's... and at the really important races in my life, I'll be held at the start and already be clipped in fully before I start pedaling at all!  WINNING!!

My first use of the pedals proved that I am a total klutz, as I spent half of the ride trying to find the pedal with my cleat.  Ok, that might be a bit of an exaggeration, but still.  Sure, I'd only had the things for a few hours, so that certainly had an impact, but several weeks and rides later, I'm still annoying drivers behind me at stop lights when I can't get my foot in the pedal for 50 meters.  

I have found that I'm better at starting with my right foot and clipping in with my left once I'm moving.  The opposite of how I typically unclip and stop in my Speedplays, of course!  ;)  Only serves to make things more interesting. 

3. Once I am clipped in, however, these things are great.  They have a nice amount of float to them - allowing my legs to follow a natural movement through the pedal stroke - something that my Speedplays also allow and something that I value in both pedals.  And, of course, the large cleat and pedal surface make for solid power transfer from legs to pedals to cranks to ZOOOM!!  

4.  The data seems really, really accurate.  Which is super important when you're training and racing with power.  Since PowerTap is really one of the best makers of these sorts of products, it's no surprise that they have incredibly accurate data collection.  I also love the fact that it pulls power from each leg individually, so you can actually run comparisons of which leg is doing more work and focus in on building strength in your weaker leg.  I already know which of my legs is weaker, so this was really just a confirmation of that and a reminder that I need to help lefty keep up with righty in the strength department!  ;)

5. Weight... adding weight that is rotational to your bike is not ideal.  At least, that's what folks with physics degrees say... I have no idea, I'm an Art Historian, I only care about the aesthetics of the pedal - and these pedals are quite pretty!!  

Anyway... rotational weight and all.  Yeah, I've not really noticed anything different here from when I just had my Speedplays on the bike a few weeks ago.  They aren't particularly heavy to begin with - weighing in at 398 grams, they are quite a bit heavier than your standard pedal - but the added weight is pretty negligible in the long run.  Especially in exchange for accurate power measurement.

Lose less than one pound of body weight (put DOWN the Cadbury egg and WALK AWAY) and you've made up for the addition of the pedals.  And, your skinsuit fits better.  You're welcome.

In short... these things are pretty great.  I'm grateful to our amazing sponsor PowerTap for the opportunity to ride this awesome new product and I look forward to telling lots more people about them in the future!  :)

Bike-tastic!

The last two weeks have been bike-tastic...

With a week of training in Tucson, Arizona followed by a weekend of boot camp with the team, I'm getting really excited for the start of racing season this weekend!

Tucson was amazing.  Warm, dry weather... lots of sun and cacti... a coyote and a road runner... and a 26 mile climb up Mt. Lemmon.  It was a truly awesome trip with two wonderful teammates!  Just a quick photolog from that should give you a sense of how much fun we had.

I got home just in time to spend 5 minutes with my darling Mr. Porkchop before heading off to team camp for the weekend!  This video sums up most of that experience perfectly... we're a fun loving bunch with some strong legs... can't wait to get to racing in a few day's time!

Riptide-CAWES Boot Camp from Sarah Iepson on Vimeo.

You Know You're On Sabbatical When...

You can spend an entire day reading books on the couch, and still feel productive.

You haven't left the house in 2 days, but you don't care.

Email notifications from your phone no longer cause you angina.

You get to plan week long trips without worrying about class coverage.

Your day revolves around exercise, reading, eating, and sleeping.  And whisky.

You've reignited your love of background music.

You haven't turned the TV on in days... because you're actually not bored.

You find out who actually misses you and why!

You find time for the things and the people that have taken to the back burner.

Mornings are productive enough that 9am feels like half of your day is gone!

The dark circles under your eyes disappear.

You literally have no idea what day of the week it is... or the actual DATE.

Team Photos!

In case you haven't noticed, I'm a little excited about the upcoming racing season.  I was in a bit of a training slump for the last two weeks - totally unable to hit the numbers that the coach was calling for, and just feeling unmotivated and sluggish.  And then, something clicked and my brain and body began to turn around.  I'm now super stoked to be feeling good on the bike again, feeling stronger in the gym again, AND (most important) getting things out of my brain and on to paper again.  After all, while racing is a big part of my sabbatical semester, getting some intellectual work completed is the biggest part!

The weekends, though... they are for bikes and bikes and more bikes.  And bikes.  And whisky.  And then more bikes.

So, we finally had our team photo day.  We were super lucky to have the parents of my teammate Gabby there to take the pics for us and they came out GREAT!  Here are just a few of my favorites from the day.

 Most of the team.  There are a few gals missing from this photo, but I love how the two sides of our kit look in this shot!  :)

 Meredith started a snowball fight... next thing you know... this happened.

Why, hello there!  ;)

My headshot... not too shabby!

 Me and T.... we've got each other's backs for sure!

We had a bit of fun with the photo shoot...

But, we're also ready for some serious racing this year!  Game faces... ON!

One shot from our post photos ride... yeah, that's right... we've got a goat on our butts!  :)

Wyoming 2016

I'm fortunate that my parents decided to retire to one of the most beautiful places in the continental US.  And, after several years of their living out west and visiting, Sheridan has become "home" for me.  This makes me very happy as I know that my parents absolutely adore living there.  And, how can you blame them....