Most Improved Rider of the Year - Master Female

Sunday evening Alto Velo Wecor, my cycling racing team, held its annual awards banquet at the Tied House. I was honored to be named Most Improved Rider of the Year - Master Female for my 2K track national championship.

San Bruno Hill Climb - January 1, 2009

PHOTOS: Warming up on the trainers; MEA and RFA at the top; MEA climbing; RFA climbing; Course profile; RFA at the finish; MEA and Phyllis post-race; MEA at the start

Category: W4; Place: 5th; Field: 22; Time: 21:48

RFA and I started the New Year with the San Bruno Hill Climb (Brisbane, CA) - the first sanctioned road race of the season. The course is 3.5 mile with an average grade of 7% - the switchbacks at the top are over 10%. The race started at 10 AM, but we were at the start by 8:30 so we had adequate time to check in, pin on the race numbers, set up the trainers, warm up and hit the porta-potties. It was cold (mid-forties) and foggy. We said hello to our numerous Webcor teammates and NorCal bikeforums folks. The groups went off in 2 waves, 5 minutes apart. RFA raced with the 55+men who started just ahead of the Cat 4 women in wave 2. Although we had a good warm-up, it was chilly waiting at the start. I passed RFA a couple minutes into the race. My heart rate was around 152 and I kept it there for the whole race. My teammate Phyllis was racing with the Cat 1/2/3's so I couldn't tell how I was doing compared to her. My legs felt great and I was probably more limited by my breathing. The fog was pretty dense at the top and you couldn't see the finish line until you were almost upon it. Everyone was complaining that they were saving for the sprint at the finish - but it was too late. I was happy with my time. My goal was 22 minutes and I knocked off 2 1/2 minutes from last year! Afterwards, RFA and I stopped at Peet's for coffee, went home for a quick bowl of hot soup, and went out for a good 20 mile tempo ride.

Hellyer Velodrome Track Clinic - Dec. 29, 2008

Off from work all week! RFA and I went to a special session at the Hellyer velodrome for an intermediate/advanced track workout led by Mark R. There were 7 of us - one other woman Kristine. RFA set me up with his tubular Planet-X carbon wheeels - sweet. We started with a 30 lap warm up, 4 100-meter jumps, 3 flying 1-laps and some team pursuit efforts. Mark gave me a some tips for doing a standing start. I practiced a couple - first was smooth but lacking power. I was off balance on the second. Practice, practice, practice.

San Bruno Pre-Race Ride

New Year's Day marks the San Bruno Hill Climb - the first sanctioned road race of the season. Both RFA and I have entered. Today we climbed San Bruno twice as a pre-race/training ride. We started from the Genentech campus, but that was an inadequate warm-up. My engine was still pretty cold at the start of the climb. The temp was in the mid-forties when we started, but no wind. We met BottleRocket from NorCal Bikeforum at the top of the second climb. My goal is to better my time by at least two minutes from last year. Our training schedule called for 2 hours with two OLH climbs so this fit the prescription.

Hellyer Velodrome Track Clinic - Dec. 26, 2008

We went to the Hellyer Velodrome for an intermediate/advanced track session led by our friend Mark R. Mark had a friend visiting from Chicago so he scheduled some special sessions over the holidays. It was a crispy but sunny day. There were seven people there - I was the only woman among some world champions. We started out with a 30 lap warmup, then did 4 100-meters jumps. Next we did eight six-lap team time trial drills with two lap rests in between. It was a great work out. Next time I need to practice my standing starts.

RFA's New Planet X Track Bike Configuration

RFA got new wheels on his Planet X track bike - Planet X pro carbon 50mm deep dish wheels with tufo track tubulars - totally hot. The ceramic bearings approach "perpetual motion" - I am a witness. (Mine are pigs - I don't approve of my Velocity deep dish - I am insanely jealous!!!!)Also, RFA has new endurance bars (so do I).

Hellyer Velodrome Track Clinic - Dec. 20, 2008

We are in the power building phase - have been working out very hard. So today it was a welcome change to go to the Hellyer Velodrome track clinic - not easy but at least we weren't on the rollers. Very brisk morning. RFA won the Australian pursuit drill! Go, RFA!