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Another night at the track! We did a--
SNOWBALL
Each lap, the sprint for points gains in value.
1st lap = 1 pt, 2nd lap = 2pts and so on.
SCRATCH
Simple-- winner on the final lap is the winner!
MISS N OUT
Each lap, the last person is eliminated (they have to get off the track!) until 3 remain-- who sprint one final lap for the win!
Three Woman Break in the Scratch
Kym (center) came around me for the win!
The Miss n Out was surely my favorite race-- and not because I won, but because I was nervous! The good, thrilling kind of nervous. The kind of nervous that plays selectively with your senses so that you are acutely in the moment, feeling deliciously alive. Then focus gives way to chaos and it's happening, you're there, it's moving, you respond, you try to make good decisions.
Having no teammates and being a marked woman, I could not risk getting boxed in-- so I sat at the front and middle of the wide group. I caught a lot of wind, but it guaranteed my place in the final 3. Then the sprint lap came, and I thought, "HEY! I'm still on the front!? ..why does this always happen? Ah, well.." so I just went for it, cranked it up, and had JUST enough to hold off Hong! She's got some sprint, though-- and after I lead the final laps, I thought she was gonna get me. As a veteran trackie from the shop put it, "DON'T GET COCKY." ..I can't just ride in the wind then sprint/take a flyer. Well, I can (blush)-- but it's not a good habit. Especially when the racing gets faster. Smart cookies like Kym have learned to pick my wheel while I'm floating in the wind like a hawk. She beat me in the Scratch! I need to buy her a beer. If I win just one more week in Women's Cat 4, though-- then I'll be upgraded and it's on to Cat 4 Men and Friday Nights with the 1/2/3 Women!
I hope to be competitive with the men and just be able to HANG with the women. AND, it'll be TWO nights of track racing a week! SWEET!!
Last Wednesday, for the first time (ever?!), enough Category 4 women racers showed up to actually require TWO separate groups! An 'A' group and a 'B' group (evenly split, neither faster than the other). AWESOME!
Side note: racing "categories" are to group people by their ability and experience. All (female) racers must start in Category 4 (men have a Category 5) and work their way up. So while I may quickly upgrade to Category 3, there aren't enough Category 3 women out there to be a group of their own-- so they (we) often get lumped into Women 1/2/3. This happens in just about every cycling discipline-- road, cyclocross, etc. So instead of relying on your category to maintain a level playing field, one just has to pick a race that tends to attract more 3's or 2's or 1's. If I wanted to place well, I could race the 1/2/3's at the Elkhorn Stage Race, if I just wanted to turn my poop runny while dogging at the back of the pack-- I could race the 1/2/3's at Cascade Classic.
Unfortunately, sometimes these options are not available and the chasm between 4's and 1/2/3's is just plain difficult to cross. It's a rough bridge to the other side-- a lot of people fall off it and it's lonely to hang out on it.
Once I upgrade to a 3 on the track, I will be eligible to race on Friday night with the 1/2/3 women-- where there is a high concentration of 2's. My racing experience will go from demolishing the 4's with breath to spare to just-hangin' with the 1/2/3's. I'll be able to ride with the group and be active, but the chances of me actually winning a race will go from virtually guaranteed to slim. However, women can also race "down 1" category with the men. So to bridge the gap, I will also be racing with the Category 4 men on Wednesday nights.
Anyhow..
It was my first Wednesday night with the 4 ladies.
The first event of the evening was a 'Win and Out'-- and I thought about this particular race allll day at work! The way a Win and Out works, is that every bell lap, the sprint is to place. So the first bell, the winner of the sprint takes first place and the winner peels off the track while everyone else keeps rolling. Second bell, the winner of the sprint takes second place, they peel off, and so on. So if you want to win, you've got to put it ALL on the line! And what happens if you use all your gas to win, only to fall into second place? Whoa-hoh! Better hope the pack doesn't tear you apart before you're ready to gun again. For all your effort, you could slide into 5th because you gambled on 1st.
So I got some advice from an "old pro" at the shop and I visualized it, visualized it, visualized it.. because I knew I had just ONE lap to work with and win! No time to settle in. Then I found out that the bell laps were every other lap, not every lap! D'OH! There was going to be a whole EXTRA lap before the bell lap?! Secret plans spoiled! But off we went and I spent the first lap and a half wondering why people weren't doing what I wanted them to (I know, right?), until in the second to last corner I swore under my breath-- I was too caught up in having a 'plan' that I failed to really respond to what was going on around me, and there I was, several bike lengths away from the charge, approaching the last corner. Lucky for me, my strength saved me-- and I VVVVVVRRRrooom.. accelerated to first with a grunt. Then I got off the track. SWEET! ..I like that race. Can we do it again?
The second race was a Tempo. Every lap 2 points are awarded to 1st and 1 point to second. Whoa, scrambled eggs! Starbucks went whipping off the front from the whistle, while I picked daisies at the back. Whoops! She kept her gap and gobbled up the first 2 points. She was quickly caught, but the group mushroomed into conflicted agendas-- some wanted rest and some wanted action and it was crazy pants on the velodrome. If I were in a faster race, my poor positioning could have cost me the race-- I was just too far from the front-- but I took the fast lane and rode past the entire group, smashing into point after point, earning enough to win the race. WOO HOO!
And the last race, well-- watch the video! I sat on the front the whole time, which is a poor, poor tactic. But I didn't do it to be smart, I did it because I could. I didn't need the rest, I could patrol the attacks and avoid getting boxed in. There was, however, one point where I nearly screamed, "COME ON! ATTACK ME NOW!!" I made myself pretty vulnerable.
One more week with the 4 ladies methinks, and they'll move me up.
So.. after my first Thursday night of racing (last week), I left the track confident. I made moves, they stuck (sometimes unintentionally) and I won. I was batting 100% and felt like I hadn't even kicked in my 5th gear yet.
Based on last Thursday, I thought I had more gas and horsepower than the entire group-- which surprised me, since my legs are uber-endurance right now.. I mean, I got 4,200 miles of base this summer! On an 85lb rig! And I'm certainly haven't been training to race road (stage races, criteriums and such). With the slight exception of a casual cyclocross season, I haven't raced with focus since college (class of '07). I was pleasantly shocked to find I had any juice at all!
But really, what happened last Thursday-- I was patient and sat in for the first half of the race, made my move, then the group was too disorganized to nab me. Patience + smarts + speed + luck = win.
But last night? Oh last night, revenge was paid upon me and I got SPANKED-- Hagens Berman, I'm looking at you!
Here are just SOME of the things I did wrong:
I was not patient.
I didn't hold my wheels. (I let people edge me out and take my place).
I did WAY too much work on the front for no good reason.
I didn't position well for the sprints.
Once I didn't HOLD MY LINE. (Ride straight.) (Sorry!)
I marked (chased after) moves that I should have left and didn't mark moves I should have met.
Once again-- I rode an extra lap after one of the races finished. I even brought someone with me! :)
And I need to figure out when it's okay to "pass underneath," because most times it is NOT OKAY to pass on the inside.. except in a few gray area situations.
I'll let the video evidence say the rest:
*sigh. Well, time to go hit the track! Gonna get in a workout before watching the fast folks race.
Love to my ladies in Group 1. You're awesome. (and I'm sure you Group 2 ladies are nice as well.)
Last Thursday was the first night of the pre-season at the Marymoor Velodrome. The official season (when you earn points) begins in June, but all throughout May, beginners and veterans alike attend pre-season races to get the feel of the track again.
Thursday night is for all those who have just completed a track class (requirement for racing) and need to practice group skills, tactics and to keep pedaling after the finish line (or your bike will buck you off!).
The first 4 minutes are my 2 races edited down. The last 6 minutes is footage of Tom's last race, complete with commentary from his friends and co-workers.
Touring-- cush steel bicycles, upright and stable geometry, LOTS of gears, LOTS of gear, ride slow, ride long, see the world.
TRACK-- stiff aluminum bicycles, aggressive and snappy geometry, ONE gear, no brakes, ride as fast as you can for about 5 minutes in an oval.
Many people over-obsess about the weight of their bicycles. If you're racing-- fine, it makes sense. If you're the person that walks into the bike shop and announces, "I'm not a racer," (which is about 90% of customers) because you feel pressure from the media to be one and think that the bike shop will assume you are one... why are YOU anti-weight, since you JUST told me that you're "not out to set any records."
The riding you want to do is not competitive, you just want to go for some recreational rides after work and on the weekends. You'll ride 20-30 miles on average and occasionally, you'll sign up for a bike event to train for that 60 or 100-miler. The bike you want is one that has a less-aggressive body position (torso is more upright) and is fairly compliant (smooth ride, absorbs the bumps in the road) and can get you up hills (generous gears or lightweight).
One candidate is a bike like the Specialized Roubaix or Ruby. These are bikes with "endurance" geometry, which creates a more upright body position and more stable handling over traditional race geometry. Plus, features like "Zertz inserts" smooth out the ride and the carbon fiber is lightweight, so it's less to carry up hills. The gearing has some easier options than a racing bike, especially if you get a triple (3 rings in the front).
Another candidate with an even MORE upright geometry, MORE stable handling, a SMOOTHER ride and a VERY GENEROUS gear range to tackle the steepest climbs-- is a touring bike! But. A touring bike is HEAVY. Oh no. Now you're not interested any more. But what if I told you that the gears on my touring bike make hills just as EASY as on my light bike, but I just might go slower? What? You want to go fast now? Didn't you say that you're "not a racer"? And isn't that your gut I see hanging over your belt?
*I didn't take footage of myself seated and climbing on the SuperNova, because I can't. Due to the gearing on that bike, I HAVE TO stand up to get up that hill.
Last weekend my alma mater came to town. I had a BLAST cheering them on!
in the ROAD RACE
TEAM TIME TRIALS
and the CRIT! (criterium)
*half the video is cut off because it's "wide screen." Click the white title on the screen to visit YouTube.com and see the full screen.
Collegiate Cycling is something special. The skill spectrum is huge-- you've got kids who are still practicing clipping into their bicycles and others being offered pro contracts. I find that this spectrum gives the beginners inspiration and the fast folks some temperment in their intensity. Add to that, EVERYBODY is expected to cheer on everybody. Team enthusiasm is huge.
I haven't been on a cycling team since college, because I've found that racing becomes more about results and carbon rims-- and I'm not interested in either of these things. I just like to ride hard and cheer hard. GO WHITMAN!!
I have to admit, there was a time when loading my bike on the bus was intimidating. What if I take too long? How do I get it on there? Will it really stay on?
A: You won't, it's easy and YES.
All ya' do is:
1). pull the rack down (probably gotta squeeze the lever)
2). plop your bike in the wheel wells
3). tug on the spring-loaded thinger
4). and snug that down on top of your wheel, close to your brakes/frame (see picture in video)
I don't even have to take my panniers off! (So long as they're not loaded down too heavy). I do take my Light & Motion lights off, though. While they are very weather-proof, they're not cheap.
In downtown Seattle, next to (and operated by) the Bicycle Alliance of Washington, is a cool place that I can't tell you the name of because they're re-branding soon. BUT! I can tell you how cool it is.
It's simple-- a parking service for bicycles. Yes, I know-- part of the convenience of bicycles is that you can park them just about anywhere and for free. However, one of the inconveniences of parking your bike anywhere is that your bike and everything on it is subject to theft, especially at night. And I really like my bike. And all of the stuff on it.
Enter the un-named bicycle parking service. Between the hours of 9am-5pm, you can park your bike inside a staffed building for FREE. Your bike is out of the elements and under the eye of video cameras and staff (though they do not guarantee security, you are still encouraged to lock your bike and take your valuables). The facility is locked from 5pm to 9am, but if you become a member, you gain 24-hour access by means of a swipe card. You can become an annual, monthly or pay-per-use member. Since I don't visit Seattle too often, I opted for the pay-per-use plan.
I paid a $20 annual fee, then purchased a $20 bundle of 10 overnight uses. So anytime I want to visit downtown Seattle, I pay TWO DOLLARS for parking ($4 if you include the annual fee) and that's only if I plan on staying past 5. If my destination is not in walking distance from the facility, I can just hop on one of the FREE downtown buses. Awesome.
Additional features include:
An in-house bike shop-- for parts, accessories and service
Lockers for monthly and annual members
A workstand and tools for member use
A vending machine with bike supplies for when the shop is closed
A warm and spacious changing room
I look forward to the day when these are more common than an ugly car parking garage!
Seems like a simple thing: washing your bicycle. But there are a few nuances in bicycle washing worth knowing that can make your bike so fresh and so clean, clean.
BIKE WASHING MATERIALS
Bucket filled with dish soap and hot water
Rubber gloves
Degreaser ..chain-specific also available by Park Tool.
Rubbing alcohol ..the United Bicycle Institute uses this as a general degreaser. I just use it on my rims.
Windex ..for mirrors
Pine Sol (not pictured) ..for bar tape. I used Windex.
Bike-specific lube ..WD-40 is NOT lube!!
Sponge or rag
Scrubbing tools
Medical rag ..commonly used by mechanics. Does not leave lint behind!
Sandpaper, found in patch kit (oops! not initially pictured) ..for buffing brake pads.
STEP ONE
Frame Using a rag/sponge, wash your bike frame with soapy water, top to bottom. Stay away from your drivetrain (chain, derailleurs, etc.) until the end because it will only muddy up your soap water in a jiffy. If you don't have a work stand or kick stand, propping your bike upside-down works well. Also, remove the wheels for better access. Places where dirt likes to collect around:
Brakes
Underneath, near the bottom bracket (the axis that your cranks/pedals go 'round)
Derailleurs (the do-dads that shift your gears, both front and rear).
STEP TWO
Wheels
Again, with a rag and soapy water-- wash your sidewalls (sides of tire), rim, whatever you can get at. For the cassette (cogs), you'll use degreaser. Mild soap is not strong enough. Spray degreaser on the edge of a shop/medical rag and "floss." A scrub tool helps here, too. Finish with a spongy rinse. For the rims, I prefer to use rubbing alcohol because it leaves no soapy residue (like degreaser or soap) which is no good for a braking surface. Degreaser is fine, though, so long as you take care to rinse it off.
STEP TWO POINT FIVE
Brake Pads
After moderate use, especially in wet conditions, brake pads can become "glazed" and lose that grippy rubber texture. Use the sandpaper from your patch kit to buff the brake pad, then wipe away the residue with alcohol.
STEP THREE
Chain/drivetrain
Remount your wheels (take care to re-engage your brakes!). If you don't have a rear-mount kickstand or a workstand, turn your bike upside-down so that you can freely pedal the bike backwards.
Spray degreaser onto a shop/medical rag.
Run the chain through the rag, holding both the top/bottom and sides of the chain.
Use a scrubber for tough gunk.
While you've got the scrubber out, scrub the jockey wheels (see rear derailleur) and chain rings (front cogs).
Give a good rinse! You don't want degreaser hanging out on your chain, pushing off lube when you apply it.
Lube! Bike-specific lube. WD-40 is NOT lube. You want the (bike) lube to get INSIDE the chain, not outside.. so after you give it a few spins..
Wipe off the excess! Lube on the outside only collects dirt.
STEP FOUR
Mirror
Give that mirror a shine.
Bar Tape
Spray and scrub. I used Windex, but I have also heard that Pine Sol, blue Dawn dish soap and plain degreaser can brighten your bars.
WHY WASH YOUR BIKE
Washing your bike is about more than looks, it keeps your bike functioning properly. In particular, your drivetrain and brakes/rims need regular attention in order to shift smoothly and brake quickly. Also, washing your bike is an opportunity to check-up. You might notice that your brake pad was misaligned or that your cassette is worn down. If you find any problems beyond your mechanical knowledge, it is also nice to hand your bike mechanic a CLEAN bicycle. They really appreciate that.
One of the blogs on my regular blogroll is Cycling Spokane. It's written primarily by a guy named John, whose cycling vibe I like. The steel, wool, and adventuring good times sort. And we both cycle(d) in Eastern Wa, which to me, makes us kin.
Recently, John smartly invited his friends and conspirators to blog with him. A good move, that! I especially love this video. Simply done, but neat and warm (and they are FLYIN'!! at 1:30!!). This course was also one of my FAVORITES last year. I am super bummed that I had to miss out on the cyclocross season this fall, but you can bet that my flying mount is going to be ready come September!!
"Because I think it is a very hard and fun aerobic race." THAT IS SO CUTE! Right on!!
"Cheap lights" = one red Blackburn Mars 3.0 light and a Blackburn front light that runs on AAA batteries.
"Good lights" = adds a Planet Bike SuperFlash to the Blackburn rear and uses a Light & Motion Stella 300 Dual (rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery) on the front.
Cheap lights work okay (so long as you keep feeding them batteries) front and rear, but have basically no side visibility.
Cheap front lights drown in headlights.
Good lights work great front and rear and provide some side visibility.
Good lights continue to be seen even when flooded by headlights or competing with sign lights, etc.
The Down Low Glow provides some flippin' AWESOME side-vis and a wide spot beneath you, discouraging cars from getting too close.
Also note that I wore dark blue jeans and a black jacket for this demo. While I do own neon cycling clothing, I don't rely on it as my (only) source of visibility. It's best to have your BIKE always be visible so that you can wear whatever you fancy.
Notes on reflective parts (which I didn't include in the video, oops!):
Reflective sidewalls on front tire (Schwalbe Marathon)
Out of all bicycle crashes, only 17% actually involve a motor vehicle. This video breaks down that 17% into the various causes AND shows that each cause (even when "the motorist's fault") is quite avoidable! My use of "avoidable" is to say that there is something you can do to help prevent it from happening. It is NOT to say that it is 100% avoidable. Now, without further ado..
A week ago, I took a class from the League of American Bicyclists in order to become a certified League Cycling Instructor and teach classes such as Traffic Safety, Bicycle Commuting, etc. As students, we took turns giving presentations on the material. One of the topics I was assigned was statistics. While the feedback I got was, "you did a great job of making something boring really interesting!" I was thinking, "..but I think statistics ARE really interesting.."
AND enlightening!
By studying statistics, we can discover the most common causes of bicycle crashes and learn how to AVOID them!
Here is a video I made that breaks down the basic statistics of why bicycle crashes happen. There will be more videos in the future that go more in depth. This is Part One of a series.
This summer, my bud Mia and I rode BICYCLES across the WHOLE FREAKIN' U.S. Follow the "TransAmerica Tour" link in the Contents bar to the right to see more photos, read more stories and start planning your own tour.
You're entitled to adventure. So GO GET IT! Stop telling me that you're too old, too fat or too tied-down. We all know that these obstacles have been circumnavigated time and time again.
And please, if this inspired you-- share with others! Whatever your or their adventure may be.
Yes, the show is 20 minutes long-- but it is fast-paced and musical! Stop reading and WATCH!!
By request, the playlist:
Funiculi Funicula, Andrea Bocelli
On the Road Again, Canned Heat
Just a Girl, No Doubt
One Red Thread, Blind Pilot
Boy With a Coin, Iron & Wine
You Can't Always Get What You Want, The Rolling Stones
That's a cheese poetic way of saying that turning photos away from their usual orientation is a good way to see a photo for the composition and not just the content.
And sometimes you spin your legs on your bike reallyreallyreally fast! And it's fun. And they are called "spin-ups." It's what cool kids do.
If ever you are out riding your bicycle and you come across a serious road hazard to cyclists, call your local Public Works or (they sometimes transfer you to) Street Division.
WW Public Works
(509) 527-4463
WW Street Division
(509) 527-4363
I just happened to be out riding around town one day
APRIL 9, 2009
when I came across several BIG piles of gravel that were spilling out of some big potholes. Wow. If you didn't see one of these coming-- and you hit it-- you would most likely CRASH. You could even crash into traffic, which could cost you your life if you had unfortunate timing. Or, in another scenario-- you might see the gravel at the last minute and swerve violently into traffic, possibly colliding with a motor vehicle.
Basically-- this area is very unsafe for cyclists!
So, like a good citizen, I called our local Public Works and reported the problem. I was told, "We'll send someone to take a look at it."
Well, on April 24, 2009 it was still there!
So I called again.
To view this video with CLOSED CAPTIONING, click HERE, then click on the triangle in bottom right corner, then click CC.
If you think that this problem should be fixed RIGHT AWAY, please CALL:
An Xtracycle can attach to just about any bike. It's wonderful for carrying loads because the Xtracycle lengthens your wheel base which makes your bike a LOT more stable! As a result, you can load it lopsided (25 pound bag of onions on one side? No problem!) or just load it UP (130 lb buddy? No problem!). Plus, the long bag with cinching straps and large surface area of the wood "snap deck" are GREAT at accommodating awkward loads that couldn't even dream of fitting into panniers!
Orchards, grapes in rows. Pruned neat. Lower Dry Creek Road rolling up. Caution over old rail tracks. Shed extraneous layers, heat. Hello, miniature ponies! Tunnel: aWOOO!! Chit chat dissolves on the climb. Water break in Weston, Snickers bar sublime. Chug up old Tollgate highway. Inhale the view. Blast back down banked corners. Sprint for play. Detour onto Blue Mtn. Sta. Rd. Crackle gravel. Butt behind the saddle. Coast home.
To see the full entry, including the video, clickHERE.
