1.jul.04

It was a dark and stormy night...

Boulder Short Track... well it's been since last year! The Boulder short track races are great fun- held at the Boulder Research Park on the fun little trails and jumping area. It is traditionally where all the racers, including all the local Pros come out to play. I rode in from Longmont early in order to watch Shaina race int he Women's B class. I have never seen Shaina race so well. From out of nowhere, she came surging through the field, passing riders on every lap! It was beautiful to see! She wound up fourth or fifth in the race, her best finish ever, and i have to say i was super impressed! Go Shaina!

I watched as Heather Irmiger raced against the B men, and was hoping she'd stick around for the women's A race. but no such luck. As we went to line up, the field consisted of Mara, 2 juniors from Y-Riders and one other racer, Lora Heckman, who is a local Pro. Form the gun, I wasn't really ready for the start. I was still fiddling with my heart rate monitor and wasn't in the right gear, and Lora set the pace. I sat on her wheel for 2 laps, it was windy and I didn't want to make a mistake. After 2 laps, I passed right before a downhill section and immediately put time on her. Basically I raced alone, and Lora raced alone, while the other 3 raced together. It was a tiny and spread out field, but I got a great workout in, and my confidence was good. I had to pass a bunch of the C men, and managed to pull that off ok, without freaking out about crashing. It's all about the comeback from the head injury at this point.

Then we watched the Men's A race- which was great fun with Gus and Sam Carlson of SMBA- Sam with his beat up cowboy hat. It was great to see Pro Josh of Team DEAN win the race in a sprint finsh. After the races were finished, I did a few laps around the park hittin some of the jumps before Troy reeled me in to go home. It was a great night for the team, everyone raced really well, and we had a great time hanging out with all the locals.

today is my day off. feels strange after coming back pretty ahrd, but i'll take it. i'm going to just lay around and rest. and work on the computer of course!

namaste

tonya

30.jun.03

officially back in action

i kicked off my "back in action" spree with another Bus Stop ride. I rode a little smarter this time, not at the front the whole time- and with a little help from some of the guys... Sam Gus and Dan Schmatz (who says i never wave to him!) I was able to hang on through Lyons. My goal is to be able to hang on to Lyons, while being at the front and working. But right now, I am not there. Right now, I have to sit in a little bit more than i'd like in order to make it. no question, these guys are fast, and when they attack, it means heavy pedal.

The ride started with me and anxiety riding hand in hand. I was nervous. It had been three weeks since I had ridden my road bike. And this ride requires great handling skills. As we pulled out, I was feeling quite nervous. I was fixated on the wheel in front of me, and the shoulders of the riders in front of me. It took me about 10 minutes to relax. I was riding just fine. No worries. I like to ride behind the big guys for the draft, but then i can only see a pair of legs and the butt panel on the shorts, usually plastered with a logo of sorts. If i want to see ahead, i have to maneuver around and crane my neck. sometimes it helps to know where you are in the field and what's going on - at least in front of you.

so with my first Bus Stop out of the way, I am feeling a lot better and a little more back to normal. tonite is the local short track series. hopefully i will feel as confident in this race as i did last night. naturally, weather forecast is calling for thunderstorms. hopefully they will wait til later on! but the front range is covered in clouds right now... and you can hardly see the mountains for the haze and humidity.

well, friends, i still have quite a bit of catching up to do!

namste

tonya

29.jun04

home at last!

After nearly 3 full weeks gone, I am finally at home. lots of catching up to do. i have been so distracted and busy over the past few weeks, and i still feel like i am not settled in and caught up. The head injury from Vermont obviously is not helping matters. My spaciness has increased and rest has become a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Last night, i had to teach a Spin class. i love teaching Spin, but some days, it's hard to be there when your mind is at home resting and recovering and being with the family.

The weekend at Crested Butte was wonderful. I drove down on Friday with Hana. We drove over cottonwood pass which is half dirt road, and a muddy one at that, making the trip pretty long. But that was ok. I had some good entertainment from Hana. You see, the Czech people have some very strange traditions. They have a storybook Hero, Winitu, who is, yes, an Apache Indian. There are 3 books on this Apache and his western cohort which have become iconographic in the Czech Republic. The author of the books is actually German, and has never been to the US. The Czechs take it a step further and sing folk songs they have made up in the Western tradition, and people dress up and sing around campfires. Just like the Old West. I would guess these people know more about our Western history and characters than we do. So i got to hear the Czech western music and hear all about the stories.

Later, after Hana went to her condo and I left with Ken and Sandi to stay at their house in Gunnison ("Gunni"), I described the stories and the music to them, and as it would turn out, they knew exactly what I was talking about. Sandi is from Germany, and Ken lived there for years. Just a strange random event in life. Sandi also grew up with the stories of Winitu- although it sounds like the Germans don't go as far as the Czechs with the costumes and original music.

But back to Crested Butte. CB is how i always envisioned Colorado. Lush green mountains covered in Wilflowers with high granite peaks spattered in snow reaching up into the deep blue lightly clouded sky. Heavenly at worst. Nirvana for sure. This small mountain resort is nestled in a valley with only one road to get there. The terrain on the ski mountain in mostly double black diamond, making the area remote and small. Very appealing I must add. The mountain biking. Suffice it to say that a three hour ride without seeing a single piece of trail more than once is what mountain biking is all about.

I wacthed the races on Saturday (and got tired of explaining why i was not racing- uh- head injury, racing for 2 weeks in the Nationals, need rest, what else???). It was fun to watch a local race- something I haven't done in quite a while (race in a local race much less watch one!). It's always fun to watch all the people and just be a part of something fun.

After the race, we headed to the grocery store and picked up the goods for some hearty apres race dinner. of course, i didn't race, but i still felt compelled to polish off a good amount of pasta and bread with roasted garlic. and of course Sandi's signature dessert: berries in yogurt! yum!

Sunday morning after a long and drawn out getting ready to ride sesh, we headed for the hills... up Gothic road to ride Snodgrass (oooh lala) the 403 and then the 401. My legs felt good for this, my first time on the bike after the short track in Vermont. My legs felt really good, but at 9,000 feet, and after being at sea level for 2 weeks, i couldn't breathe. i mean i felt like i was suffocating. the rule is, your 3rd day at altitude is your worst. and yeah, it was my 3rd day, and i was chargin out of the gates. the first few technical sections stumped me. i was shaky and hesitant. i was stiff and scared. When i crashed in Vermont, it wasn't on the roots, it was in the grass on something i couldn't see. So i couldn't figure out why i forgot how to ride a bike. i let everyone else go ahead so i could work things out on my own. when my front wheel would hit a root, i would freeze. i wasn't breathing. all i could think was "don't fall and hit your head". when we went to go after a picture stop, Ken took off and everyone else just looked at each other- ok- i'll go. it was a fast singeltrack downhill mostly straight leading onto the 403. i was pretty much on Ken's wheel (keep in mind he is fully rigid singelspeed dude). When we hit the climbs, i was still feeling like a charge, but Hana was struggling so i tried to stay back with her. The 403 is a long climb. and it's longer when you go slow. if i was breathing this way at sea level, i would think i had asthma. i know i don't, but i think that's what it feels like. you're gasping for air, but you don't feel like you're getting it. oxygen, pease!

We had a short steep singletrack climb up to the ridge. i was feeling fast, but at one point i thought i'd stop to breathe and allow everyone but Ken to catch up to me. Of course, I could have made the rest of the climb as it was only a couple of hundred feet further- but hey, i didn't know! After our Marroon Bells view and picture stop- once again, i had to go ahead after Ken as everyone just stared at each other. iw as doing fine until we came to a drop, i watched Ken as the rear wheel threw him forward, and of course, i panicked. Off again. i let everyone pass, and then had just a horrible run down this steep and loose section of trail.

When we hit the loamy section of the trail, now i was having fun. this is it. again i was behind Ken, and just tried to keep him in sight. I was rockin now. More steeps and loose stuff- rocks and switchbacks. super fun! but then i spotted some small aspens leaning over the trail, i tried to push my shoulder into the trees, while keeping my noggin out of the way. bad move- the aspen pushed me off the trail as i tried to stay upright on the steep slope. i let everyone pass me once again and tried to regain my composure. boy- i am having a really rough day out here!

we go again, this time a short climb up the road to the 401. there is a lot of steep climbing, but short on the 401. i am keeping my gear and standing up. and then just hammering the descents. I am of course, behind Ken. Now i am determined. My confidence suddenle returns, and i am keeping Ken's wheel in my view, except for the dusty sections where i have to let him go a bit so i can see the trail. It's fast. i'm loving it. cornering well, riding smooth. wow. i feel like i am back! our ride down Gothic rd to the trailhead at the mountain was a fast road ride. rife with attacks, drafting and pulling. i was wiped, but it was fun. we just pedaled hard and kept it fun til the end. god- i need oxygen bad!

Apres ride we went to the Pita restaurant. they make a great chicken curry called "thai" there, but it'smore Indian than Thai. i ordered it as a bowl with rice, but it can also be in a wrap. After lunch which included the bowl and baba ganoush (eggplant dip) we headed over the Camp 4 for some recovery coffee. The barista was high on at least one illegal subtsance. He was having a rough go of handling the tem people in line. i asked for a lot of chocolate in my mocha- and i was not disappointed. i think he put 3 times the normal choco in my drink. the cd was skipping, and being easily annoyed, i walked over the the player and hit skip. next song thank you very much.

Once the crew was together, we got in the cars to head back to Gunni for showers and packing. I washed and lusted my bike and showered. Hana wanted to go through Leadville on the way home- taking us up and over the Continental Divide 3 times. It rained a lot on the drive home, not to mention snow at Eisenhower tunnel. snow??? geez. what a summer! somewhere between 9 and 11, i was finally home. get to see my husband and my dog for a few weeks now. thank goodness!

choco-yeah!

Let's talk about chocolate. I love dark chocolate, and thought you might appreciate this article. Well, i'm off to the chocolate shop!

namaste

tonya

25.june.04

home again, gone again

I am home. For about 12 hours to be exact. Last night, my plane was late, and Troy took me to Chipotle on the way home, so my stay at home, actually in the apartment, is going to be less than 12 hours. Unless of course I am successful in delaying departure. Which I am sure I will be today, apologies to Hana.

Hana is picking me up here in about a half an hour, and we're on our way to Crested Butte. At least I am not going to be on an airplane. Can't take much more of that. And what is up with America West? You get food, but you have to pay for it? $7 for a meal. Can you believe? A 5.5 hour flight and all you get is a Biscoff biscuit (don't get me wrong- i LOVE Biscoff- but it's not much when you're starving!). I was running too late to get some food together for my flight, so i suffered. Lots of PowerBites eaten yesterday, and an old smashed and thrice metled Pria Bar!!!

My head is beginning to feel a lot better after my crash, and I will have more detail on that at another time. For now, i need to update more of the site and get packed for CB.

Have a wonderful weekend and namaste

tonya

17.jun.04

travel from Snowshoe to Boston

Short track done. Clinic done. Packing up.

The rental vehicle is a Dodge crew cab truck- in Red- plenty of room for three chicks and all our gear. The truck doesn't handle the West Virginia country roads like a Prosche, but it does well enough. I hadn't taken the time to fuel up on the way from Annapolis to Snowshoe- so the tankw as getting low, and the warning light was on- and alarm beeping- just to let us know we would soon be running out of gas. I passed a gas station or two- over $2.00 per gallon, but I knew I had seen gas for around $1.80, I just couldn't remember where... so I kept driving. I am sure Jessica (that's Pink chick!) was getting nervous. I guess I have become immune to being poor and running low on gas, so I wasn't worried so much, but i finally stopped and we filled up and had a potty break (traveling with mountain bike racers- you get used to stopping often for the potty break, we drink a lot of water!).
We stopped again in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The COOLest coffee shop in the world! A collection of 60's clocks lined the wall... with lots of cool art in furniture as well. I had a mocha and Kristi had her token post-race cookie and iced mocha for Jess. The giant chocolate cake looked really good, but we passed (i fairly reluctantly).

As we neared I-66, i debated taking that route rather than the longer, less traficked northern route, as was advised by the Maryland clan (that's Troy's fam). I couldn't get through on the cell phone and made an execiteve decision to take 66. We'd go through DC, and Kritsi would get a chance to see it for the first time.

66 was pretty busy and i questioned my risky decision. As we approached DC, I was trying to remember the route to the Mall. We hopped off the freeway and were jettisoned out on the Mall- so we drove by the Washington Monument and all that stuff- in the dark at this point. we did a cirlce around the Mall a couple of times and then tried to get ourselves out of the city. The problem was the map- which was innacurate (so helpful- not!) and two navigators unfamiliar with the territory- not to mention the actual driver- me. DC is not set up on an actual perfect grid. Yes there are some grids, but they hit each other at angles, making getting out very difficult. After several wrong turns and two tours through China town, we spotted an interstate sign, and we didn't care which one it was, we just went for it, and eventually made it out of DC. We then called Troy and he talked us through getting from DC to Annapolis- since we were coming from the opposite direction that I originally drove down to West Virginia. We made it in, finally, and were down for the count pretty quickly.

Monday morning, it was pack it up and get to the airport. We arrived at the airport with plenty of time- but we were unsuccessful in getting our bikes on the plane without a fee. So we reluctantly paid our $85 per bike and were on our way to B town. I love going to Boston- my favorite US city. I've been going since my bro started Harvard in the 80s. (oh we're getting old!). Every year since his first, I have been to Boston. My bro now lives in an upscale suburb with his wife and two kids (your model citizen for sure).

Our flight out of BWI was delayed- by what we do not know- we sat on the tarmac for what seemed like hours in the small jet just waiting and waiting to go. We touched down in Boston and were on our way to get bags- watching a crazy person lose it when her bike did not show up on the regular baggage carousel- obviously she'd never traveled with her bike before and didn't realize it was indeed oversize baggage. After watching the fit- Kristi finally went and told her that her bike was sitting on the oversize baggage chute. After- that is, she exploded herself upon the airline employees who- by the way- turn OFF when you get angry. It's almost ike a game for them. They watch you explode and they just allow you to make a fool of yourself for as long as it takes. If it goes too far, Security gets called in. When you're yelling at someone who has nothing to do with your problem- you're propensity for foolishness increases. We walked away from that and had tyo go wait for the Budget courteasy van.

Our car rental was delayed because we did not have a credit card with enough to rent our van- simply because the deposit from our rental for West Virginia had not yet been credited. This caused mass problems, and we had to use Kristi's credit card and my license to reserve the car. I used to be embarassed by these kind of incidences. Now, honestly, it doesn't bother me at all. I am so used to being broke. I work so hard to race and represent my sponsors and my team. I don't get paid. So what control do I have? This is the life and times of a Pro mountain bike racer!

We had our van and it was time to get out to the 'burbs. The drive went well and we were set up for 2 nights in Winchester with my bro and his fam. My memory of these two days is a little foggy. I remember riding with Jessica on the Minuteman Trail. Then we rode down Whipple Park- which is a super rocky hill with some drops and lots of techinical riding. It's not a normal bike trail, but a nice little system right behind my bro's house. It was refreshing and lovely after riding in West Virginia.

The end. and the rest of the trip will come later on!

16.jun.04

made it in to Mount Snow today. we stopped by Pedro's to say hi to our sponsor, and signed a jersey for the wall of fame. We left Winchester, MA around 10am and drove literally in a circle trying to find the Wild Oats Market... finally as we were on our second tour of the area, Kristi spotted the store behind some trees. A good time was had by all as we gathered our organic foods that we knew are not available, at least for a semi-reasonable price- in the vicinity of Mount Snow. As we have learned, Mount Snow is a monopoly- in this time of limited consumer choice. I think the most outrageous scheme the resort has construed is to charge 95 cents for every call made out of the room. An additional 25 cents per minute is charged for every minute over 20. That is some kind of racket, eh? Now I remember why we had so much trouble checking out last year... because they don't tell you, and the directions are not easily available for making calls, so i am sure hoardes of people are fairly disappointed when they check out of the Grand Summit. And naturally, my cell phone does not work up here. Quelle suprise.

++

please check our Snowshoe NORBA Nationals updates for my current journals, starting on Thursday!

6.jun.04

discipline

Discipline is one of the hardest things about being an athlete. It means you have to say "no" all the time. And saying no can be hard.

Today, after my intervals, which went pretty well, I was spinning home. The spin home is recovery pace, which means going really slow, and hardly breathing. So I was spinning home when a group of women passed me. My competitive ego says "go! don't let them pass you!", but my disciplined self stays and watches as they pedal away. today is not the race, today is training, and that training right now means recovery. ugh ugh ugh!!! I keep second guessing myself. "you could just catch them and hang on, why not?" but i have to restrain... discipline, discipline, discipline. At the sign, i turn the other way and head home. no one in front of me, no more tests of discipline on the way home, just a light easy recovery spin. like a good girl.

good energy flow...

each clinic i teach has a different vibe. Sometimes people come with a poor attitude and they cannot be coerced out of it. it affects the entire day. bad energy is so hard to get rid of. but yesterday, our June 5th clinic in Golden, had the best energy i have ever seen at a clinic! Positivity was abundant, and these beginners, almost every one of whom had some horrible crash or experience, were riding like Pros. I was so impressed with the level of success. It was an amazing day, with amazing women, and the best thing for me is, i get inspiration from these women. It reminds me that we are out there achieveing things- those little victories. I am so happy, and just ready to let the good energy flow! I think my favorite moment was when one of these "beginner beginners" was wheelie-ing and she wheelied so high she fell over. I have yet to see that in teaching hundreds of women, and while she probably has a bruise on her hip from the fall, it was still so amazing to see that front wheel leave the ground (she really had no idea she could actually do it!) It wasn't a real bad fall, probably a surprise more than anything... but it just goes to show that women of any age can do a wheelie! ( i won't disclose age, but let me just say that the wheelie-woman was older than me!!). Of course, we have to be thankful for Troy who catches all the details and has a knack for working with women...

Duke and other interesting people

Colorado has a lot of strange and interesting people. I think the general feeling of wanting to retreat from civilization as we know it today has a lot to do with that migration: some liking the "idea" of it, and some really craving the real simple life.

Granby, Colorado experienced the wrath of one such person- a futile fight against societal regress, also known in popular culture as "progress". It is too bad that someone had to lose a life over this situation, and i fear in vain, as people will simply call him crazy, and never reall "get" the reason for his rampage and the true statement he was trying to make will never break the smoke and mirrors of popular television media.

But I have met another interesting individual in my riding... a guy named "Duke"- from Cayman. I met Duke for the first time on the Bus Stop ride. He was surprised to see a girl there, and didn't even bat an eye at the flowers on the uniform. He loves to ride bikes, racing Cat 1, i believe. But his true desire is to live off the land. He drives around in a blue van and rides a lot. Interesting fellow, shows up at my apartments, staying with a neighbor. Reminds me of Kerouac, just driving across the country racing his bike living in his van, seeing the land for the first time. Duke has recovered from a horrible crash where he broke his leg, and it is inspiring to see him come back and race at a high level, and of course enjoying his life, roaming around seeking possibilities...

more Nationals coming right up!

getting packed and writing my lists for the West Virginia and Vermont Nationals. Working out all the mistakes and problems from Big Bear- what went wrong in the cross country race, mostly. laundry, tying up some loose ends... this week is 2 full weeks. i am so going to miss not only my support crew (Troy) but also my lovely dog. She's sleeping on the couch right now, but i know she knows i am leaving. she senses it, and she gets very distressed. so stay tuned for tales from the trails... from Kristi, Jessica K and Jessica N, Jo, me... we're expecting mud and rain and general typical June West Virginia racing!

namate

tonya

2.jun.04

the pasta machine

The "official" ride name is the Bus Stop ride. Using the word official lightly, as this is not an organized ride so to speak. People just show up- at the strip club. There's no leader, there's no protocol, there's only a bunch of riders racing their way around some of them ore popular roads in Boulder County.

This ride shows up on my training plan on Tuesday nights when I'm in town. So- since my coach says so- i go. But more than a bike ride, for me, it's like a piece of pasta dough being rolled through a machine over and over. I start out a fresh piece of pasta dough, all ready for what's ahead. After the first 10 or 15 minutes of the ride, I am rolled out the back and on my own, resting and waiting. when the group catches me once again, I get rolled through again. That is usually what happens, but last night, I never got rolled through a second time.

I usually get dropped pretty quickly at the start due to the fact I am up front, sometimes taking pulls if i can (sometimes it's physically impossible for me) and generally trying to stay up front. The funny thing about the start of yesterday's ride was that it was more organized than usual. People riding two by two in a long snake, rather than the mass of riders attacking, pulling up, vying for a spot. This made my second row position a little tough- there was no movement. No one wanted to go out front, and I at that point physically couldn't do it. When we hit the "hill" i am dropped, not as quickly as I am used to, but i am dropped. I get a push from Gus, but that doesn't help, I'm toast. I begin rethinking my decision to ride so hard in the Spin class i taught that day- but i didn't ride the whole time, i was off my bike- a lot!

So i am alone and i time trial myself in tempo range. it's a good clip, and i am working hard but also recovering a bit. I do the second fruit loop and wait for the group to catch me. When they fly by me on 66, i am not ready, "jump back in!" i hear, so i rev up and jump in. I'm on the back at first, but i manage to work my way up to the front. I am riding aggressively and not relenting any space, and taking the spot I want to have. For some reason I feel really good now. the group has reverted to the normal mass of riders that looks more like a race than an organized group ride. we hit the turn onto 75th and i am handling the corner well. phew! then attacks, i find a large guy to stay behind, his draft is helping me out, but then he slows, and i have to get around.

We hit the flats, and I am about 3rd in line- uh oh. It's a pacline at the front, and it's over 30 mph. When i get to the front, i maintain speed, i pull over and wait for the next guy- who doesn't show up very quickly. After Rocky Mounts dude pulls his turn, no one else comes up, and he is stuck pulling us up the next gradual hill. When we reach the top- full on attacks, so it's get a position for the next climb. We hit the climb and we race up at the top we rest to the stop sign, and once again it's GO! A short descent with another hill. One guy flies by the field, and only i go after him, of course, i am pulling the field with me. it's my last effort before i peel off to go home, so it is maximal effort here. i pull up to the attacker, and a couple of guys manage to get around me. and we fly down the hill and are going hard and fast on the flats. i try to maintain my position as long as possible, before i signal a left hand turn and wave to the boys and head home.

I am so pumped up when i get home, my usual recovery was not enough. so i get back on my bike and go out. when i return, i am still highly pumped up. i sit down by the phone wanting to call someone and tell them all about my ride, and how it was so great and how i was pulling at over 30 mph and how i was attacking off the front and just having this awesome time. but i realize quickly, no one cares. no one is going to listen to my story with the enthusiasm i have for it, except for the people who were out there with me.

it reminds me of the VeloNews article written by the wife of a cyclist, and how all she gets to hear about from her husband is the ride and who was pulling and who was attacking and who this and that- and how that is her life, as she comiserates with the wife of a pro cyclist. i feel a little guilty for a minute. because i know when Troy comes home, i am going to relive my ride, and he is going to show interest, but i know that the interest is all love, and that my little world that i live in really only matters to me. and that is what being a cyclist is all about some days...

namaste

tonya

9.may.04

getting back in the groove for a short time

i just finished a bowl of oatmeal. with brown sugar, blueberries, almonds and some Vanilla Silk. It's back to normal here for a few more days, before we get back on the road. It's kind of nice to be back, and just get back to normal for a few days. Eating properly, sleeping plenty, working out on a good schedule, and being back with the dog, and of course, Troy!

I have spent the week doing long training rides, riding with the Singletrack Sistahs, and getting as much work done on the computer, including answering the 100 or so emails that lie in wait in my inbox. I desperately want to write my full journal of the past 2 weeks in racing. but that is going to take some time...

This weekend,i get to go to high school graduation parties for the mtbchick girls who are graduating (Shaina, Mara and Cat!!). I had a piece of cake at Shaina's party, and it made my tummy hurt. When will i ever learn??? Cake was not all they had- there were some great vegetarian wraps and of course fruit and veggies! So i get to hang out with all the kids... soon to be real adults as they venture off to college. whatever a real adult is. it's really fun to be a part of someone's life and see the changes, and the paths they take. it's like being a foster parent. you share the joys and the struggles, but it;s not your kid.

later...

today's ride was going well until i finished my intervals- then RAIN! when i left the sun was peeking frombehind the clouds, touting a beautiful afternoon, but a north wind stomped in and brought with it cold rain and dark clouds. luckily no lightning, just cold rain. preparation for West virgnia, right?? doesn't it have to rain in West Virgninia when there are races? naturally. i'll be ready for it this year, and pleasantly surprised if it doesn't. bring on the mud!! So anyhow- i got to experience being rained on in the first time in a long time! That's Colorado for you!

more healthy food choices... plain chicken, cottage cheese, some home made salsa. except for my piece of graduation cake, which was small, and a gift mocha from Troy, i have been on track. it's so much easier to eat healthy when at home- as opposed to being on the road, when choices are limited.

In two weeks I'll be preparing for the West virginia (Snowshoe) NORBA Nationals. It's going to be a big race for our team, not necessarily for Pros- i'll be the lone Pro out there- but we'll have some Experts racing, as well as Jess doing the marathon thing.

Well i'm kind of disjointed and distracted to day. so i'm signing off.

namaste

tonya

10.may.04

what day is it?

it's 4:30 on Monday. I'm not really sure how it got to be 4:30 already, but here we are. I'm on the deck in the 82 degree sun watching clouds form over the mountains. this is bonafide summer- hot days, afternoon storms and cool nights. Like a steam locomotive, Spokes lies on her bed in the sun, panting. As i look over at her, i can see her scolding me for my plans of being gone for over a week. She doesn't hide her disdain very well. She is not worried about that, though. She's worried about being here in Colorado without me for a while. A dog's life, it's hard. I, on the other hand, am acclimatizing to the heat, and have yet to turn on the AC, but continually sit in the sun, preparing for all the hot races coming up. The time in between the races has been long for me. I haven't raced since Phoenix, and i am ready to hit it once again. I see a lot of my competitors racing every weekend. I wonder how they have the energy to do it week after week non-stop. I enjoy racing, but i also enjoy taking time in between to rest, train and live- the summer will be long, with plenty of races... this weekend marks the beginning of my summer, with 7 NORBA Nationals, 1 National Championship, and possibly one or two races in between-oh and the wedding of one of my best friends! I am expecting to rack upwards of another 40,000 miles all told on the Xterra this year. So far, she sits at nearly 150,000. So it is on to the races.. the next 2 rounds of NORBA Nationals coming up in Sonoma, CA and Big Bear, CA!!!

7.may.03

Bicycle Friendly

Longmont was awarded the Bronze medal by League of American Bicyclists this week. Boulder was awarded the Gold. There are definitely bike-friendly parts of Longmont. From where we live in Longmont, we do have access to many bike lanes and a bike path. I suppose you begin to take these things for granted after 2 years. The bottom line is, when you can ride your bike to the coffee shop or the grocery store on bike lanes, you're doing good. In Boulder on the other hand, there are enough paths that you can go just about anywhere on a bike path. Now the motorists are another story alogether. Due to the amount of cyclists, many motorists are impatient

Summer here

IF every night could be 50 degrees and every day 85, then i would be in heaven. This week has been heaven here in Boulder County, and i am loving it! I love the heat and the sun, but the relief of a cool night makes it that much more rewarding. We have yet to turn on the AC, just making it through the days and cooling down during the night. It is so perfect. And perfect for bike riding, and acclimitizing to the hot race days coming up. In Big Bear, in two weeks, we race at 3:00p. Trust me, it's going to be a hot one! Big Bear has always been hot, and i have always had a lot of trouble with that heat, but hopefully this year i will be more ready for it.

Next Friday i leave for Sonoma, which is the first half of the Cali trip, then on to Big Bear for another stage race. This marks the second of the back to back weekends on the mountain bike circuit this year. There are two more... West Virginia and Vermont, and Idaho and Aspen. This makes for very expensive trips, and of course we all hope we have enough money to make it through the year! So stay tuned for the travel and race journals coming up! Now that i am well connected, expect to see pictures and journals the day of, or after each race!

Dismal Anniversary

May 4th marked the 1 year anniversery of the Xterra break-in. I was on my way to teach a clinic in Cincinnati, and visit my brother and his family. Overnight in Terre Haute, Indiana, my truck was broken into, and $15,000 worth of gear was stolen. The gear included my iBook (the original clamshell design in lime, gosh i miss that laptop!), raffle prizes for the clinic, including a Rock Shox Duke and seat post, tons of PowerBars to give away, all my clothing, bike shoes as well as Troy's clothing and bike clothes. It was such a sad day, and not just because of my personal loss (which was huge!) but also all the donated product and schwag that was stolen- we were trying to benefit a local Cincinnati children's charity, but we had next to nothing, and with having to buy new glass for the truck, among other items, we were cleaned out in more than one way- with nothing to donate. And most of all Troy's personal tools- and the mtbchick.com custom clothing. Enough was stolen that it had a huge impact on our lives, expecially since we did not get a nickel form the insurnace company. I know, it's time to get over it. But honestly it still affects us on a daily basis. We've had to spend quite a bit of money to replace many of the stolen items, and many still have not been replaced (Special thanks to local Cincy shop Bio Wheels for offering abit of help). It just takes away from my personal mission of raising money for charity and helping others. OK- that's over it's out of the way, i'm moving on.

A good day on the bike

Today is my day off, but yesterday i rode my favorite local trail, Walker Ranch. I love the grinders... these steep climbs with a couple of technical sections. Most people ride the loop clockwise, so you descend the tough climbs, but i like the punishment of riding up. It hurts. It hurts immensely. But it feels good, too. There were only a few other bikers and hikers out yesterday, so the trail was pretty fast, in spite of the loose soil. Walker is a good ride, but when it gets dry, the soil is loose and sandy, it can be tough to get traction, making the climbs even harder. Imagine begin in one of your easiest gears, riding with your chin on the bar to keep the front wheel down, and trying like hell to keep the pedals moving, and your rear wheel slips; you can only hang on for so long on this steep of an incline and it's off your bike! I did have to get off a couple of times yesterday. The sand got the best of me. But that is no big deal. It was an amazingly beautiful day in the mountains, and i was loving every minute of it!

namaste

tonya

1.may.03

so long Bob Edwards

I remember my first times of listening to NPR's Morning Edition. It was always when my Dad drove me to school. i would miss the bus, probably hoping i could skip school, only to be hauled off with my Dad. I was a Freshman in high school, and honestly, i didn't have a great understanding of the interviews and stories... mostly Televangelists, Ollie North, Maggie Thatcher, Michael Milken and Pan Am. But what stuck with me the most was the brass intro... a song that will always mean driving to school with my dad in the morning, and Bob Edwards- his name and voice stuck in my memory as NPR's Morning Edition. As if Morning Edition couldn't exist without Bob Edwards.

It's near 20 years since those days, and i still listen to Bob Edwards in the mornings... whether in the Xterra or streaming on iTunes. Bob Edwards will still be heard on NPR, just not as the cuppa joe we are all used to... for more on it... go here

the weather according to tonya

The sun is finally out after being veiled by snow and clouds for 2 days... there is snow in the mountains and 80 degrees in the forecast for the coming week. could it be spring? a heat wave this week with 80s nearing 90. at last! some decent weather to get out and some good, solid sun. we need it here! weather is ride worthy here in BC this week, so get out and ride!!

mountain biking and veggies

May's issue of Mountain Biking mag has an interesting story about being vegetarian and an elite mountain biker. The article seems to be FOR vegetariansim, but they speak to 2 FORMER vegetarians... Willow Koerber and Mary McConnelloug, who both, after quitting vegetarianism for the sake of meat have had amazing years at the races. "listen to your body" they say... it might want some meat! I suppose i found it ironic that the pro-veggie article spoke to two Pros whohad recently started eating meat and seen an improvement in energy levels and performance. i also used to be a vegetarian, and i also began eating meat to sustain my lifestyle as a pro athlete. i definitely do see the point in being a vegetarian, and may turn back to being vegetarian if i ever quit being an athlete... in all i think it's a great article and recommend everyone to pick up the mag and check it out. there are some great ideas for alternative recipes/foods to meat that are whole and healthy. but i definitely came away from the article thinking that meat is a good option for endurance athletes, and was unclear of the actual point of the article.

namaste

tonya

30.apr.04

setting up shop

at last! i am nearly fully set up with my new laptop! the best thing about it is that i can run both the OS9.2 and OSX side by side.... so if you have an app that has not yet been updated for OSX, then just open it, and the OS9 kicks in seamlessly. Of course, OSX is always hanging out waiting for you... and you can go back and forth at will. it makes me wonder what took me so long...

so here i am... it's after my bed time and i am still on the iBook, finishing off a package of fresh blueberries. i am going into 14 hours in the office today- except for doing a few domestic chores like catching the apartment complex on fire.

pyromania

i love fire. which is a good thing since it's snowing outside - still. i turned on our fireplace (you simply flip a light switch and the fire lights up. it's very metrosexual.) but this isn't about lighting the fireplace- it's about setting fires.

last night, i was distracted from cooking by- naturally- my new iBook. i forgot about the chicken until Troy walked out into the kitchen/living room and announced that there was a fire. i ran out of the office, away from my iBook, and into the thick smoke of a lone chicken breast afire. i quickly hand migrated what was left of the bird onto the deck and opened windows and doors. wouldn't you know- the only time you need the wind to blow in Colorado- it's peacefully snowing out. Now the house smells like burnt flesh. wonderful.

so i spent a good part of today cleaning and scrubbing the kitchen, burning incense, burning the only scented candle we own, infusing essential oils, grinding up lemons in the in-sink-erator all to get rid of the smell of smoke. i was finally satisfied with my effort enough to take a break and have my favorite new snack- whole wheat all natural no trans fats organic frozen waffles. they toast up nicely in the toaster oven- except when they catch on fire- as they did today.

once again completely engrossed in my laptop, i hear the ding of the toaster oven only to discover more "culinary combustion" (courtesy Troy): flames and smoke in the area of the kitchen, once again. i can only describe how i felt as disbelief. everything i touch catches on fire- it's like i've got the Pyrophoric Touch.

which leads me to the point of being opinionated. yeah- i have an opinion. and yeah- i will express it here in my PERSONAL JOURNAL. and it is most likely not going to be pleasing to everyone who reads my personal journal.

back to the bike

i've just taken two days off the bike. it felt good this time. especially since it's been in the low 40s and snowing here in Boulder County- usually i would protest to my coach. but tomorrow is back to the grind. only another week of intervals and training before i get back to racing. i absolutely can't wait. i'm bored being at home. ready to get on the road. being on the road makes watching TV satisfying. of course i miss my doggie.

mountain biking mag

if you get a chance- check out Chile Chick in Mountain Biking mag- that's Jessica Kisiel our marathoner!!! There's a good podium shot from the 2004 24 Hours in the Old Pueblo. She's listed as "Heather Williams" in the caption, because the podium was messed up... but she was 3rd, and she is Jessica, and she is a Pro team member here @ mtbchick.com!!!

well i have nothing more to say. it's waaay past my bedtime and there's nothing left to catch on fire. so good night and

namaste

tonya

28.apr.04

from AOL news...

Violence from girls has increased nearly 50% in the past few years...

"Phil Leaf, director of the Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, said society should not have been caught by surprise by the surge in girl violence. Leaf said the situation in Baltimore and other cities reminds him of the William Golding novel ''Lord of the Flies'': ''We're seeing the effects of children growing up in a world without adults.'" (courtesy AOL)

This begs the question of "why?" much like Michael Moore's "Bowling for Columbine". Why violence? Is it because we do not spend enough time with our kids? We don't know for sure, but it's a good guess.

getting dropped

last night's Pro ride was tough. but it was good to see a couple of other women out there hammering. i started out not feeling so great, and this was proved when i was dropped at the same place i was last week, and had a rough time getting back on until a group of people working together flew by me, and we worked all the way to Lyons. My bike handling was a little off... i was struggling and feeling sketchy. it was a hard ride! once i was dropped "once and for all", i rode with a really nice guy and we just chatted and pedalled fairly hard (for me anyhow). he is an old Cat 1, getting back into the game after some years off. it's so fun to meet other people and get their stories... life is full of interesting people!

"new" iBook!

time to celebrate! my "new" used iBook arrived today. i bought it on eBay... not a bad deal, and much more affordable than a new one! it has OSX... can't wait! been running os9.whatever forever. it's a 500mgh 10gig. pretty sweet! so now... yep, web site updates on the road. so now you can get race reports and pics the night after the races! This is to replace the iBook that was stolen 1 year ago when the Xterra was broken into.

ACA

ACA supporters say... check out the web site... As of recently USAC is recognizing points from ACA. Which was not true in the past.

namaste

tonya

22.apr.04

"if we weren't all crazy we would go insane" (Jimmy Buffett)

God, he must be crazy. I am leaving a lunch meeting of the professional marketers group i belong to. We met at the Sun Microsystems facility in Broomfield, about 30 minutes from our house. As i leave the meeting, it's pouring rain. and hard. cats and dog style. i don't bother putting my hood on- i just grit my teeth as i walk back to the Xterra. i jump in and call Daryl, my coach, for what must be the 3rd time on this issue: the issue of riding mountain bikes today. i am not one to back out on a ride- but the onslaught of torrential rain has me a bit deterred. this storm is supposed to be the storm of the year, and i am scheduled to ride Walker Ranch today. Rain or shine.

Daryl is telling me that Walker is sandy and it should be fine, and he thinks, "you'll have fun". Yeah, uh-huh, fun... rriiiight.

"you could ride inside," he says. ummm. no.

I have succumbed to my schedule. This is what it's like to be a Pro. It's pouring rain so that i am hydroplaning in the Xterra with snow tires. And i have no choice but to ride. Man- my coach is so crazy!

As i begin the drive to Walker, it is snowing. Walker Ranch is an old homestead ranch behind Boulder, about a 5 mile drive over a pass. And this pass is covered in snow, and it is snowing right now. Heavily. i have to put the X in 4-wheel, and drive carefully around the turns. I am sure they'll be plowing up here- they just haven't made it yet, and the road is slick. As i crest the hill, the snow is lighter, and it seems a little brighter in general. The road is almost clear as i descend. I pull into the Walker trailhead. Streams running down the driveway, lots of water, but not muddy. Sandy soil is good for rain and mountain biking- or snow as it were. I pull into the lot- one Jeep is parked in the lot with a ticket on the rear glass- he's been there a while. this menas i am alone. I change from my suit into my riding clothes- with my Mountain Hardwear ice climbing shell on top. it's a gore tex jacket i bought years ago for ice climbing and mountaineering, and today it is my cycling jacket.

i roll on down the first downhill. it's wet, and i am not riding my usual speed on the descent. i am hesitating and keeping it slow. i don't like to eat too much sand at once... as it spits up from my front tire. ok- i am having fun- but don't tell CoachD. i am a little concerned about the stability of my bike on the wet rocks with sand, so i keep it under control. as i approach the stream crossing, i slow- it's low enough that i can ride through, but i need to keep it slow in order to not get too drenched so soon on the ride.

As i ride this flat section of trail, i am next to South Boulder Creek. the sound of the water rolling and crashing over the rocks has me intrigued. the rapids are enveloped by a backdrop of granite cliffs with pine trees, all dotted with pure white snow. a veritable winter wonderland and i have it all to myself.

the climbing begins. that is no casual statement- here at Walker, the climbing is climbing. The climb is wet, but my bike sticks- it's a Scalpel, of course it's going to stick, and with tubless? are you crazy?

the trail leaves the creek bed and climbs away over a ridge. as the sound of the rapids fades, all i can hear is my breathing, my tires in the snow and wet sand, and the snow falling on my helmet and all around. i am not sure if the world at large can actually hear that sound- the sound of snow falling. it is a sound that i hear- having spent much time in the snow alone- i guess i am tuned into it. i can hear the flakes coming to rest on my helmet and on the branches around me. beautiful. to each one beauty is different. but i think we experience the same emotions when we see beauty. i was experiencing beauty. the experience enveloped my soul and i almost began crying. it was so incredibly overwhelming- because all winter i have been speaking about my hatred of snow- and i realized through today's ride, as it often takes extreme experiences in our lives- how much i truly love snow, and how it makes me feel.

i was in a rhythym. i had to dismount once on the initial climb- at my nemesis part of the trail crazy rocks climbing- too slippery for me today. As i approach the switchbacks, i am feeling good. i look at the trail ahead of me, and i finally realize something.

It's not my coach who is crazy. It's me. And he knows i'm mad, and i think he is just pushing me- just to see what i'm made of- just to see how far he can get me to go over the edge. i am out here on this 7 mile trail, alone, in the snow on my bike. i am the crazy one. not my coach.

i get this crazy insane feeling as i approach the next downhill. a kind of crazy happiness fills me and i think how fun it is to be out here in the snow, while everyone else is in Spin class, or taking the day off. it's kind of fun to be crazy, i think. i take chances on my bike. i don't take chances while driving- you know a lot of bike racers drive all crazy- but i like to be safe on the road. with pedestrians and other drivers that may not have good skills- i play it safe. but on the bike- this is where i push my limits and take big risks.

the downhill now has a few dangerous spots on it. As i ride along, i take it easy, and i realize- i am alone out here, and if i were to crash, i would be here a long time by myself before i would be found. so crashing is not worth it. i tone it down, keeping the risk factor low. about being a Pro- i have to be responsible, and anything can happen out here, so i just cruise and have fun, and take a look around from time to time to absorb the beauty of nature.

i reach the portage, which is a several hundred foot cliff you have to walk down via stairs made of roots, rocks and other objects. as i am walking down, the dreaded mountain lion comes to mind. i have to carry my bike high, and i begin talking and singing loudly to scare away any mountain lion that may be in my range. i get a little scared, there have been numerous mountain lion sightings out here on this trail, but the advice that was given me when i first rode this trail- hold your bike above your head and yell- so i did as much as i could just meandering along. as i crossed the creek again (over a bridge) and began riding again, i forgot about the lions, and began pedalling away. i pushed hard over the gravelly climbs and kept it slower than usual on the downhills. i was so happy about the sand, that i thought about how great it is to ride in wet with no mud. i think of all my friends in Kentucky and Ohio, and i think of the old days when i had to ride and race in mud. no thanks. give me Walker ranch, baby!

any cyclist in the world knows exactly what happens next.

as i am pedaling on one of the last flat sections, it gets muddy, and my bike slows to a crawl. you speak to soon- always- why do it even? it's that whole issue with me- my life is going great and i get a little smug and HA! mud in your face!!!!

the mud only lasts for one climb and the flats leading up to the super crazy death climb. as i start the death climb, i notice here, the snow is deeper, and i can't see what's underneath. this is good. you don't notice things that normally cause you anxiety. you ride just fine. i have to walk a couple of sections, but i almost always walk the same section that is so steep and nasty. i am in my smallest gear, what with the snow and all, and that gives you no torque to muscle through tough sections. so you wind up spinning out and getting off. i am tired of walking, so for the rest of the climb after the steep part (well it's all steep, but if you know the climb, you know the part i'm speaking of) i stay on board. i crest the hill and give myself a little speed over the last section. it's so much fun, and i realize i am having a wonderful ride. my hesitations are gone. i am going pretty fast and just enjoying riding my bike in the snow. i can see the lot now. still no cars. still all alone.

i opt to stop and eat some PowerBites and i want to ride a bit more. Although the loop has taken me almost 1 hour and 20 minutes (usually i can do it one hour) i need more saddle time. i decide to do the whole initial climb and then turn around and climb back out. i have some fun down the hill, but i am getting cold. my fingers are hurting as are my toes. the snow is much deeper than before and my tracks are completely covered. as if i were never there just over an hour ago. next to the creek, i am still cold. i think of getting warm on the climb, as i turn on, i realize, my fingers and toes are beyond repair, and the only way to get them warm is to get in the truck. i ride a short way up, have to get off my bike, as the snow is getting ridiculous. i walk up, look back, turn around and ride down. i will try to get warm on the climb out.

i stay steady and climb well, hoping i don't have to get off. i don't, and the climb goes smooth. but i am hoping to be done with it soon- my toes and my thumbs are going to fall off. they hurt so much that i can hardly stand it any more. i have reached my breaking point for the day. i finish up the climb, it was a nice climb, and less steep than the rest of the climbs on this trail, thankfully. that whole bit took me about 30 minutes, at the speeds i was going, i guess that's expected.

i get naked in the parking lot and put on dry clothes. no one is anywhere near- it doesn't matter. i am getting on some warm, dry clothes, and that is more important than being seen naked at this point in time. i turn the car on without getting in- i figured out all i have to do is use my left hand to depress the clutch and turn the key with my right hand. it works, and the truck is on its way to being a warm haven. it is my hearth.

all dry- certainly not clean, though- i jump in and drive away from my adventure. the drive back down Flag is treacherous, as the snow over the ridge is deep and wet. i crank the radio and jam out all the way home. on the way down Flag, i see a cyclist, wearing the stars and stripes under a rain jacket- riding up the road. Hard core! i wave and i am glad i'm not alone- but i think he and i are alone together- i didn't see any other cyclists today. then i think about one person who would have had fun today (Mara). too bad she wasn't there.

but alas- it was a wonderful ride, and i look forward to warmer days next week, as promised.

namaste

tonya

20.apr.04

for the love of, yes, the road

no carefully guarded sarcasm here. i really do love riding on the road sometimes. and i actually do like some roadies. believe it!

today i did the local Pro ride. it's a very fast ride. and sometimes a woman here or there shows up- from what i hear. today, i was the only woman- and this was my first time on this ride. as we waited in the parking lot, i kept my eyes down the road, in hopes another woman would show before the start of the ride. but to no avail.

about 20 or 30 men, and me, take off. my coach, Daryl, has put this ride on my schedule, as part of my training. so i have to go. i am on the right side of the road, slightly guarded by the wind by the man on my left. every time he fades from the rider in front of him, i am blasted by the wind. i am ready to get bumped, my arm ready to push back. the wind is strong, and nearly driving me off the road. the first few minutes of the race are tense. ok its a ride, that was a slip. this is no day in the park. it's really a race, with your individual prize being the amount of time you can hang.

our speed going north on 36 hit 44 mph. and withe the strong wind- can i tell you that 36- it's not a downhill! it's flat/rolling. this is the real thing, baby! if you can't handle a road bike- then you won't be here, for sure. our speed of 44 was tops today in the wind. but we were well up to 40 most of the time on hwy 36. this is no joke.

i did hang, for quite a while, and got a chance to work with a few guys to try to catch back up. we eventually caught the group on a return. group 1- the fastest guys, passed. as group 2 approached, i was ready. i was riding with a few guys, including bud Chris hopwood (Giant). this stretch of 36 would be the last i saw of him! i jumped in with Group 2, and Hopwood and the other guys. Group 1 was caught by the light (Lyons- 66 + 36). then before we arrived, the light turned green. our group sprinted hard. a couple of the guys jumped on the back of a box van (drafting) and i sprinted hard, expecting the group to fly by me. instead, they hung on my wheel til my pace dropped, and that was when i hit about 34, down from almost 38. yep- we were flyin!

Group 2 left Group 1 behind. i was in the group 2 until we hit 75th, and then i was toast. the 35+ pace was killing me. i was in my hardest gear, pedaling my brains out, and there was no love.

in this group -everyone gets respect. there are no people to sit around and worry about what category you signed up for or whether or not you deserve to be on the ride. if you can hang, then you deserve to be there. these guys- some of the most powerful in the nation, Pros, Cat 1, Cat 2 men- respect anyone who can hang. and i can tell you- i got respect from these guys. there is no petty infighting. either you are a cyclist, or you're not. and i can tell you, as a professional myself, it is truly rewarding to be treated with mutual respect on my road bike by proefessional men. they don't care about your gender, color, sex: they just want to ride their bicycles. and this is why i love riding on the road.

as group 1 caught me on 75th- i lamented- i am finished. there was no where for me to grab back onto the eschelon that passed, and i saw my buddy Steve ahead, he sat up and we pedaled together and talked about our experience. it was also his first time on the ride. we were getting broke in together. it was a great time. and the camaraderie is there. it's not in the chatting, or the who's who. it's in the pedaling- the heart rates, the heavy breathing. and this my friend, is why i love riding on the road.

namaste

tonya

20.apr.04

remembering Columbine

today marks 5 years since the tragic high school shootings at Columbine high school here in Colorado. please take a moment of your day to consider this tragedy and the violence our culture has grown accustomed to. spend some quality time with a young one- your children or some needy kids, and be sure to shine a light of hope and happiness their way... keep life positive... ride a bike...

namaste

tonya

it is your duty to fill every waking moment with joy!

19.apr.04

you've got mail!

i was surprised today, upon return from my ride today, i had a little "controversy mail". i don't quite want to call it hate mail... it's not quite hate mail per se- maybe more like "chastisement mail". but as any writer will tell you- it's an honor to receive such mail. not only does it tell you people know who you are and they have read your drivel, but that they actually care enough about something to take the time to write to you. just ask Patrick O'Grady. but this is my first mail of this sort, so i am celebrating! without further ado, here is my email!

Hi Tonya A friend of my was snickering at the Carter Lake race yesterday that somebody in the female group had signed up as a 'pro'. Later your name was attached to the deed. Later I was directed to your web site journal where you have spelled out your misunderstanding. You see, there is not 'pro' class for the women at an ACA road race, there is only cat 1, 2, 3, 4. Furthermore, in order to graduate to the higher tiers of road racing, you have to actually ride every class and qualify for an upgrade. I have three pro mountain biker friends who were in the 3's yesterday for that reason- they have not road raced enough to upgrade. In road racing you have to prove that you can handle your bike well enough not to be a danger to the others in the pack around you. It involves more then proving fitness. Becoming a Cat 1 is a hard earned honor, not something you can just sign up for in a day. I thought I would let you know that signing up as a Cat 1 for a day is not only against ACA rules, it might also be seen as arrogant by the other women around you who have put in their time and earned the honor!! I hope that clarification helps you avoid any future embarrassment that a misunderstanding could cause. Road racing is quite different from mountain biking in terms of upgrades... Tawnya

leave it to a mountain biker to stir the pot- eh? as i was gearing up for the race at carter lake, i was next to a guy who had just placed 5th in his category, and he was stoked, cause he's a mountain biker and hadn't road raced in as many years as me. we had an instant bond- he wished me luck and of course fun as i carried my bike out of the parking lot (which was actually a field filled with prickly pear and yucca). because fun