Big Hills with Big Bush

Sunday was Fair Hill. It's right in my backyard. But I just wasn't feeling it. So I wished the guys good luck and took off on the road. It was a sweltering day. One of the roads I wanted was closed and I took a really awful way to work my way around it. I haphazardly weaved all around Newark coming to an intersection, thinking "I don't want to go that way, that has a big climb". Only to go the other and realize it was a bigger one. I was sweating so bad it was pouring out of my helmet and into my eyes. My hands were so slippery it was hard to hold on to the bars. On my way home I decided I just wanted to be home, so instead of taking the longer more gradual climb home, I bit the bullet and went down the belly of the beast and did the 273 climbs.
To describe it better, 273 has a long false flat, then a deep valley that you have to climb out of and then a second smaller valley, which you also have to climb out of. So I don't choose this option unless I'm feeling extra spunky and up for a challenge, or like Sunday when I just didn't want to be on my bike for another minute and just wanted to get home the shortest distance possible.
The false flat was fine. There was a head wind, but it actually felt good in the heat. Then into the valley. Just as I'm started to head back up the other side I hear screeching breaks beside me. I turn to see Big Bush on the mountain bike, number plate and all. He turns and smiles and says "is this part of the course?". Very surprised, I tell him no, he was way off course. Still smiling he explains that he had pulled out and was headed back to the fair grounds. We chatted the whole way back.
Oh, it hurt so bad to climb and chat trying to make it seem like it didn't hurt. He was funny and nice, so it was all good. As we are just about up the first climb he says, "I thought once I pulled out of the race I wouldn't have to do any more climbing". I laughed.

Up & Down

Last night we went climbing and we finally top-roped. I was paying very close attention on how to tie my knots and do everything correctly. The last thing I want to do is fall or have something fail. Then the guy says, "yeah, you don't have to worry about that knot failing, the rope will snap way before that knot will be an issue". Nice.
Upon returning home we walked in to a pack of CO2 cartridges in the middle of the floor. I thought this was odd. Why would the dogs get into them? Then I remembered what else was in that section of my bike bag, Hammer Gel! I checked my bag and my entire case of Raspberry Hammer Gel was missing. I looked in the living room and there sat the empty box. This morning Marc found the wrappers. Layla (we're guessing) had taken them upstairs to enjoy in the comfort of a nest she made out of a pile of Marc's clean clothes he had on the bed. They're not so clean now.

Only a couple days left to pre-order "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows". I finally pre-ordered mine. I've been such a slacker. I was going to just wait and pick it up on Saturday. But I'm so paranoid I won't find it. For book V we just stopped at Walmart (after going to several other places and it being sold out) and they had a huge stack. But I heard they're now taking pre-orders too. So to be on the safe side, I've pre-ordered.

Twilight Crit

Last night we went up to West Chester for the Twilight Crit. This is always a good evening. Luckily it wasn't as hot as last year, which made it much more pleasurable. Ran into a ton of people and some we hadn't seen in quite some time. Which is always nice. We walked around to different vantage points as the racers zoomed by.

Just Breathe

It's early Saturday morning and we are running late to get out for a ride. I'm grabbing pieces as I run out the door. No time to clean out my Camelbak, so I grab a bottle & a cage I'll have to install before taking off. As we pull into the lot we see Buddy, Rob, and John have already arrived and are waiting for us. I also take note, their cars are no where in sight. Mmm, this means they rode here, so they're warmed up and I'll be starting cold. Ok, no problem, this is a mellow ride and we're starting off on double track, so I'll be ok.
We park, start getting everything together, and Marc realizes he's forgotten his shoes. He's slightly frustrated at having to have to run back home, but says he'll meet us on the far side of the park in about a half hour and takes off. Buddy in turn says, "wow, that's not going to give us much time". Oh crap, this isn't great for me.
I get myself together, install the water bottle cage, Buddy adjusts my breaks for me, saying I'll be faster now that I'm not dragging breaks the whole time. Yeah, cause that's my problem. hee hee. I do thank him because it has been driving me crazy listening to it drag, which every time I complained Marc would tell me, "they're disc brakes, that's what you get". He hates disc brakes.
We take off. We're going at a nice clip, but I'm ok. We hit the singe track, still not too bad. I'm hanging in there. They've got me up front, Buddy riding second wheel, then Rob, then John. They are talking amongst themselves telling stories. I'm just trying to keep my pace up. We cross over into Middlerun and Buddy asks me where I'm headed. I say left. He tells me to go right, it's more direct. I tell him it's more climbing that way, it'll take me longer. He insures me I'll be fine. I go right. I get bogged down a little but it's not so bad. Then we hit the church climb. The roll up it like it's nothing. I'm grinding away behind them. We reach the parking lot where Marc is waiting, he looks at me and says, "wow, were you guys hauling". As I stand there panting, Buddy casually says "no, not really". Then he turns to me and tells me to lead off.
We continue on, up one hill down another. It's a beautiful day, but I'm definitely working my butt off as they all talk casually behind me. At one point Buddy ask, "Diane, are you ok, you've been really quiet today". I just reply "I'm just trying to breathe". At this they laugh.
In all it was a beautiful day, and a great ride. Everyone is always very nice, and no one ever tells me I need to go faster or that I'm too slow. This is all pressure I put on myself. It took me a year to get back in shape enough that I could even ride with people again (even if it is on their slow days) so I don't want to screw it up. So I go out and pound away. Hey, it only makes me stronger.
Thanks for the ride guys! Even though it may not always look like it, I have fun every time!

Far Far Away

I finally figured out how to get pictures off my phone that were texted to me. Sorry Fitzy, I didn't figure this out before I deleted the bikini pictures.

Below are some pictures of Brey-la-la's trip to Washington. Aren't they beautiful! I had to cancel my trip last year, so I'm living vicariously through her.

Olympic Peninsula, off the coast of Washington state

Mossy Rain Forrest

Rainbow in the Mossy Rain Forrest

Marysville

Oh where to start. Marc, Fitzy and I headed up Friday afternoon so we could set up prior to the night time trial. We camped in same poison ivy field as last year. It's actually a great location, it's separated from the parking lot, but you can get your car there and it's shaded. Unfortunately it's also swimming with poison ivy. So you want to wear shoes and watch where you sit things.
After setting up camp, we headed down to registration where Marc caused much confusion by registering under the name Marcus Faticus (they were not amused). Then I registered as a last minute decision. This is basically my first sport race in about a billion years. I raced a small one last year due to it being one 4 mile lap for Beginner or three 4 mile laps for Sport. So I figured what the hell, 4 miles isn't worth getting dirty for, so I raced Sport. I got DFL, but all was good. I had at least one woman in my sights almost the entire race, so it wasn't a blow out.
This past weekend, I wasn't as lucky. I knew the course wasn't to my strengths. 10 billion logs, but I've been really working on them and since Sewell was cancelled I figured what the hell.Off the start, error number 1. Take off like a bat out of hell and forget about the second rise before the woods and blow up. Ok, it's a problem, but still the beginning. I Collect myself and move on. I can still see the field in front of me. I start bobbling over the logs, one after another I'm getting more and more frustrated, but I'm still moving forward. I can still see the other women, but the gap is growing. Then I come across a guy being carried out of the woods. Yeah, this doesn't boost my confidence, but I proceed. Finally I recognize something positive. I'm climbing better than I had the previous year. Then I hit the tight twisty stuff. That section was great. I felt like I was back home riding Crack Head Bob. Finally I can see some women again, I'm gaining some ground. I keep going, plugging on. Then comes lap two. I'm riding a lot more of the logs. I'm enjoying myself. Then I realize I was concentrating so much on what I was riding, I wasn't racing anymore. Crap! I inadvertently noodled in the middle of the race, what's with that? I continue on, by now I'm way off the back. I can see some women at some cross sections, but they're way ahead by now. I finish as the Experts are starting, I didn't even get to cross the line. Yeah I suck. I finished 11 min off of the rest of the pack. Yikes! Oh well. It was a nice day out in the woods.

In addition: Marc had to pull out of the XC on Sat due to boo-boo belly. But did awesome Friday night during the time trial getting 16th overall.
Brey La-La did the TT and the Endurance Race, getting 2nd in both. Talk about two ends of the spectrum. An all out sprint and then an endurance race, all within a 24hr timeframe, wow.
Wes the conqueror sure has been living up to his name with yet another win on Sat.
Ethan won both the TT and his race Sat.
John got 2nd in the XC.
Jamie got 2nd, Andrew 4th and Fitzy 11th all in the endurance race on Sat. And I just want to point out all these guys raced the 12 hour last weekend! No rest for the weary. Great job to all!


Here's me off the front at the start. Why? I don't know.
Marc was on the side telling me to pace myself, but I don't listen. Hardheaded.



My pretty leg after all my really crappy attempts at some logs. Pedals are so unforgiving. I should just take my chances with the logs.