Now that we aren't pulling on our layers and layer of Lycra each weekend and dirtying our bikes, we have this feeling of, "what the heck do we do with our lives now??!!"

You feel that too?

Yeah. It's a strange feeling! To go from cyclocross racing nearly every weekend to, well, not racing. Life feels a bit empty. Creating a new routine seems daunting. I just want to line back up in the mud and rain, and race!

BUT life must go on and we must get back to normal. ;)

It only makes sense to finish off the season by making sure everything is taken care of, so that getting ready next season is that much easier.

Here are 19 super important post-cyclocross season things you should take care of:

19 Super Important Post-Cyclocross Season Things To Do

1. Clean your bike off. And I mean, CLEAN IT. Take it apart, scrub it with your toothbrush, clean your chain, brush out the chain rings, replace your brake pads (or what is left of them), check your frame for signs of wear and tear, inspect your rubber, inspect your rims, adjust your derailleur, inspect (and possibly replace) your cables, consider fancy new bar tape, get the muck out from under your seat, check your chain for wear (replace if necessary! 2 chains to one cassette, if you're good about it), and just really spruce your bike off. Your bike has been put through the ringer over the season. It has dirt in places you can't even see! 
2. Make a list of things that need to be replaced or repaired on you bike. I always find that I'm forgetting something when I go to the bike shop --- or, I want to buy ALL THE THINGS at the bike shop. Sometimes, having a list can help. If you know the entirety of what needs to be done with your bike to get it spanking fresh and fancy again, you'll be able to better prioritize and plan for what to take care of first. Keep an eye out for sales, clearance items and second hand deals if you're trying to stay in a budget. NOTE: Christmas is coming --- gift ideas?
3. Actually go about replacing and fixing those things on your bike. Just like Christmas shopping last minute, you'll feel pretty stressed if you're trying to get your bike repaired the week before the first 2018 cyclocross race. Take care of your list of things (starting now!) early, and you won't be that person scrambling last minute.
4. Wash your kit. Sometimes it helps to let it soak in soapy water in the bathtub for a while. If you do, drain the water when it's dark and put fresh water in. Repeat until the water comes clear...this may take months.
5. Wash your kit again....because it's probably still got muck in there.
6. Send thank-you notes to all the sponsors, organizers, venues and volunteers of the race series you raced in. This might be time consuming, but it's a great gesture and shows how much we love and want this sport to stay around. Want to personalize your note? Print off a picture of you racing, put your signature on it, and include it as a momento.
7. Create a training plan for 2018. What was your biggest weakness in 2017? Running? (walking...)? Bunny hops? Speed? Starts? Passing? Technical sections? Off-cabmer? Be honest with yourself about what you had trouble with, and make a plan to improve that skill. You can use YouTube videos if you don't live near any of the cities which host practice sessions. Trial and error!!
8. Actually start training for next year. I hear far too many people (myself included) say they wish they had done ______ to prepare for the racing season. Whatever that is --- make a plan to start early! Start now, and you'll be happy you did.
9. Take some time off the bike. Sometimes, after some intense training and racing, your body needs to rest. It's crucial to listen to your body when it's telling you to slow down. 
10. Not into riding outdoors in the dark winter months? Get an indoor trainer (or go to a spin class) to help keep your fitness level up. There are lots of options at every budget level, and it's quite common to find trainers used on Craigslist too. Black Friday and Boxing Day may hold some good deals for you if you do your research. I just ordered a Tacx Vortex Smart trainer from ChainReactionCycles.com -- regularly priced at $699 at MEC, I paid $499 through Chain Reaction. Not a bad deal if you ask me!
11. Buy your UCI or Cycling BC license. EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! Need I say more? Buy your license before the deadline and take advantage of an early bird discount. For some, it makes sense to buy day of licenses, but if you're going to take part in a number of races, having a license makes more sense. I'm all about saving money where you can. The early bird discount is where it's at.
12. Start budgeting for next year's races. It sucks when you don't have the cash upfront to pay for your races, and you risk missing out on those races....Don't miss out on the fun!! Put $25-40 away each month now, and you'll have plenty cash to pay for your races, travel, post-race beer, and maybe even some fresh new socks from the Enduro sock booth.
13. Start hash tagging all your cyclocross photos with #crossiscoming --- it's over for now, but it'll be back before you know it! Might as well be prepared and give people a constant reminder of the fun to come.
14. Connect with a local riding group and keep your fitness up or learn new skills. There's a lot of riding groups out there and many of them offer road, cx, and mountain riding groups. Find a group that you get along with and make a point of attending their rides. Riding in a group can be a great way to encourage yourself to get out of bed and out on your bike (even in crap weather). Mid-summer, lots of groups organize cx practice sessions --- great way to meet more of the folks in the cx scene and learn (or teach) some new skills.
15. Count down to next CX season as if it's Christmas Day.
16. Check your kit inventory. Just like buying bike parts, handing out cash for kit can add up. Gloves, booties, layers...it's  not cheap. Inventory what you have for kit now, and make a list of what you could use next year. There's always someone at the race who is more prepared than you. Learn from them. Learn from your mistakes. You don't want to freeze your arse off at every race -- racing is far more enjoyable when you're comfortable. Figure out what you're in need of, and start adding those pieces to your collection.
17. Repair kit that has more life left. Just because something has a hole in it, doesn't mean it's trash. Using a needle and thread, you can repair a lot of holes and kit woes. 
18. Give away kit you don't need or want. Maybe you're tired of a certain colour you were wearing this season, maybe you've had a wind breaker in your closet for a few years that hasn't been worn....I bet you there are a few cash-strapped cyclists that would be more than happy to adopt your gear. Your trash is someone else's treasure.
19. Spread the love. You have fun racing cx every year, right? Let's keep this sport growing and get more people addicted to it. Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, tell your boss --- encourage them to come out and watch. Encourage them to volunteer. Encourage everyone to experience cyclocross. The more, the merrier.

What other things are important to do now that the season is over?

Today, marks my thirty-first year on earth.

As I write this, and as I reflect on all that I have managed to accomplish in those years, I'm sitting in an adult-sized onsie on my couch. My laptop is so old that it freezes up with every few keys that I push, and the battery is so weak that if the power cord becomes unplugged, the computer dies.

I'd like to say that I've accomplished all the goals I had set out to achieve when I was younger. I'd like to say that I'm a fully-functioning, responsible adult, with a respectable and well-paying job, a nice car, and that I enjoy vacations.

I'm not any of that.

I'm thirty-one, once-divorced, soon-to-be married, broke, and a few months ago I threw my five year plan out the window.

I can honestly say that at this point in my life, I have ZERO idea where I'm going and how I'm going to get there.

I've got a million ideas and yet no desire to fully research and entertain them. I've had so many ideas throughout my life, and yet, here I am. In my onsie.

I'm starting to think that adulthood is just a glamorized version of puberty. When I was going through my teen years, I tried everything. I dressed as a skateboard punk; I converted into a goth, wore a trench coat and a studded (dog) collar; I made my own fashions and clothes that made no sense; I turned full girly, wore make-up and tried to look 'pretty'; I became a sad musician and wrote sad songs about break-ups.

...the thing is, my youth is not a whole lot different from my adulthood.

My choices in fashion have reverted back to the same fashion choices I made when I was a young girl - leggings, converse and a baggy shirt. Find any photo of me when I was a kid, and I'll likely be wearing tight leggings (or shorts) and a baggy shirt. They were my chosen threads then, and they are my staples now.

I did experiment with pin-up girl, office professional, single bar girl and even gym-fitness-apparel-outside-the-gym (because I didn't work out...). They were all fun stages of my adult life, but none of them stuck.

Nope. Instead, I dress in old lady knits, rubber boots, leggings (LOVE THE STRETCH!!), and baggy shirts that can cover up the aftermath of a doughnut binge.

Keeping it simple.

Ok, perhaps fashion choices are quite what I was getting at when I mentioned that life as an adult isn't a whole lot different than life as a teen. Maybe I don't know where I was going with that thought...

Either way. Doesn't matter! I was going somewhere with that thought, and then suddenly got nowhere with it. Story of my adulthood!

But honestly, during these last few weeks I have spent a good deal of time reflecting and making time and space to be an adult. I've been making efforts to be more pro-active in my health and doing things I should have done a long time ago.

I had all these plans when I was growing up. All these dreams. I envisioned myself having a successful job, having zero debt, traveling and going on vacation regularly, driving a BMW, appearing AND being successful.

Nope. None of that happened. Reality is funny sometimes, right?

Instead, I work part-time after being unemployed for a couple of months post-move. I haven't been on a vacation in a couple years, and the last vacation I was on, I actually couldn't afford - so it all went on debt. I've had a balance on my credit card for years, and I've never managed to pay it off to zero; though, I never miss a payment and always pay more than the minimum. Divorce left me with debt and things I couldn't afford, which added to my debt. I could never even consider owning a BMW....at least not yet! ;) My last vehicle was a banged up Cavalier that I'd had since college.

I pictured myself graduating college and getting some fancy marketing job in the big city, advancing and getting promotions, working on big projects for big brands that people would see on TV or in a magazine.

That never happened.

I struggled to find a marketing job after college because I had no experience and no portfolio. The world of marketing changes so quickly and we (the students) had no formal training with social media or online marketing, so when we left college with our degrees in our hands, we were out of date. To get a job in marketing in the big city, you needed ample social media marketing experience, SEO knowledge, coding ability, video making skills, Adobe editing skills, and a graphic design portfolio.

Quite a reality shock after four-years of studying, exams and thinking you'd get somewhere better after graduation.

If this taught me anything, it was that if I wanted to be successful in marketing, I'd have to keep training, keep learning and keep investing in myself. This is true in anything in life.

You have to stay relevant. Keep yourself valuable by staying up-to-date. Don't become like my outdated and worn laptop. Don't freeze.

Seek opportunities. Keep educating yourself. Stay on top of trends.

This is where my life is now.

I wear my onsie, on the couch, and sip coffee while I envision ways in which I can make a dime while still wearing a onsie. Some of the ideas I have are nonsense and silly, but some of them are not so bad. Not unlike my fashion choices in my teenage years, my ideas are ever-changing - they come and go.

Eventually, I'll land on a good idea and I'll run with it. Until, then, I'll keep searching. I've been here for thirty-one years so far, and I plan to be idea-making for another good number of years to come.

I've never been an overly speedy cyclist, and racing is new to me. Though I had been on a mountain bike for years before I started wearing Lycra and getting into drop-bars, I was certainly the slow and steady style rider, preferring to take the easy ride-rounds than the crazy-ass-obstacles. I never raced a bike or had any desire to speed up, until I met cyclocross. Heck, I had never really done much racing of any kind! (Unless you count Mario Kart)

So, you can imagine my surprise when I dished out money for an entry-level CX bike, signed up for my first race (Donkey CX 2015) and landed a not-so-bad result for my first time! You can imagine my even further surprise when I finished the 2015 season strong, and started racing Intermediate women in 2016. I didn't podium at every race in 2016, but I did enough that for this year, I am moving myself up into the Elite/Expert women category.

Before the start of this season, to prep myself for racing the faster, stronger women, I hired a coach to help me learn to train. I've NEVER trained for something like this before. I've never run a marathon, the longest triathlon I've ever attempted was a sprint distance, and I can't run more than 5km without my knee wanting to dislocate from my body. I eat donuts like they are going out of style, and I still ride pretty slowly when no one is watching. I am not, I repeat, fast. Sure, maybe I'm faster than I was when I started, and maybe I'm faster than some other women out there (who are just starting) but compared to the women racing Cat 1-2, I am NOT fast. So, my goal with a coach was to learn how to train myself to get faster...

Give me a technical course, or give me death. Honestly, those straight, flat sections in CX races kill me. Give me mud, roots, technical bits, and less straight, flats, and not only will I have more fun, but I'll perform better too...relatively speaking, I need to work on my SPEED.

See the trend here? I'm not that fast.

I prepped myself mentally for the reality that I would be facing in the 2017 CX racing season...moving up into the elite/expert category would mean that I was no longer going to be at the front of the pack. I was no longer going to be on the podium. I had become so accustomed to winning, or being top 5, in the last two seasons, that I knew it would be a shock to my system when I lost. Don't get me wrong, I've been last before! (CrossVegas USAC, fat bike racing)

I had my first taste of racing the faster women at the MIVA Mid-Season CX Race in Nanaimo, where the field was broken into two groups, one faster, one slower. I came in dead last after my closest competitor dropped out mid-race. Needless to say, I was sad. I was embarrassed. Heck, I had my mom come out and watch, and she got to watch me lose. Certainly was not proud of that result.

Last weekend, at the first Cross On The Rock race of the season, Pro City GP in Victoria, I again, did not place in the top half. I was second to last, and only because there was a brave soul racing on a single speed bike (KUDOS to you!!).

The hardest part about not being able to keep up with the pack, is that you end up racing alone. The race becomes a mind game and it becomes overly tempting to give up. I personally find that I slow down and don't "race" when I have no one in close sight to chase or get away from. It's far more fun to race when there's people with you.

So, with the race season on the mainland kicking off, and my determination to keep trying, because I LOVE CYCLOCROSS, I am mentally telling myself that I'm OK with losing. I'm OK with bringing up the back of the pack. If I can get to the point where I am no longer getting lapped by my own field, then I'll be happy. If I can get comfortable getting passed by the elite men, I'll be happy. If I can be content knowing that I'm not going to podium, I'll be happy. I know that each year, with more training and effort, I will get better, faster and stronger. Maybe 2017 isn't my year to shine, but perhaps 2018 will be a bit brighter.

On that note, ladies, I urge you to reconsider which category you'll be racing this year. Take a look at your lap times and compare them to the people you're racing. Are you faster than they are? If you're in the beginner field, are you tired of racing just 30 minutes? That extra 15 in the Intermediate race gives you more time to play on your bike and reach for hand ups! If you're in the Intermediate field, have you managed to podium a few times? Are you sandbagging? I urge you to CAT UP! Even if you know you won't be at the front of the pack of your new field, if we all re-consider our categories and move-up as needed, we'll all have someone to race. Besides, I'm sure you don't want to be the one that everyone mutters about under their breath, as you take ANOTHER podium, you sandbagger, you. ;)

Let's keep the women's CX racing alive and well, and let's keep it growing. Encourage your friends to come out and try CX! There are so many clinics and camps to choose from, that no one should be left out. Are you on the island? Great! Come ride CX with me!

The take-home tidbit of my story today is this: you won't get better by staying stationary, and getting better takes time and hard work. There's no shame in coming last, or not being top 5. Challenge yourself by CAT-ING UP and come play bikes with me.

See you all at Donkey CX and Ladysmith this weekend!

This past weekend, after months of training, planning and prep, my fiance rode his bike up a hill, 19 times, without sleep, all as a fundraiser for the Kettle Society and to shed light on mental health issues.

Everesting is the act of riding a bike up one mountain, as many times as necessary, to reach a total elevation of 8,848m. This is equal to the elevation of the world's tallest mountain, Mount Everest. Corey, my fiance, chose to do what is called a double Everest...which meant riding 2x 8,848m in elevation. Riders who complete an Everest can submit their ride data to be enlisted into the Hall of Fame, regulated by Hells 500.

Corey had previously completed single Everest climbs, and decided that a double Everest would be much more of a challenge. Especially a double Everest on one of our more steep local mountains. This is how his idea for Fight Your Demons 2017 was born.

"Why would anyone want to do such a ride?" is one of the comments I heard a lot over the weekend. Fair enough, it's a pretty big feat. Well, cycling is the one thing that has helped Corey stay happy, healthy and fight his depression and mental health issues, since he was young. Corey has struggled throughout his life with depression, and has found that cycling keeps him level. It's his own form of therapy. Some people chose to run, some people do drugs, and Corey, well, he cycles. A typical bike ride for Corey would be 200-400km in a day, followed by a similar ride the next day. Corey enjoyed big miles and big hills.

Just over a year ago, Corey was in a cycling accident involving a motor vehicle. Although he walked away from the scene, with little visible physical damage, the accident set him back into a depressed state, because of soft-tissue injuries caused by the impact. He could no longer ride his bike without severe pain, and he struggled with himself and not knowing how to heal. Corey saw doctors, took pain killers, had to stop working, stop cycling, and began seeing a physiotherapist, chiropractor, massage therapist, kinesiologist, and eventually a therapist. It's been over a year of appointments and hard work to get back to his pre-accident cycling shape, and though Corey struggles less mentally, he still needs pain killers and therapy to be able to enjoy his rides.

Corey has originally planned on completing a double Everest in 2016, but due to the motor vehicle accident, he had to reschedule. There was no way his body would allow him to complete the ride.
In the last few months, Corey has challenged himself to complete rides with the BC Randonneurs Cycling Club, and even completed a couple single Everests as training.

We spread word about his plans to do this ride via Facebook and in-person to our friends and family.

The Ride Begins

Fight Your Demons 2017 began on August 19 at 5 AM. Along with four other cyclists, Corey began lap number one of Mount Seymour, in the dark, in the cold. About an hour and a half later, he was back at the bottom of the mountain, at our base camp, and ready to begin lap number two.

First Lap of the Day; Photo via Katrinna Roth

Each lap, different people rode with Corey. Some laps there would be as few as four riders, other laps there were as many as 15. All throughout the day, friends, family, members of the cycling community, locals and strangers stopped by base camp to cheer Corey on, to make donations, to see what was happening and to provide encouragement. Some cyclists even came so far as Kelowna, just to ride with Corey and support the cause.

Base Camp; photo via J'Ok Photos

Riding Up; photo via J'Ok Photos

As the evening approached, and darkness set in, the numbers dwindled, but at no time was Corey ever alone. A few close friends put in extra efforts and rode with Corey through the night. Some friends drove cars up and down the mountain with Corey, helping light his way and ensure he and the other cyclists were safe on the roads in the dark. We kept base camp going all night, and kept riders warm with a propane heater, blankets and hugs. Some of us caught a bit of rest, others struggled to keep their eyes open all evening. Corey recounts lap 13 as being one of the hardest; it was dark and cold, he was tired and shivering. His muscles were tired and it was his slowest lap. He struggled to stay awake on the ascent, but managed to get his second wind for lap 14 and beyond.



As the morning light came out, more cyclists and supporters came out. The morning light instilled a new sense of excitement in Corey, as he knew there were fewer laps left to complete and he had more energy and warmth.

Eventually, Corey was down to his last few laps. The end was in sight. The day was warm, he was able to shed some of the layers he wore all night.

Cyclists who rode with him commented that they struggled to keep up to his pace, saying that even after 10 laps, Corey has an endless amount of energy. Throughout his ride, his lap pace remained quite constant. Corey's pace on a normal day is quite fast, and on this ride, was not much slower.

Between each lap, Corey received an endless amount of encouragement, hugs, handshakes, tears and stories. It was incredibly touching to be a part of this ride.

Corey completed 19 laps at approximately 5 PM Sunday August 20.
This ride took 26 hours of moving time, 36 hours total time, 17,719m in elevation gain, 495.9km in distance.

Suns out, Guns out; photo via Andrew Couzens

Ride complete! Photo via Andrew Couzens

View Corey's ride on Strava: https://www.strava.com/activities/1144146261

A big shout out to the cyclists who rode with Corey!!! Whether you stuck in for a half lap, one lap, or numerous laps, your efforts were amazing! There are so many of you to thank!

Supporting Corey's Fight Your Demons 2017 Fundraiser

Our donation page, which was started to raise money for the Kettle Society, Corey's chosen donation recipient, received an endless number of donations throughout Corey's ride. The GoFundMe campaign will be up until the end of August, to allow last minute online donations.

Donations can still be made: https://www.gofundme.com/2X-Everesting-vs-Mental-Illness

Global News Coverage on Corey's Ride

Sunday afternoon, Corey was joined by Pat from Global News, who followed the cyclists on one of their laps, filming and photographing their ride. You can view the news clip through the link below. Kristin Robinson articulated Corey's story so well!

http://globalnews.ca/video/3684018/cycling-mount-seymour-for-mental-health

Being filmed; Photo via Chris Mallinson

Vancouver Sun Online Coverage of Corey's Ride

Gord Kurenoff put together a very well-written article on Corey's ride, focusing on the reasons WHY Corey is doing a double Everest, and touching on depression and mental health. You can read the full article through the link below.

http://vancouversun.com/news/community-blogs/cyclist-gears-up-for-double-everest-to-tackle-depression-demons-awards-piling-up-for-legendary-lenore

Thank-you! For all the support!

Corey's success on this double Everest challenge would not have been possible had it not been for all the support we received. Thank you!

Neither of us ever imagined this ride reaching so many people.

We have both been in tears so many times since word of this event started circulating. The comments we have received, the generous donations, the encouragement, the stories, the hugs.....

The ride may be finished for this year, but let's keep this momentum going! Mental health is obviously an issue that needs to receive more light and discussion. Keep on the look out for the event next year, and keep your ears and heart open for your loved ones who may have things they want to say.

Thank you as well, to our sponsors for the event -- who did more than help us get ready and stay fueled, but actually rode multiple laps during Corey's ride!! Thank you Four Winds Brewing and Andrew Couzens of Rip Stix Nutrition.

Smiles every lap; photo Chris Mallinson

I'm always so happy to see more and more events, rides, and brands, focused on women cyclists, regardless of whether the aim is at beginners or advanced riders. Most sports are underrepresented in terms of female participation, which is a shame!

Here is a round-up of upcoming Vancouver-area events that are aimed at women in cycling, or open to all genders and/or ability groups.


La Bicicletta Wednesday Park Rides
Wednesday at 6:30 PM in Stanley Park
If you are looking to get some group riding experience, increase your fitness, and meet a bunch of new people, the Wednesday Park Rides are the place to be. Be at the information booth in Stanley Park by 6:30 PM on a Wednesday eve and look for someone in a red Pender Racing jersey to check in. You'll get grouped into different ability/speed groups, and enjoy a few leisurely laps around Stanley Park. You can RSVP via EventBrite. Cost: $0.

Tri Talk Series #1 - Nutrition for Triathletes
Wednesday May 17, 6:30 pm / West Point Cycles, Main Street location
Ok, so not totally cycling-focused, but there is a bicycle aspect to triathlons. This talk is supposed to cover the topic of nutrition and fueling properly for endurance based sports. RSVP via the West Point website. Cost: $0

#WCWrides

 Women Crush Wednesday Rides
Wednesday evenings at On the Rivet Cycle Wear, W. Broadway + Ontario
Every Wednesday, even in the wet, On the Rivet hosts an all bae, no bro ride. Rides depart at approximately 6:15 PM from the shop, and are great rides if you're looking to meet other women and increase your fitness. Though these rides are social, don't expect to lollygag around the city -- you'll earn your post-ride treat! Find more info on their Facebook page here.


Women's Cycling Skills Series - Learn to Ride
Presented by Glotman-Simpson Cycling
If you're new to road cycling or group riding, or feel a bit rusty and want a refresher before you get back into full force this season, why not sign up for the Learn to Ride skills clinics being offered with the Glotman-Simpson Cycling group? It's affordable, once a week, and when you finish this clinic, you'll have all the tools you need to go on big group rides, comfortably and safely. Clinics start in June, and you can get more info on their website.

Saturday No-Drop Rides with CrossRoad Racing
9 AM departure, hosted by SpeedTheory Vancouver, W 4th + Trafalgar
If getting more group riding experience is on your to-do list this year, why not join in on the no-drop, all abilities, group rides being led by the CrossRoad Racing team? Members of the team will be there to provide coaching and direction during the ride, so you'll be learning from seasoned cyclists. And, because it's a no-drop ride, you don't have to worry about being left behind. More information is available from the host shop, SpeedTheory Vancouver.





Sunday Women-Only Group Rides with Liv Cycling Vancouver

9 AM departure from the Liv Cycling Vancouver location at W 4th + Pine
I may be a bit biased, since I work at this shop, but these are great rides! Every Sunday, rain or shine, we lead a women-only, no-drop, group ride. Destinations and distances vary, but be prepared to do anywhere from 40-70 km. These rides are aimed at the intermediate level cyclist, who has the ability to maintain an average of 25-30km/hr and has some group riding experience. Cost is $5, and the rides finish at the Liv shop where you can enjoy a hot coffee and baked goods.

Am I missing an event, clinic, group ride, or something else you think should be on this list? Let me know in the comments, and I'll look into it!

Bear X'ing - October 10, 2016

 

Cross-giving weekend. What a great weekend it was!

A long weekend, featuring two cx races - one on the lower mainland and another on Vancouver Island. I rangled up my mutually-cycling-crazed partner to do both races that weekend, as well as have a home cooked Thanksgiving meal....and I have NEVER before made a turkey dinner. EVER. Not once. I'm a virgin.

We raced Queen's CX in New Westminster on Saturday (race report here), enjoyed a turkey dinner at home on Sunday, then woke up brutally early and went to Vancouver Island to race on Sunday.

Before I get into race details, I should mention that the turkey dinner turned out fantastic! I made a green bean casserole (smothered in cheese and cream), velvety mashed potatoes, Brussel sprouts, stuffing and a full turkey. It was far too much food for the two of us, but it all got used up in the days following, as well as turned into turkey soup. I can now say that I have made a turkey dinner!!

Okay. On to the race details.

In order to make the travel cheap and affordable, we walked on the ferry and had my Dad pick us up on the other side. He generously offered to drive us and our bikes to the race, as well as watch the race and drive us back to the ferry afterwards. How amazing is that?!? #bestdadaward

BC Ferries and My Inability to Open Doors

We had a brutally early morning, having to corral the bikes, our gear and the dog in order to catch the 6:30 AM ferry out of Horseshoe Bay. If you have ever been a walk-on passenger with a bike or dog to that ferry terminal, you'll know about the door code that you are given to get into the terminal, and how that code can only be used once. Well, we were already running behind on buying our ticket. We arrived to the ferry just as they were doing FINAL call for boarding passes. So the ticket lady wasn't too thrilled to sell us a last minute ticket. I made the situation even worse because when I entered the code to the door, I couldn't open the door. So, I ran back to the ticket booth in a fury, and requested a new code. The ticket lady made a big deal about it, had to call the ferry workers and see if we still had time to walk on, then lectured me, and she wasted so much time when she could have been issuing me a different code! So, I was frantic. I got the code, ran back, input the code and opened the door. Turns out I was either pushing or pulling the door, but I was doing the opposite of what needed to be done to open it. I was furious. We ran, bikes, bags and dog in tow, to get to the loading bay.

In the end, we managed to board the ferry for 6:30 AM. We found a spot for the bikes and then we settled into the pet room with Winston. Our day was not off to a good start.

On the Island

The ferry arrived in Departure Bay as scheduled, and I was so relieved to see my Dad there with his vehicle. He had even gone so far as to borrow a bike rack that fit his tow hitch, so loading up the bikes was a breeze.

We got on the road, comfy in the back seat with Winston snuggling in, and made our way down the island highway towards Victoria. It was a beautiful day and the drive down the highway was so beautiful! I felt it had been far too long since I had last been on that highway.

Bear Mountain

It was my first time going to Bear Mountain, and I was pleasantly surprised. It reminded me of a ski resort in the summer. Mountain bikes everywhere, a nice lodge area, and a spa/fitness centre. I have added a return trip to Bear Mountain to my to-do list...preferably during prime mountain bike season. The race site was just up behind the lodge and restaurant, on a golf range. I was told that the resort re-makes their driving range each year, so holding the race on the grass is no problem. How exciting is that!? Racing on a golf course! That's one item checked off my bucket list.

The race site was quite open and exposed, and even though the sun was shining, the wind was also blowing. It was cold and breezy. Really windy! The beginner race was just getting underway when we arrived, so we had a chance to cheer on some of the younger riders and the newbies. We changed into our skin-suits and race gear while the first race was happening, so that we could at least get a practice lap in before our start time.



 

The Race

Since this was not my first time racing on the island (and since I preregistered) I was fortunate enough to get a minor call-up. This meant that instead of starting at the very back, I was one row from the back! Every little bit counts.

*Side Note* I have to mention, that I love the island races because of the number of women coming out to compete. At Bear X'ing, there was 352 racers! That's incredible! In the Intermediate Women category (which is combined with single speed women, 40+ women, and U17 women) there were 42 racers that day. It's just incredible! We don't get those numbers showing up to race here on the Lower Mainland.

Image via Sean Voight

Image via Sean Voight

At the start, I did my best to blow past as many riders as possible, knowing that the technical, off-camber, soft loamy sand section was coming up, and I didn't want to be forced to run it due to someones' nontechnical ability. For lap 1 though this didn't quite work out the way I had planned, and I had to dismount and run a section.

The course featured a lot of switchback corners, the above-mentioned off-camber sandy section, a bit of a sand pit, a couple short straight stretches, a few punchy uphill sections that us mere mortals ran, and a drop-in section that made a lot of people walk their bikes. It was a fun mix of fast and fun and I feel that the technical sections really helped off-set the speedy sections, so that everyone (no matter their cycling expertise) had a fair play.

Each lap, I managed to pass a few people at a time. With so many riders out in the course, I couldn't tell how many women were actually ahead of me, so I just kept pushing. Part of my drive came from the fact that I wanted to win, and the other part of it came from the fact that I didn't want to be lapped by my partner, who was also racing in the Men's Intermediate category which had a one minute head start before the women. So nice of the race organizers to give the men a head start, no?! ;)

The Hole Shot.ca

On lap 2 I heard a familiar voice, and low and behold, my partner had suffered a mechanical failure and was unable to continue on with his race. He was now on the sidelines, with my Dad, cheering me on. He assured me that there were only a few more women in front of me.

Lap 4, I was starting to get tired. The weather was nice, but the strong wind and multiple run ups really started to take their toll. There was one girl closing in on my from behind, and I did my best to ward her off. I kept looking back to see how close she was, and pushing even harder to stay ahead.

As I neared the finish line, I knew she was right behind me. My Garmin said I had been racing for about 30+ minutes, meaning there would be another lap to make 45 minutes. So, after crossing the timing station, I dropped in on the downhill section and began lap 5.

When I looked back to check and see how close that girl was, I noticed she was gone. No where in sight. I assumed she had a mechanical and couldn't continue.

Well, was I ever wrong! As I continued on lap 5, I noticed fewer and fewer people out on the course. I started to pass more women, who I was lapping...when I came to the finish line, I noticed a LOT of women standing around. Turns out I was a doofus, and I rode an extra lap!

Tired and thirsty, I was fortunate that a co-worker stopped by to watch the race, and had brought some nice, wet, cold bevies. I enjoyed a victory beer, having realized that I placed third overall in the Intermediate Women's category.

Not a bad weekend on the new bike!





Race results are available here: http://www.crossontherock.com/php/race-results/?raceid=70

Race Sponsors

Series Sponsors 

Prizing Sponsors

Other Sponsors

Queen's Cross - October 8, 2016

Mud.

I had been dreaming about it, wishing about it, wanting it...since the end of last year's cyclocross season, I had anticipated this year's cyclocross season. Well, with Queen's CX in New Westminster, I got what I asked for.

Mud.

Copious amounts of mud.

Along with the mud, though, came the rain. Buckets and barrels of rain.


It was pouring rain when we pulled up, and pouring rain as we unpacked our gear from the car. Our team's tent has no walls, so the rain was getting everything wet and the mud was getting everything dirty. I had to stop and remind myself, why in the world did I want mud so bad?!??



We had a small tarp to layer and pile our bags and race gear on, to keep from getting mucky on the ground. It helped, somewhat. Rain would pool in the weak spots on the top of the tent and we had to keep pushing it over the sides of the tent, causing cascades of puddles on the ground around us.

No one would leave the race dry or clean today. No one.

While a part of me was trying to stay warm and dry so that I wasn't cold by the time my race began, the other part of me (maybe the child within me) wanted to run around, get dirty, jump in puddles and embrace the mud-fest that was all around.



I spent my time ringing the cow bell and providing cheers and shouts to the racers in the beginner and elite categories, before braving the mud and going for a practice lap. Er, well, half of a practice lap.

The mud felt like soup. Thick, chunky soup.

I tried my best to keep my bright neon shoes out of the mud, but eventually I succumbed to dipping my feet into the mud at the first obstacle I came to. It was deep!


The rain let up a bit as I was practising. We would later realize, that this break in the rain was really just giving us a false sense of hope.

The course turned out to be long, slippery (from the mud) and had a number of hills and jump-overs. The first few categories didn't do too many laps, because the course was long and slow, and I didn't anticipate the Intermediate women being a whole lot faster. In fact, the more people that rode the course, the more mud and rut that was created.

I didn't even finish my practice lap when I decided to turn around and head back up the hill to the start line. I wasn't about to take a chance missing the race! Not when I was already getting mucky and gross.

As I approached the start line, the rain started again. You see, false sense of hope! I had already ditched my jacket at the team tent, and was already getting covered in mud. So, I did what any island/redneck/bush kid would do. I embraced the rain, the wet, the cold. I stopped trying to hide below the trees (which didn't provide too much cover anyways) and I took my place in the start line. I readied myself for the start --- which was a very muddy, slippery start.

I knew that some of the girls would struggle in this mud, and I wanted to use this to my advantage. As soon as the race was started, I did my best to get out in front, as fast as I could. Some girls ran with their bikes, some girls started by pedalling, some barely moved at all. I aimed for the hole shot....

The mud proved to be a great obstacle. It was deep and slippery, causing so many riders to fall, run and walk. Sludging through the mud was slow and energy sucking, but attempting to pedal sometimes was so slow that walking was more efficient.



There were sections of the course where mud hid wet tree roots, holes and dips. Countless people face planted into the mud. They would rise from the mud, half mud, half human.

More and more people attempted to avoid the muddiest sections by riding far to the left or far to the right of the course, but after a couple laps, these areas too were slippery. Tree branches at face level made it difficult to cut too far to the sides.

Two separate ditches in the course made excellent spectator locations. One ditch was ride-able if you picked the right line and kept your speed up, while the other ditch likely would have destroyed your front wheel.

Downhill, off-camber sections sucked you down, while uphill mudslides made the leg muscles scream. Each lap got more slow and more slow.

The barriers, which were strategically positioned in amongst the switchback muddy corners, were also a slippery mess. The mud on either side of the barrier made "jumping" the barriers difficult. Instead, as I sludged up to each barrier, I did my best to move one leg over them at a time, in fear that I'd be doing the splits and landing on some lady-bits that I honestly don't want to damage.

Photo by Jeannine Avelino

Each lap became more challenging than the previous. The mud ruts became deeper, the mud became more slippery and wet. More wet roots were exposed. Clipping into pedals became nearly impossible, as the gunk built up in the medals and cleats.

Running certain sections of the course was also ridiculously difficult. Each stride was taken carefully, again, trying not to slip.

With each lap, my bike became more and more entrenched with mud. It caked on. It fell off. It fell into delicate pieces. It smothered my shiny new bike...

Photo by Jeannine Avelino

I did my best to pass the other women in my category and each lap, one by one, I took more places. While I managed to keep my race clean with no real falls, other people were losing seconds and minutes each time they fell off their bike. Before long, I was at the lead of my category, though I wasn't aware.

Last lap bell was rung, and I was so happy to hear it! I tried my best to keep the last woman I passed behind me. I knew she was close and if I made a mistake that she would take me out. I kept pushing, trying to run sections that were now too slow to ride. As I neared the finish line, I heard a 'crack' and I suddenly had no ability to move my cranks. I couldn't pedal. I nearly fell right over as I tried to un-clip from my pedals.

My derailleur hanger had snapped off. Damn! I could see the finish line from where I stood. So, I picked up my bike, shouldered it, and began a slow and careful run to the finish line. My heart was pounding even faster, because I knew that the woman behind me could catch up at any moment.

I ran in the mud-sludge all the way to the finish line....I was in first place.



Post-race, my bike was barely recognizable with all the mud and muck on it. I was cold, and wanted a beer. I found solace in a communal portable heater...so many muddy lycra outfits all huddled under one roof, sharing the radiant heat. The mud-fest was over.

I took first place this day, and was happy with my performance. Sad that my bike decided to give up, but happy that it got me to the final lap.

Thank you to the sponsors and all involved in putting on such a great race!

Race results are here: http://vcxc.ca/results/queens-cx-2016-results/