This was the smallest race of the year, so far, for me.

I showed up, kind of uncertain about racing, but being as stubborn as I am I decide to stick in and give it a shot. I had gone for a ride the night before and hammered up the little hills...my mistake. My legs were now sore.

Five women showed up to race in the cat-4 group. Five. That's it.

The five of us, nervously, got grouped to start with the cat 1-2-3 women. The fast women.

The first two, almost three, laps were OK. The five of us managed to hang on. I clung to the back using all my might.

After lap three, and for the rest of the race, we were dropped. Four of us rode together until the prime lap. I had no extra UMPH in my legs to push at the sprint, and try as I might, I got dropped. Two women remained racing together for the cat-4 finish. I completed my laps and the race, after being lapped by a super speedy Morgan. Seeing her go by so quickly inspired me to pick up the pace...which lasted all of a few hundred metres.

I finished in fourth place. All alone. Exhausted.

I guess this is what happens when the racing season is over? No one comes out to play?

There's another race on the 9th, and I plan to show up to that one. Crossing my fingers that there's a few more women there this time.

Tuesday nights. I always look forward to getting out and playing at the crits on Tuesday nights. After the previous week's challenging race at UBC, I was looking forward to racing the fast and flat course at Glenlyon this week.

I felt nervous, because I would be racing on the Argon. It's not technically my bike, and it's fancy (to me). I was scared of dropping it, but not scared enough not to race. I used the Argon at the UBC race the other week too, and I think that along kept me from riding crazy. Last thing I want to do is destroy a beautiful bicycle.

The women's cat 4 field was decently large, though not as big as some races - it seems that a lot of the girls are starting to move up into the cat 1, 2, 3.

The race pace was quick, but the pack held together well. There were a couple coaches riding with their girls on this race - and one coach in particular seemed to get in people's way. It was quite annoying, and I lost my line a couple times to this coach, to the point where I was pushed up against the curb. Not cool.

I certainly feel more comfortable taking the corners now, but I keep seeming to get stuck behind or next to girls who don't. I had to brake a few times to avoid being hit or hitting someone's rear end because they were braking a lot in the corners. I really hope they get the hang of this soon! Last thing I want to do is cause a crash.

There's also still a few girls that are a bit sketchy to ride near, braking, not taking turns pulling, moving in random directions without any warning. I have a good idea who to look out for.

My plan for this race was again, to disrupt team formations. Didn't happen a whole heck of a lot, because I kept getting boxed in and had difficulty advancing and positions.

Prime lap was taken by some adorable tiny gal -- good job on that sprint!

Unlike the last race, the pack stuck together pretty well after the prime lap.

On the last lap, I tried to keep a front position, to be in the top ten. I pushed from the last corner to the finish line, passing a number of other riders. I was happy with my placement, but I know I had a lot more in me in terms of energy and improvement. I didn't give this race my all.

Next race, I need to work on exhausting all my energy and concentration on the race.

Sunday was an eventful day; my cycling team hosted a race up Mount Seymour.

I know, sounds fun, right?!

Racers gather in their respective categories, then race as fast as they can, lungs burning, muscles screaming, to the top of the mountain. Whoever gets there first, is the winner. Of course, anyone who finishes the race, is awesome too.

It's a 12 km ride up the mountain with nearly 900m of elevation gain. Whatever you do, don't forget to start your Garmin before you begin the climb --- don't forget, like I did!

So, where was I? Back to Sunday!

My morning started early (5 am) so that I could get myself, my dog, and my bike organized in time to pick up my lovely friend who volunteered her time to help at the event (big thank you!!). We were at the bottom of the mountain just after 7 am to help with the race set up. Winston was pretty excited to be out and exploring, taking in all the aromas of North Vancouver.

We had the registration table open at 8 am and cyclists were already started to trickle in.

At 9:30, the first wave of cyclists departed from the start line and began their race up Seymour. My partner was in that race, with the cat-4 men. He achieved a personal record on his climb, and placed in second in his category! So proud of him!

At 10:10, we - the women - took our start. There were 8 or 9 of us in total, which is large in comparison to some races. I hadn't had a chance to even really warm up, having just tossed the wheels back on the bike and managed to change right before the start time. My legs were slightly sore from the Gibson's Grind the day before, but I knew they would warm up in time. I had no intention of sprinting from the start line anyways!

I did the climb in 1:00 hour and a few seconds. This shaved 10 minutes off of my personal best!...which I only achieved about a month ago! I placed second in my category as well (women's cat-4), so I'm pretty happy with the results and my performance. I had a goal of keeping my speed above 10km/hr all the way up, and I manged to do just about that. Seeing everyone's speed and pace on the results after the race made me realize just how much harder that I can and need to, push myself. I was just barely suffering, if at all, on my climb. I would like to shave another 10 minutes off of my time before the end of 2016., and have a comfortable climbing time just under 50 minutes by next summer.

I was really impressed with all of the riders who came out to race up Mt Seymour. We had riders of various ability levels and experience, all taking a chance. It's great to see more women getting out and riding and racing too!

As I do with any race, I realize how much further I have to go. I have so much more room for improvement, it's crazy! The other women who rode up the mountain have given me a bit of inspiration to push harder and climb faster on my next ride.

Have you ever done the Mt Seymour hill climb? What was your time? What was your favourite part of the ride?

Some pictures of me getting to the top of the road - finished the climb!

Another night, another race.

The weather held out, yet again, and the rain didn't come pouring down.

The women's cat-4 field wasn't overly large this time, and a number of women have moved up into the cat 1-2-3 group.

The roll out at the start of the race was friendly enough, though I got stuck behind a girl who just couldn't figure out how to turn a corner without cutting it...and I had to brake in the corner to avoid being smushed into the sidewalk. Not fun.

I was still feeling pretty tired from my venture to Victoria (write up still to come) and the 300km I had rode over the weekend. I could feel the soreness in my legs and I knew I wouldn't have the most power to sprint at the finish. As much as I tried to stay near the front of the group I kept getting stuck behind or beside some unsure riders, who left me feeling as if they would cause a crash. People cutting corners and not holding their lines made the already tricky corners on this UBC course a pain.

The bell lap for the prime (preme?) sounded, and the pace quickened as per the norm. There's one woman that always snakes her way from the back to the front and sprints to get that lap and point - usually, the group will manage to re-form after that lap. This time, that didn't happen, and the sprinters kept going and got a good lead on the rest of the group.

Just after that, the women's cat-4 was being overtaken and passed by the men's group, and we were to neutralize. The two women that I was next to DID NOT neutralize (yet again, recurring issue) and took advantage of the situation. The women from behind me did not signal that they were racing again, and took advantage of passing a number of us. CHEAP. Taking advantage of situations is not a nice thing to do. Play nice!

I honestly started to just feel frustrated with the whole race, the poor neutralization and the break up of the pack. I let the frustration get to me. I let it eat at me and affect my performance. It wasn't until the last two laps that I snapped out of it, refocused on racing, and started to try and actually get around the riders who were 'blocking' me in, and try to get closer to the front of our now very small group.

Last lap I did my best to move up some more and hold a better position for the sprint to the finish. I finished in 9th place. I didn't have much of a pain face. I didn't suffer as much as I could have. I didn't push myself hard enough.

Next week I will return, with better rested legs and a better attitude. I will remind myself that I cannot change some things, so I must learn to accept and adapt.

To start off, I just had a nice, relaxing long weekend.

I spent the last few days on Vancouver Island with my two favourite men. We camped in Tofino, hiked beaches, drank Tofino's locally made beer, cooked gourmet meals over the camp fire, slept on the ground (I, literally did...my camping mat had a hole), and were guests at a good friend of mine's wedding at a private beach. It was a beautiful weekend. Not only did my man dress up in a dress shirt and pants, but my dog wore a bow tie!

We came back and got back into our normal routine for Monday. I had hoped to go for a ride since we hadn't been on bikes all weekend, but our bodies just said 'no.' We listened.

Come Tuesday, I was itching to be out on my bike. It was one of those mornings where you just want to call in sick so that you can spend all day riding and adventuring. Ok, that's everyday. Who am I kidding?

After work the sun was shining and the summer weather felt amazing! We rode to Glenlyon and spent the pre-race minutes warming up.

Lined up for the women's cat-4 6:30 P.M. race time, and I could feel my tummy grumbling and being unhappy. It was a long day for me at work - due to working outside the office, I missed lunch. I tried to gobble down some food at 5 P.M. before riding to the race....bad idea!!

The women's cat-4 group headed out, following behind the cat-4 and cat-5 men.

The pace on the ride out to the first corner was pretty fast, which was unusual.

I managed to spend my time at all sorts of different positions, trying to keep an eye on the series points leader for our category - watching her movements. I figure I still have a lot to learn from some of these women.

We were passed by one of the men's groups and did a much better job at neutralizing as a pack this time. Still not perfect.

We didn't really have any laps mentioned on the lap board until we got to the last lap. I figured that at our current pace, this would be plenty of time to get myself moved up a few positions. I wanted to finish in the top ten this time...

I could hear the Pender Racing girls yelling at each other to form a line so they could pull through as a team. Everyone else seemed silent and concentrated. As we neared the final corner before the home stretch, I made sure to find a comfortable spot mid-pack.  After turning the corner, I noticed a group of women forming a four-pack and moving up and away from the front together. I was comfortably in the top ten at this point, but I decided to jump in with the four of them. Why not go for a top five?

Still, nearly at the finish line and although the pace had quickened, it was not nearly a sprint.

So, I did what any young, eager, inexperienced racer would.

I jumped out in front of the group and started to sprint.

As fast and hard as my legs would take me. Hands in the drops. Pain face game on.

I sprinted.

And sprinted.

And then I realized just how far away the finish line was.

So I kept sprinting.

And a girl jumped out from behind me and took the lead.

I didn't pay much attention. I couldn't give up at this paint. I told my legs to shut-up.

Another girl came up beside me, and we challenged each other to the finish line.

She made it ahead of me by inches! Just inches! And secured herself a second place finish.

I happily, and exhaustedly, settled into third place.

My body felt as if it had exploded, but I was so happy! Yes, I may have been premature on my sprint to the finish, but I gave it my best shot. By no means am I the fastest women in that racing category, but I kept the idea of strategy in the front of my mind for that race. I experimented and took advantage of the opportunity. And it paid off.

So, I'm happy to be on the points board. I don't expect to finish like that every race, but I'd be pretty happy to stay in the top ten.

Next week is the UBC crit.

#bringiton

P.S. Yes, I know. "Exhaustedly" is not a real word.

My third crit race of all time.
Exciting, no?
I'll be honest, my legs were feeling pretty rough. I had another weekend of riding and even spent a morning in the gym pushing around weights...my muscles were tired.
Nonetheless, I got on my bike after work, rode to Glenlyon, and lined up for the crit race.
I wasn't sure it was my best idea, but I did it.
Maybe I should have taken a day to rest?
It turned out okay.
The pace was decent and I had no trouble keeping up. Going from front to back to mid-pack all throughout the race. I had planned to move up in the last couple laps and to hold my position, but by the time we turned and headed for the last corner of the last lap and by the time the women started to pick up the pace and sprint towards the finish, my legs were DONE!
I held in and kept as much speed up as I possibly could.
Finished in 15th place, alongside all the talented, powerful, fit women.
Still with a smile on my face because, come on, crit racing is fun times!
Looking forward to next week's Glenlyon race.
#cyclelikeagirl

 
Tuesday evening was the WTNC at the UBC course. It was also my second crit race to date.

Monday night there was a lightening storm...which I slept through. Tuesday, was windy and blustery, with bits of rain here and there. Riding out to UBC after work was challenging against all the headwinds - but I managed.

I made sure to be ready and in the line up for the start time this week. Last week was a bit of a scramble for me, figuring out where to go and when.

The women's cat 1-2-3 rolled out first, followed by the men's cat 5, and then finally us women in the cat 4 group. The start of the course was slightly uphill, followed by a sharp right turn onto a flat and then downhill section, sweeping right corner downhill, and then another right corner going back uphill before the last right corner heading uphill and up past the finish line. It was a short and fun course.

I found the lap board this time, so I had a better idea of how much longer we had to race and how much energy I should expend. I found that I was holding back on the downhill sections because I didn't feel too comfortable getting that close to the pack in the corners. I had no problem getting ahead in the uphill sections - which I proved about midway through the race when I took the lead for about a quarter lap. My efforts were squashed when we had to neutralize for other racers to get by, and a bunch of the girls passed me...kind of defeats the purpose of being neutral?!?

My legs were certainly burning and feeling tired from the long riding I had done over the weekend. But the fatigue seemed to disappear after I got a couple laps in, and I was able to ignore it.

Last lap I tried best to stay tight with the pack and when we got around the last corner, I started to pick up my pace to sprint to the finish. I could only get so far, because I caught up to the wheel of a Glotman rider who was not going as fast as I, and I couldn't pass across the yellow line to get by.

Still, I finished in 11th place, feeling strong and happy about the entire course. I've now been out front, at the back, in the middle, squished on the side...I love how unique each race is, depending on the abilities of each rider and the course. I'm looking forward to next week's race, back at the Burnaby location.

Do you race crits? What was your first experience like?

This weekend I took part in my very first cycling road race. Not even a year after getting my road bike, and jumping into Lycra, and I'm already giving road racing a shot.

I can honestly say I tried, hard as I could, to do well in this race. My bike had other plans for the day though!

The race was Jeremy's Roubaix, out in Pitt Meadows. This is a classic race put on by Local Ride, and is part of the Cycling BC Premier Series. The race takes place on the same day of, and is inspired by, the Paris Roubaix, a really famous cycling race in France. The race featured a 10 km course, with about 50% of the course on gravel paths. The proceeds from the race go towards helping a local young and talented racer, Maggie Coles-Lyster, make her way to race World Championship races - which is a cause I'm happy to support.

I had my normal pre-race nerves - and with this being my first road race and not knowing what to expect, I was a little extra nervous. I'd barely been riding a road bike for a year, I had barely been on my bike all winter and I am not generally the fastest rider in any group.

Because the registration line-up was so long, I had only a short couple of minutes to warm-up my legs. The women's Novice/Cat-4 group was small - less than 10 of us. The majority of the group was decked out in team colours and kits....I was just happy to be sporting my fancy new SAKO7 socks.

The race started a little behind schedule, and off we were...

I started off close to mid-pack, and had no problem staying in that position until a corner came up. I would fall off in the corner because I was taking it too slow, and then I'd have to sprint to get back in. By the middle of lap two I was in the back of the pack - but I had managed to figure out the corners, so that I wasn't falling to far behind the group.

In my mind, I was going to hold on as I was, until the third and forth lap, where I would take chances on the paved sections to sneak up a place or two. My bike had other plans.

On the second lap, as we came off of the gravel section and back onto the paved road, the group went to sprint ahead. While I went to stand, push and sprint, my gears decided to jump around and caused my to spin wildly and make no head way. I frustratingly fumbled with my feet on the pedals and tried to get my gear to a better place - but by the time I was set to sprint, and sprint I did, the pack of women riders was far ahead. I used as much energy as I had in me to sprint and push and sprint and try to catch back up to the group - but they pushed faster than I could before I ran out of energy. Gassed, I finished the race on my own.

I finished the race and headed straight home.

I was being a poor sport. I was frustrated with my mechanical failure. I was embarrassed with my performance. I was being hard on myself because I knew I could have done better.

I eventually got over it. I had a bath, drank a beer, swore a bit, talked about it. When I left the race, I swore I would never race road again - I was that frustrated. When I calmed down, I realized that road racing presents a new challenge for me. I may not have a fancy bike or equipment, I may be new to this sport, I may not be the strongest rider or the fastest sprinter...but I am determined and I don't give up. I like this challenge.

I have a couple weeks until the next race, and I have plans to practice hard and get prepared. As my boyfriend was reassuring me, I will only get better if I keep trying. He's right. I know he is. I may fail a few times, or a whole bunch of times, along the way - but as long as I keep trying, and don't give up, that's what matters the most.

So, for now, I'll race my Frankenbike. It's been all dialed up since the race, and the gear issue has been fixed so that won't happen again. I'm looking forward to having a better attitude at the next race, and being more prepared, now that I have an idea of what to expect.

 Tell me about a time you did something for the first time, and how it went for you.

Event Organizers - Local Ride