Can you believe it, that cyclocross season is nearly upon us?! It's literally under 48 hours away from starting.

A few weeks ago, we got to pretend that it was cyclocross season. And I mean, "pretend."

The organizers behind VCXC organized a grass crit race, to give us all a little tease of the CX season to come. It was a blast. I was there with cowbells-a-blazin' and beer just waiting to be drank.

You can read my report over at the Hole Shot. Please click through the link to read my account of the day and see some pictures.

Below are some more photos from the event, feel free to download or share on your social media, tag your friends, make a t-shirt, frame and put it on the wall. I'd be honoured.

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.

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.

Woo hoo! Another race night!!

I missed the UBC crit last week because I was pretty burnt out from a long weekend away, and had much to catch up on at home.

This last weekend was my last weekend of major training for the 4 Peaks for Parkinson's ride on June 5 - I did a mountain climb up Cypress, then Grouse. I feel more and more ready for the ride up all four....aside from being nervous. But enough of that! If you want to read more about my ride prep, I've posted about it over here.

Back to the race.

It was a sticky, humid evening. I was shocked to get outside in the fresh air after being sheltered in the air conditioning all day.

My cycling kit was almost immediately sweaty.

I was running behind because of work and having to walk the dog...so we had to go super fast up Ontario to get across the city and into Burnaby. Pretty positive I got some PR's on that ride!

I didn't have much time to spend warming up before we got in line for the race. The cat 4 and 5 men took off, and we followed right behind them. We were only lapped by one men's group -- who should have neutralized before attempting to pass us on the CORNER -- but they didn't. We did our best as a group to keep neutral until all the men got by us. I think that was our best effort yet.

This race had fewer women in it than normal - just under 20 riders. It seemed faster and more difficult than previous races. There was a lot of floating fluffy bits/pollen in the air, and when we rode against the wind, the fluffy bits would stick to your face, get in your nose, and in your mouth. I felt as if I had a fluff beard at one point!

There were a few women at the front of the pack nearly the entire time. They seemed aggressive and they were able to keep the speed up. Some of the girls that are racing are still a bit sketchy, and I have no interest in being anywhere near them in the pack. Though there hasn't been a crash yet, I don't want to chance it.

We are certainly getting speedier in the corners, but not everyone is letting off the brakes yet. I'm feeling a lot more confident in the corners than when I started.

Prime lap bell chimed, and the pace picked up a bit. As we came around the last corner towards the finish line, the majority of the pack started to speed up and eventually sprint. Some women stood, some women sat. A woman from the back (ATAC team) of the pack crept her way up and up and up, steadily from the left side, and gave an explosive burst to break out in front just in time to take the prime.

The rest of the race was spent at a relatively quick pace, with short efforts to sprint and break up the pack, lots of moving around the road from left to right (kind of not sure why the front of the pack was doing this???) and general back and forth from front to back and side to side.

The bell lap rang, and again, our pace quickened. I had a plan in my mind to make my way to the front. I had no problem getting up to the front, and with a face full of fluffs, I tried to keep that place.

Coming around the final corner, the pace quickened even more.

I pushed my tired legs harder to keep up. I was out towards the left of the pack, and very close to the front. I would have been happy to fight for fifth place.

The last 75 to 50 meters, everyone started to sprint - and so I followed suit. I was absolutely determined not to be dropped below fifth place.

The finish line was still a ways away.

A Glotman rider was right next to me, and we fought inch and inch to push a wheel ahead of the other. I was full on with pain face. I pushed and shoved my bike. I used my arms, my legs, my full body to propel my bike forward in hopes of keeping my place.

It was of no use.

I placed 8th in the end. It was a close and hard race. The 8 of us at the front of the pack were within inches of each other where we finished. We all tried really hard.

It was a great race. I haven't tried that hard, ever!

I'm really looking forward to next week.

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?

Yesterday evening I raced a criterium for the first time, ever. It was the Glenlyon Crit put on by Escape Velocity Cycling Club, and was the second crit race of the season so far.

World Tuesday Night Championships are held, as the name suggest, every Tuesday evening at either the Glenlyon location or the UBC location. It's an affordable event to join in on, at $10 each (unless you prepay for the season, in which case you'll pay less).

I raced in the Women's Cat 4 group and there were quite a few of us out there. I haven't seen that many women in one category, EVER, in a cyclocross or road race here in BC. It was great to see such high numbers turning out, and so many first-time crit racers, such as myself. I hope they all return and continue to race for the rest of the season. #cyclelikeagirl

The races began with Cat 5 Men, followed by the Cat 1-2-3 Women, and finally all of us eager, anxious Cat-4 Women. The course was marked by four right-hand turns, on a very flat, paved road. The speed for the group was nothing I couldn't handle - and I was happily surprised. It's hard to know what to expect as a first-timer. I wasn't sure if I would be out of breath the entire 40 minutes, or if I would get dropped from the pack right away, or be out at the front with a lead. Neither of those situations occurred, and instead I stuck with the pack, mid-pack most of the time.

I never did manage to locate the lap board, and I don't have a fancy bicycle computer (a.k.a. Garmin), so I had no clue how many laps were left or how much time had passed. We neutralized at one point in order to let a different Cat group go by, and then later on we passed the Cat 5 Men group (yeah ladies!!). I heard a bell go, and didn't realize this was an indication for a special lap with a prize for whoever finished the lap first....had I have seen the lap board, I would have realized this wasn't an indication of last lap.

Last lap came with another ding of the bell, and the pace picked up just a tiny bit. I think we are all being overly cautious and careful not to cause any accidents. As we all came around the last corner, the pace picked up as women and girls alike did their best to sprint towards the finish line. I finished the race with a big smile on my face and a happy beat in my heart. Cyclocross may still have my full love and admiration, but crit racing will keep my hunger for 'cross at bay, until the season arrives.

I officially placed 14th, out of 31 Cat 4 Women, with a final time of 37.20 minutes. Race results can be found here.

Things To Improve On

Racing Strategy

I know there's a lot more to racing on a bicycle than just clipping in and heading for the finish line, but it's going to take me a few more races (or, more likely, seasons) to grasp the strategy and apply it to racing. For now, I'm sitting in the pack, watching what other people seem to do well, or not so well, listening to the coaches who are working with the younger girls, and trying to critique myself so that I can improve.

Cornering

Taking corners in a pack and at higher speeds is something that I have yet to master. It was clear in yesterdays' race that I'm not the only one who gets a bit uncomfortable. I'm sure that cornering more smoothly, faster and straighter will come with practice.

Average Speed

 My average speed while riding solo is not that high - Strava tells me that it'll be anywhere from 20-30 km/hr depending on the route. I figure that if I can improve my average solo speed, I'll have better ability to stay at the front of the pack in a race.

Overall, I had a lot of fun in this race. Seeing so many women out there killing it, so many people organizing the event, and the number of smiling faces, just resonated with me. I will certainly come take part in the rest of the series races!