MI Titanium race weekend - Guess I'm Titanium STRONG

I started this blog back in January 2014 to document my quest to knock off an Ironman AquaBike off my bucket list and the hopes of encouraging others to push their limits. Once finishing that race I decided, done that...don't need to do it again. But I still wanted to have a goal or two for my yearly training. This year I returned to Grand Rapids, MI to do a 1/2 IM AquaBike (1.2 mile lake swim and 56 mile bike...this one was 57 miles).

It was fun to share the adventure with my friend Michelle, two of my fellow Otters Jessica and Karie, fellow Pearl Izumi Tri Champion Gigi, and Jeff a Dare2tri athlete. Everyone else was doing the complete 1/2 IM distance tri. I was content with Swim, Bike, Done!! Jeff would go on to complete his first ever 1/2 IM distance race. Very inspiring.

In the days before and during race weekend I couldn't help on reflect on someone that was missing. Two years ago when I did this race, my friend Mark came with to compete taking 2nd in his age group. A remarkable triathlete who unfortunately passed away last year. We were the same age and it just broke my heart to lose yet another friend so young. You truly must live every day to its fullest as you never know what tomorrow brings. I believe Mark was there in spirit and even finding humor in what we endured.

Michelle and I left on Saturday morning in a rain storm. The cell stretched from Northern Wisconsin all the way to Southern Illinois and was heading east. So our 3.5 hour drive took a little over 4 hours and the torrential rains followed us the whole time. I equate it to driving in a car wash for four hours. Michelle was riding shot gun and would update me what color on the radar we were driving into. Just in case I couldn't see out the car window at the time.

We got to Grand Rapids and proceeded to the YMCA for packet pick-up. I was excited to see that my swim wave had purple caps. My favorite color. Plus the goodie bag had powder blue socks...Power socks!!! (inside joke ask me some time) These were all good omens. But within minutes of my excitement they announce a tornado warning and we all had to evacuate to the locker rooms for safety. Us and a 100 of our closest friends huddled in the locker room. We had no windows to see what was transpiring outside so relied on our cell phones to check radar. We were dab center in a bright red cell. Then the woman came over the intercom with panic in her voice "Three tornadoes are reported on the ground heading towards us and will be here in 5 minutes."  I was about at my wits end after white knuckling it for 4 hours in pouring rain and now waiting to get hit by a tornado. A man nearby had a little Yorkie with a service dog vest which was his comfort dog. I really wanted to wrestle it out of his hands since I needed some comforting.

After the all clear I get a text later from Gigi that she unknowingly drove right into the tornado. Oh our little storm chaser. It ended up the tornadoes touched down in Wyoming (MI) and southern Grand Rapids. Luckily no one was hurt, just property damage and power outages. We were fine and of course the sun came out.

We headed over to the venue and transition, constantly debating if we should rack our bikes or wait until the morning. After consulting Weather.com a few more times we decided to rack the bikes and cover them with plastic garbage bags, tuck them in for the night, kiss our babies goodbye and hope for the best in the morning. It did rain again but nothing too bad. Vermonster was safe and dry.

Vermonster all wrapped up for the night

After racking our bikes, Jessica, Michelle and I went to drive some of the bike course so I could show them the 13% climb at mile 3. But to our delight they had changed some of the course since 2 years ago and just lots of longggg rollers most of course and two 12% grade climbs tossed in back to back just for giggles.

It was time to go check into our hotel. Just before pulling into the parking lot we get a call from the hotel that they overbooked. Ends up they would offer to move us to another hotel and pay for our stay. The catch was they knew nothing about the hotel, plus it wasn't  a known chain. We declined since where we were was a known commodity and we needed a good night's sleep.

Then it was time for dinner. Could the day get any worse? Well yeah. I was served raw chicken. Well that meal was free. Fingers cross I wouldn't get sick.

The last bit of excitement for the day was a tattooing party. We got temporary race number tattoos instead of the regular handwritten Sharpies markings. BTW, these aren't temporary. Two lake swims and two showers and I still can't get these damn things off.  Totally open to suggestions.

A 5am wake up call and we check the weather. Rain starting at 1045am until 3pm. Lovely. At least we'll get the swim in. So off to the race we go, expecting the worse (weather wise) but hoping for the best.

You couldn't ask for better conditions for the swim. Smooth water and partly sunny skies. Michelle and I compared notes on the drive home. We both had our own "swim boogers" attached to us for 2/3 of the race. Those are swimmers who seem to think they are tethered to you and swim right up close and personal, sometimes swimming right in front of you or hitting you with every stroke. No matter what you do you can't get rid of them and unfortunately you can't drown them.

Out of the swim feeling great, made good use of the lightning fast volunteer strippers and off to transition carrying my wet suit. Unlike 2 years ago my legs felt pretty good and I'm not hyperventilating.  First 10 miles I'm averaging 18.3mph and enjoying yelling "on your left" instead of being the one yelled to. The course is hilly. Not the kind that you can go screaming down and back up the other side with little effort. These are long hills that you scream down and slog up the 5-8% grade on other side. It was also very windy so I was getting blown around a bit with my aero wheels. The roads had a lot of chip and seal, pot holes and cracks. So you had to use your best bike handling skills when flying down some of the hills.

I was in a groove, playing cat and mouse with this gal Renee I met on the course. Right at 1030 it started drizzling. Wait they said not until 1045am. Liars!!! Then at mile 31 I flatted. Renee made sure I had everything and kept going. By this time my average was 17.6mph. I thought it was just the sidewall but this morning I looked closely and there's a big slice down to the cords. I changed the flat in 3 minutes easy peasie. But then my CO2 inflator malfunctioned and drained both my CO2 cartridges. What happened next is what I love about triathlons. Every single rider asked if I was okay, did I have everything I needed, etc. I didn't want anyone to stop their race to help me. Figured the truck would be by quick enough to help. But no such luck. I found out later it was busy helping Gigi who had THREE flats along the course and needed a loaner wheel.


Then all of a sudden one woman circled back, pulled out her inflator and a cartridge, handed it to me and rode off. I had begged her not to do that because if she flatted she’d have nothing. But she insisted. The inflator worked like magic, but only gave me about 60PSI but I was in business. I took off like a mad woman trying to make up for the 20+ minutes I was on the side of the road.

As I passed each aid station I'd yell out "do you have a pump?" but no one did so I kept peddling. I finally saw the woman who gave me the CO2 inflator. She was fading in the strong headwinds. I pulled up next to her and quickly thanked her over and over, asked her name (Deana) and apologized that it wasn't a draft legal race or I'd pull her home. I left her behind and by mile 43 the clouds got black and the wind picked up even more. It started to pour sideways. I just kept my head down and pedaled. Praying I wouldn't flat again since I didn't have another tube or wipe out on the flooded roads. The goal was to finish this thing and finish it as fast I as could. But the wind and the rain had other ideas.

About 2 miles from the end, the sun came out and the rain dissipated. But no such luck for the wind. I battled the wind and continued passing these poor souls who were beaten down by the bike course. I just knew that I didn't have to run after this. So just continued to drive home. I pulled into the Finish shoot at 16.4mph average, soaking wet and a big ass smile. I'd had hoped for an average in the mid seventeens but with the wind, rain, hills and low pressure rear tire this was definitely acceptable. I ran across the finish line the best I could in cleats and was proud that not once did I want to give up. I was strong like Titanium.

Posing with medal and flatted tube

Not sure what's next. Part of me would like to do an Ironman AquaBike again. Part of me knows the time commitment is grueling and this body isn't getting any younger. I'll noodle it and decide by early January. For now, I'm just going to Enjoy the Ride...

Sheri

When going it alone can make the adventure

Below is an article I wrote for my cycling club's monthly newsletter regarding my recent vacation. I thought I'd share it with you as so many people couldn't believe I went on my own. Well, it was go it alone or cancel a vacation. This girl needed a vacation and badly. It was a great trip and while I'm sorry that Mitch and I couldn't share it together, I met some great people and had a wonderful time.

Enjoy the read,
Sheri

When it’s time to kill the Groundhog

We’ve all been moaning and groaning about spring taking its own sweet time getting here and that Punxsutawney Phil must go. In late March, Mitch and I looked at each other and said we need to get outta here!! So we pulled out a map and looked what was a day’s drive from Chicago. Tennessee, Kentucky and North Carolina all looked inviting. I got to surfin’ the internet looking for invitationals and bike clubs. I found the Burnsville Metric Century in NC but it wasn’t until April 30^th. Too long to wait, need Spring NOW!!! I emailed the contact listed on the site asking if we could get cue sheets ahead of time and if there was a club to ride with. Immediately I received this wonderful email from Marc offering maps, cue sheets, himself as a guide PLUS bikes if we needed them. Wow, that’s southern hospitality.

Next I asked him to suggest places to stay since it was pretty much in the middle of nowhere. He provided a handful of suggestions running the gamut of prices and “luxury”. We opted for this cute cabin 3,400ft up in the mountains flanked by national forest. Marc had said that one of the owners, Mary, was a cyclist, so we booked the place for a few days. Mary, was beside herself we were bikers and insisted on taking us on rides each day. Not to mention she was a native Chicagoan. Bonus!!!

We had the first half of the week figured out. Next was where to go for the second half. I contacted the Louisville, KY bike club. But did not get warm and fuzzy responses about riding with them or lodging. So we opted for the Bluegrass Cycling Club in Lexington, KY. First off, the Event Director for the Horsey Hundred is also a Pearl Izumi Ride Champion with me. Second, she’s a member of the Bluegrass club. Third, they had rides day and evening just like the Wheelmen. So done deal. Arrangements made.

A few days before departure, Mitch found out he wouldn’t be able to get off work. So since I really needed a vacation, I decided to head out on my own. So began Sheri’s Quest to find Spring.

Day 1:

Weather in Chicago was low 30s and sleeting. So it was a lot easier to head out on the 650 mile drive across five states to reach Johnson City, TN. I wasn't sure how long the drive would take me so I opted to stay overnight in TN and take the remaining 50 miles across Iron Mountain the next morning when I was a little more fresh.

Day 2:

Ate a good breakfast at the hotel knowing Mary had planned a climbing day for us. So I took the narrow winding road over Iron Mountain into Bakersville, NC. The speed limit was 55 mph and all I could think of was WTF? There's no way to take some of these switchbacks at anything more than 20mph. I also started to get a little freaked out thinking this was the type of road we'd be riding on for the next few days.

Arrived at Bakersville, literally a one stop light town. Yep, I was in the middle of nowhere and that was just perfect. I found Bird Town Cabins at the end of a windy road and Mary was already in her cycling gear ready to roll. I continued up this gravel road to Little Bird cabin. Yikes, it was like straight up the side of the mountain. The cabin was beautiful. Full kitchen, sitting area, bedroom and indoor plumbing. The view was breathtaking.

I quickly got changed and we were off for our first ride. No time to get acclimated to the altitude or warmed up. Three mile climb off the bat. The scenery was beautiful until I turned the bend and there were two armed Sheriffs with a chain gang picking up garbage on the side of the road. Not something we see on our WW rides.

The ride was 35 miles with 3500 ft of climb, including three CAT 4 climbs. I definitely felt the altitude which was another thing I had not accounted for.

We had a quick rest stop at a cemetery that even had some Civil War veterans buried. Took a selfie by the sign and headed home. Post ride I got to feed their 3 goats and then enjoyed a hot tub to soak my quads.

Elevation chart of the ride

Day 3:

Woke up to rain. Crap there goes my 10 years of vacation karma. But by 11am the sun came out, vacation karma still intact, so Mary, Alli and I planned to meet Marc for a ride along the Cane and Toe rivers and then a 6 mile climb they call Spivey Gap. I was thrilled to meet Marc since he started this whole adventure. Very sweet man who's retired and training for RAM. Very strong cyclist, racer and for you men, has 20 bikes.

The first 11 miles we did about 1000 ft of climb. Then some downhill to the rest stop. The store we stopped at had everything a girl could want, live bait, ammo, a burn permit and indoor plumbing.

The 6 mile Spivey climb boasts CAT 2, 3 and 4 sections. I just put it in a small gear and started up. Marc would ride ahead and then do track stands in the middle of the road waiting for me to catch up. Only 2 cars passed us the whole time so he was safe to hang out there. Once at the top we were at the Tennessee boarder and the Appalachian trail head. We stopped for pics and then turned around and headed down the mountain. A little eventful for me as I tried not to wipe out on the sand and gravel that peppered the pavement from the earlier rain. But I also got chased by a pack of 3 dogs and dive bombed by a kamikaze wild turkey trying to make it across the road. The count was now chased by 8 dogs and 1 wild turkey in two rides.

Final stats for the rider was 53 miles and 2,600 ft of climb.

Elevation Chart

Day 4:

I decided to skip the ride today and just start my 5+ hour drive to Lexington, KY.  I said goodbye to my new friends and cute cabin in the woods and headed northwest.  I arrived in Lexington about 4pm and went for a walk on the Legacy Trail. It's a multi-use paved path that is about 15 miles with plans to expand.

I checked Yelp for a place to eat dinner and found where the locals go. Nestled in between horse farms, was an amazing BBQ joint with a fun vibe.

Day 5:

I decided to hook up with the Bluegrass Cycling club. They boast 1000 members and have a huge offering of day and evening rides. Today's ride was 5 minutes from the hotel and ended up being 12 guys and me. They split into groups depending on speed. One racer guy, Chuck, said just get on my wheel. So I did and about 7 of us set out as the fast group. They were a great group of guys and dialed it back a bit for me on some of the climbs. Had a nice paceline going through quiet country rollers flanked by huge horse farms. There were tons of foals out in the pastures which really added to the beauty.

Towards the end of the ride the guys asked if I had ever been to the Kentucky Horse Park. So we took a detour at the end and sauntered through the massive grounds. There are polo fields, arenas, cross country courses, you name it. It was a nice way to end the ride. Stats for the ride were 36 miles and 1700 ft of climbing.

That afternoon I went to Keeneland Race Track. It's always a rest stop for the Horsey Hundred but the racing season is over by then. So in seven years I've never seen the track open. After that I headed to downtown Lexington for dinner and Thursday night live music fest. I met up with a couple of the Bluegrass members and had a lovely evening.

Day 6:

This was my last ride before heading back home. David's Fork Baptist ride reminded me of our Honey Do. About 50 riders of varying speeds, going different routes and distances.  A couple of the guys I rode with the previous day told me to come with them. Some gal Sarah had a 26 mile route she wanted to try. They said the pace would be 17mph average and they wouldn't drop me. BTW, there was no cue sheet or map so they better not drop me.

Well, there were about 20 riders in a double paceline screaming down these country rollers. The first half of the ride we averaged 19mph. Thankfully they dialed it back a bit on the second half to 17/18 mph. Another beautiful ride with a great group of people. But my legs were tired and it was time to head home.

I'd say my Quest to find Spring was successful. The groundhog is dead and Spring has finally arrived in Chicago. This past weekend we had back to back 70 degree days, sunny and low winds. Couldn't ask for anything more.

Enjoy the ride,

Sheri

No boyz allowed!!!

It's been a very slow process, but more and more bike and apparel manufacturers as well as tour companies are recognizing that there's a barrier for women to embrace and become cyclists. They are now doing more than "shrink it and pink it." Bikes, apparel, and saddles are now designed for a women's body proportions, apparel is becoming more feminine (not just pink) and clubs are organizing women's only rides or clinics.

Women's only clinics, tours and camps are a great way to gain skills without crazy testosterone added to the mix. Several years ago I attended a Vision Quest camp out in Santa Rosa, CA. The vibe was amazing. Women want to learn, we are like sponges. Throw men into the mix and you've got everyone just trying to bump up the pace and be KOM. Don't get me wrong, I love riding with both men and women, but there's always a time and a place for each.

Now that I'm learning to ride single track, I want to find an environment that isn't intimidating. Last summer I went to a Dirt Days event. It's a group of women who MTB and want to encourage more women to try out the sport. They encourage women of all levels to come out for a day of trail riding and coaching. They provided tips to improve my bike handling skills and how to read the trails.

Then in early March I went to Ray's MTB Park for a Women's Weekend Clinic. (January 26 blog) and (March 6 blog). The camp and the clinics were a relaxed and non-intimidating way to learn and better my skills.

If you are looking for a women's only event, ride or camp, you'll find a host of  companies and organizations that now cater to women. Just Google "Women's Cycling Tours" or "Women's Cycling events" and a huge list appears. Terry Bicycles also has a great list posted on their site.

In the midwest, two women's cycling organizations have recently popped up. Women Bike Chicago and Wisconsin Women Cycling. And The Chainlink has added a women's resource area to their site.

There's also a bulletin board specifically for women cyclists -- Wheelwomen Switchboard. You can post questions, jobs, rides...anything related to women's cycling. I used it when I was planning a trip out to South Dakota last year and wanted some suggestions on areas to bike.

And of course there's countless blogs and Facebook groups for women cyclists. One I've joined is called For the Love of Her Bike.

Many companies are also launching ambassador programs. Women cyclists encouraging and promoting cycling to other women. Pearl Izumi, Liv, Ella Cycling, and Pactimo are just a sampling of companies with ambassador programs. 

I’m proud to say, I was one of the women selected to be on the 2016 Pearl Izumi Ride Champion team. As a PI Ride Champion we are committed to spread the love of cycling and encourage other women and girls to try a sport they may never considered or were afraid to try. Using a one on one approach, the word is spread through our riding and community. And since women tend to communicate differently than men, social media channels are the key to messaging. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Blogs and Strava are all ways the Ride Champions will share their experiences and passion for cycling. Keep an eye out for #EndureAndEnjoy and #Ride365.

Finally, check out the League of American Bicyclists 2013 study called Women on the Roll. Here are just some of the findings from this report.

• 82% of American women have a positive view of bicyclists From 2003 to 2012, the number of women and girls who bicycle rose 20%, compared to a .5% decline among men 
• Women are the new majority: 60% of bicycle owners aged 17-28 years old are women. 
• Women accounted for 37% of the bicycle market in 2011, spending $2.3 billion. 
• 45% of local and state bicycle advocacy organization staff are female. 
• 89% of bike shop owners are male, but 33% of shops are run by a husband/wife team. 
• Women are still underrepresented in leadership positions, including the boards of national industry and advocacy organizations -- and their membership.

As female cyclists we owe it to the sport to encourage that next generation of girls to embrace  cycling. It doesn't matter if it is for recreation or competition, everyone should experience the freedom, thrill, and empowerment a bicycle provides.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

CAUTION: Donuts and cycling don't mix....well kinda

The alarm went off at 545am this morning...a Sunday, the first day of Spring. So how appropriate that today was going to be a day of first. Today I did my first gravel ride, Pastry-Brest-Pastry.  Pedal and Spoke a bike shop in North Aurora hosted this event. The draw was a 60 mile unsupported gravel ride with checkpoints fully stocked with fresh donuts. Hmmm, sounded perfect when my friend Alex sent me the Facebook link a month ago...biking and donuts.

Even though it was the first day of Spring it was 36 degrees and a cold north wind blowing at the start. There were no route markings, only a GPS file I prayed worked on my Garmin, a cue sheet with directions only for the first 37 miles (out/back course with a loop at the top) and a map printed on a bandanna. Yes, a map bandanna. Another first. I had never seen or heard of one of these. I was thinking I could pin it on my back and the guys could tell me where to go. Literally and figuratively.

My group was ready to go at 8am. We decided to head out early and not wait for the mass start of over 200 riders at 9am. The first part of the route was challenging to navigate. It was across a street, through a parking lot, hop the curb, over the grass bridge onto a single track trail which led to a grass trail which got us to a road. Okay, a few miles in and we aren't lost yet.

Soon the nice pavement ran out and we were on gravel roads.We were out in farm country so there was nothing to block the strong north winds. Did I mention it was windy?

Never thought I'd long for a paved road

We were too early for checkpoint #1, #2 and #3. Glad I always have a protein bar with me. Checkpoint #3 was at a church and we thought about praying for some tail winds, but we knew those would be few and far between. We decided to head down the road a bit and then come back to the church in hopes someone would show up. And as luck would have it, they did and with fresh bakery donuts. I consumed one chocolate glazed donut like I hadn't eaten in days. It went down easy but ohhh, did it sit in my stomach like a rock.

Checkpoint #3 - DONUTS!

For years I've wanted to try the Tour de Donuts ride but now I think it's not wise. The ride is a race and you are able to get time deducted by the number of donuts you eat along the way. Officials mark your bib with hatch marks denoting the number of donuts consumed. You are disqualified if you throw up at any time...including when you have to ride uphill past the pig farms.

Anyway, I digress. After the donut consumption was completed we headed back. I was thankful the course function on my Garmin worked like a charm. No way could I reverse the cue sheet directions while pedaling and a rock in my stomach. That requires too many brain cells for me.

The winds had picked up even more and we had a tail wind only for a short time. Lots of cross and head winds. We made it back safe and sound, finishing as we started but in reverse. Onto the grass path, then onto single track, over the grass bridge, hop the curb, through the parking lot, cross the street, and home.

In summary, my list of firsts today:
- First gravel ride
- First time seeing a map bandanna
- First time eating a donut and then biking 25 miles (Note to self. Eat after done biking)
- First time using my Garmin course map and it worked flawlessly
- First unsupported invitational ride (makes you appreciate the SAG wagons, rest stops and Port-a-potties)

It was fun to experience all these firsts and spend the day with Mitch, Kevin and Dan. As for Alex, he chose to drive south to Florida and missed out on all the fun and donuts. I think his penalty should be he having to wear the powder blue and pink event tshirt on our next ride. Insert evil laugh here.

Life is more interesting when you experience new things. So far this year I've been doing just that.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

You're not out of your comfort zone unless a waiver is required

Back in January I blogged about putting on my big girl shorts, getting out of my comfort zone, and signing up for a Women's MTB clinic at Ray's MTB Park. Well, this past Friday I attended the clinic. It was amazing to see over 100 women and one very young girl show up for the event.

Upon walking in the front door there definitely was a vibe, one of encouragement, respect and let's have fun. I got into the line to sign in and immediately several women turned around, one handed me her pen and said to grab the waivers to sign. Yes, multiple waivers. The first one was the standard "you wont sue them if you get injured or die, blah blah blah." The second made me chuckle. It was a combination of "you can use images of me" plus "permission to provide medical treatment." Wasn't sure if this meant I gave them permission to take pictures of me with my head split open bleeding and then call 911 or what. But I signed it, checked in and got my bike plate with my name printed on it and a set of elbow and knee pads.

Just one of the many rooms at Ray's MTB Park

From there I headed to the main meeting area where everyone was enjoying breakfast, checking out the vendor tables and getting situated. It was weird to watch people zip by on their bikes indoors. Just not used to riding my bike inside except on a trainer. But that soon would change. I also felt a little out of place being one of the older women there, plus I lacked tats. But everyone was welcoming.

The first order of business was to all meet in this large room that had crazy ramps throughout. Reminded me of a skate park on steroids. The ramps were 2 stories high and all I planned to do in that room was stay on level ground. Leigh Donovan was the head coach and she took us through what the day would be like, introduced herself, and provided a very impressive bio. All ten coaches introduced themselves and talked about the individual clinic they'd be leading. It was set up as a rotation so you went from one section of the park to the other depending on what skill you wanted to develop. There was a consistent theme from all the coaches; they grew up learning to MTB from the boys and didn't have this type of environment to learn. They are all strong athletes, business women and advocates for getting more women cycling. They were truly giving back to the sport.

I decided that Leigh's clinic would be a good place to start. Separation of body and bike. Her session was being held in that ramp room and I truly was hoping we literally weren't going to separate my body from my bike using these ramps. Luckily it was all on the flat ground and she taught us proper position standing over the saddle, and shifting our weight forward and back. All the sessions stressed not sitting on the saddle and keeping peddles in the 3/9 o'clock position. Very different from road biking.

Once I mastered Leigh's session I moved on to Karen's clinic. She was teaching cornering and "pumping". At the start of the session she had us go around the group to introduce ourselves and how long we'd been MTB. When I said I was a roadie new to MTB, you'd think I said I drown kittens for fun. I was definitely a minority, but was still the cool kid being on one of two women there on a fat tire bike. Chris made everyone smile.

Cornering and pump clinic

The section of the park we were in was set up with four "moguls" and a steep berm for practicing cornering (see image above). You'd go down this steep ramp, over two moguls and then negotiate the berm without slamming into the wall and back over two more hills. All this without pedaling, just using body position to pump up and down the hills. I struggled on the cornering because in road riding you put your outside foot down so you can corner sharper and faster. But in MTB you keep your feet parallel to the ground. Too many objects on a trail to catch your pedal. Makes total sense but try to get your brain to change what you've been doing for 30 years. On my 3rd attempt I made it and all the group applauded, encouraging me to try it again.

It was time for lunch and swapping stories with some of the other women. I wasn't sure which clinics to try after lunch so I found Leigh. I told her I was a beginner and which sessions I had taken. She said try the Sports Center next. I questioned her if I should do the foam pit room as I thought there was a beginner session there too. She laughed and said it was a vertical wall and you fly into a foam pit. Yeah, not a beginner room.

I had befriended a woman Liz during the morning sessions and we decided to ride the "yellow brick road" around the park and check out the other areas. A little recon. There's this yellow road that winds through the park and allows you to get from one place to the next easily. We followed the signs up to the second floor and located the Sports Center. At the top of the ramp all I saw were 8 jumps. Crap, Okay, I said "Shit. I'm going to die and they are going to take pictures of me before calling 911."

I looked around to see if I could ride the yellow trail safely back to the first floor. Nope. It was these 8 jumps in front of me or some even more terrifying options. I thought about walking my bike, but the ramps were so steep I wouldn't make it lugging a 30 pound bike. So I pulled up my big girl pants, secured my knee and elbow pads, and went for it. I think I was screaming in my head, but I made it down alive.

All in all, the clinic was a great experience. I picked up some valuable bike handling skills, met some awesome women, and I didn't die. I can't say enough about how great the coaches were, as well as the staff at Ray's. It's definitely a different vibe when you have all women and it provides a "safe", nurturing, and empowering atmosphere to learn.

I'm glad I did it. I really was pushed outside my comfort zone (okay way outside my comfort zone) and that's okay. If you don't have to sign a waiver, it's probably not worth doing. Right?

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

When push comes to shove, pick the right race for you.

I've always kept it real with you in my blogs when talking about my own issues with body image, fears, successes and failures. Well today's blog is no different.

Yesterday I competed in my first fat tire race. I thought it would be more of a "fun" race since it was called the Fat Cupid and there were couples and junior divisions in addition to the women's and men's categories. I opted for the couples category thinking what a great way to spend Valentines Day. We only had to start and finish together, allowing each of us to ride our own pace. Perfect...so I thought.

From the very start, the event reminded me why I stay away from group races and gravitate towards triathlons and time trials. No one can touch me while I'm on the bike!!! It's not in my DNA to be aggressive and push my way to the front of the pack. Just don't want anyone pushing me when I'm on my bike. Period!!

For the start of the race, they let the long course (8 laps) competitors off first with about a 5 minute delay for the short course (4 laps) riders. The course was a combination of single and double track with great snow conditions.

We headed out of the start shoot on double track and immediately headed down a hill. The guys were so aggressive to get to the front, that I got pushed into deep snow. Immediately I went down. (I guess they call that "making snow angels") I checked to make sure nothing was broken, brushed myself off and continued the race. Soon the double track turned to single track. Since I fell I was now at the back of the pack with some slower riders. This gave the fast guys finishing their first lap time to catch up. It was crazy having to pull over and let faster riders go by while trying not to get too far behind. The majority of folks would yell rider back so you could get out of the way. But there was one guy who actually swore at me. Instead of yelling some profanity back at him, I just yelled "Thank you and have a nice day." Silly me, I had no idea the 1st place was a million dollars and that you need to run over everyone. What an ass.

On the second lap a guy went to pass me on the double track. Now I was all the way to the right so riders could pass. There's room on this section for 3-4 bikes abreast to get by. But he came so close to me he hooked my handle bars and took me down hard. Okay I'm not even two laps into this "fun" race and I've been taken down twice!! Or should I say I made two snow angels? Well at least I'll be sore evenly since I've now fallen on my left and my right. (Cup half full)

By the third lap I was pretty tired. Racing in snow is a lot tougher than road riding. And maneuvering on the trails is tiring both physically and mentally. It requires upper and lower body strength and 100% concentration. I was pretty frustrated and thought briefly about a DNF. But I owed it to my partner to finish. As I started my 4th lap Mitch was already done waiting to cross the finish line with me. So instead of just hanging out, he came along for my last lap and encouraged me along the way. It felt good to cross the finish line and not get a DNF. But it definitely reminded me why I don't do group races!!

How I felt when it was all over!

I am glad we went. It allowed me to have a new experience as well as spend Valentines with my honey. But my bike racing will be limited to time trials and tris. As I was racing I thought about the 2 person 50K time trial we did last year and how that was way better. No one pushed me over.


When you are picking the type of race(s) you want to do this year, think about you're comfort zone. It's okay to challenge yourself and try something outside your "box". Like a longer distance or a hilly course. But at the end of the day, make sure you are still having fun.

If you are doing your very first triathlon this year, consider one of the many women's only races. There's a drastic difference between a coed and an all women's race. The lack of testosterone in the mix makes for a much more civilized swim, as well as more encouragement from fellow athletes. I'm not saying women aren't competitive, but they are competitive in a different way.

I'm done making snow angels and looking forward to races where they don't say "Are you ready to rumble?"

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

Extending the cycling season during the Midwest winter

Extending the cycling season in the Midwest has always been a challenge. The last thing I want to do is hop on a trainer for 90 minutes. I'd rather gouge my eyes out with a sharp stick. So I look for alternatives to get outside during the cold winter months. There's snowshoeing, xcountry skiing, and a plethora of gym workouts like functional training, yoga and group exercise classes.

But I've been enjoying getting out on my fat tire bike when the conditions allow. We've had a few good snowfalls to provide opportunities to trail ride. But lately we've been plagued with not enough snow and a lot of ice or mud. So what's a cyclist to do? Head to the beach of course!

To avoid damaging the area trails or risk going down on a patch of ice, we headed to the shores of Lake Michigan to ride on the beach. Fat tire bikes work on the sand just as they do on snow. And you don't have to worry about damaging the trails.

#EndureAndEnjoy

After a ride on the beach you'll want to be sure to clean the chain and gears as the sand can cause added wear. I discovered a great tip a few years ago. Buy a 5 gallon garden sprayer at your local hardware store. Fill it with water at home and pack it in your car to spray down your bike after a sandy or muddy ride. It works great. You won't track the mess into your car, the mud wont harden on the bike, plus it keeps your bike clean. But be sure to scrub your chain when you get home and lube it up for the next ride.

Garden pump sprayers are great for hosing down your bike. Anywhere. Anytime.

So set out on your own adventure this winter. According to the Groundhog, spring is just around the corner.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

It's nice to share the passion

Today is February 1st and that means Valentines Day is just around the corner. I'm a firm believer that your shouldn't wait until that one day of the year to tell your honey what they mean to you or do something special for them. It should be year round.

It is always nice when your partner shares your passion, especially when that passion is cycling. I meet too many people who's spouses are cycling widows or widowers. Cyclists spend so many hours out on the road or trail each week that it's a shame when you can't enjoy it together.

This Valentines Day we found a unique way to celebrate this Hallmark holiday. Last night we signed up for Fat Cupid Classic Fat Bike Race. They have the typical categories of any bike race event but added a couples division. Rules are you must both cross the finish line together.

It will be four laps on both single track and cross country ski trails. Mitch keeps teasing me that he's going to bring reading materials so he has something to do as he waits for me to navigate the course. But I'm counting on us to work as a team as we did last summer for our two person time trial. The test of a good relationship...communication, teamwork and encouraging each other.

But honestly, since this type of racing is all new to me, I'm hoping there's nothing too treacherous. Guess you can always get off and walk if required. The key is to have fun. Right?

I'm continuing to get out of my comfort zone and try new things. I'll certainly report back how it all went.

Enjoy the ride,
Sheri

Come on. Mama needs a new pair of shoes.

As many of my friends know, I love shoes. I have well over 100 pairs. I've slowed down buying shoes when I started working from home. Barefoot is more to my liking these days.

But I've been looking at buying a new pair of cycling shoes. I'm always amazed at how expensive they are. More than a good pair of Italian boots and definitely not as pretty. I still haven't made the switch to road shoes and opt for MTB with SPD. I find the MTB style easier to walk in with the recessed cleat. Also I would have to change the pedals of at least 2 road bikes. An added expense I have yet to justify.

Another issue with cycling shoes is they don't come in larger women's sizes. I'm 6' tall and wear a women's 12M shoe. As a result I'm stuck buying a men's shoe and wearing thicker socks because they are too wide. About 3 years ago I switched to SIDI brand with the ratchet closure at the top. But you could never tighten the Velcro bottom straps enough to avoid your foot from sliding around.

So I've been eyeing shoes with boa closures. They bring the price up on the shoe, but I figured it would allow me to tighten it easier across the whole length of the shoe. The online reviews I read helped me decide to look at shoes with at least 2 boa closures so you can tighten/loosen both the top and bottom differently.

I ended up with a pair of Lake shoes. I choked at the price ($300 MSRP) but justified spending it because they were on sale, I'll use them a lot AND I'm worth it!!! I tried them for the first time last week during a CompuTrainer session. Figured using them indoors would allow me to return them if needed to as well as having my SIDI shoes ready in case the Lake shoes weren't feeling too good.

The two boa closures is what sold me on these shoes

I'm happy to report that the 2 boa closures really helped to get the shoe snug and my foot wasn't sliding around. They have the right amount of stiffness and seem to be able to transfer power nicely.

They aren't the sexiest pair of shoes in my closet, but definitely one of the more expensive. Maybe next year I'll try a road shoe. We shall see.

What shoe do you like and why? Share your comments.

Enjoying the ride with some new shoes,
Sheri