What a weekend! Willow Park TT & STS #4

Despite the forecast of wet, wet, wet, our magic *Team Tent of Dryness* appeased the weather gods long enough for the tough-grrrls to put down some SERIOUS smack this weekend.

Saturday, we had a good cat 4 showing for the Willow Park TT (a 13.2 mi solo TT) with Emilie T, Grace, and Jenny in the cat 4's. With Alice nursing a yoga injury, Laura J represented for the 1-3's.

Part of life is just showing up, as Laura J aptly demonstrated taking both 3rd and last in an anemic cat 1-3 field.

In the much larger cat 4 field, Grace just missed the podium with a strong 4th place finish, just 7 sec behind Laura J's time. Jenny took 7th in a TIGHT cluster of racers. And Emilie just DECIMINATED the 4's with a smoking 34:01, over 2 min faster than 2nd place and strong enough for 2nd overall. If that's not a course record for the 4's, it's darn close. Only semi-pro Mackenzie Woodring was faster than our Tower of Power.

Full results

Sunday's last Spring Training Series looked like a wash-out but the weather held out long enough for all the races AND the super post-race cookout with recovery brats, beer, and Zingerman's goodies.

With low turnout in all fields, and having a separate women's race in question, Grace and Laura J decided to show the boyz of the C race how it's done. Both tough-grrrls threw down attacks and rode strong, with Laura J. taking advantage of a last lap move by one of the Greyhounds guys for a sprint for 2nd.

By this time, 4 more women showed, so lead offical Paul Alman offered a women's miss-n-out. Not a typical crit, but a track fave where riders ride easy laps followed by multiple bell laps. The last racer across the line gets pulled from the race until there's 3 left to sprint for the win. With Canadians Aimee A and Emily, Wolverine powerhouses Adrienne and Sara D (fresh off a bunch of prime sprint wins in a St. Louis pro-1-2 race), Grace and Laura wondered the wisdom of throwing it down so hard in the men's C race. In the end, all three teams were represented for the final by Aimee A, Sara D, and Laura J. For the final, Aimee attacked early with Sara in tow. Laura, caught off guard, ended up chasing along the backstretch, catching on just before the final 200m sprint which Sara easily won. Laura did salvage some sort of sprint over Aimee, taking 2nd.

Our two gluttons for punishment, Grace and Laura J hung on for another heapin' helpin' of suffering in the men's B race before heading off to the Magic Tent of Dryness for some much needed recovery food and drink.

One on One Spinning Spectacular

Ever wonder how racers like Grace and Megan stay in shape over winter? Spinning! Grace lined up a special team spinning session at One on One Athletic Club Saturday. Despite the early (7:30am!) class, the team was out in FORCE. Perhaps Jess' neon tights woke us up with their post-nuclear glow? Terri of One on One, led us on a virtual bike tour, complete with rolling hills, pacelines, and sprints.

One on One Spinning Spectacular

Afterwards, Aimee, Kristi, Laura, and Megan took to the open roads west of A2 for some extra miles, sunshine, and bon homme. Megan took advantage of the spectacular spring day, turning off towards Dexter. The other three headed back to A2, each wondering if they had enough food in the tank for the return. Aimee slurped down Gu's, Kristi talked off making post-ride pancakes, while Laura silently cursed for bringing one granola bar to power at 2+hr ride. Though no one wanted to admit it 'til Kristi spotted Great Harvest Bread Co. and the trio screamed into the parking lot like it was the last turn of a crit. Free bread samples revived the group as each admitted they *really* needed food but didn't want to say anything. Kristi pondered the logistics of carrying a loaf of bread back, 'til Laura showed off "what she learned at bike camp" how to carry food pro-style (ie tucked hunchback like under one's vest).

Hi Ladies! I'll be stopping by the STS this Sunday to say Hi and cheer you all on! My collegiate race is almost overlapping, so I can't do both:( But feel free to stop by my race (women's A, 11:05 am) and cheer the Midwest Collegiate Conference on...or just me. I included links for the race flyer and directions to the course (which is super close by ~2.5 miles away).
See you all Sunday!

Race Info & Map

STS 4-11-10

There was some fine team racing going on at the STS yesterday! For some shots at the action:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/49229940@N08/sets/72157623832676776/

A blast from the past....welcome back Alicia D!

The Pear Tree Pens/AAVC women's team warmly welcomes back veteran team member Alicia D. We suspect it was the snazzy jersey that lured her back after a hiatus from racing. Look or better yet, listen for her--she knows her race stuff and has the legs and lungs to homeschool a field.

Welcome--Emilie & Emily!!!

Pear Tree Pens/AAVC welcomes aboard Emilie and Emily for the 2010 season!

Emilie is a brand spankin' new racer with a triathlon background who joined us in her 1st mass start race at the Spring Training Series. Given her ability to lay down a PACE during the STS race, she'll be a cat 4 powerhouse!

Emily F returns to the team for her SIXTH year, balancing racing with finishing her PhD dissertation. Emily is a veteran of both the local MBRA and collegiate race scenes. Her lengthy race bio is stacked with some EPIC races, including the marquee Michigan pro/am race, the Tour de Leelanau.

On Friends, happenstance, and riding with ALL YOU LADIES!

So, today Laura R and I were scheduled to go out for a nice, chill ride. After meeting up with Grace, Laura J, and the boys at Wheeler, we got sucked into a beautifully long, harder ride than I had bargained for. I've never been happier. A Sunday of riding, beautiful weather, and fantastic friends cannot be matched by much. The only downside was the inaugural event of the 'bizarre tan line' season, where everyone can see where my watch and gloves were before I got burnt to a crisp. It's tough being a red-head when the weather is beautiful.

Amongst all of the awesomeness above, one thing that was talked about in between huffing and puffing was starting up Wednesday night woman's rides again. All people that lack a Y chromosome are invited, and please bring along interested cyclists that may not have joined us as of yet. 6pm at Wheeler seems to work for the other rides, so let's plan for that. It will be relaxed, whatever pace fits with the group that's there, and no-drop (to foster our lack of testosterone and our sense of camaraderie). We are all busy, so we may not show every week, but it's nice to keep in touch with the ladies of the team, and to bring in awesome new people! Hope to see you there, and in the mean time all the best and don't forget the SPF 55.


Map to Wheeler Park