Where have you been?!? Whoops!

I don't even know how it's been two months since I posted my last blog. Where has the time gone? Fall is almost already over and I have been so busy the past couple of months. So, while I'll try to be as brief as possible in my update on what the CrazeeCyclist has been up to, bear with me as I try and muddle through my memory!

Perhaps the biggest event that took place over the past two months was my participation in the MS150 the weekend of September 14th and 15th. I signed up for this event last Spring when I first started cycling and time caught with me quickly at the end of August when I realized that I had done no fundraising for this event (chalk it up to being so stinkin' busy with the KC Century ride at the end of August - and also to my frequent forgetfulness). Regardless, the ride was approaching and I needed to raise the money to ride. I sent out the link to my fundraising page on both Facebook and Twitter. Not 5 minutes after this, I got a private message through Twitter. A man named Mike informed me that his wife, Rebecca, had just been diagnosed with MS and he wanted to know how he could help. I advised that they could volunteer for the event or they could donate. 5 minutes later, my email notified me that I had hit my fundraising goal of $200. Mike and Rebecca paid the entire amount. Talk about overwhelmed. Immediately I knew that I would be riding the MS150 in honor of Rebecca. Up to that point, I wasn't riding for anyone in particular; I was just riding because I believed in the cause to raise money and awareness for Multiple Sclerosis. Now this ride took on a whole new meaning and gave me further motivation and inspiration to complete the entire weekend. My friend, Ryan, at Forked Apparel even sent Mike and Rebecca two Forked MS shirts to wear that weekend for the ride and they were absolutely excited.

R5 Cycling's major sponsor, Coventry/Aetna, had a group of individuals who wanted to take part in Day 1 of the MS150. My teammate, Scott and I led the group for the first day's mileage of 38 miles. These riders did an amazing job of navigating the route and we had a blast grabbing tacos and beers afterwards in Lawrence. Let me tell you, I love going to Lawrence (and have been there too many times to count) but NOTHING compares to entering that beloved city on a bike.

Here are a few pics from the first day:

My MS150 jersey and bib for the weekend! 

At the pre-ride packet pick up

Hangin' with the Coventry riders at a Day One rest stop!

My R5 Cycling teammate, Scott and I. 

Mid-course picture - having so much fun! 

Riding into Lawrence at the end of Day One. One of my favorite views from a bike!

The end of Day One already had me exhausted. 38 miles from Olathe to Lawrence was not an easy task. And WHAT?!? I've got get up and do almost DOUBLE that mileage the next day? What have I gotten myself into? The answer was simple and oh so easy: Rebecca can't ride and I'm riding for her. There are no excuses and pain doesn't matter. Wash your kit, get some sleep and get ready girl. We're doing it again tomorrow. 

Day 2 of the MS150 was just a bit different than Day 1. It brought more hills, a much longer distance and some pretty heavy rain. My dad was kind enough to drive me to Lawrence that morning at 5 a.m. to get ready to take off. I was very fortunate to ride Day 2 with my friends, Linda and Kelly. Talk about 2 women who are strong on the bicycle. We had such an awesome time. There were a few times that I wanted to throw the towel in (especially when I could hardly see 2 feet in front of me due to the rain hitting my face) but I fought hard and finished. One of greatest highlights of the day (besides running into friends along the route) was having my dad at the finish line in Olathe. He's been very supportive of my cycling adventures and has rooted for me since day 1. However, he's never been able to see any of my rides. He was there at the finish line and came running up to me when I crossed the finish line with a smile so big it caused me to tear up. Hearing anyone say that they're proud of you is awesome - but having your dad say it to you is the most wonderful sound. 

Pics of Day 2 of the MS150: 

Left to right: my friend Kelly, Boulevard member Brad, myself and owner of Forked Apparel (and friend) Ryan. I don't remember who the guy on the far right was. 

Linda, Kelly and I at one of the Day 2 rest stops. I think this was before the torrential rain - and probably before a few of those killer hills we encountered that day. Brutal! 

My view leaving Lawrence on Day 2 - the sunrise was amazing. Nothing like being on a bike and watching it come up. 

Linda, Kelly and I at the finish! WE DID IT! 

Finish Line on Day 2 of the MS150. I'm deliriously happy and so very exhausted. What an adventure!

That weekend I hit two major milestones: 

1 - I rode my longest mileage to date: 68 miles (which was on Sunday of the MS150)

2 - I rode over a 100 miles in two days. 

Kids, neither of these came easy to me. But, my head is strong and I am completely stubborn. And, I wasn't doing this for myself as much as I was doing it for Rebecca. It was a complete honor and privilege to be able to take on a challenge for someone else. To finish it was even greater!   

I've been very fortunate over the past couple of months to log some additional miles with a couple of my good friends, Kelly and Jenny, on separate occasions. Riding alone works well for me most of the time but I truly enjoy getting out early on Fall mornings to ride with my friends. Let's just also say that I'm VERY thankful for the embrocation that my cycling coach gave me to try out. The embrocation goes on your legs on cold mornings to help keep your legs warm while you're riding. That, and a hot coffee following a ride are things to not take for granted! 

A VERY cold Saturday morning ride with my friend Jenny. She's so wonderful to ride with and I'm enjoying getting to know her and her sweet family! (Her husband, Storry, is on my R5 Cycling team). 

Post-ride coffee one Saturday with my friend Kelly. I'm so super proud of her for getting her first bike and getting out there! She reminds me of myself 6 months ago - a complete sponge and cycling nerd as she can't get enough of the bike and all things cycling! 

In the midst of all of this riding - GUESS WHAT CAME?!? Our R5 Cycling kits FINALLY arrived! And, they are SWEET. I got goosebumps when I first saw them fresh out of the bag - and even more excited when I finally put the kit on for my first ride. My teammates did a great job designing the kits - and Hincapie makes the most comfortable cycling gear I've put on my body. 

 Isn't it pretty?!? 

Speaking of R5 Cycling - we've been BUSY! Even though road season came to a close, our team still has weekly rides on Wednesday's taking off from our sponsor, Johnny's Taverns. Those who can meet up for a ride and everyone congregates afterwards for dinner and drinks. I haven't been fortunate enough to make a lot of the rides - but I try to stop by each week regardless. One week I was able to make the ride and post-ride festivities. I learned a lot on that ride from my teammate, Andy, who was kind enough to stay back with me as I was having some shifting trouble with my Ridley. There's always a learning experience on the bike and I'm so very thankful for my teammates and coach who are more knowledgeable about cycling and take the time to help me learn and grow. 

Bikes and post-ride beers. It doesn't get much better! What a fantastic group of guys! I'm a lucky girl! 

So, many of you may be thinking that once road season is over, people just put their bikes away for the warmer weather in Spring to arrive, right? WRONG! After road season comes CYCLOCROSS season! I knew very little of cyclocross racing (just like I knew very little about cycling at all when I first started). Cyclocross is different from road racing because it takes place in a field usually and has obstacles that require the rider/racer to dismount their bikes at times and carry it on their shoulders as they maneuver the course (jumping barriers, running through sand or jumping over ditches, etc). If it rains before the race? EVEN BETTER! That means there's mud and someone's getting dirty! I watched my very first cross race at the beginning of October when my teammate, Storry, raced his beautiful Rapha cross bike at Manion's in Kansas City. I was in heaven. Might have gotten bit by the cross bug while I was there. Really, Sara? You need to add something else to your agenda? Um, yep. I get one life, y'all. Might as well try it all while I can! 

Storry (in the middle) and our teammate, Damon on the right post cross race. FUN! 

Our team posted the Fall Cross schedule and we set out to make a few races. My teammate, Scott, bought a toy hauler trailer that we drug out to a couple of races and set up. Our teammates, their families and friends have really had a lot of fun this fall at the Cross races and it's been great getting to know everyone on a more personal level. You can only learn so much about people during a bike ride - but hang out for a few hours in between races and there is FUN to be had! 

Here are a few pics from some of the cross races this fall that R5 has taken part in: 

My teammate, Grant, in his first cross race. 

Our awesome cheering section! 

My teammate and cycling coach, Mike, pre-race. 

Pre-race shot of Grant, Scott and Andy. 

My teammate, Andy, mid-course. 

And, some more pics from another cross race: 

My teammate, Scott, on the course. 

Most people ran their bikes through the sand. My teammate, Storry, hardened the fuck up and rode right through it like a beast. 

Barrier jumping. And, how cool does our R5 kit look from the back? Representing!!!! 

Me, clowning around with my teammates Andy (right) and Ted (left). 

Our team got a new bike rack this week to use at events just like this. How beautiful is that sight?!? AAAAHHHHHH…..

Remember a few paragraphs back when I mentioned that this CrazeeCyclist was bit by the cross bug? Have you already forgotten what you've read? Well, last weekend I decided to try and tackle my first cross race. My friend, Mark (and a mechanic at our cycling team's shop, Elite Cycling) had a Ridley cross bike in my size that he generously let me borrow for the race. Cross races are much shorter in length than my average rides (they're about 6 miles or so per race) but never let the length let you think they're easier. This was, by far, probably the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. Pay no mind to the fact that I'd never practiced on a cross course or bike before - unless you count the 5 minutes or so that I got to practice before my race on Sunday. Now that I've had a few days to let the race and experience sink in, I'm not sure Cross racing is for me. It certainly won't be my last cross race but I'm not sure it will be become a regular thing for me. I had an absolute blast despite falling down, scraping my knee and having a tree branch tear my arm open. It's not easy to dismount and remount your bike that much - or pick up your bike to run through sand. But, life isn't easy and is meant to be enjoyed. And, enjoy the experience I did (I'm not so sure I enjoyed it as much "during" the race - but I can look back and say I had fun!!!). 

Out on the course.

Dismounting and getting ready to run. 

I think I was asking myself if it was over at this point. (And this was only the first lap around the course!)

Pick it up and RUN girl! There are junior racers passing your ass! 

Right before a tree ripped my arm open. 

Barrier jumping! 

Post-race - I'm gladly giving the beautiful Ridley cross bike back to its rightful owner. What was I THINKING trying to cross race? I was SO tired after I was done! 

Do you see all of those squiggly lines? Yep, that's the cross course I did. NOT easy at all. 

Finisher's sheet! I got dead last. But, I finished which was the main goal of my day! 

My very first cross race bib. Actually, it was my very first race EVER! I paid my one day license fee so that I could do this race. (Next year, I'll pay for the entire year to get my cycling license so that I can do road racing!)

So, now that the cross race is over, what now? Well, I'm glad you asked! It's TRAINING time! I have 4 months to get my ass in gear for the start of road race season. Four months? That seems easy enough, right? Um…..that seems like NO time at all if you look at the training plan that my coach gave me. 

Enter SUFFERFEST. Sounds like fun, right? 

Their motto? I Will Beat My Ass Today To Kick Yours Tomorrow. YIKES!

The next 16 weeks are going to be chalk FULL of different rides at different speeds to get my legs and body in gear for racing (not to mention the training vacation that R5 Cycling is taking in March to Arkansas to tackle some steep climbs). 

I started Sufferfest last week by doing my fitness threshold test. It's basically an hour of riding - in which 20 minutes of that is riding as hard and fast as you can. Puking is optional. (And, I almost did). However, the test really gives some perspective into where a rider is currently and it helps a cyclist hone in on what needs to be accomplished over the life of the training program. For example, this test showed me that my FTP is 215. This is the number that I can ride at, somewhat uncomfortable, for an extended period of time. (It's an 8.5 out of 10 effort level). After my FTP test, I tweeted out that I had finished the test. And you know what guys? Sufferfest tweeted back at me. Those guys think they're so funny, y'all. Here's what they said: 

HA HA HA!!! I LOVE it! Regardless of the difficulty, I really am looking forward to seeing what improvements I can make over the winter to get myself race ready. I have nothing to compare it to at this point since I'm so new to cycling - but I'm paying careful attention to how I feel, what I put into my body and using the tests to help me learn about myself as a rider. 

Last night I did the Sufferfest Extra Shot. Here's what the data looks like that's gathered during the ride: 

I've also started preparing a lot of my meals (and fuel for our teammates at cross races) from The Feed Zone cookbook which is designed for cyclists and athletes. It's been really fun using my teammates as guinea pigs too! The food is simple and easy to prepare and tastes pretty darn good. I've even made a couple of the lunches out of the cookbook and taken it to work where I have two coworkers that I feed on a weekly basis (again, guinea pigs!!!). 

Just a few examples of what I've made: 

Mushroom-Swiss Frittatas

Savory Bacon Bread

Chocolate muffins

Spanish tortilla (with potatoes, egg and onion)

Banana rice muffins

So - whew! We made it through my update! Are you tired yet? I hope not - because there is SO much more on the horizon! Just because it's cold doesn't mean I can stop. The biggest obstacles are coming my way and I'm ready to tackle each and every one of them. It's not just myself that I'm doing this for. It's for women - and my desire to get them on a bike. It's for my teammates and my longing to be a part of something great. It's for my coach - who invests time into me and works to push me to my limit and encourage me. And yeah, it's for me. Because the one person I refuse to let down is myself. I get one life - and I'm choosing to spend a great deal of it on a bike! 

Happy Halloween a couple days late! 

My heart is happy. Now, GO RIDE! 

Happy Cycling! 

KC Century, Retul fits, and CHRISTIAN!

How is it even possible that it's been almost a month since my last blog post? Holy crap, people, this CrazeeCyclist has been BUSY! And in all honesty, it's been mostly cycling related! So, where does one start after being gone so long? Back where I left off!

This is gonna be a long post - so hang on for the ride and keep scrollin' to learn what I've been up to! (I promise it won't hurt that much!)

To start off with what took the most of my time the past couple of months: The KC Century. What is the KC Century? I'm so glad you asked! Because I'm going to tell you anyways.

The KC Century is the newest cycling event in Kansas City this year. It's about beating cancer on a bike. KC Century joined forces with Cancer Action, Children's Mercy and KU Cancer Center to host an event to raise funds for cancer research and support. This year the Century was a metric century (62 miles - although there was also a 15 and 35 mile route) around the streets of Kansas City - passing some amazing areas (18th and Vine, the Plaza, Longview Lake, etc). I've volunteered for a lot of events in my life but this was my biggest event to undertake.

Somehow I got brought onto the board by my cycling coach. I have trouble saying no, you guys. Plus, what a great way to give back to the community (especially this cause since I lost my grandfather to cancer 8 years ago). My job? Volunteer and Rest Stop Coordinator. East enough, right?!? Um, NO. The last month of my life before the event on August 24th was filled with sleepless nights and jam packed days of phone calls, errands, meetings, emails, etc. It's not just about the day of the event. In fact, my part was really more about the prep BEFORE the event than the day of - although it was important that the day of the event went smoothly as well since that's what we did all of the pre-work for! Our ride had 6 rest stops plus the start/finish line that had to be coordinated with supplies and volunteers. A few times I wanted to pull my hair out. Last minute cancellations for locations, rounding up all of the necessary items for each stop so that the riders had items to refuel and rehydrate, putting volunteers at the necessary stations, communicating expectations with each and every volunteer and making sure that it all went off with little problem was not the easiest task. But you know what? It happened. And it went better than I expected. Chalk it up to an amazing group of board members, an awesome group of volunteers and truthfully, my unwillingness to be anal about every single detail. Yep, I'm anal. Yes, I have a type-A personality. Yes, I'm the type that will give you 150%. I can't help myself. It's how I'm wired. And in this instance, it's a good thing I am the way I am.

I met some pretty awesome people during this time. And I'm pretty sure I can now call some of them my friends. And, in the end, the goal was reached: we got people on bikes to raise awareness and money for cancer research and support. I'd call that a success. It makes my heart very happy. I will be honest though and say that once the event was done, all I wanted was beer and a very long nap. (The beer happened but the nap never did).

I always joke that I take on too much and that I need to start saying no. But you know what? I can't sit still. My mind races at a million miles a minute and my body is stubborn enough to follow my head. So, even though the event is over, I'm looking for other things to take up my time because I can't get enough.

Here are some photos from the KC Century:

Early morning view of some of our riders coming into the Martin City Brewery rest stop. 

These amazing riders stopped during the ride to assist a woman who was injured on the course. Why? Because that's how we cyclists roll. We watch out for one another and make sure help happens. 

Board member, Kelly, and I at the finish line party having a well-earned Boulevard beer. Cheers!

A few of our crew members at the finish line event. 

Kevin was our SAG support lead for the entire ride. He did an absolutely stellar job. Plus, he's funny which is a BIG plus! 

A couple of volunteers and I at our first rest stop at American Century. 

These two guys are two of my most favorite people in the world. Matthew and Bob. Getting through this event wouldn't have been half as fun had they not been a part of it!

Riders taking part at the rest stop in Lees Summit near Longview Lake. 

Some of our awesome riders for the day!

Riders posing with our rest stop lead at Advanced Nutrition in Lees Summit. The guy on the left is my R5 CYCLING teammate, Scott. Was so glad to see one of our own out supporting our event! 

Board member, Doug, and I at the finish line event. I joke that he'll never want to work with me again after what I put him through during this one. He was a good sport though. 

No cycling event is complete without bike support on the course. These guys did a phenomenal job! 

There was SPIN! Pizza at the finish line. FOOD! 

Bob and I celebrating the success of KC Century over some Boulevard Beer. YUM!

Riders signed our #IRide4 posters stating why they rode their bikes. Every time I see these posters I get goosebumps and my eyes tear up a bit. I know, I know. I'm emotional. Don't judge me. 

Hanging out with JiaoJiao from 41 Action News. I had so much fun meeting her and working with her on this event. Talk about a firecracker!

I found my friend, Alex and his son, Dawson, at one of the rest stops. That little squirt is pretty good on a bike! 

Some more of my amazing volunteers for the day. 

Standing in front of one of our beneficiaries for the ride with Karla, an amazing volunteer. 

This is Jill, one of my amazing volunteers. She ran that rest stop with AUTHORITY! 

My volunteers and friends at the Martin City Brewery rest stop with the owner, Matt (on the right). 

Volunteers at the Advanced Nutrition rest stop in Lees Summit. Stopping here in the morning before the event kicked off was awesome because they had a protein shake waiting for me! YUM! 

Overall, I'm so very honored, humbled and thankful for KC Century. Are there things we learned that we need to do better? Sure. If you don't learn something then what a waste of time. Are there things we did well? Absolutely. We've had great feedback over the past week that will ensure the next KC Century is a bigger success than this first one. 

Working on the KC Century and volunteering for my bike store for a couple of triathlons they hosted this past month really limited the time I got on my bike. But, sometimes you forgo getting on the bike for the greater good. I think it's important to get behind the scenes at events so that you can appreciate the rides even more when you take part in them. And, our bike shop is so good to our team members at R5 CYCLING that when Jeff asks for help, you say yes. 

Speaking of my bike store, Elite Cycling…can I just say that I LOVE THEM? 

A week ago I got to take part in a Retul fit for my Ridley. While I absolutely LOVE my bike, I knew that something just wasn't quite right with the way I felt after riding each time. My knees, lower back and shoulder/neck area were always very sore after a ride. A Retul fit is the perfect way to diagnose a rider's riding style and customize the fit of the bike to the rider. Changes can be made to the bike components to make a rider feel more comfortable on the bike which should, in turn, help the rider handle the bike more efficiently with more power. 

First, Jeff (the shop owner) hooks you up to sensors and points lasers at you. High tech shit, no?!? It's so darn awesome. 

He has you riding at about an 8 effort level to gauge power. The stupid sensors kept falling off my body during the ride/test because I'm a girl and put lotion on my legs after showering that morning. I don't even know why I bothered showering because I was a sweaty, hot mess during the fit. It did make for some good laughs though. 

The sensors are hooked up to a computer program and that, combined with the lasers, gives Jeff an idea of what adjustments might need to be made. Here he is working on my handlebars and the angle that they are placed on the bike. It's trial and error during the fit and we went back and forth with pedaling, adjusting, pedaling and testing some more and more adjustments. 

Here I am at the Retul with Mark, one of the shop mechanics and a local KC rider. Pretty funny guy. And I think he and Jeff and Ted were happy with me that morning because I brought them breakfast. Gotta keep my shop guys fueled and happy, right?!? 

You can't get through a Retul fit without some shenanigans, right?!? I don't think Jeff knew what he was getting into with me. Although I'd met him and been around him a few times, I think his opinion of me changed after spending two hours with me during this fit. He thought I was a princess. I proved him wrong. I taught him how to cuss in Mandarin, we discussed how beets turn your urine hot pink and I had him laughing pretty hard a couple of times over the dumbest stories. But, if I don't keep people guessing, what fun is life? 

Pedal power baby! 

Riding on my new adjustments to see how they feel. Jeff raised my seatpost 2 3/4 inches and my handlebars back and up about 30 degrees. I had to get a new stem for the handlebars. I couldn't BELIEVE how much better the bike felt after these adjustments. I felt an even weight distribution between my ass and my hands. I didn't feel the pull in my thighs or shoulders - but more in my lower legs.

Posing with Jeff and Ted, post fit. Ted is my most favorite bike mechanic ever. He's quiet but funny. 

Ted and Mark working on some bikes in the back of the shop.

I couldn't wait to get my bike back out on the road after my Retul fit. It's probably the best money I've spent in cycling so far, with the exception of purchasing my bike. I would recommend a Retul fit for anyone who is serious about ensuring that they're getting the best cycling experience. It's pricey but necessary. And, if you get to have as much fun as I did during mine? Well, that's just the icing on the cake.

And, what better way to test out my bike than riding with PRO CYCLISTS?!? Oh yeah, you read that right. Me. The CrazeeCyclist. Riding with professional cyclists. Here in Kansas City.

Last Tuesday I was lucky enough to be able to take part in the Pro Team Garmin-Sharp ride in Olathe, Kansas. Every year, after the US Pro Tour in Colorado, some of the Team Garmin-Sharp guys come through Olathe on their way back home. Garmin's headquarters are located in Olathe and the team comes through to host a Q&A and ride with members of the community who sign up. The money goes to charity and it's a great experience for all involved. I almost didn't get to participate because I had forgotten to sign up. Hey, I've been busy with bike events, triathlons and Retuls…it's pretty easy to see how I missed the deadline. However, there was a small 10 minute window where they reopened the registration and I was lucky enough to get in on it (thanks Coach for the last minute text message!).

And, HOT DAMN….you mean Christian Vande Velde will be there? And I might get to meet him? I almost couldn't sit still with excitement. The only disappointment was that Ryder Hesjedal wouldn't be there with his HOT sunglasses…but we can't win them all, can we?

The first event of the afternoon was a Q&A session with the riders. Let me tell you: these guys are FUNNY. They had the audience rolling in laughter a few times. It's so nice to see them relaxed and willing to answer questions from the mainstream. I will admit though, it was hard to recognize some of them because they weren't in their riding gear and helmets. (I knew who Christian was right away though…."swoon"!!!!!!).

Lined up and on display. I had front row seats of course. (DUH).

Christian answering some questions from the audience. This is his last year as he's retiring. He's had a pretty amazing career, though. The funniest answer from him came as he was asked the following question: "Christian, with your entire career behind you, if you could ride anywhere one last time, where would it be?" His answer? "Olathe"…..the audience roared with laughter at his response.

This was my view during the Q&A. And how could anyone complain? Look at those thighs and calf muscles? Ooooooh…..so hot. I'm a lucky girl!!!

After the Q&A session, we changed into our riding gear and headed outside for a meet and greet with the team. Let me tell you, it was damn hot outside Tuesday. The temperature was near 100 degrees and the humidity was high. And for a lady about to meet some pro cyclists? Well, I prefer to call sweating "leaking awesome sauce"…because believe me, I was. Yuck. Oh well! Bring on the meet and greet!

This is Andrew Talansky. He had a stage win at the Tour de France and finished in the Top 10. Super nice guy. 

And, here's Christian. That smile, though. 

Nobody was asking for pictures during the meet and greet. ARE THESE PEOPLE CRAZY?!? I asked Christian and Tommy Danielson if I could have a Garmin-Sharp sandwich. They obliged and I couldn't stop smiling. Best part of the day for sure. 

This is the team bus.

Meet and greet over. Time for the brutal part of the day: the actual ride. There were two courses for the day: a 24 mile ride and a 17 mile ride. We chose to do the 17 mile ride due to time conflicts for my coach and because of the darn heat.

I had spent the prior day and the morning of the event hydrating to ensure that I didn't get dehydrated on the ride (remember that time I vomited over the city of Overland Park?!? I didn't want that to happen again). I was excited for this ride because it had been awhile since I had been able to ride with my coach. Jeff, our bike shop owner, also got to join us on this ride and so did Mark, one of the shop mechanics. Here we are pre-ride.

Everyone took off in waves with a different Garmin-Sharp pro. My friend, Bob, also rode and was lucky enough to be in Christian's wave. He snapped this pic on the ride for me. SQUEE!!!!!

I'm going to tell you something. I really struggled on this ride. I've never ridden in temperatures that high and the humidity was a killer. We had to stop a couple of times because I was seeing black spots when I was riding. I wanted to quit a couple of times. Almost did. But, I'm stubborn. Let's just keep going. Ass in the saddle and keep pedaling. No time for quitting. On a MISSION!

My Ridley felt so much better on this ride than any previous ride due to my Retul fit. However, there was one slight problem that I felt about 11 miles into the ride. Remember how I said that Jeff moved my seatpost up about 2 3/4 inches? Well, that was all good and fine…the actual SEAT position though, was not. Ever felt like you're sitting on a two by four? Right up in your crotch? Let me tell you that no amount of lube or cushion in your cycling bibs will fix the discomfort that I felt. Talk about a sore "area"….

We had to pull over and my coach got out my multi-tool from my bag and angled the seat a little differently. While it felt better than the prior 11 miles, I spent the last 7 miles trying to keep myself from sliding off my seat. I think it may be angled too low now. But, it's all trial and error until you get it right. I may actually have to buy a new seat for my bike in the near future. And walking a little funny after that ride makes for good stories anyways. "Hey everyone, let me tell you about the time I rode my bike and injured my "area"….." Perfect opening line at parties, right?!?

The course we did was a course I had never done before and will definitely ride again. I really liked it - well, as much as I could during the DEAD HEAT of the day. All that matters is that we finished. Without injury!!!!

And what's better after finishing a race than a nice, cold Boulevard beer? Not much - other than HAVING COLD BOULEVARD BEER WITH CHRISTIAN VANDE VELDE!!!!

Christian is from Illinois - which is home to Goose Island beer. Goose Island's 312 beer is one of my favorites. So, I'm standing next to Christian with two Boulevard Wheat beers in hand (hey, I just rode 17 miles…I deserve TWO beers!). Christian had a Boulevard Pale Ale. I told him that the wheat was better and was similar to 312. And he said he would have to try it. Well, what's a girl to do when a man says he wants to try a beer that you have in your hand? YOU OFFER HIM YOURS!!!! He took it, tried it and agreed that it was very good. We joked that we have excellent taste in beers and then we laughed and laughed. At least that's how "I" remember it. :)

Lovely view after a bike ride. 

Me, with my friend, Matthew, after the ride. Matthew rides for the Boulevard team here in KC and was on the board of the KC Century with me. He truly is one of my favorite people. He's a cancer survivor, funny and is always upbeat.

Me, with David Millar of Team Garmin-Sharp, post ride. David told me I had a badass jersey (it has skulls on it) and I think I gushed and became speechless. 

David and Christian enjoying the newest Boulevard release. 

This is my high school friend, Mark and I post ride. He works for Garmin.

My friend, Bob and I post ride. Bob is the one who took the picture of Christian's behind for me. I will be forever grateful to him. 

I wasn't expecting anything from the ride since I was so late to sign up. So, imagine my giddiness when I received these things:

This is a Team Garmin-Sharp poster signed by the guys who were at the event. I can't wait to get this matted and framed and hung up on my cycling wall! 

The SWAG bag from the event came with a Garmin bag, Roll with the Pros shirt, a Garmin Camelback water bottle, Clif energy bar and Gu gel in their new espresso flavor. Talk about SPOILED! 

A couple of other cool things this past month. My goal, in cycling, is to get more people, especially women, on a bike. I'm already meeting that goal! My co-worker and friend, Kelly, is now on a bike and riding regularly! I'm SO super proud of her - and honored every time we get to ride together. We've gotten a couple of rides in this month and I'm sure the future will hold more. She's where I was 5 months ago…a complete sponge for cycling! It makes me SO excited! 

Here we are pre-ride a couple of weeks ago: 

Also, I'm selfishly a little bit happy about the jersey lines I'm starting to get: 

According to the Cycling Rules, riders must take their tan lines seriously. It means that they're out there logging miles on their bikes. Although mine are slow to develop this year - and especially this past month due to being so busy, I can't wait to see further development.

While it's not always about actually being in the saddle riding, it is my most favorite part. Even if it means that you have to stay inside and ride on a trainer because the storms prohibit you from riding outside. Hey, I tried getting outside this morning to ride - but thought better of it as lightening was all around me. You just make do with the situation at hand. I got an hour in on the trainer this morning. And I'm headed out tomorrow morning to log some miles because it's a holiday and what better way to spend a day off than on the bike?

I've had such a great month. It's hard to put it into words. But, well, I think I just did a little bit...

Sleepless nights? Event planning? Heat? Humidity? Riding while feeling like you're sitting on a two by four?

Christian Vande Velde said it best last week: "Embrace the suffering…"

Bring it! I'm ready. And oh so very thankful.

Happy Cycling!