I've had such a great weekend, I don't want it to end!
I started off early yesterday morning with a new team ride - and my first time to take the clipless pedals out onto the open road. The whole team wasn't there but four of the guys showed up (and one of the wives) for a quick ride around Prairie Village. I knew nothing about the ride or the route - just that we were all getting together so that we could ride.
Before I left, my dad (who came over to watch Maggie Sue) asked me if this was going to be my "hazing" ride. I told him I didn't think so but laughed at the thought of it.
I WAS WRONG.
I know that the team didn't "plan" to haze me - but it just so happened that it really felt like a hazing mid-way through the ride. No one told me about the 2 brutal climbs that I was going to encounter on this ride. The first one came as I was rounding a corner. Fairly easy, quick ride up to that point. I turned the corner and OH MY - HOLY HELL - WTF kind of a hill is that?
Two of the team members started attacking each other on the climb. They are actually very good, strong riders who have some real climbing ability from what I can tell. It's probably a good thing no one told me about the climb because I would have spent the first part of the ride fretting about it and working myself up into a frenzy. Nothing to do but make the climb. It took me what felt like ages. I've never had my legs burn so much after a climb as I did that one.
I got to the top of the hill and almost forgot to unclip because I was so overwhelmed by what I had just done. In fact, my coach had to grab my arm to keep me from falling over and I hurriedly unclipped my left foot. There was NO way we were going to go down again. UGH.
After a bit more of a ride we encountered another climb that, while not as steep as the first, was still difficult for me. Sometimes I feel like I will never be able to master these climbs. (Until I finish them, of course, and realize that I just have to keep pushing myself harder and harder). The one benefit to yesterday's climbs was that I was clipped in which allowed me to really pull myself up on my bike with my legs and with my hands on the handlebars. I can really see now why there is a HUGE benefit to clipless pedals. I just have to keep practicing and take my rides as opportunities to learn how to get better. Rome wasn't built in a day!
We did 15.5 km in 46 minutes. That's my fastest time yet and even though my legs felt like jell-o after we were done, I was very happy to have gotten the ride in. I'm really hoping that these guys will take me under their wing and work with me to develop me into a rider who can start to hone my riding skills and my bike handling. Plus, they're just a super fun group of men who want to have a good time while on their bikes. Once we get all of the women recruited and on the team? Even more fun to be had!
Here's the data from yesterday's ride:
https://www.strava.com/activities/63547444
And after yesterday's ride?
STAGE ONE TOUR DE FRANCE TIME!!!
I must admit, the Tour de France (and every other race I've watched and read about this year) is the best kind of reality television. The drama that comes during the races and behind the scenes makes for the best situations!
Yesterday was no exception. The stage yesterday was in Corsica - which the Tour has never passed through - and was classified as a flat, 213 km stage. Perfect for a sprinter's finish. (GO SAGAN!). The exciting part of this stage was that, for the first time, the commentators stated that all 5 well-known sprinters in this year's Tour could be in contention to win this stage (and Cavendish was highly favored to win AND to don the yellow jersey for the first time).
It was not to be so. This first stage was absolutely CRAZY. I'm not sure stage 1 has ever seen so much drama.
First, THIS happens.
The Orica-GreenEDGE bus got STUCK under the finish line banner. STUCK, you guys. Because it couldn't clear the banner. Apparently they had to deflate the bus tires in order to get the bus to back up to clear the finish line. And this was at a time when the riders were only about 15-20 minutes away from the finish. At first, the officials were thinking they were going to have to stop the race and finalize the results at the 3km to go mark. Once the bus was moved, they hurriedly notified all teams that the race would continue to the finish.
I don't know about you, but if I were a rider at that time, I would be going crazy over the unexpected, abrupt changes taking place to the race. I can't even imagine.
Right after that happened? THIS happened:
So, the end of the race. Kittel wins stage 1 of the Tour de France.
Apparently Cavendish - and a few other riders - have really criticized the Tour officials over the past 12 hours at how the first stage was handled. I haven't been able to read much today so I don't know what responses were given to the riders, media, public, etc., if any were given at all. We can only hope that there were some learnings that were taken away from yesterday's stage and prepare ourselves for some fantastic racing that's coming up. I mean, it's only day 1 - we have a LONG way to go! Regardless of the mishaps that took place yesterday, I loved watching stage 1 for the first time in my life. I think it's pretty darn awesome that my first time watching the Tour de France is the 100th celebration. There are sure to be some amazing races over the next 21 days.
This morning I got up super early and headed to Lawrence, Kansas (ROCK CHALK!) for my first ever viewing of the Tour of Lawrence crit races. I was so excited to get there and see what real racing looks like in person.
This is a big 3 day event that draws riders from all over the Midwest. There were sprint races on Friday night and brutal circuit races on Saturday that took the riders through the hilly KU campus. (I've walked the campus numerous times - it's NO joke when they talk about the hills on this campus).
Cyclists race in various categories according to their classifications (Master's, Cat 5 and below for men, Cat 4 and below for women, and the Pro 1&2 for men).
Here is a good article that explains how cyclists are classified should you want more explanation:
http://www.active.com/cycling/Articles/How-do-the-USA-Cycling-Race-Categories-Work
Today was the criterium (or crit) races. I watched a lot of racing today. SO much fun. These riders FLEW down Mass St. and it was amazing to watch. Two of our team members raced in the Cat 5 race. It was really cool seeing people I knew in the race - and to realize that cycling really is a small world!
I was super excited to watch the women race today - specifically the Cat 4 women. Next year, when I finally start road racing (and I do plan to race the Tour of Lawrence), this is the category of women that I will race with. Here they are at the start line of their race:
Next year you can plan on seeing another picture just like this one - except with ME in the middle of things. I can't WAIT!
Overall, I was really impressed with the racing of each group and with the way the crits were handled. Lawrence sure knows how to throw a cycling event. The most fun part though? Watching the Pro's after lunch at the corner of 7th and Vermont. I was right next to the action and caught video of the Pro's speeding by. Absolutely GIDDY.
I couldn't believe how fast they were flying.
This picture is some of the riders rounding the corner of 7th and Vermont. They were leaned over so far on their bikes I don't know how they stayed upright. TALENT!!!
What a way to end my weekend! I am blocking out my entire weekend next year to experience the whole Tour of Lawrence event!
Well, enough rambling. I've got the second stage of the Tour de France on DVR and I'm going to wind my weekend down by watching. SPIN! Pizza ride tomorrow night! Another day, another way to log more miles on this crazy adventure! I wouldn't have it any other way.
Happy Cycling!
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