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.
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:
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!
