The 2009 Racing Season has begun . . .

So, here we are – 4 races into the 2009 season.  The first one was a crit in Peoria — called the Swiss Crit.  It wasn’t a great course and presented its fair share of challenges, but we got through — even with a crash.  We started off pretty fast setting a hard pace to avoid alot of attacks and keep it steady.  Mary stayed towards the front and we were trying to get things going.  I attacked a few times, trying to create a break and it happened, but we missed it!  So the chase was on.  Mary and I were chasing like crazy and no one was all that willing to help.  So finally, we gave up as I knew Mary could really take the pack sprint.  I figured if no one was willing to help us chase Sabrina and Katherine, then so be it.  We weren’t going to do all the work and then come in last, so I quickly moved up and let Mary know we had to stop chasing and save our strength for the end.  Unfortunately, Sabrina and Katherine caught the group, so we were officially “lapped!”  We decided no more attacks and with 5 to go, I went to the front and just drilled it.  I should have gone with 3 to go, because as it turned out, I don’t quite have the fitness to stay at the front for that long, but I strung it out good.  With two laps to go, the pace was high and one of the girls could not handle her bike through the final corner and took down half the pack.  However, there were a group of women – which Mary was in — that avoided the crash (as they were in front of if) and took off.  Mary took the pack sprint, and we had a solid 3rd place finish.  For the first race, it was good.  Just getting form back is what counts in these early races, so it felt great.  Kim went down in the crash, but was fortunate not to get hurt.  A little scuffed and sore, but no deep road rash or broken bones!  Thank goodness.  Kim took 2nd in the Category 4 women’s race.   Kim also raced the next day in the Avondale crit to take 2nd.

I raced in this weekend’s TT and was a bit slow, but I need to keep training — working on power, speed and form!  It’s early in the season, so no reason to panic, right?

On Saturday, February 7th — the day before our race, Heidi, Spring, Jen and Kim all raced their mountain bikes.  This is one sweet team of mountain bikers and they all did incredibly well.  Heidi won her marathon division, Jen and Spring placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the Pro division and Kim won the single speed division!!  When Melanie gets back out there, we are a force to be reckoned with on the mountain and on the road.  The talent of our team is monumental!

This past Sunday, we co-hosted the McDowell Mountain Circuit race with Team RPM (Reata Pass Masters).  We woke up to pouring rain and 40 degree temperatures.  Don’t we live in Arizona?  What the heck happened.  Well, we got rained on, blown around, papers flying everywhere and had the time of our lives.  We laughed alot and took it all in stride.  Mary was wrapped in a blanket, I was wrapped in my waterproof hiking gear, and Heidi, Taylor (Heidi’s daughter), Jen and Spring were just freezing!  We donned our really cool Specialized Designs for Women hats — which we got a ton of compliments on and we greeted all of the racers with warm smiles and an encouraging word.  It’s not easy to race in temperatures and conditions like that, but the great news is that there was only one mishap the entire day.  Racers appreciated the race and said they had a good time.  We were giving out all kinds of cool stuff — water bottles, stuffed animals and great primes!  Of course, the people who got those primes really earned it.  Our results were Spring taking 2nd in a dead-heat sprint (we think she actually won it, but being the good sport she is, she gave it to the other rider), Judy finished 2nd in the Cat 3’s and Kim finished 4th in the Cat 4’s.  Well done ladies!  The fields were a bit light, but it was expected with the inclimate weather.

This weekend (starting February 13th) is our first stage race of the season — Valley of the Sun Stage Race!  We have a good showing and hopefully, the weather will be sunny and dry.

We are all looking forward to riding and racing together.  We have such an amazing group of women who truly love to race their bikes and be a team.  Check us out sometime.  We won’t dissapoint!

Stay tuned . . . .