Through the Sun, the Sleet and the Hail

Through the sun, the sleet and the hail we rode today.

I awoke early this morning to prepare for BBC's first ride of the year. Today we rode a nice flat ride. We took off at a nice easy pace, but of course among testosterone ridden boys that never lasts.
The pace picked up a bit, but for the most part the group stayed together. After a playful sprint to the store we munched on some fig bars before taking off again and starting home.
Then it started hailing. Hail is ever so painful when riding it. After riding in the hail, after we had reached the final and easiest section of the ride, the sun, rather ironically, came out from it's hiding spot among the clouds.

My first cross race of the season,

And it also happens to be one of the last... I awoke on this cold, cold day upon the eighth hour of the morning. I finished with last minute preparations for the coming day. Then I awaited the arrival of my mother's kind friend David whom we were car pooling with. Following his arrival we promptly packed the car, and set out for our distant destination of Eugene, Oregon. We arrived at said destination, our coffee well since consumed, we helped ourselves to the coffee provided by the thoughtful race promoters. I then rode part of the course, but I did not feel the need to endeavor riding a whole lap.
I had a wonderful warm up, sitting in David's car drinking cocoa and sketching the human hand. David was racing as my mother and I were warming up, we opened the car door to cheer for him, then promptly shut it again, as to not let out the invaluable heat. It then came time for me to mount my trusty aluminum stead, it's shiny blue and silver frame neglected for nearly a year. I learned at the start line that only one woman had warmed up. We started our race after a minor mishap in the back of the group. I started out strong. All the women started together and I maintained a position in the top five for a quarter of a lap. I even managed to keep that position through the enormously high barriers.
Only when I had to cross the river did I lose my position. I then rode the rest of my three laps of ludicrously high barriers, quick paced single track, running my bike up wooden stairs and splashing through the river-interrupted only by a flat tire- alone. I finished first, beating out my thoughest opponents, me, myself, and I.

I Revel in my Sweat

I really do. There is nothing more satisfying than the feeling of a warm bead of sweat dripping down your face, or the faint plunk it makes as it falls off your face onto your top tube. The pain is wonderful, it hurts, and yet it feels so good. And what is this torture that gives me so pleasure?

Winter training.

=(

Man, I'll miss the guys. They were always one of my favorite teams, and they rode some really awesome Giants ;]

No one will ever be able to pull of pink like they did.

Alpenrose, Oh Alpenrose!

How I miss thee so!
I met at Alpenrose, my home away from home, with my dear teammate Kallen, who although is moving on to the more daunting world of collegiate cycling will always be considered a teammate.
The two of us, both in a love affair with track racing, stared longingly at the track. We stood there pining for the sweeping corners of the track, the adrenaline racing through your body in a match sprint and more than anything the triumphant feeling of crossing that finish line first.
We could not resist, we lowered our road bikes onto the apron, where we rode circles, reminiscing about times we shared there. Races we raced together, drills we did with the team, the team lined up against the railing awaiting Phil's instructions. Remembering moments of tactical brilliance, and shortcoming.
Then we took one of my favorite routes up to Fairmount. We ascended Sunset, but we found ourselves lacking the spirit to tackle Dosch, and Kallen had a schedule to keep.
We rode down Dosch, rather than up, each of us navigating the curves of the road with finesse, then we parted ways, each of us en route to our own abode.

Mmmm, Smells Like Turkey

No, not our kitchen, that smells like ham, but the various neighborhoods we rode through today were drenched with the aroma of roasting turkey. The density of the automobile traffic today was rather surprising, there were a great deal of cars on the road for Thanksgiving day. However, bicycle traffic was disappointing, I thought I would see more roadies justifying the calories they were to later consume. Although I must say we did have a rather late start on the road today, as I only awoke upon the hour noon.
My mother and I rode through the quaint residential areas of Beaverton, so nice they were on this beautiful crisp fall day. Golden and crimson leaves speckled the ground and the sun shone trough the trees' bare branches. All the while I pondered why my mother deary was riding with her headlight on in the middle of the sun filled day.
Then we rode home, straight into a rather august headwind. My mother found the riding unfathomable, and the head wind much too strong, where as I unleashed my inner-timetrialer, and rode on boldly into the wind. Whenever I thought I could go no harder, whenever I thought that wind defeated me, I pushed harder. (There was some cocoa waiting for me at home, and it was cold out) As I came sailing up BH I hit a red light. Oh the horror! I could not stop, I had lovely pace! I thought quickly, and I did the unthinkable. I turned right, and ascended the street known as 30th. (the other side of Dosch, which really isn't that big of climb) I stood on the pedals applying all the power I could muster. I attacked the climb, one pedal stroke at a time. The crest of the hill came into to sight, and where most would despair I dug a little deeper, I worked a little harder, and then I came to the top, where I felt oh, so victorious, I could already taste the hot cocoa in my mouth. Just one left turn, and a couple yards down the road and there I was, home, sweet home.

Finally, Some Mud!

Too bad I wasn't racing...

I went out to watch the cross race today, I wanted to race, but at this point I don't really want to risk getting sick or injured. That's the last thing I need. I'll just wait till winter training.
However I must say, as I watched, I had a bit of a longing feeling. Yes, a longing feeling to look like a mud monster. Ha ha, non-cyclist must think we're so weird. Actually I saw a guy working at the Fred Meyer's across the street and he was watching all the race finishers wash off in this big puddle in disbelief. The look on his face was great.

Ah, My Bicycle,

What a beautiful thing it is!
I went on a lovely ride after school today, up Sunset, then up Dosch to Fairmount. I did a few laps on the loop. Then I got the reward of riding down Dosch to Beaverton Hillsdale. I hate riding up BH, I mean, it doesn't look like that much of a hill but for some reason it just sucks, way more than Dosch.
I must say, people in cars are such idiots. This one woman backed out with out even looking, if I weren't paying attention she would've hit me. Then in a no passing zone there was a car driving on the wrong side of the road to pass another car. I thought the double yellow lines meant something!
Oh, well it was still rather enjoyable, despite the lack of sunlight the landscape was aesthetically pleasing. The leaves, both on the ground and on the trees, were colored beautifully. The air was cool and crisp. Though I doubt it will be like this much longer, which is really unfortunate, I have been enjoying riding after school so much...

Hand Built Bike Show

(Really awesome tall bike)

Today I went to the hand built bike show at the forestry center. It was amazing! Some of the frames there were unbelievably beautiful, some outstandingly creative, and some an incredible blend of both.

There were represtentitives from local frame builders such as Ahearne Cycles, Sweet Pea, Strawberry, Land Shark, and Bike Friday. I uttered quite a few "I wants" in the short time we were there.

I Gotta Ride Tomorrow!!!

Oh, my goodness... I ate so much terrible, horrible, fatty foods today at the mall with my besties, I'm going to have to ride for days!!! [Okay, maybe not that much, but mall food is evil.]

Back in the Saddle

I've been wanting to start a blog for a while, but the last couple months have been so hectic I haven't had the chance. Now I finally have a few minutes to spare, so I figured why not?
As most of you know in July I came down with mono. A while ago I got the okay to ride again, and have just now started getting back on the bike.
I'm not going to race cross this year. Even though I love cross I just don't think I'm ready to race yet. However you can expect to see me come the start of the 2008 season.