At least the drive was smooth…it was incredibly windy out and between the registration tent and my car my numbers flew away!  I had just enough time to get new numbers reissued, check out the course and warm-up.  The course was super hard; one the most difficult of the season with lots of technical elements, some big mud bogs and lots of elevation change.  There was no faking it; I knew it would take 100% focus and strength to do well and I was excited (the more challenging, the better!).

I had earned enough points to start at the top of the second row, but they kept calling names and the second row filled up, then the third…Suddenly I was waiting by myself and finally my name was called…LAST.  I started to panic but wasn’t the only one displaced.  Quite honestly, starting positions with 20-30 riders don’t really make or break the race.  It’s just that earning a good call-up is so hard to do and having it stripped away is heartbreaking.

My starts are usually strong so I took comfort in that and put the frustration out of my head.  The officials weren’t budging and I could let it get me down or move on.  We were off and I worked really hard to move up as smoothly, safely and quickly as possible.  The start looped out and back, then down into the ampitheater bowl.  By that point the only people ahead of me were last year’s Worlds team members and the French national champion.  Her bold red, white and blue stripes got closer and closer and surprisingly, I felt good!  I was exactly where I wanted to be and anything negative was a distant memory…

That is, until I passed the pit on the next lap and promptly flatted my rear tire!  I was climbing when it happened and stayed on my bike, back down into the bowl and mud pits, obviously as far away from the pit as possible.  I didn’t have any traction and was fishtailing a lot in the most technical parts, but riding a half lap saved me a lot more energy than running would have (as I learned at the Planet Bike Cup).

A lot of the riders I had worked so hard to pass went by like I was standing still.  I tried to stay patient but considered quitting so I could save energy for the next two days…and then I remembered that the payouts went 15-deep.  Outside of the top 5, the women’s pay was a fraction of the men’s, but it would buy me dinner.  Nothing like being totally broke (and hungry) for motivation!

After what seemed like forever I switched bikes in the pit–so grateful that Dave had the pit bike totally dialed and even more that he made it possible for me to have a pit bike in the first place.  I dug deep, found new energy and rallied to pick off as many people as possible.

fighting my way back.. photo: Velo Vivid

I was riding well and gave it my all…  The finishing straight was pretty long and I was catching 10th place; we actually got the same time at the line but my legs were fried and I didn’t have enough to get even a little bit ahead.  I definitely burned a lot of matches on the demanding course but I was proud to come back from a few mishaps.

It’s taken some work to realize that it’s not a matter of if  but when things will go wrong in cyclocross and when they do, it’s not the end of the world.  I was disappointed to be so close to the points and higher pay, but I took away a lot of positive lessons.

The three of us got dinner and stayed with some of Ray’s family.  Before long it was on to Sunset Park for a second try.  Last year I was amazed at what kind of course could be created on such a small footprint in the middle of a neighborhood, and this year’s edition did not disappoint.  Regrettably the sand pits were taken out and some tennis courts were added, but the course seemed to have a better flow and featured a small mud pit.

My call-up was fixed and I had a good start from the gun:

photo: Julie Lewis-Sroka

Unfortunately the good start did not last terribly long and the leaders pulled away as more riders came around me.  I fought back several positions into 11th with the chase group just ahead of me.  They were painfully close, well within sight but the course was fast and I couldn’t close the gap to them on my own.  I felt a little run-down and didn’t do myself any favors by letting the turns slow me down instead of using them to my advantage.

At 5’1″ the barriers never seem small to me but these felt extra-large!

photo: Jeffrey Jakucyk

It was a long, lonely time trial but fortunately I held off the racers charging behind me to finish once again in 11th, just missing the valuable points.  Same result as Friday but a completely different experience!

Sunday at Harbin Park was a higher category event, meaning that significantly higher points and money were on the line.  Dave pitted for the elite juniors, 2/3 men, elite women and elite men all weekend and the lack of rest was starting to catch up.  He was up coughing all night and neither of us felt good or slept well.

I really wanted to finish the weekend on a high note..even though we were at the venue nearly five hours before my race, the course was never really open for pre-ride as they were staging races while others were still on course.  I didn’t have a chance to get in a practice loop but saw what I needed to.  It hadn’t rained in a few days but the course was saturated, power-sucking and slippery.

I had my best start ever; I took the line no one wanted in the mud and it benefitted me:

between two National Champions..photo: Julie Lewis-Sroka

I was able to stick with the leaders for a while and even got a small mention HERE.  It was so awesome to ride with ladies of that caliber and feel within my limits, but the truth was that I didn’t start the race with a full tank.  There was no faking getting sick (I had been on the verge for weeks) and I dropped off pace after a lap.  From that point on I just tried (unsuccessfully) not to lose any more places and finished in a very disappointing 13th…still in the points, but not where I knew I could be.

Things come in threes and Cincy3 was still a blast and full of experience, both good and bad.  Thanks to everyone who’s offered support and especially to Dave for keeping the entire team’s bikes in top shape through all conditions!  We only had a week to recover and it was on to the third round of the USGP in Louisville…

After living in Asheville for over a year I failed to find work that was sustainable and local; I had two great jobs that I enjoyed but they required a lot of travel and cost me way too much money and energy.  While unemployed the stack of bills became overwhelming and we narrowly avoided getting evicted; I actually questioned if racing was worth continuing at the same time I was having my best results ever.

However, the career dreams I had in college have shifted with the economy and are on hold as well.  Considering the job market, it might actually be the best time to focus on bike racing and not have regrets.  Every adjustment I’ve made thus far to support racing has paid off, and there is still a long way to go.

Thankfully I found a contract job in town that is flexible and supportive of my cycling dreams and schedule; I started to work with and for wonderful people and finally felt like I live in Asheville.  Some friends from the shop in Madison came to visit on a whim and we spent three straight days on our mountain bikes and camped in the heart of the Pisgah National Forest.  I missed trail riding, friends and suddenly my heart was not so heavy, more hopeful and I prepared for the next weekend of local racing.

The Mud, Sweat & Gears never disappoint; they are fun and nearby (all are in close vicinity to Johnson City, TN).  #7 was over the border in Bristol, VA.  After a bit of confusion and directions from the craziest man ever (between the chewing tobacco and heavy accent I couldn’t understand much but, “cut ‘er LOOSE!”).  Dave, our friend Drew, and I arrived at the new venue.  The course was really fun and challenging; it had rained a lot so the ground was soft and just a power suck.  I put all of the stress out of my mind and into the pedals:

the wooded sections were awesome. photo: David Lehn

The bike was feeling great and I had a chance to test my new Shimano XC60 shoes.  After using the same pair of shoes for years I am taking some time to mentally adjust to a completely different brand and fit but my first impressions were very good.  They are light and stiff with a comfortable, roomy upper and excellent tread pattern.  Plus they look nice and match my bike!

I unfortunately wasn’t feeling as great as my equipment; my stomach was really upsetting me.  I had a decent gap and tried to keep picking off the Cat 3 men ahead of me.  Then my rear tire started to feel kind of soft and I did something strange and jammed the front shifter for the first time ever so I was stuck in my small ring.  The sun came out and it warmed up a bit so I kept plugging away, hoping to finish the race…

photo: David Lehn

I was able to hold it together for the win and would have finished fourth in the men’s race.  It took no time for Dave to fix my shifter (user error?) and we realized that my rear tire was definitely leaking air.  My bike was in better shape but I was not; I started to feel really sick and was in a world of pain for the rest of the night, only able to stomach soup.

The next morning we left bright and early for Boone and the 3rd race in the NCCX series.  I must have had some sort of mild food poisoning or a bug but I felt much better and still wanted to race.  It was Halloween weekend and regrettably I had too much going on to figure out a costume (so lame!).  Nearly 30 ladies toed the line:

photo: the Gruppeto Project

Then, at the last minute they decided to do call ups.  Since I hadn’t done the previous series races I didn’t even make the first two rows!  Funny that I’d had a better starting position at the international races, but it would be fine.  The course was very twisty and I knew the race would bottleneck into the first series so I braced myself for patience as we started.  I like to start strong so patience is sometimes lacking…

photo: Eric Webster

I managed to find some space and weave safely through the field.  By the third turn I was leading and found a 20 sec. gap after the first lap; surprising as the NC state series has very strong fields.  I loved the course and there were no sections that I didn’t look forward to.  It was mostly flat with two run-ups in a row; the first was off-camber but rideable and the second was very steep!

descending to climb again. photo: the Gruppeto Project

photo: the Gruppetto Project

I had a good race where I was kind of in the “zone” and had a good rhythm through all of the twists and turns.  My bike was perfect, no leaking tires and the crowd was loud and fun.  Most importantly I was having a blast though I was dehydrated and my legs were starting to cramp.  I had a safe cushion for the lead and was able to push myself to build on it through the end.

I’m happy that I could stay positive on the bike during tough times and the weekend provided some validity that I was headed in the right direction, one step at a time.  Thanks to everyone for the support!

I was anxious to try out my new Stevens Prestige frame; I assumed that we’d take down the Redline to build it up (it’s been a struggle just getting to the races–buying new components was completely out of the question), but Dave insisted on stripping down his Litespeed so that I could have a pit bike for the first time.  This was a huge deal since Dave LOVES cyclocross and this was his favorite bike.  After swapping the parts and pillaging a few more parts from my road and mountain bikes I was set!

now that is love!

Due to work obligations the earliest we could leave for the 10-hour drive was Friday evening.  We drove until midnight and stayed over in Charlottesville, VA with Sarah, my friend and former college roommate.  Little did I know that it was homecoming weekend at Virginia and we were in the heart of campus, surrounded by beer pong and crowds of drunk freshmen!  It didn’t matter though; I was grateful to see Sarah and have a place to sleep soundly.

Fortunately the rest of the drive went very smoothly and we made it to Delaware for the first time:

the sign was less excited than we were...

We arrived at the venue with plenty of time to preview the course.  It definitely exceeded my expectations and was a truly classic cross course with a bit of everything (except room to rest!).

run-up to the tower

We had a larger field with over 30 women…I was the first one called up to the second row and the race was off on a very long pavement section. The course dumped into a twisty, technical mountain bike-like descent and climb with lots of roots and rocks.  As expected, it got a little crazy and I wasn’t quite where I hoped to be.  I stayed patient and was able to get around a bunch of people on an awkward off-camber turn.

By the end of the first lap I could see the leaders just ahead and I was with a really strong lady who was bunny-hopping the railroad ties and riding the long run-up.  Funny enough I was able to ride the shorter run-up that she had to run.  We stuck together for a large portion of the race, until she bobbled on the bunny hop and I was able to run past her and get a small gap.

She was joined by a few riders and I was never safe until the end; especially riding by myself.  The course was technical enough that I think I actually had an advantage over the group as I could choose my own lines and take those sections a bit faster.  I really learned for the first time how much seconds matter in cyclocross.  Every lap I could pick up a second or two and extend my gap a bit further.  My legs felt amazing; surprising after sitting in the car for so long.  I held my position in for sixth place, under a minute from the winner and around 20 seconds off the podium.  I was totally spent; I had fought harder than ever for that place!   I surprised myself by riding with and ahead of some women who just crushed me last year.  It was like everything clicked and I finally understood how to dig deep and race.

We were lucky to find a reasonably priced, nice hotel in Pennsylvania; they weren’t shy about poaching internet or towels from the hotel next door (perhaps why they were so affordable?).  Our room overlooked an outdoor bar and wedding reception, but we were so tired the noise didn’t faze us…in bed by 8pm!  In the morning I couldn’t resist eating at this place:

"Meghan's"...they even spelled it right (forgive the poor picture quality)!

photo: Ethan Glading/CX Magazine

The long run-up now had a tight 180 degree turn at the top and more than once I found myself descending the steep hill without my feet in the pedals!  On the final lap I passed a rider and thought I had a good chance of holding her off if I entered the run-up/descent first.  My effort paid off and I held off the charging riders behind me for fourth!

photo: Molly Hurford/CX Magazine

The new bike provided confidence and felt amazing from the start; the brake cable guides prevented any brake chatter and the internal cables in the flattened top tube were a really nice feature when lifting the bike.  Though the geometry is less aggressive than Stevens’ carbon models, it is much more aggressive than what I had before and handles extremely well.  At 5’1″ I have a hard time finding bikes that fit and was pleased that the 49 fit well (I came from a 44)…it took no time to adjust to the geometry.  Best of all, I no longer have issues with toe overlap with the front wheel and the top tube’s position and shape provide ease of shouldering.

We quickly reorganized/repacked the car and hit the road..only to unload everything and sleep in the trunk somewhere along the way in Tennessee, as the drive was a lot more taxing the second time.  I guess I can sleep well anywhere!

I have never really had team or sponsor support like I have in my second Elite season and it’s definitely encouraged me to step it up a lot from last year.  I cracked the top 20 in USA Cycling’s rankings and it’s largely due to: Dave, Speed Cycling, Omnium Bodyworks, Bob’s Red Mill, Stevens, Carroll Composites, Mad Alchemy, Challenge, Uvex, Shimano, Princeton Tech and Feedback Sports, my friends and family.  Thanks for believing in me!

I managed to get my first Cyclingdirt interview HERE and made the elusive “Who’s #1?” weekly rankings!  Headed in the right direction…

Equally exciting as the racing was a chance to catch up with some close friends.  Laura and I have been friends since high school; she and her husband, Mark, live in Fort Collins and graciously hosted me from Thursday-Monday.  They even let me borrow a car and cooked me some amazing meals!

I expected the Front Range to be dry and dusty; sure enough, my pre-ride on Friday met my expectations with a completely exposed, bumpy, bone-dry and rock-hard course.  It was a fairly technical course with the most climbing I’d encountered this season.  I really enjoyed the layout and knew it would be a tough race…not to mention that a lot of pros come out of the woodwork at any event in Colorado!  The super-stacked women’s field had about 50 women.

I had to rush straight from the course to a video shoot for Bob’s Red Mill.  My teammate Joe and I did a short cooking segment that aired during the live race coverage ONLINE.  We had a lot of fun and made delicious bran flax muffins:

it's true; Joe only cooks in his team jacket!

Check out the Bob’s Red Mill recipe finder HERE for some great ideas!

Somehow the weather changed from warm, dry and sunny to nearly freezing, windy and pouring rain with threats of snow literally overnight!  I usually overpack for any race I enter, but it was a last-minute trip, still pretty early in the season and I didn’t see that coming.  Fortunately I was able to pick up a pair on the way to the race!

My light packing also extended to my equipment; it was enough to drag a boxed bike around the airport (physically and financially)…I don’t know how racers travel with pit bikes and several sets of wheels, but I guess they’re probably not traveling alone!  Truthfully it was nice to deal with less gear in the cold rain anyway…

The venue provided a familiar sight on Saturday: mud fest!  However, this mud was more soupy and slick than the previous race in Wisconsin.  I didn’t even bother to pre-ride the course in those conditions and focused on staying warm.  It was around 40 degrees but the harsh wind and moisture made it feel much colder.  Luckily Fuji/KCCX/Challenge helped me out big time with a trainer and tent to use and my teammate lent me a set of Limus-mounted wheels to gain traction in the mud.

Even though I moved to the southeast, I actually prefer cold weather to race in.  I had a good warm-up and was feeling great until the race started..suddenly I was SO cold.  My legs didn’t want to move and I felt like I was in slow motion on the first lap (in reality my lap times improved as the race went on, but only marginally).

photo: Laura Machacek

I thought warm thoughts and tricked myself into believing them.  Soon enough, I came around and started picking off people.  My drivetrain got muddy and I rode through puddles to clean it off.  Probably not the best idea but it worked!  I got some praise from a spectator, “way to ride that puddle!”  haha…

My wheel suddenly caught a rut and jammed into a stake lining the course.  My bike stopped but I kept going, right into the steerer tube in a very bad way.  It hurt SO much; I kind of just fell off the bike into the mud, stunned.  The people I had worked so hard to pass passed me back and I had to shake it off and get back into the race.  I made up time, but not quite enough.

photo: Laura Machacek

I didn’t need much of a cool-down as I was soaking wet and chilled to the bone.  I changed as quickly as possible and we headed to a hot tub to relax and recover.  Little did I know during the race that I had sliced open my skinsuit and exposed myself to the world!

oops! sorry if anyone got a show...

Panache makes the best custom clothing I’ve ever seen and I was bummed to ruin my skinsuit (fortunately I had another one!).  Sunday was a very different day and the rain was gone.  It was incredibly windy and the course was tacky and really fast.

photo: Mark Machacek

The race was super fast, indeed, and it felt great to be able to put the power down.  I found myself in one of the chase groups.

Velo Vivid takes amazingly beautiful photos; check out his photo below and his gallery HERE.

photo: Velo Vivid

There was a point where I slammed my handlebar into my mouth on a run-up and thought I knocked all out my teeth (my front teeth are half-fake from an incident in 1st grade..not something I want to repeat!).  I was a bit dazed but pretended it didn’t happen.  I managed to keep my focus and get ahead of my entire group by the finish.

I didn’t have an extraordinary placing but it was still a strong race for me.  I learned a lot about patience, focus and racing with a group.  Surprisingly the altitude didn’t affect me at all!  I actually forgot we were near 5000′ until people kept complaining about it.  Asheville is in a valley but a lot of my rides go above four or five thousand feet so I guess that’s all one needs to acclimate!

My trip was great and I really value the experience to race around the country.  When I returned home I had a new job to start and some surprises waiting:

maybe I need to leave town more often...

It’s pure coincidence that everything matches!  The Stevens Prestige would be my first new cross bike in three years and like all of my bikes (by chance) it is red!

Thanks so much to Laura and Mark for being the best hosts ever, Pro Bikes for lending me the bike box, Speed Cycling, Omnium Bodyworks, Bob’s Red Mill, Stevens, Panache, Carroll Composites, Mad Alchemy, Shimano, Challenge and Uvex for making it all possible!

This season I’ve been lucky enough to have the support of Omnium Bodyworks; never before have I had a cycling-specific massage or regular massage for that matter.  All too often recovery is overlooked when it is just as important as training!  Tavis undid all the damage training, racing and stress had done to my body and I was ready to take on Sun Prairie…

Dave and I are always excited to return to Wisconsin as it still feels like home; Asheville is amazing but it’s so nice to visit our friends and families!  We stopped in Kentucky on Thursday night and drove 10 hours straight to the course just in time to pre-ride and pick up our numbers on Friday.  Our friends and former co-workers were nice enough to let us stay with them for the weekend!

Last year this was my first cross race (and first at the UCI level) and basically, I survived; this season I was much better prepared and hoping for a good result on the “home” course.  I put more pressure on myself to do well when it’s in front of everyone I know and since moving, I’ve only had lackluster results when back in Wisconsin.

Though there are a lot of unknowns at the first USGP of the season, this time I didn’t feel so nervous.  While waiting for my new frame I had the same no-frills but solid bike set-up that I had since I started riding three years ago…but this time I got to race on carbon wheels for the first time (for cross)!  My Challenge Grifos mounted up super easily to the wide profile on NC-based Carroll Composite’s cyclocross-specific G:38x wheels.

Another exciting addition to my bike was an ultra fancy name badge:

powered by Bob's Red Mill!

It began to spit rain while I lined up on the second row:

I was plenty warm with my Mad Alchemy embrocation and awesome Panache Cyclewear jacket though!

We were off and I had a decent start:

photo: Lyne Lamoureaux

We were in a long line and it was difficult to pass at first but eventually things opened up on the fast course.  I found myself moving up in a couple different groups.  My legs felt great and thanks to Gordy’s coaching I was able to stay with the moves.  Last year I would have been dropped for sure.

Mountain biking seems to be a time trial more often than not and my experience riding with others was very limited.  However, I stayed calm, focused and patient as we worked together through the field.  I saw that Mo and Kathy were not too far ahead and thought maybe they were within reach.

While at the front I went to make my move and promptly slid out in the slick grass, nearly taking out the group behind me on the last lap.  This was the worst time to make an error but I managed to tack back onto the group, make a pass on the run up and sprint in for 15th and the last UCI point!  Exergy Development Group came on as a late sponsor of the USGP and offered EQUAL prize money for the women, which is huge.  The women’s fields are growing tremendously in size and depth and the payout absolutely encourages more participation.

The competition stepped up a lot this year and I was very happy with 15th at a C1 event.  I finally put on a decent race for my parents, coach and friends.

I have the best boyfriend

The rain did not stop and we had a total mudfest on Sunday.  My teammate lent me a set of mud wheels mounted with Challenge Limus tires (amazing traction, by the way) and a friend let me borrow his teenage daughter’s pit bike.  I had never had a pit bike (or used the pit before) so it was really nice to have the option.

I had a mediocre start but moved up quickly into the top ten.  The mud was crazy but I was handling it pretty well, despite my lack of mud experience (threats of mud always canceled local races in the past).  I was on track to have a really great race but felt my bike quickly packing up with mud, gumming up the gears and picking up a lot of weight.  I decided to go for the pit halfway through the race.

Within a minute I knew something was wrong and realized on the first turn that the rear wheel was coming out of the frame.  I got off the bike to put it back in but the skewer was faulty and it wouldn’t stay tight.  I tried to coast down the descents and run on the other sections but the wheel would lock up in the frame…I was reduced to running almost a full lap since I had just left the pit.

Off the back I just kept running and got a lot of encouragement from the spectators.  I scored a few dollars on the run-up; a small consolation…

photo: Nate Vergin

My legs were pretty shot by the time I finally reached the pit and finished my last lap, but I kept my head up and finished…that is just how racing goes sometimes.  If I hadn’t pitted I certainly would have slowed down even more with the mud build-up and the derailleur could have broken off; who knows.

This was the first time in racing that I realized how much money can play a role at this level in the sport and it was a bit discouraging (one basic bike and wheelset never failed me in the past)…investing in equipment is out of the question right now.  Fortunately I DO have more support than I’ve ever been offered before and that is what’s keeping me going!

Still, I was able to take a lot of positivity from the race and I learned so much.  I am incredibly thankful that I was able to borrow equipment and give it my best.  Big thanks to Bob’s Red Mill, our team sponsors, Speed Cycling, Omnium Bodyworks, Dave, our friends and families for making it all possible!

Dave drove home the next morning for work and I spent the week in Madison and Chicago, taking advantage of my unemployment (the only upside is free time): catching up with friends, family, going to cross practice and seeing my favorite yoga instructor, finishing up the weekend at a best friend’s wedding…the things that money can’t buy!

On one hand I was thrilled that the cyclocross season had begun and I could share the experience with such an amazing coach, team, sponsors, friends; in the “other” part of my life I was unemployed for the third time in a year, without a backup plan and a huge stack of bills…

Moving to Asheville had a lot to do with getting out of my comfort zone and setting myself up to better achieve my cycling goals; getting settled has been more challenging than I anticipated but challenge was the point.  It might seem crazy to shape my life around the dream of “making it” in a professional sport that ultimately does not pay the bills, but I’ve been so lucky to have Dave, our parents, family and friends behind me the whole time.  In the same time the patience, hard work and dedication has me pointed in the right direction.

That being said, Apple Cross and Cross Vegas left me very tired but also very hungry for more.  Maybe the sleep deprivation was getting to me but I decided to race the Mud Sweat & Gears series openers in Unicoi, TN.  Dave and I did a few of these races last year and always had a great time.  Hours after I arrived in Asheville I was on the road again!

The Farmhouse Gallery proved to be an incredible setting for a cross race; nestled in the mountains the beautiful gardens had it all–peacocks, a covered bridge, barbeque…the course was pretty fun too!  It was nice to reunite with the eastern TN/western NC cx contingent before racing on what felt very much like a perfect summer day.

the start! photo: David Tankersley

I took the hole shot and tried my best to get a gap the women and target the Cat 3 men who started a couple of minutes before us.

a bit lonely on the first lap..photo: Rachel Wingo-Hager

The short drive to Unicoi had me feeling sluggish, but the race atmosphere rejuvenated me and my stress must have fueled my legs.  Somehow I felt stronger as the race went on; I worked my way through the men’s field and almost made the top five!  After the race I was utterly surprised and honored when a couple of ladies asked for advice on cornering in the technical sections.  Luckily we had enough time to get some skills practice in before the men’s race began!

I found some company! photo: David Lehn

Since the venue was only about an hour away, I had the luxury of sleeping in my own bed on Saturday night.  Sunday’s course was run backwards and it felt equally fun but even faster!

photo: David Lehn

photo: David Lehn

My race went about the same as it had the first day, though fatigue was setting in and I admit that the finish line was a welcome sight.

Dave still had some residual damage from his broken heel and tibia, but he had been mountain biking again and decided to give racing a shot.  As per usual we quickly swapped the one nice wheelset we’ve shared since last season.  He held his own in the P/1/2 field–impressive considering he couldn’t walk for most of the summer!

breaking in the new skinsuit and looking GOOD! photo: David Lehn

The weekend was a blast and just what I needed mentally.  Thank you MSG Cyclocross and Farmhouse Gallery!  Having the opportunity to do five races in nine days in three very different time zones and states was a first for me and what I consider “living the dream.”  It’s far too easy to lose encouragement in times of difficulty but I kept my head up and my focus and drive were renewed…

However, things don’t always go as planned and my job ended that week.  It would be for the best, but I suddenly found myself in the increasingly familiar and stressful position of unemployment, without options, benefits or a backup plan.  Not exactly how I wanted to start the cyclocross season!

I was beyond anxious and stressed, but since I had already paid for the flight I was set on making the trip work.  Tiny bikes from Stevens were temporarily unavailable and I couldn’t afford to fly with my bike.  Dave works for a Fuji dealer and Fuji was nice enough to make last-minute arrangements for me to borrow their top-end cross bike for the race.  In a matter of hours everything came together!

I think I had a few hours of sleep between arriving home from Apple Cross, figuring out where in Kentucky Dave lost his phone (big thanks to the employees at Starbucks off exit 110 on I-75 who came to the rescue!), unpacking, cleaning my race gear, repacking and driving our car to Atlanta in time for my flight to Vegas…yes, it was a crazy time (hence the delay in blogging)…

Kim picked me up at the airport and I was so thankful to be able to avoid the smoke, lights, casinos, etc. and crash in a normal place.  We grew up together but hadn’t seen each other in a couple of years; it was great to catch up!

The time change (3 hour difference!) really threw me off.  I was up bright and early; luckily so was my teammate Mitchell and his dad.  We met up to explore Dirt Demo as it opened.  I was expecting unbearably hot, dry dusty conditions but to my delight and surprise it was raining and in the 60′s.  The rain subsided enough for us to check out and test ride some fancy new bikes.

While I was drooling over the new Fizik saddles, they hooked me up with some awesome custom insoles:

this is all I have to show from Dirt Demo..

I appreciated the chance to spin some of the travel out of my legs and that evening we met up with a teammate, Ryan, to pre-ride the Cross Vegas course.  It was pretty much how I remembered it from watching the first year: a super fast, non-technical soccer field dirt crit.  Nothing about it really suited my strengths or was very typical of cyclocross courses:

yes, this is Vegas!! photo: SmartStop/ Mock Orange Bikes CX Team

However, for Las Vegas and a soccer field, the course really was very well-designed and extremely spectator-friendly…good thing since they claimed 10,000 people would be watching!  I knew the course would be hard, but I was surprised at how power-sucking the spongy grass was from the rain, even at a slow pace…still, I was looking forward to the Biggest Cyclocross Race in America (and praying for even more rain)!

On Wednesday more teammates arrived (Marne and Andy) and we had a chance to check out Interbike and visit with our incredible sponsors.  There was a silver lining to not working at Interbike and for at least a day, all I had to worry about was racing my bike (ah the life of a pro!).

It was difficult to plan for such a late race (11:30pm eastern time) on a bike I had never ridden before, but everyone was in the same boat.  Plus, no one really knows what to expect at the first big race of the season.  It stopped raining and Stevens hooked it up with a tent to use front and center!

best seats in the house! next to Sierra Nevada and Qdoba..oh, and the start/finish!

The fields were pretty large (50 women registered) and insanely deep.  I was used to starting at the back last season and was surprised to find that I just missed the second row for call-ups as #18.  Marne was also on the third row:

photo: SmartStop/ Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley CX Team

I had a great start but so did a lot of people behind me.  My legs felt great during my warm-up, but they quickly turned to lead on the furiously fast first lap.  I managed to stick with a chase group, but not the one I was hoping for.  We managed to pick off a few riders ahead of us.

the NC girls find each other! photo: SmartStop/Mock Orange Bikes p/b Ridley

After a few laps my legs really came around and I felt stronger.  It was painful for sure but I really started to enjoy the race, spectators and atmosphere.  We shared the workload but I don’t think we were really making up much time on the riders ahead of us and those behind us were dangerously close.

photo: 20PoundSkull

I tried to attack and followed moves that were made but everything was always brought back.  Mountain biking does not exactly lend itself to tactical experience but I tried to ride smart–I worked, but did not tow everyone around–as I was surrounded by roadies.  I knew it was going to come down to a sprint (for 25th, if that means anything) and watched for the move that was sure to come.

The finishing straight was never ending and slightly uphill.  I was in a good position but jumped a few seconds too late to take the sprint.  I finished up 27th.  We were right behind Marne, who was 24th.

I was pretty neutral on my result; not thrilled but not terribly disappointed.  I could tell that I had improved a lot over last season and everyone really stepped it up and was starting the season super strong.  I learned a lot and had a chance to work on my weaknesses.  Cross Vegas was such a bizarre race experience but it was a blast and in Vegas, I would expect nothing less!

Reality came back all too quickly; instead of attending the famous Sinclair party, I had a very painful 6am flight the next morning to Atlanta, where I was due for a final work meeting…

Thanks to the Cross Vegas promoters for doing an excellent job, Kim for being such a great friend, host, and race supporter, my coach Gordy, Bob’s Red Mill Cyclocross team, our sponsors for making it all possible, and Fuji for helping out in a pinch!

]]> http://meghankorol.wordpress.com/2011/10/18/cross-vegas/feed/ 0 35.600945 -82.554015 35.600945 -82.554015 296757_271767209514446_269790366378797_1010238_207617796_n meghan! photo-33 318561_222247181163996_199066930148688_586198_669712501_n 302738_10100721694180957_8600931_65108970_263779920_n 317591_222730757782305_199066930148688_588031_139220854_n 316118_222730997782281_199066930148688_588040_1011054912_n 296757_271767209514446_269790366378797_1010238_207617796_n http://meghankorol.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/hubers-apple-cross/ http://meghankorol.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/hubers-apple-cross/#comments Sun, 09 Oct 2011 17:28:12 +0000 Meghan http://meghankorol.wordpress.com/?p=1127 Read more]]> I had been anxiously waiting for the cyclocross season to start and it finally did two weeks after the Tsali Challenge.  For the past two years I have had the pleasure of representing Bob’s Red Mill on the cross bike and this season I couldn’t be happier to join the Louisville, KY-based Bob’s Red Mill elite cyclocross team!

Bob’s Red Mill is committed to providing natural whole-grain foods and a healthy lifestyle.  Their incredible array of gluten-free products makes my tastebuds and belly happy (I have a sensitivity to gluten).  I couldn’t ask for better products to fuel my health, training and racing!

The BRM team is lucky enough to ride Stevens bicycles, Carroll Composites wheels with Challenge tires.  Panache Cyclewear’s amazing custom apparel truly makes us the most comfortable and best-dressed team out there!  Mad Alchemy embrocation keeps our legs fresh and warm, Squirt lube saves our drivetrains and Princeton Tec lights keep us safe and visible.

With Scheller’s Fitness and Cycling we hosted the season opener, Huber’s Apple Cross, across the Ohio River from Louisville in beautiful Starlight, IN.  The weekend kicked off with Ryan Trebon’s clinic at Eva Bandman Cyclocross Venue (home of the USGP Derby City Cup and CX Worlds).  The events benefited the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research.

My teammate Mitchell designed the flyers:

Dave and I left Asheville on Friday night after work.  I had plans to race Cross Vegas the following week and only planned to work the race; however I brought my bike in hopes of getting in some good practice.

It still felt very much like summer and was hot, dry and sunny, but the apple orchard brought fond memories of fall.  We made good time, got our beautiful new skinsuits and I couldn’t not race.  I met and warmed up with my awesome teammate Marne.

It was somewhat disorienting to jump into ‘cross mode after 6 hours in the car and months off from racing but I was excited to give it a go:

photo: Scheller's Cross for Cancer

The fields were small but deep with several UCI-points holders in attendance.  I had a great start, taking the hole-shot and enjoyed the fun, challenging course.  I felt a bit rusty on the barriers at first, but it all came back quickly.

photo: Scheller's Cross for Cancer

I extended my lead, but got caught in the tape exiting the pit after a bottle (it was in the 80′s so this was allowed).  That was all Nikki needed to catch me, as she bridged up with a male master’s rider.  She took advantage of my mistake and attacked.  I came back fighting but couldn’t quite close the gap and took second place by a few seconds.  Marne overcame some mechanical issues for third.

That night Dave and I got dinner with some of our teammates and Ryan.  Mitchell’s parents were incredibly welcoming and opened their house for us to spend the night.  We stayed with them last year for the USGP and it was nice to catch up and relax!

I was eager to race again and Sunday’s race began as a replica of Saturday on a reversed course.  I built a steady lead and was riding well.

photo: Scheller's Cross for Cancer

There was one downhill section with a small jump that I was able to get a little air on!  It was really fun.  Then I made a couple of tiny mistakes and Nikki caught me again.  Again I was second and Marne was third.

photo: Scheller's Cross for Cancer

I raced tired both days and think the travel and stress caught up with me, but I was pleased with the weekend.  Thanks to my coach, Gordy, I’ve been able to improve my weaknesses and fitness tremendously.  I had a lot of fun meeting my team and catching up with the crossers I met last season.  We enjoyed a big feast at the famous Joe Huber Restaurant and I returned home with good feelings for the upcoming season and a LOT of delicious apples!

After a long, late drive back to Asheville I kind of slept and hit the road first thing Monday morning for Atlanta and on to Las Vegas…

It seems like a lifetime ago, but at the very end of August I returned to racing at the Tsali Challenge Off-Road Triathlon.  After the Windham World Cup my focus shifted away from mountain bike racing.  I led my usual weekly mountain bike group rides, contested the sprints at the local Ring of Fire crits with the men…thought about cyclocross a lot..

I hadn’t planned on moving or racing at that point but I did both within a week.  A few days before the race I was invited to join the Nantahala Outdoor Center’s woman relay team for the second year in a row and I couldn’t pass up a chance to defend our title!

Our team was almost identical to last year; Brandy took Liza’s place as our runner:

1. paddle (Maria) 2. trail run (Brandy) 3. mountain bike (me)

It was nice to return to Tsali as I hadn’t been back since the the first SERC race in April.  Same as before, my stomach was causing me a lot of distress, though I’ve resolved most of the issues I used to have.  Maybe it is something about Tsali?  Haha.  Anyway I had plenty of time for my stomach to settle as I was the anchor for my team.

Maria had the largest handicap on the water but she is a beast and quickly picked off those who started before her:

Maria drilling it

She put us in a great starting position and handed off the “baton” to Brandy:

smooth transition!

Brandy on the run

her biggest fan!

Meanwhile I warmed up, but stayed close to the transition area at the trailhead as I didn’t want to miss Brandy coming in.

ready to ride!

I was pretty sure that we were winning the women’s division after my teammates’ efforts so the pressure was on to bring it home!  Nothing is certain until the finish line.  I got to practice my cyclocross mount out of transition and I was off to a fast start.  The course followed the left loop first (opposite of how I normally ride it) so it was fun to have a different perspective of the trail.

Tsali never disappoints with its fun, fast, flowy trails and the race was a blast!  I had done a tough track workout the day before, but my legs and stomach cooperated.  All of the stress from moving was shut out of my mind.  My aim was to put in a hard time trial effort and pick off as many men as possible!

For under an hour all that mattered was my bike and the trail; I finished strong and happy for the fourth fastest overall bike split:

We won the women’s division by over 17 minutes and finished 7th out of 40 teams!  Not too shabby.

Best of all we won a child-sized trophy!

It was an honor to represent the Nantahala Outdoor Center on their home trails!  That was a very difficult time and I was totally stressed out; an unexpected race turned out to be the perfect relief.  Thanks and congrats to my teammates for a fun day!

However there is a silver lining and our new place is not only brand new (we are the first tenants!) it is ON the Pisgah National Forest map!  We were extremely lucky to find a good rental on such short notice.  Not only is it close to the trails but our new home is off one of the few designated bike routes and we can easily commute by bike into town.

I can’t believe it’s already (only?) been a year that I’ve lived in Asheville but I love it.  Though the details of my address may change I think it’s safe to say that I’m not going anywhere for a while…

photo: Asheville Convention & Visitors Bureau

When I was packing up my old place I saw a lady on my street teaching her grandson how to ride a bike.  The bike was way too big and he kept crashing.  He got frustrated and they gave up trying…

The next day I saw the kid fly down the street on his bike, alone and happy and he continued to ride it every day.  It has been about 20 years but I still remember the feeling of riding a bike for the first time.  It is the feeling of freedom.