interbike 2007

really really glad to be back home in CO. i think if i were to stay in vegas any longer, i would be permanently exhausted for the rest of my life, and broke.
i got back last night, and was very happy to see the snow capped mountains as the plane descended into denver. finally back to some sort of reality and realness- vegas was so surreal and fake that i couldn't take it...
on tuesday, met up with dave from vanderkitten and the rest of the crew to set up the booth. pretty exciting since its the first year for them at interbike, and i was there to help promote it- but also a little weird handing my photo out to everyone-
on wednesday night, i did the vegas cross race which started at 7:30pm in a park which contained some of the only grass in vegas, and we were about to tear it up, literally. sort of pathetic i think. the air was so dry; i am still having chest/throat issues from it. i got called up third row so pretty shitty, since i didn't race last year and had no points. i knew the parade lap was going to be ugly since the field was stacked. at the start, melissa thomas missed her pedal and screwed up my already horrible start- but once everyone settled a bit after the parade lap, i got the chance to weave my way through the girls to get up to a group that i was happy with-it was really similar to a crit since it was so fast and windy. i was able to work in well, and felt like maybe i should try to get away, since i felt good. but i stayed in the pack- which looking back, i wish i would have tried to... since with 2 laps to go, a girl crashed in front of me on the barriers, and i lost the group- and then the attacks started at the front and there was no way for me to get back on- so i cruised in with my teammate anna- i have no idea where i was- somewhere between 18th-25th so i heard. i am ok with it, but i think i could have placed better-
the race was over, and it was time to enjoy myself- i met up with a good friend from KU jed schneider who is responsible for getting me into this madness called racing way back in 1999. the rest of the week was filled with all kinds of craziness that i can't write about- i am glad to be back, and glad that the next interbike is a good year away...

local scene

this past weekend, i headed down to the springs with megan m. and ann t. to test my skills at the first cross race of the season- i had no expectations other than getting the jitters out before vegas. so besides megan monroe and ann trombley, katie compton and kelli emmett decided to show up too- pretty good showing for a little local cross race- there were also another 15 or so women lined up, which i was surprised at since in kansas there are maybe 3...
the start was pretty tame, as we filed behind katie up the first hill. after a few shifting positions, we settled in- and it stayed that way for most of the race- katie up front (big surprise), megan and ann duking it out together as i fought behind them alone in the wind. kelli i think was tired from riding earlier, so she was behind me. i held the gap from megan and ann most of the race, but since i had no one to work with, i couldn't close it. i ended up a respectable 4th place, just out of the money. thats ok though, it was a good race and i was happy with it, and i feel good about going into vegas. now its time to rest up, and get on a plane- and head toward the chaos of ibike..

head'in to Vegas...

So, next week is the first cross race of the year- i will be getting ready for it by racing on the local cross scene this weekend in Colorado springs- if all goes well, i will be set for duking it out with the big dogs in vegas...
im a little nervous about cross vegas, mostly because i have no idea how i measure up to the other girls- having to sit out most of last cross season- but i have been training pretty hard, and doing those practice cross races in boulder for the last 4 weeks, so i have to have some fitness right now- i think my nervousness will change into excitement as soon as i get there, and preride the course. its on a golf course, and i am sure there will be some sand...

i am super excited to see everyone again- meeting new teammates and hanging out with the gang from xc. last year's interbike was really fun, so i am sure if nothing else it will be a good time. and of course, working for vanderkitten should be interesting...