November 2015 – Heidi Rides Bikes

Of mud & snow

November 25, 2015 The Adventuring Heidi

Last weekend I was all amped up to finally get out on the fat bike, and then mother nature and WYDOT had different plans, and all the roads leading to Happy Jack were closed. Crushed, I quickly took to washing my cyclocross bike to make CycloX Louisville as a last minute idea to save my day and to prevent me from moping on the couch.

The overnight snow in Louisville had thawed and created epic mud conditions by my 2:45pm race time. I gotta admit, I’m not the biggest fan of racing my cat 3 category, but I toed the line in a second row call up, and decided my goal would be to ride the hard, “Certain Death” line (the other option is called “Momma’s Boy” haha) each lap and just survive.

Slick as snot mud (Photo by Terri Smith)

It was… well, a very very very hard race! The mud was slippery as hell, and I can’t even recall how many times I ended up on the ground, usually when I was least expecting it. I did have one mechanical mishap when my front brake cable quick release came undone, so I had to stop and re-attach it, which caused me quite a few spots. Nearing the end of the 3-lap race my rear wheel was stopped up with mud and grass so I had to fiddle with it a bit as well. Overall the race involved way too much running/walking/hobbling/slipping up hills, and as a person whose strength is staying on the bike, it wasn’t that enjoyable. Honestly, I was happy when the race was done… I finished 17th out of 20. Compared to last year under dry conditions where I finished absolutely DFL, I was happy I at least held on for something. And yep, rode Certain Death all three laps!

I'm becoming rather adept at drivetrain-side dismounts and flying remounts (Photo by Brent Murphy) — I’m becoming rather adept at drivetrain-side dismounts and flying remounts (Photo by Brent Murphy)

So much ridiculousness by the final lap that I was laughing about the horror of it all (Photo by Brent Murphy)

Coming down Certain Death (Photo by Shawn Curry)

I finally had my go at fat biking today at Happy Jack thanks to a break before the next winter storm. Oh man, it felt so good to get out there on the snowy single track! A change I made this year is the decision to run clipless pedals on my fat bike. Last year I really struggled with the steep learning curve of platform pedals, especially on climbs. Luckily, that is now all remedied, and I learned clipless wasn’t the hassle I thought it would be, even with snow packed cleats! It started out sunny and about 28 degrees, and after two hours of riding it was 14 degrees and the mountains were socked in with fog. Frost was starting to collect on all surfaces, making things very pretty. I pedaled about 11.8 miles in that two hours, reminding myself that fat biking is a lot slower going, albeit a blast! I did two descents of Haunted Forest, working on my descending technique that Georgia has been helping me with. I didn’t know quite how to dress, but ended up completely warm thanks to some new gear pieces:

Pearl Izumi Pro SoftShell Gloves – hands were super toasty the entire time, and never got soggy or sweaty unlike my other gloves. I decided to leave my pogies at home, and these gloves did great keeping my fingers and hands perfectly warm and dry!
Specialized Therminal tights and winter bibs – these were two items I just picked up on clearance from Specialized. I wore the tights over the 3/4 winter bibs, and was nervous about only have the tights over my calfs where the bibs ended and socks didn’t quite reach. To my surprised my legs were HOT this entire ride! I did have a few crashes in the snow, and moisture never leaked through, keeping me dry. Considering I got both of these items for half off, I think they were well worth the money (and versatile for many types of riding).

I also used my Sidi Ghibli winter SPD shoes and Specialized winter wool socks, and my feet stayed toasty even when the temperatures bottomed out. I had worn these shoes for CycloX Louisville and loved how they kept my feet dry even after being hosed off, so another versatile piece to my winter season biking gear collect.

so happy to be back on the fat bike!

Couple hours later and the fog moved in as I climbed up Pole Creek

My hair ended up sticking straight out the side and frozen solid by the time I got back to the car

Race Report

November shenanigans

November 19, 2015 The Adventuring Heidi

Wyoming State Cyclocross Championships in Casper (Photo: Luke Blair)

Whoa, I think I finally enjoying cyclocross a bit more?! After dialing back racing a ton this season for my sanity and health, I came to the realization that there is no need to go and race every weekend. So I’ve been picking and choosing my races carefully. Since that means a wide open schedule, I decided to travel the 2.5 hours north to Casper to race at the Wyoming State Cyclocross Championships put on by Fat Fish Racing.

The weather was mild, yet windy (it’s oh so windy in Casper). The course was at Washington Park, and was quite difficult with a lot of steep off camber grass climbs and descents, some single track, barriers, dizzying spiral, and a steep dirt descent that was long and upwards of -35% grade at times that tested handling skills on skinny tires and the ability of canti rim brakes to slow a bike.

I must admit, I sometimes struggle at cross races without my constant tape and 9′ regulation width, but I soon figured out how to navigate the flags and cones that marked the course. The open/expert men and women lined up together for what would be an hour long race. Doesn’t seem like a lot, but when I’m use to 40 minutes of cross racing that extra 20 minutes is HARD! I tried for a good starting position, but the narrow-at-times course had people fighting for position. Luckily traffic thinned out and I set to keeping and building my lead over the other two female competitors. I didn’t feel well during the race, my legs seemed a bit dead and lacking in power – turns out my seat slide down 7cm! Not sure that’s the entire reason, but had to play a little part! On the bright side, I magically taught myself how to remount without stutter stepping, and remounted perfectly all 9 laps, so the barriers went super well. After a little over 58 minutes I cross the line as the women’s state champ! Woohoo!

The next day was a race north of Fort Collins, TCCX. TCCX = Tom Carter Cyclocross, a fundraiser for a local cyclist that had an unfortunate BMX accident and spent time in the ICU. There is nothing like a grassroots race in Fort Collins, as they know how to party and put together a good event! Mud was involved, much to my delight as it has been a mud free cross season for me thus far. 4 of us lined up for the open women’s race, including my friend Suzie and local 12 year old whiz kid Olivia. Since this was not USAC or anything stern and boring, there was a “Bourbon Bypass” that allowed one to skip a longer stair run up if you took a shot of whiskey at the bypass. Needless to say, that was definitely an advantage to a certain point!

Through the drainage canal on the first lap... shoes were still clean! — Through the drainage canal on the first lap… shoes were still clean!

The steep hill after the canal was a doozy... never could make it up! — The steep hill after the canal was a doozy… never could make it up!

The race was shenanigans filled! I took the Bourbon Bypass all 9 laps, so that goes without saying some bike handling might’ve gone out the window! But it was a ton of fun nonetheless with a great crowded heckling me on, and I was still remounting my bike properly! I ended up in 3rd place. I was in 2nd solidly for 6 laps, then decided to dial it back, take beer handups and just survive the 40 minute race 🙂

The shenanigans continued to the podium photos… naturally the kiddo beat us girls that were too busy partaking in adult beverages 🙂

Having way too much fun with this lovely lady both during and after the race!

Two fun races all in one weekend! Wow, I figured out how to make this cyclocross thing enjoyable! 🙂

Uncategorized

Balancing Act

November 1, 2015 The Adventuring Heidi

The days, weeks, and months since the end of mountain bike racing after the Leadville 100 haven’t been my healthiest. My body was flat worn out, and frankly I just didn’t have the physical mojo to really ride a bike. I tried as best as I could but then began the snowball of sickness and the aches and pains. After spending a few days in New Jersey helping my best friend finish up packing for her move to Florida, I came home and got one ride in before I was knocked flat down with a respiratory virus that left me in bed and out of work for days. I recovered, and headed to Cross of the North where I planned to race 5 times over 3 days. After the first race where I went 1st to last in about 16 minutes I was not feeling well, and suffered through the single speed race the next morning to come down with a horrible throbbing headache, nausea, fever, and general malaise. I skipped my afternoon SW3 race, and laid on the couch. With enough Tylenol and caffeine I survived to podium in SS the next morning, and survive to a “not last place” finish in SW3. OK, I’ll get over this I thought…

Singlespeed 4/5 podium at day 2 of Cross of the North

Then Monday after COTN I awoke in horrible flank pain right over my right kidney. I’ve been plagued with chronic kidney infections since I was very young, and all I could think was NO NO NO NO!!! I pounded 800mg of ibuprofen and went to sleep and woke up for my night shift hardly able to move with nausea and a fever. I made it exactly 20 minutes through my charge nurse handoff before the off-going nurse picked up the phone and call the house supervisor and said she was sending me home. Apparently me crying in the fetal position in a chair means I shouldn’t work. I endured a painful drive to an urgent care, and after huddling with a space heater in a ball was sent home with some antibiotics and nausea medicine. I then went through one of the worse nights ever as I had kidney spasm after kidney spasm that left me literally screaming and crying while my cat frantically circled me meowing. I woke up Tuesday in even worse pain – something way different than any other kidney infection I had ever had. My concerned parents drove over and fetched me up to deliver me to the ER. The doctor finally convinced me to allow them to give me 4mg of morphine after a long discussion so I could tolerate a full abdominal ultrasound. It did little for the pain, but I survived to get completely inconclusive results and a discharge home with more antibiotics. Days later the pain finally subsided, but the kidney would spasm every once in awhile and remind me it’s there. Another week of no riding down the tubes…

I finally gave racing cross another go at Blue Sky Velo Cup on the 24th, racing SS4/5 only since it followed my boyfriend’s SM5 race early in the morning. I had barely been on a bike and my body still seemed off. After taking the holeshot I spent 1.5 laps following a guy in an awesome skinsuit with “laser kittens” on it before overtaking the lead (in which the announcers yelled, “a young lady just took the lead!”). I widened the gap to almost 3 minutes by the time the race was over! I felt strong, even through the peanut butter thick clay mud, and cornering was on cue. I came in for the win with a “half post up” (uphill bumpy finish). Whoa, I just won my first ever USAC cyclocross race! It was a great comeback and conclusion to otherwise a month full of sickness and frustration!

Blue Sky Velo Cup - winner winner for single speed 4/5 — Blue Sky Velo Cup – winner winner for single speed 4/5

It’s all been a balancing act. My body was just done and I was suffering the consequences. Luckily in one aspect I was able to predict I wouldn’t have a great fall, and I scaled back on cyclocross this year (and started racing in a category I’m competitive in, instead of making myself miserable in the crazy hardcore SW3 field). But it’s been hard, and of course I’ve fallen into a rut of lots of couch time and no motivation for much else.

Tomorrow begins training for 2016. It’s gotten to the point I’ve gone quite stir crazy and need structured riding and workouts back in my life! Who would’ve thunk? Luckily I have my coach, Tony Diede with CritFit, to do all the thinking for me and I’m excited to get back at it. I know I’ve lost a lot of fitness in the past few months and I’m dreading to see my FTP number after tomorrow’s test, but I know I have plenty of time to rebuild before XC nationals in July! I’ve also taken steps to take care of my body physically, and have some specialist appointments coming up to see what’s with all the dying kidney nonsense, and I may be finally riding with my left knee covered to prevent yet another layer of scar tissue getting ripped off (don’t get cocky on beginner trails at Gowdy. ‘Nuff said).

For some fun randomness in no particular order….