Bike racing 101

The few, the brave, the unknowing, the anxious, the confident, the sexy, the fit, the best of the best came out for a weekend of bike racing in the San Inez/Goleta area this past weekend. The Poor College Boys race was on Saturday and what a course, what a day to ride and what a race. This was a road race, so not much opportunity to see a lot, but I got a good spot on a hill just after the start and had excellent views as they came screaming down the hill into the finish line. Too bad the camera battery died:(

Both the men and women were fired up for this first race of the year and all quads were firing. Love the sounds of racing and the views were spectacular:) CA Pools men were killing it, they are going to have a great season. Saw a bit of the women's and then lost track of which group belonged to which category so just cheered them all on. Scott Johnson of Bicycle John's pulled off a great race and bunny hopped a crash at the finish...great skills.

Sunday was all about women at the Mothballs criterium. Jennifer & Scott, Robb put up the Bicycle John's tent and made room for the ladies to warm up near the start line. Jill Gass gave a great clinic on criterium skills and Kim Anderson of Columbia High Road shared a few words of motivation for the first time racers.

This Cat 4 race was part of the Womens Cycling Challenge which is a movement to get more women to race. There were a few variations in the normal crit process but none the less everyone raced and had fun. Most received prizes or primes and everyone got a Bicycle John's WomenCyclist goodie bag complete with Gu, Shot bloks, Road Bike Action Magazine,Patch kit, wine opener, Action Wipes and chapstick:)

Team Echelon provided Susan Farber, sports psycology coach for before and after the race to help overcome some nervousness and learn from the race debriefing. A benefit that is beyond useful! Team Nexus ladies were in good form this spring as well. Avalon (Echelon) of course was her own force to be reckoned with---I think she used a bit of pent up anger at having her car stolen to motor down the course--she was a women possessed:)

We even had a fun ride on Sunday morning which I did ride and it was gorgeous, beautiful bike lanes and always a favorite to ride a double paceline with such skilled riders.

All in all, a great racing weekend and I was happy to be a part of it..even though I couldn't race. Until the next one: Congratulations to all the racers Men and WOMEN!

I posted photos on WomenCyclist facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moorpark-CA/Women-Cyclist/183785497458#/photo.php?pid=3200967&id=183785497458


RL