A little of everything

Sunday, 22 February

Today was a real mix. A race and a training ride. Drizzle, sun, wind, 62 degrees, and snow. 55x12 and I don't think it hurt enough.

Today was the 2009 edition of the Frostbite time trial. An elongated course this year to make sure we got the full, advertised 9 miles. A lot of really fine dirt on the road (left behind by the January floods) mixed with the occasional light drizzle and mocked anyone with white on their team kit. In my preride of the course, there was absolutely no wind; the flags hung limp against their poles.

I am always a little concerned before the first TT of the season about the switch from the compact gearing on my rain and race bikes to the monster 55-tooth chain ring on my TT bike. Within 500 meters of the start line today, I had a huge grin on my face. It is so much fun to go fast. :) But you can't breathe hard through a grin, so that was short lived. I spent the vast majority of the race in my 55x12--I guess I adjusted to the bigger chain ring okay.

In retrospect, I had too much fun and don't remember suffering enough. And since there are still no results, I keep trying to remind myself that if it wasn't a mental struggle to maintain the effort, then it wasn't enough effort and my result probably won't be great. At least I know I have to push myself harder next week at the Icebreaker TT.

Immediately postrace, I got a phone call from my husband, who was stranded about 10 miles away (on a solo training ride) with a broken chain. I went and picked him up, we went for coffee, met up with some BlueRoosters on their training ride who also stopped for coffee, and then set out on a little spin of our own. It was a hard ride, definitely more "tempo" than "easy spin" with two good climbs and a few rollers and some long, gradual draggy stuff into a stiff headwind. But beautiful scenery, really balmy sunshine, and STILL snow patches beside the road out by Lake Roesiger. Two hours of that and we were back at the car; I drove home, he rode.

It was a good day. TTs are just fun!

Hat explosion

Presidents' Day


In an attempt to get rid of some of the odd bits of yarn I have and also to inflict my hats on a greater audience, I've been making new hats to take to the bike swap next Sunday. Baby hats, kid hats, adult hats, even one "team" hat--all with yarn leftovers. Priced accordingly. See you at the swap!

One of our own

Friday the 13th

Hot local bike racer makes the news. See #10:

http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/seattles-sexiest-2009/Content?oid=1098595

Can you really "ride the Alps" in 130 miles?

(Don't worry, it's probably OK to view this at work, even if it is The Stranger.)

Lemon meringue unpie

Saturday, 7 February

Making a whole lemon meringue pie for two people seemed like a bad idea: too much of a really good thing. But apart from the sugar, the lemon filling and meringue aren't really that heavy/fattening/"rich." So I made half a recipe and put it in ramekins--without any pie crust. All the lemony flavor and light meringuey goodness without the high-fat pie crust. Mmmmmm!

The community mourns

Wednesday, 4 February

In a tragic bike-car collision in Ballard this morning, we lost cyclist Kevin Black of the Alki Rubicon team. My thoughts and prayers go out to Kevin's family and friends and teammates and especially to his two little girls.

Details of the accident have not been released; the Seattle Times' story is here.

Ride safe, and hug the ones you love. Often.

Bend

Tuesday, 3 February

Wow! Congratulations to Bend, Oregon! According to rumors flying around the internet today, in 2009 and 2010 that city will host not only cyclocross national championships but also elite road national championships. That's more than a small feat for a state that is not a member of USA Cycling, whose championships these are. Much credit is due to the Oregon Bicycle Racing Association for the incredible job it has done to grow excitement and enthusiasm and familiarity for cycling in local communities (government, sponsors, volunteers). Hosting road nationals is not a money-making venture, so obviously the right pieces were able to come together to make things happen for Bend. What great news to launch the 2009 road season!