Race Report: Mason Lake #3

March 21, 2015, 7:04 pm

≫ Next: Race Recaps: Lord Hill and Beezley Burn

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Congrats to our Cat 4 ladies on a great race at Mason Lake #3!

Photo credit: David Jang

Here’s a recap from Almie:

There were four of us representing Spokeswomen: Anne-Gi, Laura, Tracy and myself. I’m so lucky to have such an awesome team! There were 30 women total in our race, and they brought it — thankfully it was a dry 24 miles!

The race started out fast and stayed that way. It was great to stay in the pack longer than I did last week but ultimately got dropped on one of inclines, rode for a bit and traded pulls with Tracy, and then I was solo again. I spent sometime getting comfortable in my drops while shifting/braking…it was much easier than I had anticipated. On the 2nd lap, I rode for a short bit with some Cat 4 men — they were much bigger and faster which made latching on way easy.

Results

• Laura: 16th
• Anne-Gi: 25th
• Almie: 27th
• Tracy: 29th

The main takeaway for me is: IT IS GOING TO BURN, IT IS GOING TO HURT, YOU WILL NEED TO SUCK IT UP, and PEDAL FAST. The pain is only temporary. Duly noted. Game on.

Cheers to the next race!
-Almie

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Race Recaps: Lord Hill and Beezley Burn

March 28, 2015, 6:57 pm

≫ Next: Sponsor Shout-Out: Veloce Velo

≪ Previous: Race Report: Mason Lake #3

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Our Spokeswomen racers continue to crush the competition on the dirt! Some great results from this month:

Congrats to teammate Lisa Toner for making it on the podium and for being the fastest overall Cat 2 woman at the Budu mountain bike race at Lord Hill Park. Well done!

Kudos as well to Delia, who finished 2nd in Cat 1 at the Beezley Burn mountain bike race in Ephrata!

Sponsor Shout-Out: Veloce Velo

April 18, 2015, 7:18 pm

≫ Next: Race Recap: BuDu Series – Cookin’ the Kettles

≪ Previous: Race Recaps: Lord Hill and Beezley Burn

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Thank you to Veloce Velo Bicycles for keeping us fueled for our team ride this weekend! We took advantage of the amazing weather on Saturday to spin out to May Valley, do some intervals, and work on pace lining with some of our newer team members.

We loved hanging out at the shop before (and after) the ride, getting a few quick adjustments to our bikes, and picking up some awesome products. Ride on!

Race Recap: BuDu Series – Cookin’ the Kettles

May 2, 2015, 9:09 pm

≫ Next: Race Recaps: Roslyn Rush & Echo Valley 30/60

≪ Previous: Sponsor Shout-Out: Veloce Velo

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Tara, Cathy, Courtenay, and Mary swept the podium with first place finishes all around at the BuDu Series Cooking in the Kettles race on Whidbey Island yesterday! Nice job ladies!! (And nice race faces!) Thanks to Woodinville Bicycle for the photos.

Race Recaps: Roslyn Rush & Echo Valley 30/60

May 31, 2015, 2:15 pm

≫ Next: Road Rides: Touring Eastern Washington

≪ Previous: Race Recap: BuDu Series – Cookin’ the Kettles

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On May 16th, Alicia and Claire raced the Roslyn Rush taking 2nd and 5th place in their categories respectively.

On May 30th, four Spokeswomen took to the trails over the weekend to race 30 miles at Echo Valley in sunny and warm Chelan, WA. Cathy claimed 5th place, followed by Mary in 7th, Tara in 11th, and Linnea with a “maybe-next-time” (finishing 20 out of 30 miles).

Great work ladies!

Road Rides: Touring Eastern Washington

June 2, 2015, 9:38 pm

≫ Next: Race Recap: Sturdy Dirty

≪ Previous: Race Recaps: Roslyn Rush & Echo Valley 30/60

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Check out this amazing report from Almie, our superstar teammate (and ride leader for Cascade Bicycle Club).

The Tour:
When Terence, my husband, asked me if I wanted to do the 4-Day Eastern Washington Bike Tour through Cascade, without hesitation I said yes! He had done it last year and couldn’t stop talking about how much fun he had and how awesome the riding was.

The cost of the tour was fairly reasonable which including lodging for 4 nights, breakfast/snacks/lunch and full SAG support.

We arrived in Chelan, WA on Friday afternoon. Checked in at the Lakeside Lodge, had dinner and attended a brief meeting with the tour organizers. They discussed our route for the first day, what to expect and the rules of the road. We all received day bags for essentials we would need during breaks, cue sheets and reflective triangles.

Day 1: Chelan to Omak: 83 miles with about 5000 feet of climbing! It was a beautiful morning with temps already reaching 70 degrees, no need for leg warmers or jackets! We started the ride at 8am and rode for about 20 miles until our first SAG stop where we filled up our water bottles and had a quick snack. The first 50 miles was pretty flat, some rollers and a whole lot of green. I made quite a few stops along the way to snap a few photos, probably more selfies than one should take.

Made it to the lunch stop and fueled up! It was calming to have the river as our backdrop.

 From here (we’re at about mile 49) we make our trek to the top of Loup Loup pass, which is about a 10 mile gradual climb. I’m not the fastest climber but it was beautiful all the way up. Our SAG vehicle greeted us at about mile 7 or so for a much need water refill and break from climbing. My legs felt pretty good on the climb – kept a comfortable cadence and I was slow enough to enjoy the scenery.

The reward to any climb is the descent!

15 miles of pure rad-ness with one little incline. If you like descending, you will love this tour! We made it to Omak but made a quick stop for ice-cream.

At the end of each day, there is a debrief of the day’s ride and discussion about the next. The tour leaders would discuss the routes, SAG stops, lunch break and what’s available for dinner. A few of us walked a couple blocks to a Mexican restaurant then back to our hotel and prepared for the next day.

Day 2: Omak to Republic 64 miles and 4200 feet of climbing with an option to make it a century ride which I did not partake in. The first 20 miles were fairly flat – kept it at a moderate pace, averaging about 15mph. Then it was a gradual climb up Wauconda Pass till about the 50 mile mark. Talk about a power climb! It felt never ending but we saw the summit and we were all smiles!

Lunch time.

Republic is a super small town…it was a Sunday and a majority of the town was closed for the day which left the options for dinner to either the Brewery or Madonna Pub. Pub food is better than no food. Our hotel reminded me of something you would seen in an old western movie minus the orange cone.

Terence had opted for the century ride which gave me some time to unwind and enjoy a nice cold beverage.

Day 3: Republic to Coulee Dam – 68 miles with 3800 feet of climbing. The great part of this ride is the 36 mile descent at the start! It was amazing to ride down a nice quiet stretch of road with greenery on both sides. Coming down and watching the sun peek through the trees and bathe you in warmth was amazing. We passed an occasional llama, grazing horses and cows just hanging out.

Again, the roads were quiet. Loved the uninterrupted riding! No stop signs, traffic lights, Seattle traffic…it was awesome.

Almost there…

Nice entry into Coulee…

Then beer.

 We had a great view of the dam while we waited for our rooms. It was a perfect way to end a great ride, plus we beat the rain!

Day 4: Coulee to Chelan – 72 miles with 3500 feet of climbing. I unfortunately had some serious saddle issues and only made 40 miles of the ride. We had a ton of headwind in the morning, started off immediately with a 6-10% grade climb with no warm-up. I had a slow start but made 6 miles up to Crown Point for pretty rad views of the dam and of course more pictures!

I ended up taking the SAG back to Chelan – which I was pretty bummed about but figured it wasn’t worth further injury.

It was an amazing experience! I loved every flat mile, every mile we climbed, and every mile we descended.

In four days I conquered 255 miles and 15,788 feet of climbing! I look forward to signing up next year and hope to see you there!

Race Recap: Sturdy Dirty

June 15, 2015, 1:35 pm

≫ Next: Race Report: Northshore RR

≪ Previous: Road Rides: Touring Eastern Washington

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Credit: Woodinville Bicycle

Credit: Woodinville Bicycle

Two Spokeswomen raced the second annual Sturdy Dirty Enduro at Tiger Mountain this past weekend. It is a women’s-only race that is a long course featuring un-timed transition stages and timed technical stages—often downhill. Several race categories were offered, and corresponding courses of varying lengths and difficulties challenged participants in a supportive and fun environment—all in the spirit of promoting women’s racing and growing the sport of mountain biking. It was a sold-out event.

Claire Frost, new to the team this year, got 15th in the expert category, though she lost a few minutes for stopping to help someone with a broken leg – she should get some good Samaritan points!

Delia Massey placed 2nd in the sport category, adding to growing list of podium finishes in big events. She writes:

The Sport and Beginner races did 3 Stages, including the East Tiger Summit Trail, Off the Grid, Fully Rigid, and Joy Ride. The Expert and Pro racers did all that plus Stage 4, which is the brand new descending trail.

There were lots of awesome volunteers (mostly male) dressed up in crazy costumes such as a fairy, a cow, and prom dresses. At the top of Tiger there were bacon pancakes and snow cones before Stage 1 and 2 and an amazing tequila station at the bottom of stage 3 (thanks Friends of Capitol Forest!), which was the end of the race for Sport and Beginner racers.

At the end of the race there were delicious tacos and baked goods, as well as the biggest raffle I have ever seen, including a brand new Liv Giant bike! It was the most fun I’ve ever had at a race and I can’t wait until next year. It was also amazing to see 200+ women out racing mountain bikes and making new friends in a supportive race environment!”

Great weather and high quality trails made for a fun day for our Spokeswomen!

Race Report: Northshore RR

June 17, 2015, 12:28 pm

≫ Next: Spokeswomen in Action: Jubilee Community Dinner

≪ Previous: Race Recap: Sturdy Dirty

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Congratulations to Lori Surges for placing second at the hilly Northshore Road Race in Bellingham this weekend, which is the WA State Masters Championship race! This course is known for rolling hills and a tricky uphill finish, so snagging a spot on the podium requires some serious climbing skills and grit. (Not to mention, Lori had pneumonia earlier this spring and made an incredible comeback.) Congrats, Lori!

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Spokeswomen in Action: Jubilee Community Dinner

July 9, 2015, 9:33 pm

≫ Next: Race Report: Capitol Forest

≪ Previous: Race Report: Northshore RR

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On Thursday, some of the Spokeswomen ladies (Cathy, Emily, and Tracy) teamed up to prepare and serve dinner at Jubilee Women’s Center on Thursday night. We love giving back to this amazing organization and sharing a meal with a wonderful group of women. Click here to learn more about Jubilee Women’s Center and how you can get involved!

Later, the ladies joined a few of their teammates at Seward Park. Summer time in Seattle is the best! We took advantage of the awesome weather and had a team BBQ and potluck. Great times with a great group of ladies (and their significant others)!

Race Report: Capitol Forest

July 14, 2015, 9:44 pm

≫ Next: Ride Report: Gran Fondo Leavenworth

≪ Previous: Spokeswomen in Action: Jubilee Community Dinner

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Feeling good at the start of the race!

On June 27th, Alicia and Cathy headed to Olympia to compete in the Capitol Forest 50 mile mountain bike race. They survived the heat and elevation gain and look forward to riding the trails again. Thanks for the great race!

Results:

• Cathy: 6th
• Alicia: 12th

Leg cramps won’t stop this lady! Still smiles!

Enjoying the trails. :)

Ride Report: Gran Fondo Leavenworth

May 22, 2016, 8:02 pm

≫ Next: Race Report: Sturdy Dirty 2016

≪ Previous: Race Report: Capitol Forest

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Spokeswomen member Heather headed to Leavenworth to try the  legendary Gran Fondo Leavenworth (GFL) on May 22, 2016.  The following are some highlights from her ride report.

Due to some wet, muddy roads from recent heavy rains, the course was changed at the last minute. The change both lengthened the ride (up to ~93 miles) and increased the net elevation gain (~9000 ft). Some pre-race fueling was needed:

“I knew that the GFL would be a challenge even without the course change.  We drove out to Leavenworth Saturday afternoon, grabbed some calorie-rich cheeseburgers with bacon and fries at Gustav’s, and picked up our bibs and race packets.  We were up at 6am Sunday morning, grilling up bacon, eggs, peppers, and mushrooms  for an additional calorie punch.”

The forecast called for a 30% chance of showers in the AM, so light rain jackets were packed by many riders clustered at the start.

 

Lots of eager cyclists at the start

 

“8am. We were off!  We slowly picked off riders as we tackled the meat of Climb #1  (3000 ft). The pass topped out at 4000 ft, and with the wind, it was cold…”

After the first aid station at Ardenvoir, the cyclists were directed up the much gentler slopes of Climb #2, which was promptly followed by roller coaster 2000 ft downhill. Then a 10 mile pavement grind (with headwind) to the Entiat aid station ~mile 55.

Climb #2

“My legs were hurting by the Entiat aid station, but after a brief rest, we opted to continue grinding onwards to the last and biggest uphill (Climb #3) of the course:  ~3500 ft.  Some ibuprofen, a few salty potato chips, a cheerful aid station worker, and some similarly hurting riders all suffering together convinced me to keep going.”

 

 

The course was reported to be amazing: great views, little to no vehicular traffic, well-supported aid stations and on-course support.

Stats:

Total ride: 93.4 miles

Total elevation gain: 8992 ft

Weather: Partly cloudy to mostly sunny; west wind 15-20 mph; variable temps

Finishers: 170 (15 ladies)

Heather survived and thrived!

Race Report: Sturdy Dirty 2016

June 21, 2016, 6:22 pm

≫ Next: Race Report: Skagit Flats 2016

≪ Previous: Ride Report: Gran Fondo Leavenworth

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Spokeswomen Racing team member Delia Massey put her hometown advantage to good use in the 3rd annual women’s only Sturdy Dirty Enduro this past Saturday.  Conditions at Tiger Mountain were at their most challenging — it rained, it poured, and it straight up hailed.

Delia flies down Predator on her way to 1st place in the women’s Expert Division. Photo credit: Chris McFarland

 

According to Delia:

 

“Traction was tricky since the roots and rocks were wet and slippery, there were mud puddles everywhere, and the lines you took on a dry day were no longer the best way to get down!

Luckily I pre-rode the race course wet on Tuesday night and practiced some of the trickier sections on the dowhill trail, Predator, and put that knowledge to good use in the race. I ended up with the fastest times on the first two stages (the ones with the most uphill pedaling, no big surprise there!), Off the Grid, and Fully Rigid/Joy Ride. We got to ride a super secret new trail for Stage 3, and then we climbed back up to the top of the mountain for Stage 4, Predator. I was pretty terrified of Predator, I’m not going to lie. But I pulled off a smooth, clean run, and hit all the lines I practiced on Tuesday and got down safely without crashing!

Other highlights: waffles and bacon at the top aid station, the Hooter’s dudes at the top of Stage 2, the dance party at the top of Stage 3, and the huge group of people cheering us on down the rock face on Predator.

For her hardwork, Delia placed 1st in the Expert category — Go Delia!

A full race report with numerous photos has been posted on PinkBike.

Expert Winner Delia Massey charging home for a total time of 32:04.43 on the day. Not too shabby. Local knowledge is priceless. Photo credit: Colin Meager

Photo Credit: Chris McFarland

Delia takes 1st in the Expert Division. Photo Credit: Blair

 

Race Report: Skagit Flats 2016

June 30, 2016, 9:47 pm

≫ Next: July-August Recap

≪ Previous: Race Report: Sturdy Dirty 2016

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On Saturday, June 25, four members of Spokeswomen Racing lined up together at the start of the 2016 Skagit Flats Circuit Race in Stanwood, Washington. Spokeswomen Racing was ready to put up a fight!

Spokeswomen worked hard for the first few laps, pulling the women’s pack along.  By the fifth and final lap, Lori and Tara were in a small group a short bit behind two ladies who had managed to break away at the end of the 4^th lap.  As the finish line approached, Tara reported:

“As we headed to the finish it was one girl, another girl, Lori, and me. As we approached the 200m it became clear to me what to do. I have a teammate! I can make this happen!!  I pulled up next to Lori.  ‘Come on’ I said in a whisper. First behind me, then past me…     Third!!!”

Results:

Lori Surges – 3^rd
Tara Mixon – 4^th
Linda Nalis – 8^th
Tracy Chen – 11th

2016 Skagit Flats Circuit Race

July-August Recap

September 3, 2016, 4:26 pm

≫ Next: Muddy Magnuson CX

≪ Previous: Race Report: Skagit Flats 2016

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It’s Labor Day weekend, and the days are getting shorter… and Spokeswomen Racing has been busy!  Here’s an update of what the team has been up to during the past two months:

July: Jubilee Dinner
Barbara, Tracy, and Linda cooked up tacos for the Jubilee Women’s Center

2016 July Jubilee dinner crew

July – August: Wednesday Night Worlds!
Multiple Spokeswomen members have been practicing their dirt skills at North Seatac Park this summer, with representation in the beginner, sport, and expert categories.

2016 Wednesday Night Worlds — Delia’s in the zone.

August: Track Racing
Linda’s been checking out the track racing scene at the Marymoor Velodrome on Wednesday night.

2016 Track Racing at Marymoor

August: Women’s Cyclocross Festival
Spokeswomen took advantage of women’s only clinics and races at this year’s festival, held at St. Edward’s Park. Shout out to the Washington Women of Cross for putting on another excellent event!

2016 Women’s CX Festival

August: Meet-the-Team Dirt Ride
Our team showed up en masse for our annual Meet the Team Dirt Ride at Duthie Park.

2016 Meet-the-Team Dirt Ride

Muddy Magnuson CX

October 17, 2016, 9:11 pm

≫ Next: Woodland Park CX Grand Prix

≪ Previous: July-August Recap

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A few days of wet and stormy weather culminated in a fabulously muddy day of cyclocross racing at Magnuson Park for the MFG Cyclocross #4.

 

 

Congratulations to Spokeswomen Racing for some outstanding performances:

Rachel- Cat 3, 3rd place
Heather – Cat 3, 4th place
Alexie – Cat 3/4 Masters 40+, 3rd place
Linda – Cat 3/4 Masters 40+, 16th place
Cathy – Cat 4, 5th place
Lisa – Cat 4, 30th place (and on a mountain bike with a shoulder injury!)

And thanks to all the friends, family, and teammates who came out to cheer us on!

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Woodland Park CX Grand Prix

November 26, 2016, 8:37 am

≫ Next: 2017: Big smiles and fresh goals

≪ Previous: Muddy Magnuson CX

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We had buckets of fun at the November 13, 2016 Woodland Park cyclocross race (season finale for the MFG Cyclocross season).  The course featured mud, twisty turns, technical descents, barriers, run-ups and loads of cheering and support from fellow team members.

Muddy post-race smiles.

Congratulations to all our ladies who showed up to brave the mud:

Rachel Hovel – Cat 3, 3rd place
Tara Mixon – Cat 4, 2nd place
Linda Nalis – Cat 3/4 masters, 10th place
Tracy Chen – Cat 4
Cathy Downs – Cat 4

And thank you to all our teammates who came out to support and cheer!

Racing is always more fun with teammates!

2017: Big smiles and fresh goals

January 7, 2017, 9:17 pm

≫ Next: Early season racing in 2017

≪ Previous: Woodland Park CX Grand Prix

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Spokeswomen Racing rung in the New Year with our annual team potluck brunch, meeting, and kit distribution. We’re looking forward to a fun-filled 2017!

Early season racing in 2017

March 30, 2017, 8:04 pm

≫ Next: March – April Race Report

≪ Previous: 2017: Big smiles and fresh goals

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Spokeswomen Racing has been active despite record rainfall in February and March.  Tracy, Barbara, Heather, and Tara tested out their legs at some early season road races, while Maura sought out some wet dirt (aka mud!) for some off-road bike racing.

Feb 25. Women’s Road Racing Clinic and Races at Pacific Raceways

2017 Icebreaker Time Trial

Maura placed 5th overall (Cat 2) in her first mountain bike race (Henry’s Ridge by BuDu Racing). She followed this up with a 2nd place overall (Cat 2) the following weekend at the very muddy Port Gamble race. Awesome work, Maura!

March – April Race Report

April 22, 2017, 5:55 pm

≫ Next: Ballard Criterium 6/10/2017

≪ Previous: Early season racing in 2017

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Seattle may be having a record wet winter/spring, but we’re still out riding!  Here are some highlights from the past few weeks:

Dash Point Mountain Bike BuDu Series – 4/9/2017

A brief spot of sunshine made for a delightful trip to Tacoma.

2017 Dash Point. Photo credit Woodinville Bicycle

Maura – 4th, Cat 2 ladies 19-29
Chelsea – 2nd, Cat 3 ladies 19-34
Heather – 2nd, Cat 3 ladies 35-49
Anita – 3rd, Cat 3 ladies 35-49

Mason Lake #2 Road Race – 4/9/2017

On the same day as the Dash Point race, Barbara and Linda carpooled down to Shelton, WA for another great road race, placing 10th and 12th, respectively.

2017 Mason Lake #2

Wednesday Night Worlds – 4/19/2017

Despite a wet forecast, the rain held off during the actual race to allow Meg to cruise to 2nd place in the season opener of the popular summer mountain bike series.

2017 Wednesday Night Worlds. Photo credit: NW Multisport

Ballard Criterium 6/10/2017

June 11, 2017, 7:56 am

≫ Next: Rider Spotlight: Rachel Hovel

≪ Previous: March – April Race Report

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Spokeswomen Racing provides volunteer support to Apex Racing for the annual Ballard Criterium. This year the chance-of-shower forecast was replaced with a spectacular mostly sunny day of racing.  Over 10 team members showed up to help facilitate and watch this … Continue reading →