Happy New Year!

For 2008, you're most likely to find my ramblings here -- http://velogirlscoaching.blogspot.com/

*sigh of relief*

I have made 2,934,892 decisions in the past week. I'm not a good decision maker so this has given me a headache. I also have commitment issues.

what a relief I feel. I've finally finished up the coaching calendar for 2008. we've got some exciting new programs and there's virtually no white space available. now I'm just waiting for everything to be published to the website and for on-line registration to open. of course, this all should've happened weeks ago, but did I mention that I'm a really bad decision maker?

Coach Lorri Does COS

Blatant self-promotion? Maybe?

"Coach Lorri Lee Lown was recently invited to be one of a handful of presenters at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in January 2008 for the three-day Enhancing Leadership in Womens’ Cycling conference presented by USA Cycling. Lorri jokes that this is a great honor since she’s only an MBA (and most USAC presenters are PhDs). However, she has successfully charmed Sam Callan (Sport Science and Coaching Education Manager) over the years during her many visits to the Olympic Training Center as a participant in other conferences. Lown, founder of Velo Girls, who also happens to have an MBA in Gender Relations, will be presenting on the topic of gender differences in cycling and how to develop a successful women’s cycling organization."

The conference is open to coaches and non-coaches alike. If you’d like more information about registration, contact Sam Callan at scallan@usacycling.org.

why women are bitches

I teach women how to race bicycles. I've been doing it since 2002. I currently coach a six-week road racing development program. During this six-week period, the women in the program receive 30+ hours of on-bike instruction in both individual bike handling and also group riding skills. We also teach them basic tactics. When they've completed the program, they have the tools to be darn good bike racers and we've shortened the learning curve of bike racing for them.

Many of the women I've taught how to race have gone on to win lots of races and are now CAT 1 an CAT2 racers, competing at the national and international level. But it all starts with that first race.

Last week, one of the women in my current program participated in the Dunnigan Hills Road Race. She's a tiny little girl with a tiny little bike (with only one bottle cage capable of holding a short bottle). Since this is a longer race in a hot climate with a questionable feed zone, I suggested she race with a hydration pack. I warned her that some women might be judgemental about this.

Alas, judgemental was an understatement. Waiting at the line, one of the women from another team looked at her, noticed her Camelbak, and then loudly proclaimed "that's scary!" Her response, being a kind and sensitive girl, was tears.

Grow up ladies! If a racer, especially a new racer, utilizes tools that will help her race in a safe manner, why do we have to be such freaking critics! You should be thrilled that someone wants to learn to race and wants to be safe during races.

Get over yourselves, okay? We say we want to see more women racing bikes. If that's true, then we should try to be welcoming and friendly. We should mentor new riders, not ridicule them.

So, if you see someone at a race who dares march to a different drummer.....someone with a mirror or a camelbak or something traditionally frowned upon by the road racing crowd, don't give 'em shit -- give 'em a cheer for being a unique individual.

Snobs!

Don't be a hater!

the devil made me do it

In all the years I've been riding, I've only ridden Mt. Diablo once -- Thanksgiving Day 2005. That was the year I was recovering and returning to health and fitness. It was a very challenging ride for me.








Today I rode Mt. Diablo again, this time with one of my clients who is training for the Death Ride.









We had a fabulous ride!




The weather was perfect -- hot and sunny (but not too hot). The sky was very clear -- we could see San Francisco, the pacific ocean, my little condo in San Mateo (just kidding about that). We saw squirrels and bunnies and turkey vultures and a garter snake (the last photo's for you, Panda). You could hear the buzzing of the bees in the air (it reminded me of a really bad 70s movie I recall watching as a child). And we were swarmed by gnats for a few miles of our descent (they were crawling in my shimmel -- yuck).


As we neared the summit, I was really excited to climb the last digger. I had to walk the 19% grade last time. Today, I was out of the saddle, pumping, pushing, and not looking to the top. And I made it!






At the top, we met a bunch of tourists -- all who had driven up the mountain and were amazed that we could ride our bikes. We also met Karl, the Park Aide. He rides a motorcycle (he says it's like yoga) and gave me a snickers bar to celebrate my accomplishment (note to self: don't put half-eaten snickers bar in jersey pocket).




More photos here -- Lorri's Mt. D. Photos


Tomorrow I'm climbing Mt. Hamilton with a group of friends.

Life is good.

who inspires me

V is for Velo Girls.....and Victory!

more photos here!


congratulations to Team Velo Girls and the members of the Tri-Flow Women's Development Racing Program on a stellar race (and another win)!


I may never be a great bike racer, but I sure can teach women how to race.


I love my job!

play along at home week #6

play along at home week #5

it's like riding a bike -- part 6

it's like riding a bike -- part 4

play along at home week #4