Betty J. makes me wet -- what about you?

check this out -- KCCX

I'm not racing cyclocross for the first time in 5 years. I thought I might miss it. I really needed a break -- mental if not physical. Even though I'm not racing, I keep my finger on the pulse or some cliche like that.

I raced cyclocross nationals two years ago in Providence, RI. I spent a good part of the snowy, frigid weekend with Gary Noe and Betty Jordan. Betty is my hero. She won cyclocross nationals that year for the 55+ women. I think it was the first time USAC had offered that field. Betty was the only entrant. and she deserves those stars & bars.



now go click that link again!!! then click on the women 50-54 (I can't figure out how to give you the direct link). not only has USAC added fields for 60+ women, but did you check out the field size for 50+ women? 11 amazing women, all who can probably kick my butt and your butt and other random butt and then crack open a Belgium with the boys. and then, there's the 7 women in the 55+ field and the 2 in the 60+ field. wow, wow, wow!

it's interesting to me that many women stop road racing in their 50s and 60s because they perceive it to be too dangerous to their fragile bones. I guess the perception of cyclocross is that's it's a "safe" sport. or maybe the fun factor is just worth the risk.

so here's to those silver crossers -- women who won't let their age (or society) dictate what they should be doing on a Sunday morning.

and here's to Betty Jordan for leading the way!

Poof!

while I believe in freedom of expression, I also realize that a recent blog post of mine and the 40+ comments left by various members of the racing community, got just a little out of hand. feelings were hurt. reputations were questioned.

I've gone back and forth with how to react and I think it's time for me to pull the plug.

afterall, it's just a sport that we all love, right?

to those who were insulted, offended, felt slighted, lost the warm & fuzzies, I send you my sincerest apologies.

Lorri

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!

sometimes we don't realize just how good we've got it!

California is a hot-bed of cycling. we all know that. we have one of the largest cycling populations in the country. and yea, the racing world isn't perfect -- many women wish there were more opportunities to race against their peers in single-category races instead of combined fields.

but you know, we've really got it pretty good.

one of my former clients lives in Idaho now. we chatted recently about how she could help develop women's racing there. in our conversations, I didn't realize just how dire the women's racing scene was in Idaho (check out the license stats in the article). but she, and some other women (and men) are doing something about it and hoping to develop new women racers in the coming seasons.

extra, extra! read all about it in the Boise Weekly.

good job, Marti!

forgive me, father, for I have sinned

earlier this spring, the race director of one of the classic bicycle races in northern california eliminated the opportunity for CAT4 women to race at that event. women and men alike shared their displeasure with this decision in private emails and public forums. but alas, the CAT4 women weren't given the chance to experience this particular race this season.

this same club promotes a second race each year, a standard industrial park crit held in August. this race has been part of the bay area women's cycling series for many years, and there has traditionally been a combined W3/4 race (picked separately, of course). registration for this race just opened tonight, and I'm thrilled to see that for the first time in my memory (2002), Timpani Criterium is offering a separate CAT4 women's race.

the summer seems to have a dearth of W4 races. with the exception of the Fremont Crit this weekend, all the other crits currently posted are open women's fields (CATs 1 through 4) or combined W3/4. I've been pretty vocal in my opinion that combined fields aren't the best opportunity for many CAT4 women. so thank you to LGBRC for offering the CAT4 women a race of their own! perhaps this is their atonement for past sins.

voting with your dollar

This deserves a bump! C'mon ladies. Only 15 women registered for this race? It's a fabulous course and a CAT 4-only women's race. Pen Velo likely won't offer CAT4 women next year, so we won't get a chance again until 2009.



Pen Velo and Pilarcitos made good on their promise from last year -- they are running a women's CAT4 field at the Burlingame Crit in 2007. Registration is open, ladies! Let's show them how excited we are about this!

Many of the CAT4-only races have sold out this season. Maybe the promoters who insist on combining the CAT4 women with the CAT3s (or in open women's races) and then complain about low registration will figure this out. CAT4-only races are good for your bottom line. Combined races aren't. We'll show you some love if you show us some, too!

trend analysis

not wingeing, just commenting.

another one of the "great" local races has eliminated a category for CAT4 women this year.

how do we grow women's fields if we send a message that they're not important to us (especially when a club that touts itself as the best in the country does something like this)?

the growth of women's cycling starts at the bottom -- with new, beginner, and developing racers, and even non-racing recreational riders. that's why Velo Girls focuses in these areas.

oh well......another one bites the dust, I suppose.