Racing Between the Raindrops!

Friday was almost canceled about three or four times. It just didn't look like it was going to happen. I warmed up earlier than I usually do because I thought it would start raining before warm up was over and then I wouldn't get a ride in at all. Sure enough at 6pm it started raining lightly. But not for very long, and soon the bravest riders ventured out on the track again. We got through the first Keirin and I made it past the first round to the final. I was lined up second and got the motor before the first rider. Later though, I found out that the first rider's holder was wearing cleats and when he went to push her he went backwards instead of her going forwards!

After the next race it started sprinkling again so they ran the kids races on the apron (the flat part of the track). Then they called us out for our final. I didn't think the track was dry enough and I was super nervous. It was fine but I couldn't match the pace even though I was on Amara's wheel.

The next race was the miss-and-out. I rode hard at the front and kept the pace high. Then when I was tired I moved onto a wheel but stayed in the sprinter's lane. This seemed like a good move but my legs were too tired to advance.

It started sprinkling again and there was another delay. I thought for sure racing was canceled and was getting ready to go home. But then they called the riders out to race again. It was a weird night! We raced our last scratch race and I was tired. There was a break and I tried to chase but got tired quickly and ended up off the back. I worked with Carrie and caught back on just before the finish but my legs were done at that point.

It looked like rain would cancel racing before it was over. There were a few stray drops but racing continued. During the mens 3's race they kept on hinting that the race might be called at any time but they were able to finish and Mark raced the last race of the night. The race finished and not more than twenty seconds it started really raining. The racers quickly got off the track and it was soaked less than a minute later. Racing would have been canceled for sure that time if it hadn't just finished!

Friday Night!

There was a good crowd last friday. I raced Mark's Cane Creek wheels and they made me feel much faster. We did a point-a-lap, a miss-and-out, and a points race. The point-a-lap and miss-and-out were average for me. The points race I tried to be on a good wheel during the race. I was partially successful. I'd be on the right wheel for a while but then would find myself on the wrong wheel and I'd have to sprint around when there was an acceleration. It is so much easier to be on the good wheel. For the last sprint I found myself on the train of about 5 good wheels. I managed to move up just a bit to get 4th on the final sprint! Nothing spectacular but I felt a little bit of improvement! One of my friends showed up just as they announced my name - perfect timing!

Mark raced his own hand built wheels but goofed up his gears and realized he did the first two races in an 86 inch gear. This is what they put beginners in! His legs were really going fast. He figured it out before the Madison. He had fun racing with a brand new partner. Then we all went out to unwind at Celtic Bayou.

Monday Night Madison

We had fun at Monday Night Madison again. This time it was just me and Michelle and the guys. We missed having Devon but we still had a good time. We got some practice riding in traffic too. I managed to screw a few things up and get between an exchange. Once was because we got out of order on relief. It makes more sense after you've done it wrong! The mistakes help us figure things out and ride more confidently. We almost got some points from the guys but not quite this time.

Cold Friday at Marymoor

Last night was cold at the track. It was nice at the start but the evening went a little long and it was chilly by the end.

The women had a 8-lap scratch race, a keirin, and a points race. The 8-lap was a fast warmup and I was in too big of a gear so it was tough to deal with the repeat accelerations. I had a bigger gear than usual for the next race the keirin. Annette gave me some good advice for strategy and it would have worked but I just needed to be a little stronger! The big gear was a good choice though. I geared down for the last race the points but my legs were tired and I came off the group a couple of times. Annette gave me some good workout ideas to build my leg strength though for next time.

It was so cold by the last race that I put on my wool sweater underneath my skin suit. I wasn't shivering at the start but three laps into the race I was way too hot. Next time I'll have to wear a coat and take it off right before the start.

Friday and trainer workouts

I'm starting to forget last Friday and it's time to start racing again already!

We did a unknown distance, miss-and-out, and points. The miss and out I followed my strategy but just didn't have the sprint to make it through more than four rounds. On the 4x4 race I stayed close through the first set of points and then on the second set they also called a prime which we didn't realize was going to be points also. So everybody was a bit confused. Then I watched for a break. Sure enough one of the riders took off and I was right on the wheel. I came around on the sprint line but was just passed by two other riders but I picked up one point. I didn't get any points on the last sprint but was happy to stay with the group and not let anything get away.


On Sunday it was sprinkling so I didn't make it out to the track. I did some 3 minute intervals with the first 30 seconds at 400-450 watts and the rest at 200-250. Very hard! Tuesday I did some spin intervals at 130 rpms - 4x3 minutes. I loaded up some new music on my Zune player to ride to. I put on the theme from Monday night football to get going because they play that before every track race. Now my heart really starts pumping when I hear that song (you can look it up on Utube if you don't know what it sounds like).

Catching up - Three Girls Madison!

Friday we raced again at the Velodrome. It was in the 100's this week and they actually had to cancel racing on Wednesday and Thursday but luckily it cooled down to the the 80's and 90's so we could race again. The races were short due to the weather but they seemed extra short after the long races at the FSA competition. We had a 8-lap scratch, 2 lap heats, and a points race. The atmosphere was very laid back and relaxed since FSA was done. On the two lap heats I took a chance and went for the early attack but Jennifer came by in a big gear and I couldn't catch back on. The other races were fine - just hanging in with the group mostly. I might try a bigger gear next week to see how it feels. I do like spinning the little gear though. I figure it's good for me in the long run.

Sunday I did a Madison workout with Michelle and spent some time riding behind the motor cycle in warm up. It was still nice and warm and by the end of the workout we were getting hot again.

On Monday I did the Madison races. We had 5 teams this time, our best turnout yet. One of the riders showed up after the first race and then we had one extra person. So the three girls decided to form one team. Two riders were on relief while one was racing. It was a blast! We had so much fun. It made our speeds much faster but also gave us more to think about. When you have two riders on relief you need to keep track of each other as well as the rider in the race so you don't both come down for an exchange, or stack them up too close together. We blew our exchanges several times but had even more fun than we usually do. During the race was the first time I had ever done an exchange with Devon. It went fine but I was nervous before hand! The officials were really cool about letting us have a "pair of three".

This is a picture of the cool jerseys that Bilko brought before Devon joined the three-girls team.