Vacation to France

We took a vacation and did some riding in France. Not training just touring around for fun.

Here we are on some back roads on the way from Montpellier to Sommier

We stopped for lunch and admired the view

After Sommier we rode to Nimes. About 1/2 of the route was on a trail which made the navigation easy.

We did some sight seeing in Nimes and explored the old Roman ruins.

The arena is still in use today. It is more than 2000 years old.

We are heading towards the water now down to Aigues-Mortes where they make salt from ocean water. The weather was sunny and I got sunburnt!

Part of the ride was on tow-paths along the canal. The path was bumpy but our bikes had front and rear shocks so it was fun to ride.

This is the entrance to Aigues-Mortes. The entire town is surrounded by a wall.

After Aigues-Mortes we rode along the Mediterian back to our starting point at Montpellier.

From Montpellier we returned the bikes and took a high speed train back to Pairs.

Meet the Team Ride this Saturday for Potential New Members

The Blue Rooster/Sports Medicine Clinic "Meet the Team Ride" is this Saturday!

Interested in our team? Come ride with us on Saturday October 9 and get to know us! This is one of the 'Meet the team' series. Please be at Pert's (120 Lakeside Ave, Seattle, WA 98122) by 9:20 for a 9:30 AM departure.

We have slots open in all categories, road, track, cyclocross and mountain. Come ride with us!

Check out our website for more about the team and our sponsors:
www.blueroostercycling.com

Avanti Racing (Blue Rooster/Sports Medicine Clinic) has been active in the Northwest peloton since 1988, competing in road, track, mountain, and cyclocross events. We focus on racing and providing the training and support necessary to compete effectively while maintaining balance in our busy lives. For 2011 Blue Rooster/Sports Medicine Clinic is
looking to add depth in all categories and disciplines. If you are looking to race and develop team-centric racing skills by being a part of a competitive yet fun racing team, please join us on our Meet the Team Ride.

Send us an email if you have questions - avantiracing@gmail.com

End of the Track Season - International Omnium

I did my last three races of the season.

Two weeks ago was a pretty bad night for me. I was running a bigger gear and it didn't work out. I thought it was the wheels I was using and I raced the same gear last friday with my fast wheels and I decided it wasn't the wheels it was the gear.

I didn't place well in my first two races on Friday but I raced the madison which is always fun and won $5!

There was a bad crash in the men's 3's keirin and Annette went down with one guy from the Garage. The guy got up but they ended up taking Annette to the hospital via backboard in the ambulance. That put a damper on things. I found out later that Annette was mostly OK - some bruised and cracked ribs but not too bad considering she hit the track pretty hard.

Yesterday I did the inaugural "international style omnium" at Marymoor. It was a daytime event for a change. I'm used to racing under the lights so it was weird to have the sun out. The event consisted of 5 separate races with placing determined by overall score. For each race the winner got one point, second place got two points, third got three and so on. The lowest point total won. So you couldn't blow any of the events without getting punished in the scoring system.

I stripped out one of the bolts on my chainring so I ended up doing all of the events in the same gear. I chose a smaller gear (88) to save my legs. We did a flying 200 time trial, a 5 mile scratch race, a pursuit (5 laps), a 24 lap points race, and a 500 meter time trial. It was grueling and torturous.

I didn't do that good on the timed events, but I was happy with how I did in the mass start races. In the scratch race a group of three got off the front and the rest of us were all working together to chase. On the final lap I found myself in second position and I used the slingshot method to take the field sprint for 4th. Then we did a pursuit - my time was 3:13 for 5 laps. This was the first time I've ever done that distance for time.

Next was the points race. I was in a lower gear so I was better able to respond to the accelerations. I was happy to make the first selection and was in a group of 5. I misjudged the second sprint, which started very early and found myself gaped off in no-man's land. I rolled up track and waited for the chase group and worked with them to try and catch up. It was more like a team pursuit than a points race. I was in first position on the last lap this time. On the back stretch I rode out of the saddle to discourage passing. On the corner a rider tried to come around me and I accelerated it to force her to stay outside and ride the longer route through the corner. I maintained posotion to take 5th for that race. Overall for the omnium I was 6th, winning $10! So $15 total for the weekend.

The race was well officated. Since Marymoor has never hosted an internation omnium before the officals were out to get experience as well as us. The event required a lot of coordination. All of the timed events needed to have the tape in the right place - so they had to do adjustements between each race. We were happy to have such a well-run event. It will be fun to do it again next year.





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Cold Friday Night

It was cold on Friday. I took my winter coat and wore three layers under my skinsuit. I wore my coat in between the races. Track is tricky because you get sweaty and then you stand around until your next race. You can get very chilled if it is under 60 and there is a breeze.

I raced a Keirin, a 10 lap scratch, and a points race. I did not make it through the kerin heats this time. I though I had it and I let up before the line - only to see two riders come shooting past. Ooops!

I took a chance on the scratch race. They called a prime on lap 7 and I did not go for it but was up at the front and there was a
separation. I tried to get the two girls up there to go with me and one did but the other was gassed. I didn't quite catch the wheel but tried to stay ahead of the pack. It didn't quite work and the pack came zooming by with 1/2 lap to go. I sat up and rolled in still ahead of 1 rider. My plan didn't work out but it felt good to take the chance.

The points race went much better. I tried to stay in good position and take points that weren't too hard to get. On the first set of
points I was pretty near the front and could have won but took second to save a little energy. I found that when I win the first set of points I'm gassed for the rest of the race. I was in the top 4 for a few more of the sprints and ended up 4th . Top 3 got medals since it was the state championships but I was happy with how I did.

I was happy it wasn't raining so we could race! If all goes well I still have 3 race days left.

Sprinklers and Track do not mix

I had 5 teammates and my madison partner out for track practice today. We had to deal with the sprinklers though which were watering the lower parts of the track. This was bad because you can't ride on the track if it is wet. It is banked enough that you don't have enough friction to keep your tires on the surface.

The sprinklers were on when we got there so I took apart the garbage cans and blocked off the sprinkler heads. They were watering the north half of the lawn (and track). So we warmed up above the blue line (high) and then did 2x 3 high speed sprints off of corner 4 to the line.

Then the sprinklers switched and started watering the other half of the track so I had to move the garbage cans but they had already gotten the lower half of the other side wet. While I was out moving the garbage cans the heads came on for the infield and started watering my bag. One of the riders from the other team moved my bag and hung up my clothes to dry. (thanks!)

We then did one laps efforts with a partner where the second person practices timing the final sprint and coming around the first rider. The track finally dried out so we could use the sprinters lane.

Last Friday was another fast night. I realize that as our women's group gets larger I can't race from the back anymore so I am working on better positioning so I don't miss the moves. I think I figured out a few things during the race. It helps to watch the other riders and see what is working. I have the strength I just need to ride smarter!

It was really fun to watch the last race. Amara partnered with her brother for the men's cat 1/2 Madison and they won! It was so much more fun to watch than when the two strongest guys pair up and just crush the rest. This was a real race. They did great too. There was another mixed pair and then one pair of women racing as well. Mark and I were wishing we had singed up for it too.

Madisons

Last Monday I raced Madison night at the track. Just 4 teams and the other three were guys. My partner and I got last in every race but had lots of fun. I think each team had at least one cat 2 men's rider so the pace was blistering. Racing on Mondays is really fun though because there are three heats of juniors to watch. I like seeing the kids get stronger. I've seen several juniors get fast and pass me on their way up.

Wednesday I went out and did not race but watched the masters, women 4's and the men's 4's race. It was great to see that the women had a big field out there.

Friday night I went out to the track again and raced the national qualifier. Each race had a certain number of riders that would
qualify for Nationals. This meant our field was stacked with talent and everyone was ready to ride hard. We did a 20 lap scratch. You can usually bet the first half of that race will be easy. Not so, this time. The women were attacking every lap. It was very hard. I got dropped half way and this is the first track race this year I have been dropped at. Later I found that I was in a 83
inch gear. This is like trying to do a crit in the small ring. Not a good idea. I felt better when I figured this out yesterday!

I also raced the madison again on Friday but this time I wore the Wines of Washington jersey because the last two times my partner has worn the Blue Rooster jersey. The Madison is so much fun because you get to rest every other lap (when your
partner is "in") so you can ride much harder. The speeds are at least 5mph faster. It is really fun to be going that fast.

Yesterday I rested and then today I did 15 second intervals on the trainer. I was able to hit 570 watts on each one. The is 70 watts higher than a few weeks ago.

FSA day 1

I raced the evening of FSA day 1.

I raced the 5-mile scratch race and the points race. It was a long wait until my events. There was great racing to watch though. Some of the best riders in the united states + Canada and a few other countries like Australia and Tasmania.

I watched former World Champion Jennie Reed motor away from some of the best riders in the country in the women's Keirin. Then I saw the current men's national champion destroy his heat in the men's elite. It was really fast!

I lined up for the scratch with pros from Texas, California, Pennsylvania, Canada, etc. I knew I couldn't out sprint them so my idea was to try and get a prime. The problem is that if they call a prime it would already be to late. So I waited for a good moment and attacked hoping they would call one soon. I got maybe 1/2 lap up(?) and was out there for 3-4 laps. The announcer was really talking my break up as one of the "local riders". Then the bell rang! I need to stay out there for one lap to get $25. There were people all the way around the velodrome (400 meters worth) so it was loud with people cheering for me. I went as fast as I could but the Tasmanian champ and former Marymoor record holder burst out of the pack and caught me on the line to take the prime. I didn't get the money but it was worth it to have the crowd cheering me on! I then got dropped and pulled from the race but I had had my fun.

The points race was really fast too. 40 laps with about 40 super strong women. I hung in there and finished but no heroics this time.

Tonight is round 2. Come on out and watch! 7pm ant the Marymoor Velodrome in Redmond.