East Village Crit Ruled by Pink

What a Saturday on the East side of downtown Des Moines is was as VeloRosa dominated the day's races.

Not only did Pink Gals race well, they also manned the corner, helped with registration and handled the prim table. Thanks to everyone that came out.

Megan held off a charging DMOS rider to take the Cat 4 race. With this race Megan closed out the season as the Cat 4 points leader. This is the second year that a VeloRosa rider has taken the points cup in this Cat, as Dee Mable swept it last year. Dee also won it four years and took third three years ago. What a great cycling legacy the Pink Gals have!

Lee rode the crit race of her short racing lifetime to take 6th place. She is set up to take a victory or two next year in the Cat 4 races.

Megan and Loren teamed up to race the Cat 1/2/3 race. Megan did an immediate upgrade to the next class and took on the challenge that same day. It is hard enough to race 15 or so laps of 70% uphill grade and then come back a few hours later and race for more than 15.

In the Cat 1/2/3/ Loren threw the regular pack off kilter with her hard charging racing style. She made the podium by finishing third. I believe that makes her a podium finisher for each cup race that she entered. Megan followed up her earlier victory and made her presence known for next year by finishing 6, beating several ladies that have raced in this Cat all season long.

On the pink gents side, Jason came out to try his first crit and quickly found the going all up hill. He raced hard and hung on to finish strong. His comments afterward may have pointed to his continued racing in road races over crits. However, the long winter tends to fade the first-race pains!

All of this awesome pink riding could not have taken place without the support of all other team members in helping to put on this race.

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

See next post for photos from this awesome day!

Loren Whips Kent Park Road Race

Loren shot out at the start and hung with IC Robin Williams to take second in the opening race of the 2011 season. The weather was typical cold, windy, spring-time-in-Iowa weather but Loren raced like she had been training in Phoenix all winter.

Lee showed up and gave it her all finishing in 12th place.

A big Pink CONGRATS to Loren for such a strong showing.

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Loren, Joann Lead Pink Romp at Colfax

The Pink Team made a big splash at the first Iowa Spring Classic Series race in Colfax. The very hilly course was a cruel reminder to many of all of the training that went awry over the winter. But that did not deter our awesome team.

Loren and Joann went 1-2 in the women's Cat 4 race. Janan and Julie G took 5th and 6th respectively. It is always a great race day when Pink takes 4 of the top 6 spots.

Great job to all that braved the brisk weather to tackle some gravel.

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

LOREN BLAZES CIRREM COURSE ON FRIGID DAY

As the temps on February 26, 2011 hovered below 20 degrees and the snow turned to sleet, everything seemed to melt away around Loren Uscilowski who was riding for Pink Team! The roads were covered with fresh gravel, snow and ice but none of that mattered as she ripped through her METRIC in just over 5 hours.

The 62-mile course was exceptionally hilly, per Kent Carlson, one of the event coordinators. As if the self-supported ride was not challenging enough. That means one carries all food, water and repair supplies. There is a mid-point check in that has some water and cookies. Otherwise, it was just a peaceful ride through the Iowa country side.

Dee pushed Dave throughout the ride to become the first co-ed tandem to cross the line. They feared a new set of competitors whom were out to challenge them. However, years of experience paid off for two of our favorite Pink Riders!

Other members of the team joined Julie Goodman on the CIRREM shorty. Kim and Karolyn logged about 25 miles and managed to find a wild-game feed which provided some warmth and beverages during their journey. It seems like those two can find a gathering no matter where they go....a great testament to outstanding bikers!

Julie G and Lisa had a shorter version of this ride and were back in time to support the other riders as they returned to the Tap.

I started and made it just past the mid-point of the the Metric where good sense lead me back to the Cumming Tap for food and beverages. Really, I could not catch Loren and have absolutely no sense of direction. In my delirious state I said, "When did we go under I-35?" to which Kent answered, "You went over it....it was that wide, paved road with all of the cars." Maybe I should stick to blogging and beer.

Prost! to all who attempted and those who conquered!

Your roving race reporter,

Luann

Pedal, Mud, Stump, Hill, Pedal, Jump, Carry...Repeat

Wow! VeloRosa women rocked the Dirty Wooden Shoe and Altoona cyclocross races on Saturday and Sunday, October 2 and 3. These were hilly and challenging races. There may have been a near mountain with a barrier about 1/3 of the way up in Pella. Ah ha, you ask "So what?" The what is this: ride your bike at full speed, start to swing your right leg over the seat while still moving, unclip your left cleat and hop off at a run. Don't take a breath here because you are just getting started. Hoist up your bike and run over the 18" barrier or two and run, either carrying or pushing you bike, up the rest of that big hill. Whew! But not done yet because while still running hop on to your seat and pedal off hoping that your cleats clip in before the next hole, 180 degree turn or heckler offers you a beer.

The rest of the ride has sand, mud, grass, rolling hills, steep down hills and more 180 degree turns. Do this for 45 minutes non-stop while chasing down the gal in front of you. Don't forget to watch for Kim E.(Iowa City) or Lisa V. (PRC) whom may be passing you like you are not moving at all. And while your mouth is bone dry attempt to grab your water bottle, drink and put it back before any other above hazards come at you like a freight train.........again.

That makes me tired just writing about it. This is what our crazy, challenge-loving teammates were up to this last weekend. The good thing about cross is that you can ride at your own pace. Yes, some folks like our newest teammate Loren are busting it up at break-neck speeds that have lead her to first places in the Cat 4 races or you can be more social by heckling the heckler or saying hi to a cheering teammate all while trying to enjoy the fun that around minute 35 seems like torture.

Congrats to all of the VeloRosa racers list below. Remember that everyone who rides is a winner.

ALTOONA:
Loren....1st..WCX4
Kate.....4th..WCX4
Joann....2nd..W45+
Melinda..5th..W45+
Julie G..6th..W45+
Dee......7th..W45+

PELLA:
Loren....1st..WCX4
Melinda..4th..W45+
Julie G..5th..W45+

Your roving and hopefully someday a big enough bike to ride with these fine ladies roving reporter,

Luann