Velorosa Holiday Party

Pizza, Drinks, Door Prizes & More!!

When: Saturday, January 14th, 2012

Where: Orlando's-4337 Park Ave, DM

Time: 6pm-8pm

RSVP-Joann at schmjj12@hotmail.com

IT WAS REALLY SPOOKY OUT THERE

Another haunting weekend of biking has come and gone. Yes, it was time for Spooky Cross. The Pink ladies donned costumes and hit the dirt. If you like hills, these races are for you.

Saturday's race through the town looked innocent enough. A few gravely turns and you are out of site. Through the woods, over the road, a sharp right then reveals a hill. Take your lowest gear and grind through it. You had heard about the hills and think, "Girl, they were right!" A little downhill and around the curve to the barriers. Yep, it is not cross without barriers. You hop over them and get ready to remount. But WAIT!!! No! THIS is the hill they meant. Holy Mackerel. You resign yourself to run up it. OK maybe walk up it. But pushing your bike, the heckling stings. Where are the cheers of encouragement? Ha! Not at this point. You legs quiver and your lungs burn. At last to the top.
Hop on and take off. Great to ride again. A few turns and then straight down hill. Don't take out any more markers (thank goodness they are plastic). A few rollers, some gravel, another set of barriers, a field and back to the main road. Where these crowds do cheer, ring cowbells and offer you a 'Cold Hamm's'. Yes, this is day one of Spooky Cross at Living History Farms.



If you are game enough, come back on Sunday. Oh, the venue is the same but the course has transitioned. If you ever thought a county road was a bumpy and rough ride, we scoff at you! Ride through harvested fields, full of mud plods, loose gravel, tight turns. There is water but a nice crossing; if you can ride the narrow bridge and goes up in sections and then drops you back on the trail. Tool around the farm and enjoy the view.
Some hills, grassy section, a few barriers, let go on the steep down hill so that you can make it up the next rise. Take a few tight turns, head down a worn, rutted, loose dirt road with a right right and let the real fun begin.



Really? You ask. You cannot see it coming but gear down and start to climb. The road is not nice. Deeply rutted, loose dirt and gravel. Long grass to grab your derailleur. OK, you made it across the road and turn to see THE HILL. Long, narrow, rutted, deep gravel, leaves, loose dirt and as steep as they come. At least here the fans cheer, cow bells ring, Halloween candy is offered,
as is a hot pepper. Whatever it takes to get up the dang hill. You can spin, stand and climb, pray as only the strongest legs get up that hill. But the cheers are well worth it. A few turns and some mulchy rollers. One more set of barriers and you are back to the gravel and one lap is done. Enjoy the next 5,6 or 8 additional laps!

Yes, this is Spooky Cross!

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Most photo credits to Dave Mable; Megan K; Joann S; Kim H; Aryn F; Lee all posed for these photos! :)

Newcome Kim Wins at Iowa Games Tri

One of our newest members, Kim B rocked out the Iowa Games Triathlon by winning her division.



Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

East Village Crit Pink Photos

THANKS to everyone for the great photos! What an awesome Pink memory!















Your Roving Photo Downloader,

Luann

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!

Teresa Places at Hickory Grove

Big Congrats to Terese Harms for placing at the Hickory Grove Tri. The sprint distance triathlon is quite the challenge. Terese held off all competitors in her category except for two to claim third place.

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Pink UAR Women's Champs

Kim and Karolyn put down the hammer on the city of Des Moines and all of the other challengers to win the Urban Assault Ride women's division. They used their 'fireball' attitudes, bike savvy and excellent knowledge of the Des Moines to combine with outstanding feats of great skill and strength to take home top prize.

There was an outstanding showing of pink team, pink partners/spouses and pink friends. It was great to see everyone having a good time.









Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann