LEE WINS NEBRASKA STATE MOUNTAIN BIKE CHAMPIONSHIP

Has the world tipped sideways?  Why?...you ask.  There seems to be a  Pink rider tearing up the mountain bike Cat 3 around here.  However,  looking back thought my files or posts or dreams it seems like Lee had been paying her dues on the pavement for the last three years.  She was well known for towing the line often, and, in the last year finding some mild success in the master's category.  But let's face it, she was still rather green.

Welcome to 2013............it seems that she is coming into her own on the dirt.  A little recap shows that she has podiumed each of the four mountain bike races in which she entered.    Now the score is even at two and two (1st/2nd).

Last Saturday, Lee traveled past Omaha almost to Lincoln for the chance to throw it down with the best that Nebraska had to offer.   She admits racing thus far on a bit of fear and downright sultriness.  The course at Platte River is known for it technical features, rocky gardens and never ending climbs.   It challenges you on the way up only to spit you out,steeply down praying that your butt is far enough back to keep your chin on the back side of the handle bars.  It is a fine line between a death wish and the ultimate adrenalin rush.  I would not have taken Lee's calm demeanor to be hiding this fascinating gem.

But, alas, she has prove me wrong.  The race was billed the Platte River Battle Royale and Lee made it a Royale venture.  She tossed fear to wind and raced it like she stole it.  That Jamis has melded with her body to make one sweet racing machine.     With this combination she brought home a State Championship to VelRosa!!!

Kudos to Lee for this fine accomplishment.  It appears that all of the hard training and lack of beer drinking is paying off in big dividends.  It has been a rumor that she repeatedly turns down a cold beer during the week prior to the races.......I did not see that one coming!


Your (humbled) Roving Race Reporter,



Luann

Dee Takes Water Works Crit; Aryn and Heather Place Top 5

Sunday was pink day at Water Works Crit.  There was so much VeloRosa gear on guys, gals and kids that I thought it was the annual party ride.  But in the early afternoon a bike race broke out.  The women in all categories raced together.  That pitted seasoned Cat 1,2,3 races against newer Cat 4 racers.   There was no forgiveness for the master's racer either; they also raced the top gals.

The pack rode together for several laps.  Heather, Dee and Aryn pulled the pack most of the way.  The other top finishers seemed content to just sit on a wheel and enjoy the pull.  That is the downside of tight crit racing.............some folks just sit and cruise.    A Prim lap was an attempt to break up the field and Dee was just edged out for that prize.  It would be the last thing she was edged out of on this glorious day.

You could tell when the pack came around.............pink cheers were loud and encouraging.   The VeloRosa gals rode a little stronger with each rousing cheer.  Finally the pack came down to include Dee, Aryn and Heather along with three other gals.  As the bell sounded the intensity picked up and you could taste the excitement.

As they rounded the last curve and headed home, it was hard to tell which gal had the front.  Dee used a very hard charge to clear by a bike length to claim the victory followed by two Mercy Specialized racers.  Aryn was 4th and the 2nd Cat 4 racer followed directly by Heather.  After racing strong just off of the main pack, Erika held on to 10th.  Abby chose to skip the last lap and watch the exciting finish.

What an awesome showing of the racing prowess of Team VeloRosa.    The ladies came out to race and to cheer.  Many of the teammates showed up with their families as it was Mother's Day and this was what our teammate-Mothers wanted to do for their day.

Here are some of the photos of the fun:

THIS IS BETTER THAN A WINNING MEDAL!

 

Your Roving Race Reporter,

WE ARE, VR

Luann

Joann and Lee Tear It Up at Ingawanis Mountain Bike Races

There seems to be a trend going on with this Pink Team!  Seems like two of our gals are putting the rubber on the dirt and riding hard.  The latest IMBCS race took place in Waverly, Iowa.  Beside these two ladies, Heather came out for her first mountain bike race.  Always good to see one of our best trying a new version of cycling.  She gets the tough-girl points for this weekend.

Back to Joann.............racing in Cat 2. She had two grueling laps of this challenging course.  Soon after she got on the single-track, there was a twisty, steep, rooted climb.  When she turned the corner at the top, they threw in some rocks for good measure.  Having made nice work of that hill, she cruised on through the tacky corners and long climbs.  A good, steady rhythm helped her to open a gap on Katherine whom did not give in but kept challenging Joann throughout the race.    At the end of the first lap there was about 75 yards of mud.  Now, given all of the rain that fell right up to race time, this was a relatively small amount of mud.  When you are on a bike, your legs are weary, this is a royal pain.  Joann skated through and started the second lap.  A bit more comfortable with the course, she moved quickly through it.  With just the same mud remaining, she sealed the deal and took the win!

Lee, racing Cat 3, shot out at the start hoping to surprise the rest of the field.  She did a good job and was leading almost all of the way to single track until Jr racer Zoe zipped past her.   Not deterred, Lee fought on and overtook Zoe on the first climb.   She then had to work hard to fend off the gals breathing down her neck.  She used the philosophy that every guy she passed became like a blocker that the gals chasing her had to also navigate around.  This seemed to work to both motivate Lee and  put some distance between her and the others.   She kept up the pace working hard on the climbs and doing some nifty navigating of the rock garden.  One brief upside-down crash only motivated her to get the dang race over with as quickly (but safely) as possible.   The mud that nearly took her down on the warm up lap. seemed to be no match for her dedication to getting across the line first.  To say she looked triumphant is an understatement.  Congrats to Lee on her inaugural first place finish!

Heather looked at this race as a change and to see what mountain bike racing was like compared to her successful road experiences.  The dirt was challenging but she she persevered.  She finished 4th overall in the women's Cat 3.  Hopefully she will come back for another go!

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Yes they had the blocks wrong!