Dee Smokes CIRREM--New Record

CIRREM promises to challenge the riders on the 100K/60 mile course.  Mother Nature can throw a wrench in every one's well-rehearsed plans.  Even with hundreds of miles under your belt, you may just not finish.   That is why it is a revered race.  Many try to enter but only about 100 get the opportunity to try it.  The weather threatened to put a dagger in the hearts of those well trained.

But none of that pertains when Dee Mable mounts her bike.  Dee combined with Jason Simpson to put down the hammer on the other women in the field.  The previous course record was 5 hours;  the new one  is 4:19.  That folks is not just a record breaker, it is record demolisher.   Many have tried to ride that far for that long at a hard pace but Dee accomplished it on a cold somewhat windy day.

All should bow down to Dee for this awesome feat but she would not like that. So give her 5 or a hug and reiterate that the hammer has been thrown down.  Who dares to take it up next year?

Not that Dee was the only pink gal out there toiling over gravel and hills that reminded me of Colorado.  OK, I have never ridden my bike in Colorado but my job as blogger to image that I have raced everywhere.  Joann S left it all out on the dirt and came in 4th place.  That is also an outstanding effort.  Kim H was not far behind finishing 5th.   All VeloRosians in the top 5!!!!

Pink Rocks!!!!!

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Pink Rules Water Works Circuit Race

Eight ladies showed up at Water Works park for the circuit race last Saturday.  This was an outstanding showing for the open Cat race.  This put all racers on the route at the same time.  

The ladies in pink road a strong race.  Kim, Lee and Megan took turns out front helping to protect Dee.  Lisa and Ali hung close in the pack and picked up the flow of the pack.  Ali and  Abby rounded out the showing.

Loren and Leah had a photo finish with Dee right on their rear wheel taking third.  Megan took fourth.  Newcomer Lisa (Carp) finished fifth in her first race. Kim and Ali finished seventh and eight, respectively.  Erika took 11th and Abby 15th.   This strong showing allowed VeloRosa to win the Team title for this race.

Congrats to all of the ladies but especially to those first time racers.   Welcome to the game.



Abby and Ali post race with team beer





Listening to the directions



Kim worked hard all race

Megan charges for the line

Pink dominates the final results

Tha is a lot of pink!

Pre-race strategy

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Pink Takes Two of Top Three at CIRREM

Even though it has been a comparatively mild winter, it still has been plenty cold to be out riding on the gravel. Consider that an average ride is three hours. That commitment paid off as Joann Schmidt placed second followed by in Dee Mable third. This dynamic duo showed that hundreds of hours if bike time was well worth it.

As nature seems to have a great sense of humor, the promised 45 degree weather and dry gravel that was forecast turned out to be ice-covered gravel and below-freezing temps for the start. If you have never enjoyed the pleasure of riding gravel near The Cumming Tap, trust me the hill goes straight up at angles that more than challenges you. However the same steepness greets you on the way down. Add in ice and you have a lung-busting climb followed by a harrowing, luge-like decent......times 10. The good thing is that the other hills are less challenging in a funny sort of way.

Congrats to Joann and Dee for starting off the VeloRosa season in prime fashion!

Race Like a Girl

RLG returned to Des Moines

and the VeloRosa ladies, plus the hotest guy in pink,
showed up in force to take part.


It was wonderful to see all of the new


riders coming out to learn the ropes.




Erika, Aryn, Melinda, Dee, Megan and Jason rocked the pink jerseys and rode like the wind.





Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Photos by Kim and Karolyn............thanks gals!!!

Dee and Dave Whip Almonzo

Dave has pretty high standards on when he will ride. There are very few reasons that he won't get on the bike, solo or tandem, and tear it up. He had held a pretty strong line on the position that he will ride when it is cold; and when it is raining; but not when it is cold AND raining. Well he can toss that one out but apparently only if you toss in a half inch of facial mud!

Dee and Dave rode in some awful spring conditions to knock out 100 miles of gravel roads. Welcome to Almonzo where it costs nothing to enter but can tear your heart, soul, and guts out. Tide may be able to solve all stains on TV but it could not touch Dave's kit.

Being true students of biking, they used the time on the bike to show that drafting works. Dee stayed tucked nicely behind Dave and she clearly has 20% less mud on her.

As Dave summed it up on his FB: ‎42 degrees. strong NW wind, endless hills (endless), mud, fresh gravel, rain, rain, rain, mud, hills, wind, rain, mud, hills, soft gravel, mud, hills (leg-breaking), rain, cold, wind. Oh, and a flat.

Congrats to both Dee and Dave on this momentous accomplishment.

Your Roving (but clean) Race Reporter,

Luann

Iowa City Road Race Starts Season

The last Saturday of April marked the start of the road race season in Iowa. The Iowa City Road Race in Kalona brought forth a typically windy day on the open fields of Iowa. The pink team sent three stalwart ladies to battle the conditions in this race that runs 13 miles per lap.

A strong winter training regimen helped Megan hang on the main pack and finish just off it in 5th place. She used a great plan in hanging with the pack to finish near the front of the field.

Lee survived a crash that took her off of the road and put fellow biker and pink-friend Kim Topp on the ground. Shecame back with a nice pull from Kim and took 2nd in the Women's 35+ category.

Dee toed the line with the big gals in the Cat 1/2/3 race. She battled the wind and took 9th over all in this tough division that brought in highly competitive teams (that took 6 of the top 8 spots) from outside of the state.

Congrats to all of the Pink Ladies that showed up and rock the road in Kalona.

Your Flying and 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