VeloRosa Gals Win Women's Division of Gents

So I was spending Saturday on the couch dreaming of beer and basketball when I got a little notice that some type of illegal race was going on near Ankeny.  Well, well, well, that piqued my interest.  I looked outside to check the weather and it looked like it could pour at any minute.  Was this my April Fool's joke gone bad or was there something brewing out there besides the impending storm???

Being the dedicated roving reporter that it is rumored that I am, I headed that way to see what was going on.  Truth be told, that really cool VeloRosa hat you gave me is gone in the wind!  I know these ladies are dedicated to riding, but really???? In THAT wind?  You will never believe what I found?  Plenty of pink gals knocking down some serious mileage.  The Gents race is 66  miles of gravel with no support and just a little card with a bunch of street names on it.


Amy showing how much fun a cross bike can be

 

Julie, Julie, Elaine Jake and Lee warning others that they are moving slowly







What do you get when you team up five pink clad gals with a mission in mind?  Freaky fast gals taking down 66 mile of windy gravel.  Not only were they the faster women's team but they were 5th over all.  There were 30 some teams out there.....these gals rocked this race.




This is what winners look like!!

  Congrats to Kristin R, Kristin S, Ali, Karolyn and Sherry M-K on this accomplishment.  With the winds howling and threatening to push the riders backward, this team moved like a well-oiled machine making mincemeat of the gravel.  



A tire change does not slow down team VeloRosa!



Yes, this team is in first place and proud of it  Lee, Julie, Julie, Elaine, Jake




Pondering which beer to have next is also a team event.....Jen, Sara, Erika, Lee



Dee and teammates racking up the miles

 Many other Pink Gals teamed up with other teams to take on this challenging race.   Kudos to Dee, Kim, Michelle, Amy, Lee, Julie S, Julie G and Elaine for a great day of riding.

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann

Pink Team Whips Gents Race

Congrats to our pink team of Dave, Dee, Joe (sometimes claimed by Joann), Jim Logan and Ken Sherman for taking first in this inaugural race. A big pink thanks to Ken for filling in for Joann when she went down with an injury. This team worked hard to stave off a hard-charging challenge from the second place team. All of those Sunday afternoons spent riding in the mud and gravel paid off for this dedicated group.

Pink also took third with a team of Kim Hopkins, Mark Jeffernbruch, Jason Simpson, Karolyn Zeller and Tobin Bennett. Two of our favorite pink guys Jay and Tobin along with now certainly always pink, Mark,
joined Kim and Karolyn to be on the chase of the first pink team. This group also gave up many Sunday afternoons to ride gravel in anticipation of this race. It appears to have been time well spent.

Not to be out done, another pink team completed the race. The fine ladies including Janan Felts, Jen Veak, Elaine Kay, Sara Broek and Julie G were proud to make it through the miles. You might think, "So what?" Well this is what is what: many of these ladies had nary a gravel ride under her belt; never raced on gravel; and/or had never completed this distance. Being Pink is not always about winning. It is about challenging yourself to do something beyond what you thought was possible. All things are possible when you are pink, have pink
teammates and pink friends cheering you on!

The best quote heard during the race: "I am pregnant and I am hungry, leave my pizza alone" when the pink girls thought (out loud) briefly about accosting her for her pizza when they stopped for a fuel up at Casey's.

Generally folks were worn out but happy with finishes and finishing. As this photo shows, there is always enough energy for a post-race beer!


Congrats to all that raced!!

Your Roving Race Reporter,

Luann