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

Chequamegon 40 Race

Karolyn on route.


This is a 40 mile ride that starts innocently enough on a paved road but you had better enjoy the short journey as it heads off on the real path. Many of the latter roads are logging roads with active traffic. If you have ever had a VW Bug scare you while on your bike on a road in DM, try a fully loaded logging truck!


This is what 9-time racers Dee and Dave on the tandem along with first-timers Kim, Karolyn and Julie G faced on a beautiful fall day as they attacked the 40-mile course. While it can be deceptively beautiful the challenge should not be understated.

Or may be teammate Kim H put described it as only one whom road it can do:
"At the start gun 1700 riders rolled elbow-to-elbow past the cheers of the crowd lining the town of Hayward through Rosies's Field and onto the Berkie Ski Trail. Racers were treated to beautiful forest trails, breathtaking lake views, fast gravel forest roads, excruciating climbs, more cheering crowds, sweeping descents, giant mud puddles and even a band of heckling pirates bearing rum shots. The race finished 40 miles later at the Telemark Ski Lodge in Cable, WI." It has been stated that while in the 35-38 mile range many riders are thinking, "I will never do this again IF I manage to finish this." However, shortly after completing, the celebration with friends made it safe to plan to ride it again next year.
In the photo: Karolyn, Kim, Dee, Maria, Julie, Sally and Heather


The website for this race contains this course warning: "PLEASE NOTE: This map is intended for general directional purpose only and not detailed enough to use for orienteering in the woods. Always take along a compass, detailed maps and plenty of fluids when riding in the deep woods. The courses are off-road and on a variety of unmaintained trails. Riding hazards exist and extreme caution should be exercised when riding in the woods."

Warnings aside, the VeloRosa ladies and our favorite bike guy, Dave, conquered this challenge.

See the following blog for lots of pictures from this event!

Your roving race reporter,

Luann

Pink Gals Stomp Snus Hill Winery

Julie and Robin rode over to the annual wine stomping at Snus Hill Winery in late August to try their feet at making wine. Snus Hill is located in Madrid and each fall it allows wine aficionados and crazy bike chicks to stomp grapes and play winery games.

Julie was the best at bobbing for a water balloon, running it to a chair and then using her bike-toned buns to smash it. She put down more than anyone else in the one minute contest. Her teammates always suspected that she was multi-talented. Now that is a proven fact.

Robin's miles of biking, drinking and dancing paid off as Robin was voted the most energetic grape smoosher.


Once again, Team VeloRosa shows that a biking team is only as good as it is at having fun. And those team kits look outstanding off the bike.

Your roving (once again) bike reporter,

Luann

Pink Conquers Pigman 1/2 Iron Man; Takes Medal

You may be asking, why would bikers want to challenge themselves to racing in the August heat through 1.92k swim, 90.13k bike and then run 21.08k? Because VeloRosa, despite the name, is more than a bike chick group. The Pink Ladies take on all challenges.

Newer to the team, Jen Veak, greeted veteran, Kristen Reece, in the transition area after a few weeks of friendly email banter. She showed exceptional intelligence in looking for the pink jersey and made quick ID of Kristen. They waited out a fog delay prior to the start.

Jen's recent work in the open water paid off in this, her second, 1/2 Iron Man. Quickly putting that behind her, she hopped on her bike to whip through the miles that faced her. The headwind took quite a bit out of her but she completed and transitioned to the run.

By this time, it was starting to get to be typical August, nasty hot. She may have pondered not doing the run, but she again ran across Kristen and the ladies encouraged each other to keep at it.

Kristen competing in her second Pigman rocked the strong gals division whipping the competition. Her time in the pool and refined biking strengths, allowed her to shave of over 13 minutes from last year's race despite the incredible heat of the run. This PR time brought home the gold.
As of this time, no photos were available to help to document this fine feat. Congrats to both Jen and Kristen on the great effort and fine performances.

Your only-dreaming-of-a-1/2 Iron Man, roving reporter,

Luanne

Dee Races Single Speed at RLG

Dee and Lee celebrate Lee's last race of the year with TEAM VELOROSA BEER!!!

It was a hot and muggy night................wait that is from a PEANUTS cartoon or something. But it was hot at RLG Thursday night. Once again as Lee was telling Dee how she was going to smoke her, Dee revealed she would be racing single gear. Lee gave up right there as HOW could she compete with THAT advantage. Dee turned in a stellar performance regardless of the limited capacity of her bike.

In the first race, the field still expected Dee to pull them along. The lead group broke away with Dee and Lee in the second pack. With the encouragement of Dave, Lee broke from her wheel and got in front of Dee to pull for part of the lap. According to Dee, "Lee pulled me back to the lead pack." With the domestique duties out of the way, Lee faded back wondering where she left her lungs. Lee did hang on to overtake another lady for the finish.

The second race was such that the winner of each of the 5 laps dropped out. Dee used her exceptional skills to lead the first lap and get out of the race. Lee raced hard but was not able to over the leader for the 5th place lap win.

Both of these fine VeloRosa ladies took the rest of the night off to sample VeloRosa Team beer and recruit. Lee failed in her recruitment pitch of, "We have a team beer", but the green ladies had fun listening to it. So no new recruits but an overall fun time.

Several other biking folks, including the soon to be newly-weds, did share in the fine beer and offered to help brew the next batch while Lee is recuperating.

Stay tuned for the next team bike night from WDM. Be safe on RAGBRAI!!!


Your roving bike reporter,

Luanne

DUBUQUE DUATHON

Last Saturday a group of energetic athletes arrived in Dubuque with the goal of mastering a run/bike/run race. While there is no swimming, which for some is a blessing and for others is a curse, there are distances to cover at 1.2/17/3 miles. Melinda Reese took the challenge and represented the Pink Team in fine fashion finishing in 1:46:36. Congrats to Melinda for doing the Pink proud!

Your roving race reporter,

Luanne

IOWA CUP POINTS RACE--GO DEE!

The Iowa Cup Cat 4 Women's race has been very close all season. The level of competition has been very high all year with several women on the cusp of moving up to the Cat 1/2/3 level.

VeloRosa's own Dee Mable is currently the points leader. She is duking it out with Cara H. who is with the Iowa City Cylcing Club. There have been many sprint-to-the-finish endings for these two gals. With three races remaining, it will be a fight to the end.

Two of these races take place right near Des Moines with VeloRosa's own Road Race on Saturday, August 21 and the East Village Crit on the 22nd. Last year's East Village Crit was the deciding factor in the final 2009 standings.

So get your cowbell, cooler and lawn chair and come out and cheer on our teammates! Or get your helmet and bike and join in the racing.

Luanne

Tunnel Ride

Several of the ladies gathered for an evening of riding and took part in the Tunnel Ride. Beth enjoyed her first mountain biking ride as she joined Kim, Karolyn and Lee for a quick tour of Hillside. The mosquitoes won that battle and the ladies headed to the pool for a quick wash up (no one wants poison ivy rash for RAGBRAI) before continuing to Orlondo's. Laura and Angie were already there warming up for the ride to The Cumming Tap.

What an outstanding showing for the Iowa biking community. The grass lot overflowed with riders and beverages. Some awesome pizza slices were quickly devoured and then it was time to head south.

The team members split up at the first tunnel and the lean-to. Music blared, stories were shared and lots of laughter ensued. At last it was time to make haste and get on with the grueling ride to Cumming.

Everyone arrived safely at the Tap and enjoyed adult lemonades and cold barley and hops. The place oozed biking and friendliness. If you left the night with no fewer than 10 new friends, something was greatly amiss. The storm that blew in moved everyone inside but did not diminish the fun.

If you have not done a Cumming Tap ride, grab a teammate and get on it. It is a unique and thrilling adventure.

Stay tuned for news from next Wednesday's Steak Ride. Rumor has it that Dee may find her favorite beverage as she was literally locked out last time.