Cycling, Racing and the new 2010 non-season

I suppose it would make some sense to talk about bikes in some fashion. I am a cyclist. A bike racer actually. Well, I was last year. This year not so much. I just started riding in 2005- did a few centuries and found out I hate being on the bike more than a few hours, neither does my seat bones which apparently are very bony since my husband screams every time I try to sit on his lap. 2006 I was "grounded" due to illness so I rode as best and as much as I could. 2007 I had surgeries so not much riding til Fall. 2008 I ran a marathon so I rode only to cross- train. I still rode weekends with my hubby as its something we love to do together. So its not like I never rode my bike. 2009 I decided to get serious and I started training in Feb 2009. THe first couple months I did sucky, for my standards-pack finishes but nothing note-worthy but I got my butt out there. I did the Kern County Stage Race last year in mid May and that was unbeleivably hard and fun too. Met some great gals (Katie Kelly and Carla Cosentino) spent time with my awesome teammates (Samo, Lucia, Lisa) and learned that I can conquer anything after that nasty road race/hill climb/circuit race in over 100 degree weather. Nothing spells more fun that 4 girls, 5 bikes, 4 wheel sets, bike pumps, suitcases, a portable fridge, water bottles, granola bars, kits laying out to dry, a table, and extra rollaway in a double bed room down in Bakersfield for 3 days. It was nuts but man was that fun. If you consider torturing yourself on the bike for hours a day fun. We would be so tired at the end of the day and have to get up early the next and do it all again! It was a stage race. ITT on Friday, Circuit Race then ITT Hill Climb Saturday then a grueling RR on Sunday. It was so hot. And the Hill climb was so hard after a circuit race. And that RR sucked bad, I mean it was 117 degrees F!! Thats heatstroke waiting to happen folks and that can be deadly. People were dropping like flies. I actually finished pretty well so I was stoked. But that was the hardest race I had done. And I rode it solo since I got dropped from the lead pack on a climb. It was hot, dry, windy and there were buzzards following me. I diligenty drank cytomax and chewed on those ShotBloks. I had decided to do this race total spur of the moment. And since I didnt and still dont have a coach, I didnt really have a training protocol or specific workouts let alone any "A" or 'B" races selected.... I just ride my bike and just went to races. So I was pleased with myself for doing as well as I did in the GC. So that was mid-May

Every Memorial Day Weekend (end of May) my husband Martin and I do this ride from San Jose to Santa Barbara with about 50 other friends. Its 370 miles in 4 days. Its an invite only, supported ride that we have done for 5 years now. The ride has existed now for 20 years! Its basically 100 miles a day and its fast!!! The lead group always puts the hammer down and each year I stick on a little longer than the year before. Its usually the pro level guys and this one gal, Kerry who ROCKS the bike-gotta love a skinny chick that can outclimb and out do the boys. Tho she was a pro Mtn Biker some years back so she was hard core... but still ! This past year, 2009, I hung on GOOD. I had a good base under my legs and I was strong. I got shelled on the wicked climbs near the end of the days but thats ok. Im not a wiley climber as you can see from my physique. Im a sprinter. And yea, you skinny bitches will beat me to the top of the hill, I will crush your ass in a field sprint. So, were even. LOL. I don't need to prove myself to the climbers :) So after Kern and then the Memorial Day Ride, I was FIT. And I was ready to rock the pavement with my awesome teammates from Los Gatos Bike Racing Club. Want to give a shout out to LGBRC-you guys are the best bike club ever. So anyway...thats about the time when I started winning bike races, the end of May. And it was awesome and unreal. My first win I couldnt beleive it, I was grinning for like a week. I won the State Championship on the track in July as well. I actually earned back enough race rewards and cash from the podiums that I MADE money racing in 2009. Sweet!!!! So it really seeped into my being, the addiction to bike racing and racing every weekend and racing the track and loving the results. I felt confident and I felt strong. That felt really really good. I actually thought I had a chance in 2010 as a Cat 3 and wanted to try and race hard and well to upgrade to Cat 2 so I could be super serious. I have a pretty solid head racing, Ive got decent skills so I know Im safe in the pack and was ready to move up category wise. Folks told me that I had a sprint that could contend with the best out there so I was super excited for 2010 season. I finished 4th overall in the Bay Area Best All Round Rider Division so there it was ... documented that I was strong. Sa-weet !!! But that was 2009......

.........
The off season came and the off season went..... and as part of the standing theme "crud that happens to Rene" , sickness and injury sidelined me from getting my base miles in from November 2009- January 2010. So I fell behind the 8 ball completely.
Now its 2010 and what lurks ahead for me are a number of challenging races which would be cake if it were Cat 4 but will be 1/2/3 combined fields and I think I have a very slim chance in getting on the podium for a while. Consistely geting your ass handed to you on a platter is really not fun for me. It really gets to me when I fail. If I can stick with the pace and set up for the final sprint I have a fair chance for maybe a top 10 (and that depends on the pro teams that show up). But.... I don't have the fitness right now. So Im not racing. I know part of the curve is catting up, showing up to race and getting shelled off the back or downright beaten to a pulp just hanging on and over time you get better. In time, it wont be so bad. But right now, I am not ready to even line up with the pros. I want to be at least slightly prepared :)
So 4 weeks ago I got plagued by an inner ear thing and some more tummy issues so I havent ridden my beloved bike for over 2 weeks. Any fitness I had earned back is again gone- whooosh! So Ive lost my cycling mojo. Not sure how to get it back. Not sure I want to. That competitive streak in me is more like a faded backwash right now. No desire. I dont know why. Plus this weather sucks and Im more of a fair weather rider being from Southern California and all (not LA- but lovely La Jolla) so Im not willing to ride in the rain/sleet/snow or dark for that matter. I dont want to get run over.
So there you have it. That is why Im not in active training, I feel like I missed the bus and Im never going to be where I need to be to perform well. Im listening to my self on this one and just taking the time off the bike. I might be burned out, who knows. When the sun comes out again and there is more light I think I might take to the bike seriously again. I swear Im solar powered