One Last Ride

My husband and I brushed the dust off of the old road bikes we keep stored at my parents' house in south Florida this morning... There's something to be said for being able to ride your bike in your sleeveless jersey on the last day of the year.

I was pleasantly surprised by the way the old bike didn't suck as much as I remembered, and we had a great (if windy, the wind here is as bad as in Colorado) ride.

On the way home, we stopped by a CVS for some much needed allergy meds, where people looked at me really funny in my full cycling gear. I guess nobody runs an errand while out on a bike ride down here. It was absolutely worth it for the looks I got!  

Now the only question that remains (in my mind, at least) is this:

Does it count as a commute if you just randomly stop at the pharmacy while out on your bike ride?😊

New Year's Resolution v. Goal Setting

It seems that every December the conversations of New Year's Resolutions begin.  I think goals are great and give purpose to something that we may not otherwise do, but I always cringe when people say "oh my new year's resolution is.....(insert lofty aspiration here)..." because for most people, it will only last about 2 months.  If you don't believe me, stop by any gym on March 1st and see how crowded it is.  ;)

Knowing all of this, I have to ask, why do we wait until Jan 1st to start working towards our goals? Why not start them when we realize we have a goal that we want to reach?  Why do we feel the need to wait until a new calendar is posted on the wall to commit ourselves to something we want?  And honestly, if our goals are health-oriented or activity-inspired, the best thing we could do, in my opinion, is to start them before...yep, I said it BEFORE...the holidays to keep us feeling healthy and on track!!

I've also heard a lot of folks and articles say that say if you tell people your goals, then you're more likely to reach them. With that being said, I will share with you my 2017 goal.

My goal is to compete and be competitive at Track Nationals in 2017.  Phew.  I said it and it's now out there for the world to see.  I think I need a drink..... ;)

A few months ago, while riding at the Boulder Valley Velodrome, I decided that I wanted to dedicate myself to track racing in next year.  However, devoting more time to riding my track bike was too vague and since goals need to be created with substance and definition, I decided that competing Track Nationals would be my goal.  Not just to show up and race (because I could do that just by buying a plane ticket), but my goal would be to train and show up as the best and most competitive version of myself.

After talking to a few key players about this, I made the decision to hire a coach and make this hair-brained idea a reality! I did some research on local coaches, talked to other athletes and coaches and found someone who I am confident can help take my passion for cycling and focus it onto the track.

When I first met with my coach, he asked when I wanted to start my training.  For a split second I thought "well...the holidays are coming up...which means lots of parties and skiing and fun....", but what I told him was "I want to start ASAP".  While I may miss some of the fun that my friends will be having this winter, I will remain committed to myself and my goals and urge you to do the same.  

Keep your eye on the prize and don't stop pedaling! :)

#tracknats17 #rockhill

 

Protect Your Pumpkin

This afternoon I decided to head out for a nice casual coffee shop ride (mostly b/c I was hungry for the delicious GF lemon poppy bread at Zoe's Coffee), then decided to go for a cruise around the 'hood.  On my way home, I was turning into my development only to find a truck blocking the intersection and a woman lying on the ground with blood everywhere and an overturned adult-sized tricycle nearby.  My first thought was "oh  no!  The truck hit her!"  The man outside of the truck told me that he was on the phone with 911 because he saw the woman lose control of her trike while taking the turn too fast.  While he was talking to the operator, I rushed over to talk to the woman and try to keep her seated until help arrived.  Needless to say, she wasn't going to sit and relax.  She wanted to go home.  I did my best to delay her by "looking over her bike" to make sure it was ok.  But she insisted she lived nearby and wanted to leave.  This was my first time ever having come across another cyclist who was injured...and I feared it could be severe.  Not wanting to argue with the 68 y/o woman (as I later found out), I walked my bike and hers the 2 blocks to her home.  Trying not to be too harsh, I stressed MANY times that she absolutely MUST have a helmet before she rides again.  I told her that helmets have saved my life twice (or at least...prevented my brains from being too badly scrambled).  When I left, the guy in the truck was still close-by and had given the police her address for her to be looked over.  I really hope she's ok.

While riding home, I  kept thinking how bizarre it is to me that people would hop on a bike and just take off without even thinking of strapping on a helmet, but as my husband reminded me, not too long ago, cyclists were racing without helmets!  The older generations today (and even some of us from the 80s), grew up where you didn't wear a helmet as a kid, so it's not a big stretch to imagine why my neighbor wouldn't think she needed one tonight.  This doesn't make it right though.  I think it would be a shame if everyone had to go through what she did in order to realize the value of a helmet.

In an effort not to be too soap-boxy, I will just say this....always always ALWAYS wear your helmet!!  :-)

Sun glare and bike lights

As I was commuting to work today I thought to myself. "wow it is so light out I don't even need bike lights this morning!" Wrong. I realized today the importance of a blinking back bike light especially in the setting of sun glare in Colorado! Drivers literally cannot see us and that blinking back light at least gives us a better chance to be visible! 

I also have to say my layers are critical for cold morning commutes. If my hands get too cold my braking is compromised and it's just not safe.  I'm so fortunate to have some really great gloves to keep my fingers nice and toasty. I also bought some handwarmers to insert into my lobster mits for really cold riding. Commuting in Colorado this fall has been amazing but I know sooner than later those lobster mits will come out of retirement!

Magical Bike Commute #105

In early 2016, I decided to join the fabulous Bike Ambassadors Team to help leave my car PARKED and ride my bike more. Heck, living in an awesome city like Denver, where riding year round is very possible with the right gear (thanks Champion Systems!), it was a great New Year's Resolution.

Fast forward to last Friday, when my bike commuting took a temporary hiatus due to a running injury. Ouch! Thanks Panorama Orthopedics for patching me up. I'll be boot bound for at least 2-3 weeks, but I'm a firm believer that all things happen for a reason.


With all this time on my hands and trying to stay focused on the positive, I decided to do a formal check in on my New Year's Resolution. I tallied my commutes, and holy cow! I've managed to fit in 104 commutes, despite unexpected family issues, lots of work-related travel and working remotely. Even more fun was revisiting my Instagram highlights reel from my daily commutes:

Now that a walking boot is my reality for the next few weeks, I'm learning the ropes for a new kind of commuting....walking + $2.60 for public transportation! It's a whole new adventure, and will be so helpful to mix in with my bike commuting this winter when the weather is really bad. Can't wait to slip commute #105 under my belt once this boot comes off!

Grateful!

I managed to have myself a pretty amazing summer...

Beautiful views...

Bike commuting...

Running...

Biking...

So many awesome experiences... some good, some bad. I won some, I lost some, I learned a lot. At the end of the day, the best lesson learned is how grateful I am to have been able to have the experience!

Bike Commuting on Vacation

We are back in the lovely town in Madison in the midst of a beautiful fall.  There is no better time to be in the midwest, and driving home meant we could bring our bikes to minimize driving in this commuter-friendly town.

On our first day back, we commuted to and from one of the main reasons for coming back: Esperanza Spalding!!

 Riding through the crisp, night air along the lakefront with Paul.

We've been able to do pretty much every ride from our house, which has made for a lovely, stress-free vacation.

10 miles south of town, all path

Happy commuting!!!

Thank goodness ...

It's been a warm fall! The mornings are cool and crisp, but the afternoons are still warm and sunny. I keep a variety of lights stored in my saddle bag because you never know when you're going to be delayed at work and forced to ride home at 5:30- when the sun is now setting - at least until daylight savings when I'll be waking up in the dark and riding home in the dark. Thank goodness for high visibility clothing and warm evenings. I am not eager for winter and snow like some of you crazy Coloradans - winter sports were only created to keep us busy on those terrible days when we can't ride our bikes outside...

Hello thermals!

Between the look of confusion on my husband's face and the pure excitement on mine as I started digging out my thermals last night in preparation for today's commute, it was entertaining night at our house!  With the cooler weather FINALLY upon us, I couldn't wait to dig out my fall/winter clothes, charge my bike light and knock off the dust on my toe covers.  When the alarm went off this morning, I jumped out of bed, so excited to head out into the darkness!  Nothing is more relaxing or freeing than biking in the pitch dark.  Just you...your bike & light....and 843 bunnies darting in front of you (just to make sure you're on your toes!).  The chilly temps quickly subsided as the sun rose, which was just an amazing sight!  So great, that I stopped twice....once to get a picture and once to just embrace my surroundings and the new day ahead. As someone once said, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing choices!  

Sometimes a detour is a blessing

I found myself taking off on my mountain bike headed through Chatfield to Waterton Canyon, but when I got to Waterton Canyon it was closed. Immediately I was disappointed. Then I took a little detour through Chatfields single track and it was amazing! Lots of leaves blowing in my face, beautiful fall colors, and it got me to thinking life is often a detour. Often we are not planning on certain things that happen to us, but even if at the time we don't realize it, it is often a blessing.  I am so grateful for the journey we get to take in this wonderful thing called life. I am also so thankful for the people who are placed in our lives that make this journey more fun! 

#bikemoredriveless

#lovemybikeambassadorteamates

#❤️😀 

Commute ??

https://momentummag.com/bike-work-die/

Realizations

2016 Road Season started off slow as usual. Louisville Crit was a dud but did what it always seems to do "get you butt in gear" and we met a Canadian Olympian. By the time Rio RR came along I was hitting my stride and getting prepared for my 1st of 3 "A" races with Superior in my sights. Last year I raced the Lafayette Crit so when Kasey mentioned we could use it as a warmer for Mogul I was all in. With only 12 in the field, cool weather and pre-ride 2 days before, I felt great! As I handed of my jacket to EMT's I actually joked "hope to not see you soon"...well as with any race, discipline and high speed equate risk. At 20mph I didn't have but a millisecond before my Kask helmet bounced off cement and skid me head and shoulder into the curb, Sidis released immediately and I was staring at an overcast sky. Thankfully Jen and Doug had come to cheer me on and we quickly got to Bo. Community. AC4 separation assured that if I worked hard on recovering the rest of my 2016 Road season would be Crits; BRAC road races seemed few and far between this year. I told myself (mind gaming) that I could do well in Crits, so I did, snagging a few podiums.
Kask , hands down is the ONLY reason I was able to rehab as quickly as I did; I just can't say enough about how safe I feel with this gear! The ER Doc was so impressed that I was not concussed badly after looking at my helmet, torn jersey from back neck down and scraped up Sidis. The cradle and dial never disengaged so my head was secured until ER staff took it off.
OK, on to better news: Inighten now has an employee who commutes 3 days a week. I'm going to try a CX race, Gran Fondo Road looks be a series I will do in 2017 and I conquered 103miles in Ashville, AL muggy and humid but beautiful terrain. Tour De Cure on books for end of September and then hit the Fall/Winter training...Oh, Rhonda and I are off on a Viking Ocean Cruise in mid October to celebrate the big 52.

BIG thanks to Kask, Sidi, Champion Systems kits, Treads Bicycle Outfitters, Dietz & Davis PC, Crazy Mountain Brewing Co., my supportive Bike Ambassador team, coach Kasey Clark for keeping my goals on track and the gal that makes this all possible, TheCyclist-Lawyer.com, Megan Hottman!

 

 

Denver needs more bike commuters!

Bikes could help Relieve some of the issues mentioned in this article!

http://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/15/denver-area-work-commutes/

Taking the road less traveled

On my commute home from work today, I found myself trying out little roads I had never explored. It was really fun. I purposely rode my gravel bike to work so I could explore some trails. I would encourage those of you who commute to try a different route to mix it up a bit.  We are always in such a hurry to get to work and back home for obligations, but I had such a great time tooling around today exploring new things and seeing new views.  After all life is what we make of it! 

Embracing the Neon

With the days getting shorter, commuting for me has changed a little.  Instead of rolling out of bed, throwing on a kit and hitting the path (after hitting the snooze button a few times), I'm now finding that snoozing is no longer an option, as I need those few extra minutes to add more layers and get my bike lights situated before heading out.

As I started out of my neighborhood this morning, I looked down at my outfit and started laughing. The only thing I could think of was "now that's a '90s flashback"!  I'm not much of a bright colored clothing-type person....except when it comes to cycling and especially when I'm trying to be as visible as possible for the sleepy drivers also on the roads.  The yellow socks, yellow commuter bag, my neon yellow vest (which I forgot I even had until digging around in the closet last night..score!!) and my bright lights, I was sure to be seen by everyone which was the goal!

As you start heading out on those early morning rides before the sun rises, just remember.....
Be bright...be visible...embrace the neon!!  :-)

   

CX is (FINALLY) here!!!

Last week I found out that I'm not the only one who lives for the crispness in the fall air, the changing of the leaves and inevitable ringing of cowbells at cyclocross races!!  

I heard of a week-long CX kick-off session coordinated by the awesome gang at Panache and of course, I couldn't resist going to see what the buzz was about.  Boy am I glad I did!!  What better way to get to meet other cyclists (especially the crazy CX kind) and get amped up for the season than by dusting off the cobwebs with some practice!

I've always been intrigued at how other people share their knowledge of something that I struggle with.  Admittedly, I've been timid with fast cornering on both my mtn and CX bikes (one too many crashes in a corner will do that to a person!). This summer, I've made it my goal to soak up as much info as possible and overcome this dumb fear of mine.  Thankfully, the CX group worked on this skill every day last week and we had a different "coach" each day who give his insight on what techniques he used and why.  It was absolutely great!!  Hearing the different ways each leader described the same corner and providing his experience was a huge help to me and gave me the understanding that I lacked (or maybe was reluctant to embrace).  The 5am wake-up call was well worth it if I had only improved on this one skill, but we covered everything! Starts, dismounts/remounts, bunny hops, stairs, pump track (my FAVORITE place now!) and hot laps were all part of the early morning fun!  

As if it couldn't get any better, on Friday we were fortunate enough to have the one and only Katie Compton join us!!  She came to Panache for a photoshoot and ended up doing some laps with us and even jumped in on the pump track fun.  After ripping around on the pump track for a while, I was able to talk to Katie about her acceleration out of the turns and through the straightaways.  I was absolutely ecstatic to stand there and chat with the most recognized CX racer of all times, and then later to hang out at Panache and chat some more over coffee and donuts.  

PS - even pros eat dirt once in a while and Katie wasn't shy to show us a video of one of her epic crashes. Talented, fast and super nice doesn't scratch the surface of what makes KFC the best CX racer ever!

PSS - I'm happy to share the tips that Katie gave me, but you'll have to join me at the pump track to find out what they are!!  ;-)

Top 5 reasons I love commuting

I found myself commuting home from work today with a smile on my face looking at the beautiful sky similar to this mornings commute. Then I realized I needed to stop by Walgreens and King Soopers which can both be on my route  home if I take a certain way.  I absolutely love stopping grabbing my goods  throwing them in my bag and being on my way! I feel so efficient! I am also getting my exercise and vitamin d for the day and avoiding traffic which is an amazing feeling! Lastly since I have limited room in my panniers I can only buy what I really need, no extra things for this girl. And this is why I love commuting!

Finally

 So, this hasn't been my best race season ever.  But, after healing from a bit of a mishap earlier this year - I feel like I'm finally back. Two weeks ago the amazing Carrie and I raced the Outdoor Diva's Triathlon. This past weekend, I raced the Boulder Sunset Tri. Although my swim time, transition times and run were laughable- My bike time was lightning fast. And, by lightning fast I mean I passed a few people along the way - which is always a bit of  confidence boost after you watch everyone glide by you seemingly effortlessly during the swim. My new Cannondale Slice is finally the speed machine the manufacturer intended it to be thanks to the help of the wonderful bike people at Treads. So excited- and I can't wait until next season!

Commute Packing 201

If you're looking to change up your commute a bit, then here's some food for thought. ;-)

When I first started commuting, I figured that I would take everything I needed just for that day with me in my backpack.  So I had the typical nightly list of:

• work clothes
• shoes
• socks
• undergarments (I seriously triple check this one E.V.E.R.Y. time!)
• make-up
• packed lunch

As I've gotten more comfortable with my commute and my route, I've decided to start changing things up a bit and make it a little more interesting....  "How?' you ask. Let's talk about my plan for this week!

Monday: commute to work with daily list of clothes and lunch 

Tuesday: drive to work with 3 sets of clothes for Wed, Thurs and Fri and leave make-up at desk

Wednesday (now this is where it gets fun!!): commute to work with breakfasts, lunches and post-ride snacks for the rest of the week 

Thursday: commute to work with no pack and take the longer route for some hill climbs (b/c climbing with a heavy backpack before coffee just isn't really my thing)

Friday: drive to trailhead, do an early morning CX ride, then drive to work, take home clothes and food containers from the week

If you haven't figured it out yet, I'm a bit of a planner!  But in reality, figuring out my clothes for the week took me 4 mins and it was one less thing to think about at night (or early in the morning if I forgot to pack my stuff!).  Plus, by driving them to work, I didn't have to worry about my clothes being wrinkled for a big meeting, which was one reason why I considered NOT commuting to work today.  Excuse rejected!!

Planning lunches for 3 days was a breeze, but hauling them to work was a bit more challenging, which made it fun!!  I don't want to carry a 15# backpack every day, but once a week for an added workout isn't bad at all!  (Sidenote:  I had no idea just how much food I actually eat during the week, but I do now!!)

By consolidating my clothes and food, I'm now able to be a little more flexible for the rest of my mornings and can do a longer/harder ride than what I might typically do with my normal bag. 

Moral of the story:  Keep commuting fun and change up your routine once in a while!  You might be surprised at what happens!

Exploring some Leadville singletrack

What better way to kick off a honeymoon, than by sniffing out new singletrack!

We were lucky enough to find some super fun (and VERY flowy) trails in Leadville.  It's so great that we live in a state where there are tons of well-marked trails and these gems had maps at every intersection, drastically reducing the chances of us 3 musketeers getting lost!  I definitely recommend taking a MTB or CX bike out to the Boulders MTB Trail system and checking it out!  

You won't be disappointed!  :-)

I'm Back

I'm sure this won't surprise anyone, but as a bike loving person, I try to vacation in cycling friendly destinations. This year we were lucky enough to travel around France- on Bikes. The scenery was breathtaking - I can't imagine vacationing any other way. Vacation via bike allowed us to ride through small villages that we would have never seen on the highway or from the train window. We could stop and sample the local walnuts, mushrooms, pastries and, of course, wine. It really focused our heart's desire too. If we didn't love it- we were not going to buy it because everything we bought  had to fit inside of our panniers. I'm yet to I love a wine so much that I'm willing to strap a case of it on my back and ride around for 300 miles.

Recent Adventures...

I'm I have to say, I've been having a great time lately riding my bike around town! here are some pictures of my recent adventures!

Ice cream!!

It was really nice to ride to the Cherry Creek Arts Festival and not have to contend with parking!😊

Bike to work day!

What a great bike to work day, weather could not have been better. I loved seeing all the cyclists out and so much appreciated all the people volunteering at the bike to work stations! I'm so grateful to live in this wonderful state! 

BTWD 2016

Happy Bike to Work Day my fellow Commuters!!!!!!  :)

Hopefully you were able to stop by and enjoy some of the great breakfast stations this morning...I know I did!!

If you're like me, then you were probably elated to see sooooo many cyclists out and about today.  It was great!  The 36 bike path was definitely hopping this morning.  Now if we could only get those folks out there EVERY DAY to ride with us, just think of how much happier (and healthier) our country would be!

Finding new routes the Orwick way

I've truly been blessed when it comes to discovering new routes because 9 times out of 10, someone I know has already ridden the areas that I'm interested in and knows the best/safest/most fun routes.  I never realized how much I relied on the knowledge of others until I relocated for my job.  I knew that the majority of the roads around my work have bike lanes, but I wasn't really sure what roads were "cyclist friendly", what would make for a nice lunch loop or just where the heck some of the roads went.  So I'll share with you the process I used for finding new routes.

Step 1:  Look at a map. Go ahead and laugh...I'll wait.  I know, you think this would be a no-brainer, but do you realize how many people just start a ride and aimlessly wander about until they see something they recognize?  Let's just say, I'm marrying one of them, so I know they exist!  :-)  I checked out Google Maps as my first step in figuring out what's around me and where to avoid (Flatirons Mall, heavy traffic roads).

Step 2:  Strava stalking.  Ok, perhaps my goal for finding a new route was mildly geared at finding new climbs, but regardless, using the Strava Segment Explorer was super helpful in determining where some climbs were, what other cyclists thought of the route (i.e. Narrow Shoulder Sprint) and also getting some route ideas from already established segments.

Step 3:  Go for a drive!  This is something I used to do back in PA when trying to find new routes.  I would map them out, then jump in the car and drive them.  Of course, this may not work for everyone, nor may it be the best use of time if you just want to go for a quick ride, but it helps me to have a visual of the roads, intersections where I'll need to turn, and also helps to solidify which roads I definitely want to avoid in high traffic times (those without a shoulder where cars are doing 65mph).

Step 4:  Make a cue sheet.  Of course, the cue sheet is like a grocery list, it only works if you take it with you....which I forgot yesterday! 

Step 5:  Put the rubber side down and go riding!  

The best part about exploring new routes is just that.....exploring!!  I was trying to find a nice little 40min lunch time route and ended up doing some loops that I later decided didn't really fit with my plan, so I keep riding around until I found one that did!  While my riding map may look like I was drunk or lost, I was in fact completely sober and knew where I was (...well....most of the time). 

Friends + new bikes = new riding partners!

Recently, two friends from the east coast moved to Denver (trust me, we told them that they're now contributing to this crazy traffic problem....along with the other 95% of us transplants!).  While on a hike one day, they mentioned wanting to get into mountain biking.  Before long, they were sending pics and ads of bikes they found.  Luckily, my fiance knows WAY more about bikes than I do, so he was able to guide them into purchasing two sweet rides!!!  

Memorial Day came and they were so excited to take their new toys out!  After a quick tune-up in the garage and a not-so-crash-filled course on clipless pedals, a group of us, including fellow Ambassador Carrie, went out for a spin.  We were hardly out of the parking area before both newbies were smiling ear to ear!!  It was great!!!  After a short little ride, some pointers on body position, shifting, riding in traffic, and signaling, we all chatted and are now making plans to introduce our new riding partners to the local trails!  My friend commented on how extremely nice everyone in CO is and how generous the group was to give her tips and offer to take her out riding!  I told her that it's not just us Bike Ambassadors who are helpful and cool chicks, but that we're just a small portion of a much larger cult....I mean....community that is super excited to get more women on bikes!!  

More to come as Carrie and I continue to fan the flames of this newly sparked love of bikes with our new friend Janna!!  

Relentless Forward Progress

Relentless forward progress. 14 miles into a 20+ mile training run, those are the words going through my head. Intermittent with Frosty the Snowman lyrics.... Wouldn't I like to know where THAT came from.  One foot in front of the other, over and over. I'm sore. I'm tired. I'm ready to be done...

The same thing was going through my head on yesterday's freezing cold ride. I couldn't make myself go more than 12 mph on the downhill - I was shivering so hard I was afraid I'd fall down. But 12 mph is better than stopping. One way or another, I had to get back to my car...

(This was the only moment the sun came out - just in time to fix my husband's flat, and therefore the only picture from the cold, wet ride.)

Sometimes I get philosophical and start thinking about how it all relates to life. ESPECIALLY during stupid-long runs. It's kinda the same thing, isn't it? No matter how shitty it gets sometimes, you have to keep moving. Otherwise you're gonna get stuck. 

(Guess I didn't get stuck 😊)

I can totally feel the 40 miles on my bike yesterday today, but I guess this is what I signed up for. And without relentless forward progress, I'll never get anywhere. And boy, do I have places to go!😊