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!