Feb 11-12
February 11, 2006
Cherry Pie Criterium, CA
Troy Watson, 16th Place, Women 1/2/3
Jessie Hickel, 1st Place, Women 35+
Apple Pie Criterium, CA
14th, Sabine Dukes, Women 1/2/3
12th, Sabine Dukes, Women 3/4
Track Riding 101
February 9, 2006
Clickie click here and here to read new Bella, Kele’s, reports on her Trackie Track Camp in LA.
Can you smell the start of the season?
February 7, 2006
Its in the air…
We already have one of our first road race reports, written by new bella racer, Raja Lahti.
And we just held our sort of annual Velo Bella road clinic.
The Boulevard Mountains of Pain Road Race
February 5, 2006
By Raja
As the lone bella representitive at The Boulevard Road Race, I’d just like to say that they should re-name the race to “The Boulevard Mountains of Pain Road Race”. With a bit under 4000′ of climbing in 45 miles… I was in a world of hurt! You know those cycling muscles in your legs? Well, turns out I’m missing those! No really, I had a great time. (Does that mean I’m a “sick twisted little monkey”??) This was my first road race and considering I’ve only owned a road bike for 10 months, I’m excited! I finished just behind the lead group… hum, lots of motivation to train a bit harder!
The race actually started last night.. with the careful application of alternating pink & blue nail polish…. limited to supplies on hand, I’m afraid my flair was just not up to par… needed a little more “zing”.
The second race (according to my heart rate monitor) was this morning… attempting to warm up on my trainer. I’m spinning easy and notice that my heart rate is already in the 180’s. Hum, someone a little nervous? The 30 degree chill didn’t help me much, pure So Cal girl… below 70 it’s freezing.
Once the race started things got better. I was able to hang with the lead group until the last hill on the first lap (2 lap course) when 4 of us gals got together and attempted to close the gap to the lead group. A friend of mine in CO said “make friends”… so Lisa, thanks! We got within reach and then hit the hills again. Once again, all hell broke loose and I though I was going to die. By the last climb I had managed to out climb the remaining girl that I was riding with and knew the finish was just a solid 4 mile climb away…. and then finished.
So to all your Bellas – you ROCK! All you racers –
WOW! This s*^t is HARD! A world of pain…. so where do I sign up for the next one??
Feb 4-5
February 5, 2006
Boulevard Road Race, CA
26th Place, Raja Lahti, Women 4
VELO BELLA – KONA ANNOUNCES 2006 ALL FEMALE PRO MTB TEAM
February 3, 2006
The women of team Velo Bella – Kona stand poised to spread glitter and flair across the US and Canadian professional MTB seasons with a brand new professional women’s team made up of international talent from both inside and outside the Velo Bella organization. Although new to the party, as usual, we expect to turn a few heads.
Known in the MTB world for years as a widespread wacky women’s cycling club with a few professional MTB racers here and there, Velo Bella has partnered with Kona Bicycles USA to provide one of the most fun, compelling and competitive professional women’s MTB teams in the country focusing on Cross Country events at the NORBA series, the US and Canadian National Championships, and perhaps even supporting an athlete or two at the World MTB Championships in New Zealand later this year.
Canadian sensation Wendy Simms will captain the 4 member team and after years of racing on her own, Wendy chose to join the pink conga line because of the Velo Bella’s focus on fun, their relationship with Kona Bicycles and the ability to race in a supportive family and female-oriented environment. Kristin Danielson makes her return to the US MTB scene with Velo Bella – Kona and looks forward to showing what Durango and a little road racing can do for one’s off-road form.
In between giving birth to a gorgeous little Velo Fella and preparing for the upcoming racing season, Shannon Holden ran a marathon in Seattle to celebrate her son’s three month birthday… Yeah, we’ll just say she is hyper organized and leave it at that. Noel Weddle completes the team, adding her climbing talents and electrifying enthusiasm to the group. Living at altitude, Noel lives with a continuous case of oxygen deprivation explaining her eagerly looking forward to the more vertical races in the NORBA series…
The Velo Bella – Kona core will be augmented at certain races by professional Velo Bella – Kona riders from around the country including Sami Fournier (Washington, DC), Allie Rau (Detroit, MI), Jennifer Tilley (Lawrence, KS) and Erin Duggan (Apton, CT).
The entire team is brand new to one another and will meet for the first time at their camp in and around Auburn, CA from March 1st to 5th. In addition to the pro athletes, Team Management has asked key Velo Bella development riders to attend the camp as well.
The team will race on custom designed blue, pink and black Kona Kula Lisa and Queen Kikapu bikes featuring the always reliable Chris King headsets; Easton stems, seat posts, handle bars, and wheels; Fox forks and shocks; SRAM drive train; Selle San Marco Glamour saddles; Crank Brothers pedals; Truvativ cranks; Avid brakes and Schwalbe tires taking care of the girls as they roll down the trail.
Patagonia and Hincapie Sportswear will wrap our girls in racing kit and casual athletic wear, with Zeal Optics providing protection for their eyes and SIDI shoes covering their painted toes. Team apparel can be purchased at Team Estrogen.
Velo Bella’s contagious spirit and unique approach to women’s competitive cycling have created a following across the United States and around the world. The Bellas encourage women to cycle, no matter what their level. The distinctive Velo Bella kit can be found on recreational riders, elite level racers, and all those in between.
In addition to national and international racing, the Pro MTB Team will be joined by hundreds of amateur racers who will compete in local MTB races throughout California, Minnesota, Michigan, the Mid Atlantic, North Carolina, Tennessee, Connecticut, Georgia and other events across the United States.
The Velo Bella Pro Mountain Bike Team members are:
Wendy Simms (Nanaimo, British Columbia)
Kristin Danielson (Durango, CO)
Shannon Holden (Spokane, WA)
Noel Weddle (Grand Junction, CO)
Let The Season Begin
February 1, 2006
We’re ready
