Firestone SYV Classic (NMBS #2), CA-XC
19th, Kristen Danielson, Pro Women
22nd, Shannon Gibson, Pro Women
32nd, Barbara Howe, Pro Women
33rd, Jennifer Tilley, Pro Women
40th, Alex Fabbro, Pro Women
2nd, Kathleen Bortolussi, Expert Women 40-49
4th, Renee Ridgley, Expert Women 19-29
2nd, Daphne Hodgson, Sport Women 50+
9th, Mary Perez, Beginner Women 30-39

Greenbrier UCI MTB, MD
3rd, Melanie Swartz, Expert Women 30-39
2nd, Alicia Styer, Beginner Junior 10 & Under
5th, Hillary Styer, Beginner Women 30-39

Beezley Burn, Ephrata, WA
1st, Shannon Holden, Pro Women

Firestone SYV Classic (NMBS #2), CA
Super D
7th, Alex Fabbro, Pro Women
1st, Kathleen Bortolussi, Open Women
2nd, Renee Ridgley, Open Women

Short Track
12th, Kristen Danielson, Pro Women
23rd, Shannon Gibson, Pro Women
32nd, Jennifer Tilley, Pro Women
35th, Barbara Howe, Pro Women

Willow Time Trial, MI
1st, Monica Tory, Women 4
5th, Dianna Rose/Dave Rose, Mixed Tandem

April 28-29

Madera Stage Race, CA

Stage 1–Criterium
5th, Erika Donald, Women 1/2/Pro
10th, Monica Neilson, Women 1/2/Pro
11th, Stella Carey, Women 1/2/Pro
18th, Tracie Nelson, Women 1/2/Pro
3rd, Heidi Horton, Women 3
12th, Kim White, Women 3
2nd, Julie Porter, Women 4
4th, Tracy Loper, Women 4
5th, Angela Aldrich, Women 4
1st, Soni Andreini Poulsen, Women 35+
12th, Sabine Dukes, Women 35+
13th, Linda Locke, Women 35+
16th, Laura Sanchez, Women 35+

Stage 2- Time Trial
6th, Stella Carey, Women 1/2/Pro
8th, Monica Neilson, Women 1/2/Pro
16th, Erika Donald, Women 1/2/Pro
17th, Tracie Nelson, Women 1/2/Pro
12th, Kim White, Women 3
13th, Heidi Horton, Women 3
1st, Julie Porter, Women 4
3rd, Angela Aldrich, Women 4
6th, Tracy Loper, Women 4
5th, Soni Andreini Poulsen, Women 35+
7th, Sabine Dukes, Women 35+
11th, Laura Sanchez, Women 35+
15th, Linda Locke, Women 35+

Stage 3-Road Race
7th, Erika Donald, Women 1/2/Pro
11th, Stella Carey, Women 1/2/Pro
12th, Tracie Nelson, Women 1/2/Pro
1st, Julie Porter, Women 4
3rd, Tracy Loper, Women 4
7th, Angela Aldrich, Women 4
3rd, Sabine Dukes, Women 35+
5th, Soni Andreini Poulsen, Women 35+
8th, Laura Sanchez, Women 35+
11th, Linda Locke, Women 35+

Overall General Classification
7th, Stella Carey, Women 1/2/Pro
12th, Erika Donald, Women 1/2/Pro
13th, Tracie Nelson, Women 1/2/Pro
1st, Julie Porter, Women 4
3rd, Tracy Loper, Women 4
7th, Angela Aldrich, Women 4
4th, Sabine Dukes, Women 35+
5th, Soni Andreini Poulsen, Women 35+
10th, Laura Sanchez, Women 35+
11th, Linda Locke, Women 35+

Young Life Mousetail Challenge Race Report

What do you get when you put the Tennessee Bellas with a great bike club like the Jackson Spokes? You get a super mountain bike race with great schwag and an awesome post-race grill!

The inaugural Young Life Mousetail Challenge took place on April 22 at Mousetail State Park in Linden, TN, co-sponsored by the Tennessee Bellas and the Jackson Spokes. The course, according to the race flyer, is mostly single track with some doubletrack sections, and 900+ feet of climbing on a 7.5 mile course.

“Bellas were well represented in all three fields,” Molly Graves, fearless leader of the Tennessee Bellas said, “with Maria Pino and Angela stealing 1st and 2nd in the beginner race, Jennifer beating her own PR on her first lap in the women’s Sport race, and myself and Sandy holding it together through three laps in the Expert race!”

BELLA RESULTS (full results available soon at www.jacksonspokes.com)

EXPERT WOMEN 19+
2nd place, Molly Graves
3rd place, Sandy Kern

SPORT SENIOR 19-29 WOMEN
1st place, Jennifer Moorehead

BEGINNER MASTER 30+ WOMEN
1st place, Maria Pino
2nd place, Angela Brown

This sign at the entrance to Mousetail describes the course more than words ever could. Photo by Dustin Greer.

Molly Graves shows true Bella flair on the course

Sandy Kern on the course…

R to L:
Maria Pino, Velo Bella-Kona, Beginner Women 30+ 1st place
Angela Brown, Velo Bella-Kona, Beginner Women 30+ 2nd place
Jeanie Neumeyer, Team NMB, 1st place Beginner Women 19-19
Photo by Yvonne Horn.

Beginner women’s start. Photo by Yvonne Horn.

Point of Hood River Criterium, OR
14th, Brenna Lopez-Otero, Cat 3/4 Men

Prairie City Race Series #6, CA
11th, Yvette Crockell, Sport Women 35+

Durand Race Report

Here’s the Velo Bella results:
8. Barb Harick
28. Manda Lo
30. Debra Berg. (from IL)

For more results: http://www.cvccbike.com/node/76

Oh… but that’s the boring stuff… we’re gonna build up to the good stuff..

But… more of us showed up! Bellas Greib, and Jules.. where’d they go?… well… just read and see…

from Barb:
Big street cred to those who showed up for one heck of a windy and
hilly race: Manda, Jules, Jenn, and me AND Illinois Bella (oh dear, my
memory for names sucks)… Bummer Sheryl could not make it to keep her
boys healthy before her big trip to France.

I’ll write more later after I eat something….and a much needed shower.

from Jules:
ok, I did my 1st road race. I was considerably nervous because I was worried about the unexpected. So I hung out toward the back. Once we stared, I found out quickly I really had nothing to worry about. I felt strong but started crappy, so I spent much of my time riding alone playing catchup. My plan was then to exert as much energy to catch up, ride some wheels, pass and catch up to the main pack. Well, I was just into my 2nd lap riding with a couple girls, ready to pass and go, when all of a sudden at 17 miles…flat! Shoot! So anyway I’m ready for more and can’t wait until my next race. I’ve been flatting alot so I think my new sport is the dual-athalon (ride, get a flat and walk your bike back). haha

One of our own Bellas Jen, crashed. I felt really bad for her. The crosswind was wild!

I rode good today to make up for my short race yesterday.

from manda:
I’ll ask one of the questions hotpinkevil asked super-rookie’s audience.

When someone writes a long race report on their blog, do you actually read the whole thing? If so, what makes you read it? If not, do you just skip reading the post altogether, or pick out a few key things?

I didn’t see much action. I was in the front at one point. I had conversation surfed my way to the first row at the start. made it through a couple of rolling hills, turned a corner. hit the headwinds and the steeper hills and got dropped. hung out with ex-bella P’s sister and IL Bella Debra for the rest of the race. The headwinds, and short descents made it really hard to organize in the paceline… I’ve got to figure out what to do in that situation…. errr.. lots to learn.. The sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll version of the race is here.

And… here’s the race report you ALL have been waiting for!

Slings and Tegaderm by Jenn Greiber

Durand Road Race…. nothing but beautiful Wisconsin countryside. Cows, fields, manure spreaders… everything that reminds me of home.

This was my second bike race of my life, and I must admit that I was quite excited (and nervous) to be there. It was a women’s open so all Cat 1-4 were lined up together. 39 women in the field, half of which I swear were Birchwood.

The women’s course was two laps and was a continuous land of rollers. After the second corner, I was dropped from the main pack (which included our Barb Harick) and continued on. Soon a small group formed with me, Paula (former Bella-turned-Flanders) and Tina (Big Ring Flyer, but I think I made her want to be a Bella…). We played together nicely, although it was clear to me how inexperienced at racing I am. Our goal was two ladies in front of us – Birchwood Jessie and GP Julia.

We were zipping along, but the gap never seems to close until we hit the stretch of open, flat, road. Tina could tear up the flats, so Paula and I let her lead with about three miles left in the race. BUT, here is where my disaster struck. I was to the right of Paula, and needed to be on the left for drafting purposes. When I went to come around behind her, I fell victim to the cardinal group riding sin: Overlapped wheels. However it happened, my front wheel caught her rear wheel and CRASH (Hm….. I wish I had a better noise description… “crash” isn’t quite the sound I’m thinking of)

Instantly I found myself flat on the ground, with Citrucel lying on top of me. Tina and Paula assured my consciousness, and then after some men riders, a milk truck, and a cluster of Birchwood ladies zipped by, I was loaded into a pick-up truck, owned and operated by a seemingly harmless man, named Dane. Who I believe had all of his teeth… 😉

At any rate, I was dropped off at the finish, surrounded by caring friends, ice, and whatever first aid supplies could be wrangled up. It was pretty clear I was going to have to see a doc, though.

So, all’s well. Paula, Manda and I take off. We gossip the ride home about the attractive men, the course, where I want to be ER-ed, Manda’s “forceful” vomiting, etc. My endorphins gave me a nearly pain free existence through the exam, diagnosis, etc, until about 8:00pm, when my body started to acknowledge the discomfort of a broken collarbone.

However, I cannot end the story there. I must share with you a magical thing that Bruce and Barb spoiled me with on Sunday. The friendly, considerate Haricks stopped by my home with a package of tegaderm (aka 3M’s Nexcare Absolute Waterproof Premium Adhesive Pads). This stuff is the coolest ever. Barb plastered my bloody knees and gashed elbow, and I later covered the oozy oozy mess on my cheek bone. I can’t wait to pay it forward and “tag” the next crash victim.

So, I’ll be seeing you on the bike in about four weeks. With a new helmet. In the meanwhile, I’ll just sit in my window with my arm in a sling and scowl a jealous scowl as cyclists cruise by.

Corral Hollow Downhill Series #1: Everything good!

by Allie

It’s been a long weekend spent in the dustbowl of Carnegie State Rec area where the first race of the Corral Hollow Downhill Series was held on Sunday. I just got home, am still dirty and am pretty spent so here’s a rundown of events in my semi-conscious state.

Saturday: Practice from 9-2pm. Get up at 7, drive to Jackie’s, load up, pile in and take off. I had been honestly dreading the return to this venue since a disastrous race run a few years ago and since then I had built up the parts I dreaded most in my mind. I guess that’s what happens when demons of a bad race are allowed to live.

We arrived and the place was hopping. Registration was going, shop tents went up, bbq smoker was heating up, even a DJ mixing and spinning tunes. The vibe was definitely fun and positive to set the mood for a good ride. When the shuttle (flatbed stake trucks) arrived we loaded up into the back (moo-cow style) in groups of about 30 or 40 and they hauled us away up to nearly the top. From there it was a few hundred yard uphill hike to the start, a grade too steep for the trucks. I threw on my helmet, snapped my trusty Zeals to my face, took a breath and let the brakes go as best I could down the ultra-steep start, right to the place where I had eaten it hard in prior years.

Something snapped. I don’t know if it was my bike and me actually being in tune or my head being pulled out of my rear at that exact moment, but whatever it was made me focus, load up and lean into the berm that had previously sent me flying. I pinned it and was sent accelerating down the course!

I was having a good time right up until I saw the 20’ double in the middle of the trail. Slowing down I didn’t pay attention to position and slowly slid off of the side of the takeoff. I never actually did get a good look at it, but I heard someone on the course say “I saw a girl launch this earlier.” That was all I needed. I turned the bike around and headed back up to get a good head of steam. CHARGE!!! Pedaling as hard as I could I hit the takeoff and from the air got a good look at the length of the double…and the transition wasn’t getting any closer! CLANK-BRAAAAAAP! The rear wheel didn’t quite make it but I was still upright. That was all I needed.

Finishing the rest of the course I took a couple more runs and headed home. It poured rain on the dusty course for the rest of the night.

Sunday: The dirt was Velcro. In my practice run I did the following to prepare for a solid race run: Put more air in my tires, practiced a faster line around a tight turn, learned to make motorcycle noises when hitting the double.

It all came together for a solid, yet conservative run. Good enough for third place in a field of about 8 pro women! A HUGE showing for a local DH event!!!

I was 10 seconds off of 1st place and I know where I can make it up and what I’ve got to work on.

Gals, Please come out to this race series if you have any desire to try DH! It’s an awesome course and every racer is appreciated and treated like a pro! The guys at RideSFO.com have done alot of work to make an outstanding venue for our local area!

Corral Hollow Downhill Race Series #1, Livermore, CA
3rd, Allie Burch, Pro Women

Napa Valley Dirt Classic, Angwin, CA
2nd, Barb Howe, Pro Women
4th, Kathleen Bortolussi, Expert Women 40-49

Wente Vineyards Criterium, CA
10th, Monica Neilson, Women 1/2
12th, Kim White, Women 3
20th, Ryan Hostetter, Women 3
4th, Angela Aldrich, Women 4
7th, Tracy Loper, Women 4
16th, Marian Hunting, Women 4
17th, Soni Andreini Poulsen, Women 4
6th, Monica Neilson, Women 45+

24 Hours of Vail Lake, CA
2nd, Velo Bellas & Mammoth Fellas

Kinetic Sprint Triathlon, Lake Anna St. Park, VA
5th, Nicole Shue, Women 35-39

Young Life Mousetail Challenge, Linden, TN
2nd place, Molly Graves, Expert Women, 19+
3rd place, Sandy Kern, Expert Women, 19+
1st place, Jennifer Moorehead, Sport Women, 19-29
1st place, Maria Pino, Beginner Women, 30+
2nd place, Angela Brown, Beginner Women, 30+

Saturday Action

Some of us who did not race in Durand went on the NOW ride today. I had committed to it just prior to noticing the change in start time. 8:00 is a cruel time to start a ride on a weekend. But okay, I guess I’m just not a morning exerciser. In any case, I was glad once I got rolling. I left my house thinking “wow, it’s warm out.” and hit the road and thought “wow, it’s sort of windy.” But the ride commenced before the wind got really bad. There were eight people, I think (somehow my math ability goes out the window when I’m doing physical activity.) Marjie, Brooke, and me representin’ the “Vellas” as Bob calls us. There was one other woman from Bike Club, whose name I forget, but she and Brooke had twin bikes. The rest of the riders were guys from Bike Club, who were all very talkative and friendly.

We rode up Summit toward the capitol and north to Little Canada and around some lakes that I don’t remember or can’t pronounce. It was a somewhat hilly ride (I know this because we passed a convenience store called “Hilltop Store” or something like that.) The highlight was that I didn’t get dropped on the hills– for the first time ever!

We came back through Roseville and took a detour through Central Park, which is a cute little park with a lake and mini waterfall, and headed back past Como Lake and then portaged over some railroad tracks before heading back on Fairview, which is neither fair, nor has a view.

On the way home I got chatted up by a Grand Perfomance rider who told me about his 55 mile ride where all the guys were attacking each other on the hills. Made me really appreciate the NOW Bike Club guys, who could probably have lapped me on today’s ride, but were conscious of keeping a reasonable pace and just having a good time.

The good thing about starting a ride at 8 a.m.? I was back home at 10:30, just in time to have my second breakfast

Does that mean I’m happy that all the Saturday rides will start at 8 a.m.? As Manda would say, “HELLS NO!” But I guess I’ll have to just suck it up if I want to get stronger.

Thanks for the fun ride, everyone!

Kate

P.S. Go read Manda’s blog if you haven’t already, for details on the exciting Durand race (and more exciting post race!)

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