Randomality

I’m ticked off at my odometer. Aside from that being a hilariously funny pun, I’m serious. In recent weeks I have found that my odometer is counting 2 less miles per 50 ridden on average compared to my cycling counterparts. What the heck does that mean? It means that I likely rode 313 miles at the 24 Hours of Booty and not 301…and that ticks me off.

OK, let’s talk about the race that was the subject of my last blog entry. Actually, you know what? Let’s not.

Instead let’s talk about someone who actually has some skills at this bike racing thing. Remember my blog about Evelyn Stevens -the woman that went from Investment Banker to stage winner in the Route de France within 15 months of purchasing her first bike? Well, one month later she’s already added to her resume. Evelyn went on to finish second on General Classification in the Route de France. But, she didn’t stop there. The Wall Street Journal did a nice story on her, too. But, that's not the end either.

Evelyn placed 2nd in the National TT Championship. 6th in the National Road Race Championship. Now she has been selected for the USA World Championship Team. YES, a mere 16 months after starting the sport, she will be vying for a World Championship title. That’s insane. But, hold on, I’m not done.

Evelyn recently signed a pro contract with one of the most powerful teams in all of cycling. And I’d like you to notice I did not say “one of the most powerful women’s teams in America.” Nope, she was signed by the same team that houses riders the likes of Mark Cavendish, George Hincapie, Kim Kirchen, Ina Teutenberg, Mara Abbott….the list goes on and on.

Columbia-HTC snatched up the young talent and I, for one, am very excited to watch how her career develops. After all, that was supposed to be me.

Race Upcoming...50 on the Trails

All year I've been looking forward to the River's Edge Mountain Bike Marathon that's coming up this Saturday. And I guess I still am, but taking a week and a half off the bike right before the race for some well-earned beach vacation time, may have affected me more than I realized it would.

The Crystal Coast in the Southern Outer Banks (SOBX) of North Carolina is a beautiful place. I left the bike at home as a sign to my family that this trip was really all about them. I figured while on vacation, I could run on the beach to aid in keeping my fitness. Well, I got a little too excited and overdid it the first day (I sense a pattern with me - no restraint). The rest of the week was spent limping around with very sore legs and joints - bad move.

Now, back on the bike this week, I feel very weak. Like there's no power left although there's gas in the tank. I took a good spill last night on the trails and had a rather sensitve area come into contact with the stem at a pretty high rate of speed - one of those things where you just grit your teeth and lean against a tree for support until you can breath again. It's a common false assumption that women are less prone to pain in that area than men. Don't argue with me. It's not a debate. Anyway, the bruise is quite impressive this morning.

So, 50 mile bike race in 3 days and I can't even finish one 12 mile lap without crashing...yay, this is gonna be fun.

This Was Supposed to be ME!

When I decided to take up bike racing, I fancied myself as the racer who would make everyone’s jaw drop to the floor with my mad skillz. I was gonna be so good they were going to call me the “Lance Armstrong of Women’s cycling.” Then I did my first race…and all my aspirations went poof as I swallowed a huge pill called reality on a planet I like to call Earth.

But, it doesn’t mean the scenario couldn’t happen. And, in fact, it IS happening. Evelyn Stevens is an investment banker who played tennis at Dartmouth (quick side note: have you ever noticed how the majority of the cycling world is well educated and holds powerful career positions? Hm…). She was a CAT-4 racer one year ago. And where is she this week? Winning Stage freakin’ 4 of La Route de France 28 minutes ahead of the peloton! That’s where.

Over the course of about 15 months, Evelyn has:

- Bought her first bike (Spring 2008).
- Entered her first race, a training clinic in Central Park (June 2008).
- Won the Green Mountain Stage Race (Vermont), after catching and passing the Pro Women’s field that started 5 minutes ahead of her own field.
- Won the RR and placed 2nd in the Crit at the Valley of the Sun (Arizona).
- Participated in some of the biggest races in the U.S. – Redlands, Nature Valley, Battenkill , and Cascade Classic to name a few.
- As an amateur, riding as a guest on the Lip Smacker Pro Team, won the Fitchburg Longsjo Classic in Massachusetts, an NRC race, ahead of riders like Tina Pic and Jeannie Longo.
- Won her first major European race by taking Stage 4 in La Route de France.

Hold on. Let me pick up my jaw.