Spring Racing & Mechanicals

April 3 NWA RR

Today started with a bad omen...two deer ran across the road and one of them did real damage to our car. I should have known it was going to be a long day!

I started the day feeling great but my head wasn't in the game. I was nervous! This was my first race since my crash in Austin and I just kept thinking what if someone takes me out again! This is the wrong way to start a race. The race started, I was riding strong and getting some confidence back. Then, we a turn straight into the crosswinds. I was in the wrong position and got split from the front group. The group I was in tried to bridge gap but I was having gear troubles. It turns out my rear derailleur was bent and I couldn't get the lower gear I needed in the crosswinds. So, I did my best but eventually had to just decide to turn this day into a great training ride. I was bummed but that's racing! Placement 50/63

April 10th Eucha RR

Today was a new race day! I had taken my bike to get a thorough check and tune up so I wouldn't have any bike issues. This is not the place you want to have any gear issues as the climbing is insane. I started off great and could hardly wait to get to the big climb (Spavinaw Hill). I was super stoked to still be with the group through this climb but trouble started soon afterwards as I wasn't able to quickly get back into my big chainring. It was a downhill/flat section and I could not stay with them in my small chainring. When I finally got into my big ring it was too little too late. I was caught in no man's land, solo! I finally got with another small group. But, trouble started when we hit the feedzone... I missed my hand up (first time that's ever happened), and I was completely out of water. Thankfully, another rider grabbed my missed bottle and gave it to me! WHEW...that was a life saver as we still had about 30 miles to race including climbing Spavinaw AGAIN! I just kept working and when I saw the 5K to go sign I dropped the guys I was with and just took off! It wasn't a great day but I had completed my longest road race and learned a lot about myself this day! I'm learning more and more with every race that doesn't go to plan! You have got to stay positive and keep working to get better! Placement 24/31

April 16 Matrix Challenge Crit

I had a rough start with trouble getting clipped in. I lost the main pack but I worked really hard to get to a group. It was just a couple of guys for a while. I had to put in a lot of work pulling because the other two riders I was with weren't strong enough to keep our speed. I finally got with a group of about 15 riders. I learned how to move within the group, not letting gaps open and got more comfortable in a pack on a technical course. I didn't have to pull anymore so was able to just sit in with them. I worked myself up toward the front of our group on the last lap on the backside of the course near Stackhouse and stayed there until the finish. I started in last place and finished 37th out of 54. I also set a new 30 minute power record! I was really hoping to race on Sunday and get a better start to see if I could use what I learned. I wasn't racing scared for the first time. Unfortunately, Sunday was canceled due to bad weather!

Hey, this is racing and I'll come back better from all this disappointment!

SO MANY RACES!! PART II

Ok, I'm back from our family reunion so I decided I should get caught up on the races I've completed so far this year! Let's see what was the last race I told you about...oh yeah, Lincoln Road Race!

Wednesday After Work Criterium April 13, 2011

I had watched this race several times last year and I was excited to be participating for the first time. My coach thought it was a good idea to get in a big mass start before the team went to Dallas. It was fun being there with several of my teammates. I didn't have a great race because I was still having shifting problems (remember NW Arkansas). I just couldn't get my gears to switch. Ok, I know how to shift and so what was the problem. I still had a fun time racing even if it was very frustrating!

Matrix Challenge (Dallas, TX) April 16-17, 2011

This race was so amazing for so many reasons: 1st race out-of-state, 1st time racing with my ENTIRE team, 1st time hanging out at a hotel with my teammates and 1st BIG race with lots of Jr's! Perfect combination! Well, I have to admit, I was a little nervous or just too excited the first day! Things didn't go as planned. I had a bad start...couldn't get clipped in off the line (first time that had ever happened) and then, I was behind trying to catch those in front of me. This race had a lot of track racers in it so it was VERY FAST! I did pass several but I was never going to catch the lead group. I was still having loads of trouble with my gears and they just wouldn't shift. I have to say I was having a pretty miserable day but I wasn't going to quit or so I thought. We had only 3 laps left and the unthinkable happened...I HAD MY FIRST CRASH while racing. I was out of the race! But, I told the paramedics I would be back on Sunday to race again! I did and I placed 9th! I was very proud because I had raced better and FINISHED!!

It's not that bad...I'll be back tomorrow!

Check out the bandage! Battle wounds!

PG-13 TT April 20, 2011

I went to my sponsor bike shop, Buchanan Bicycles, on Monday and Ryan checked my shifters and gears. They were WAY out of alignment! I knew I wasn't crazy! So, I decided to race at this Wednesday night time trial to see how the adjustment felt! WOW...big difference! I had a good race and knew I was ready for Saturday's TT.

OKC Velo TT April 23, 2011

This was the second race in this three race series. I just had one goal in mind...shave time off from your last race of truth! And, guess what...I DID! I took another 7 seconds off! I was stoked! I LOVE TIME TRIALING!!!



OKC Velo TT May 14, 2011

This was the last race in this series and they take the combined time of your two fastest races for overall placement. It is a good thing I had pretty good times the first two races because this day was brutal. We race next to a lake and the wind gusts were well over 30-35 mph. You had a headwind all the way out and and wicked crosswind all the way back...where was the tailwind?? Oh well, I still placed 4th overall for the series in the Jr. 10-18 category.And, I taken off lots of time from last year...I'm almost 6 minutes faster than last year for the total of the 3 races. Not too bad for a 13 year old! Thank you to Steve Schlegel at Schlegel Bicyles for my awesome 4th place prize. I will cherish it! It's a numbered B/W photo of a Liquigas rider at Paris Roubaix! It's amazing and hanging in my room!

And, he's off!

Next race: I will donate an entire post to the Palmer Sand Spring Criterium! Lots to tell about the Oklahoma State Criterium race. Remember to always LIVESTRONG!