Racing At Night

A common question racers and spectators ask me.... How can you race in the twilight.  It can be scary but with the right equipment and state of mind, it's a thrill I was recently interviewed by Lynn Lamoureux with Podium Insight with this question.   She has posted the interview at Podium Insight  http://www.podiuminsight.com/2011/07/09/racing-at-night/

TEAM VK wins Pleasanton Fast and Furious

Team work did it.  We succeed as a team.  Here is the team on the podium at the

Pleasanton Fast and Furious Crit last night.  Puuuurfection!

TEAM!

A successful Saturday for the kittens at the 1st annual Watsonville Criterium yesterday afternoon.  The podium was great with Jazzy 3rd and me 5th, but I am most proud of the comment extended to us by announcer Dave Towle.  Dave said to me "It great to see your team come together.  I've seen other teams come and go but your team cares for each other.  You can see that in the racing."
Dave travels all of the world announcing races and seen a lot of teams come and go throughout the years, that was a huge compliment coming from him.  Team VK succeeds by the team we have created.  We work hard for the results needed to make the sponsors proud but we also succeed in the journey it takes to get us there. Our team is well rounded and grounded.  We race hard and play hard, enjoy dinners and post race celebrations with sponsors, give a young girl encouragement and a high five when needed.  VK gives to race communities throughout the US with bike and helmet safety presentations and just good fun.

Thanks to all of our frienda, family and fans who continue to support VK!

A Thelma and Louise Week

JDub me and Moonie: Movies on the Beach, Santa Cruz

Another amazing week capped of with a weekend of racing (Tour De Nez) with the kittens. It started with me hosting Jen Weinbrecht (AKA JDub) and Emily after a successful week of racing the Cascades Stage Race in Bend Oregon.  Having these two in my home was a huge treat.  Coffee was ready every morning, the kitchen was clean, dinners were made, groceries were purchased.  JDub rearrange my pantry and the two of them filled my cabinets with dishware.  Can't believe how easy a 50 hour work week felt with the assistance of people taking care of the home duties.

We filled up the week with, morning coffee talks, recovery rides starting at Easton Bell and even took in a movie at the beach (E.T.) boardwalk in Santa Cruz.  

Believe it or not the week flew and by Friday night we were making final preparations to head out to Reno for the Tour De Nez (NRC Criterium Race).  

Saturday morning our VK local composite rider Courtney Van Dimple arrived.  The four of us squeezed into my GTI and buzzed down to the farmers market to pick up a few road snacks.  We picked up fresh fruit, veggies and nuts for the road, packed up the cars and commenced the VK caravan for Reno NV!  After the 5 hour drive it was standard operating procedures: Check in, quick ride, meet and greet, shower, bed, rise, pre ride and race.

VK had is most successful NRC result to date with Emily Collins placing 4^th.  Amber Rais (Pasta Zara) soloed for the win, final sprint 2^nd Tiff Pezzulo (Primal) 3^rd Katarina Nash (Luna Chix).  VK was aggressive from the gun, attacking and blowing up the field, dropping riders every lap on the 9 corner course with a leg burner hill that was 2 blocks log.  With all the work VK still placed 4 girls in top 20, Jenn Weinbrecht 10^th, Starla Teddergreen 16^th and me 19^th.  

The rest of the afternoon we hung out in the VIP tent, splashed and dunked in the Truckee river, enjoyed a team dinner and celebrated at the local lounge.  It was the first time we have race with JDub since Redlands, she had broken her elbow and is now fully recovered to finish out the season).  The “kids” (Emily and Jazzy) head out at the end of the month and the Tour De Nez was their last NRC with Vanderkitten before the leave.  I can’t believe their stay is coming quickly to an end.  They’ll be here racing locally till the end of the month.

Courtney and Me on the final run at Northstar

Monday morning Courtney and I said out team goodbyes and headed out to the Northstar resort for some “product testing”.  Northstar was beautiful.  We had a full day of fun in the sun and in the dirt; boondoggeling each other in the 10’ burm corners and racing down the downhill courses trying to get the hang of jumping doubles and railin’ it on our rigs.  We were definitely using up all the fun.  People must have been hearing us yell and cheer for each other on the course,  because the were cheering us on from the lifts.  I think the 2 of us were quite the attraction as we were the fastest women on the biggest bike getting the most air.  Of course, it was a pretty slow day up on the mountain, but it was all ours for the taking.

T

The way home was just as fun, we took a quick dip in Donner Lake to clean up and buzzed home with good tunes and memorable laughs.

It's amazing being part of a strong, fun, smart and adventurous group of women.  We let our freedom roam racing hard and playing hard, enjoying laughs, food and memories.  We all need a Thelma and Louise weekend to refuel and refresh for the challenges life tosses at us! 

Enjoy

JennX