I have not written in some time. I have been busy racing!! Well, The team has had a very successful season. Thanks to our wonderful sponsors for all of the support. We are a very special group, one is because our team is spread out through the metroplex. Kim Jennings in Waco, whom is well supported by Bicycles-Outback in Waco. And Because of Doug and Rick over at Colonels Bicycles in Ft.Worth, I had a super fast bike to ride for the season. I know Becky and I have recieved a great deal of support from Austin Bikes. As I am lucky to be on one of the fastest mountain bikes out there. Nothing but the best. Orbea. For the rest of the team, they owe a lot of thanks to Boyd over at Dallas Bike Works. We are forever grateful for all of the support we recived this year. Christian Williams, head coach at Lone Star Works, has been a great coach for this team. Rudy over at the finish line, for the best sport massage ever. This team has represented ! We are constantly on the podium , and here lately it's 1st & 2nd & 3rd in most cases. What can We Say? Thanks again. And my team, Cat-1 Tracie Akerhelm, cat-2's Tammy Wallace, Michelle Montonya, cat 3's Cassandra Crisswell, Kim Jennings;Kelly Stark and 4's Becky Reilly, Bibi M-Miller,Nancy Reidl .

Looking for '09 Sponsors!

If you are interested in helping an All Women's Cycling team, please contact me. Email me at cyne7@aol.com

Bad Group Ride~RBM~North Ride

Last Saturday we decide to head towards the Dallas Area to ride with the girls in their neck of the woods. We head to Michelle's and ride towards the group that leaves the RichardsonBikeMart Shop. Boy, this ride was Crazy from the Start! It was a huge group, and we hit lights every other intersection, yes we are riding "IN TOWN".The riders fail to mention "Slowing" Stopping, etc. So, of course, I am "warning" the riders behind me, no one wants to get rear ended! Yikes. And this is by no means a "casual" pace. I mean, it is a sprint from light to the next. Well, this gets bad. As I just mention to Tracie, "that I can't see a thing in front of me" . So, all of a sudden, I barely miss a barricade, apparently the road narrowed and shifted over to the left. Well, all of the riders in mid pack and beyond were crammed into a small area fast. Going 25mph, Kim Chance T-bones a barricade comes off and some others crash. Of course, not knowing at the time, who went down, but knew several from behind the crash stopped. A good thing, two riders in the back were paramedics and called 911, and were able to stabilize Kim's neck. She broke her C1 & C2 in her neck. This is so scary! The ride after the crash did not get much better, even at the end when, only a handful were left. Boy, someone needs to teach these Dallas boys how to ride. I have been pretty spoiled riding in Flower Mound, where the group rides are monitored and everyone has respect for other riders. We point out turns/stops/holes or whatever may need to be announced. Kim Chance is an Expert Mountain Biker, so it is not like she has no handling skills. Watch out ! I hope the RBM people can learn from this, and make some positive changes. As for me, I will no longer go on that ride!

I got my upgrade!

Yipee! I am now a Pro Roadie! I recieved my upgrade from USA Cycling today!!

Fort Davis~Race Reports

Day 2-Friday


Not much sleep but I am very "Amped" because, the team starts to arrive. We all get settled and get out for a ride . I spin my legs first on my Giant, then, get the borrowed TT bike ready for a ride, thank you Bryan Wadie for the Loaner! I would say she worked out great, but I really stunk at the time trial. I would definitely say, you need to spend some quality time on the TT prior to racing it. It's is kinda hard when you are Mountain bike racing and road racing every weekend. Saturday Time Trail : Tammy was first to go from the team then, Michelle , myself (Smith) and then, Tracie. Now, this is the first time I have ever done a tt race on a tt bike. "Good Luck" . Tammy and Tracie did very well, they both looked very comfortable during the race. Yes, I got to see both, first was when team mate Tracie passed me during the tt, and then, I noticed Tammy as she was heading back after the turn around. I should have been focusing on my tt, But, that is the thing, I totally lost focus. As I Hated the position. I wanted to stand up and sprint . I kept thinking if I was on my mtb , I could do this. But, this is nothing like the mtb. So, yes I did very poorly on the TT , and started out a stage race very behind in points. That is okay. because I had two other team mates with much better times. I am not sure if I will do this again, but assure you . I will come back to redeem myself.

Fort Davis

We decide to head out Thursday afternoon,2:00p.m well, that was the initial plan. RK is stuck in Traffic only 2 exits from Tammy's. Meanwhile, I am on my way.. running behind though, I get the redirected route to Tammy's . So, we finally get there, 2:45 p.m. and we are looking at all the "Stuff" that is suppose to fit in the car. We have 3 people, 5 bikes and 4 bike racks. So, one bike will need to go into the Subaru. My Giant has the integrated seat post, so that is out of the question. Tammy and Kim, "I can't take my seat post off" . Okay... So, we decide to take one of the bike racks off of Tammy's car to place on my car. Along with the other two bikes ,space saver all on top of the car. What is the weight limit for a Subaru? 100 lbs..? Though, the bike has to be placed backwards on the car, to fit next to my bike. Now we have more room in the car. We finally get all loaded up and head out 4:00 p.m. make our first stop, 4:05 pm to get Ice. Which, happened to be in the back of the car, so we had to unload the bikes off the back to get to the coolers to add ice. Load the bikes back on and were off. 4:20p.m. We get on I20 heading West. And the wind is a gusting 30mph , it is soo Windy. I am keeping an eye on the bikes. Still very nervous, I decide to pull over and just do a bike check. Everything is fastly secured. So, back to it. 5 minutes later, I am looking in the mirror and I see Tammy's Bike Fly OFF The CAR. I PULL OVER, and we run out, see her bike laying in the fast lane. Meanwhile, another vehicle who witnessed it all, pulled over to the left, and is running back to the bike, and Drags the bike out of the way, just in time to be saved from the Semi Trucks. Thank God. We get to the bike, and believe it or not, It is all in tact. Looks good. The saddle is torn up , hoods are bent inwards, and the wheel seems to be out of true, and the derailler hanger is bent. So, 5:00p.m We place the bike in the back seat, Tammy jumps in the front with Kim and we head to Colonel's . 5:15p.m. Get to Colonels and Tim works on the injured bike. 5:30 pm , Tammy decides to stay back with her bike and hitch's a ride to Fort Davis. 5:45 pm Kim and I decide to head on out. On the road now, 6:00 p.m. About this time, is when Kim realizes she lost her retainers when we stopped off of I20 earlier. So, we thought, well, we will go back to the scene of the crime, and our only knowledge of location was from the highly littered area we had walked thru , back to our car earlier. So, we stop and what do you know.. Kim finds her lower retainer!! Places it back into her mouth.. it is still good, she replies. she continues to look for the upper retainer, no luck. so We decide to hit the road. Were in the car and our way. ETA is 1:30 A.M, Actual arrival time, 3:40 a.m. Bed Time 4:00 a.m. Oh, and Kim finds her other retainer in the Car. They say bad luck is better then no Luck at all. Stay tuned for more..

I have learned..

Some things I have learned as a Cyclist.

1. Time goes by very Slow when taking an ICE BATH.
2. It helps to drink Coffee while taking an Ice Bath
3 If you think you may need a massage, You better get one, prior to your race.
4. While traveling with your bike on the roof rack, be sure the bike is placed forwards. note to self, not to place the bike with the saddle facing the front of the car.
While racing..
5. Not everyone has bike handling Skills.

Feel free to Add to the list.. (by adding a comment to this post )