Durango, Grand Junction, New Belgium, and everything in between

I'm starting to get really bad at this whole blogging thing. I don't know if it's lack of motivation to blog or trying to find time to do it. Either way, I really suck at it (haha). It's going to get worse though, before it gets better. Because the end of my cycling season is just around the corner. This post might be long, it just depends on how tired I get by the time I'm done. There will be lots of pictures though!

Fort Lewis College Weekend
Durango is a pretty cool place. Unfortunately, it's an 8hour drive from Fort Collins. It was Gravity Conference Finals. The riding down there never disappoints. However, the weather does! Saturday was the short track race. There was a huge field - 20 or so riders. The weather was cooperative for the race, which was a shock. I like the course because it's fast and flat, with a few technical spots thrown in to weed out the roadies (haha). Teal Stetson-Lee (from FLC) took off from the gun. My legs didn't feel right the entire race. I think it was due to the long drive the day before. I just never felt like I was able to put out power. I struggled to gain contact with Teal. Once I finally did, I sat in her draft for a few laps. With 3 to go, I attacked and put a decent gap on her. Then I crashed in a corner. The gap was closed, and now she drafted off me. On the last lap, she made several attempts to pass. However, I made sure to not let her around me, especially in the technical spots because I knew she would gap me through them. I attacked on the last straight-away and got a gap big enough to hold her off for the win. After the race, I pre-rode the cross country course. It was pretty flat (compared to most of the other races in the conference, and last years course). The trail had a nice flow to it as well. Around noon on Saturday, the skies opened up and it rained the rest of the day and night. Not sure how much rain actually fell, but it was enough to turn the Durango soils into unrideable cement-like conditions. In turn, FLC canceled the cross country race for the second year in a row. Bummer!!!
No worries though, as CSU had a great time on the way back.

At the bottom of Wolf Creek Pass.

Near the top of Wolf Creek Pass.

We stopped at Kenosha Pass to ride the Colorado Trail. It was beautiful!

The aspens were at their peak, the temperatures were cool, and we even got snowed on lightly. This trail starts at roughly 10,000feet, so we were all sucking air. Good times were had by all. We were sad to turn around, but didn't want to get stranded in the darkness.

New Belgium CX #1
The local brewery, I'm sure you've all heard of it, New Belgiuim puts on a cyclocross series during the fall. Entry fees are $5 and the local pros usually show up. It's a great mid-week workout and laid back time. The races are held on Tuesday nights. Last Tuesday I showed up on the CX bike, which I hadn't rode since December. I came into the night hoping everything would work on the bike and nothing would fall apart. Mission accomplished. However, my body took the beatings. I came to the conclusion I'm a long ways off cross form. I bashed the back of my calf several times, causing it to bruise nicely. Anyway, it was a good time.

By local pros, I mean local Olympians, show up for these races.

The dust sucked. Here's Meredith Miller catching me.

Some pretty steep run-ups.

After this race, I got sick. I caught a cold and am still feeling the effects of it. Coughing is a great ab workout though!

Mesa State College weekend
This past weekend was Conference Championships for endurance riders and team overall. It was held in Grand Junction. The weather forecast wasn't looking so hot for the weekend. Fortunately, we lucked out! Saturday was the short track and super d race. The short track race was painful. It was extremely windy and I almost got blown off my bike several times. It was definitely a roadie course. I pulled off another win in the race. Later that afternoon, I did my very first super d. Given the course was unusual, I still had fun. It was basically seven miles on a double track trail. Throw in some rocks and boulders and you have it. My time was 12:52 for first place.
Sunday was the cross country course. I didn't get a chance to pre-ride it, but it was the same course as last year. I still forgot where things were though. It was a pretty technical course with lots of hike-a-bike sections. I pulled off another win.

This weekend was the final collegiate mountain bike race (minus nationals). I ended up winning the overall endurance conference title. Pretty sweet!

Nationals is next week. Hope for good weather! It should be a good time. My mom, aunt, and uncle are going. After nationals is a few weeks of nothing. Looking forward to some non-bike adventures.

Looks like I can finally talk about 2009 too. Things became final with the team on Monday. I'll be riding for the LipSmacker Professional Women's Cycling Team. My coach, Missy Thompson, is one of the directors. I'm looking forward to road season already! Ok time to go to class! Thanks for stopping in!
-A