The appropriately titled documentary film “HALF THE ROAD:
The Passion, Pitfalls & Power of Women’s Professional Cycling” explores the
world of women’s professional cycling, asking why, when it comes to
professional cycling, women aren’t receiving their fair share of the road.
Featuring race footage and interviews with Olympians, development riders,
Ironman and marathon champions, pro team directors, and more, the film offers a
unique look at what makes the women’s pro peloton tick. Check out the preview
video here.
The documentary’s filmmakers are seeking help with funds for
distribution, screenings, film festival entries, travel, and rights to Olympic
footage. Support the project on online crowd-funding platform Indiegogo by
making a contribution of $25 to $10,000 dollars. ($100 gets you a pre-ordered
DVD and puts your name in the film credits.) Currently, with 44 days remaining
in the campaign, $17,706 has been raised of the $65,000 goal.
If you’re a supporter of women’s cycling, make it happen!
It’s that time of year again. One of Austin’s most
popular multisport races is happening this Monday, bringing a sell-out crowd of
3,000 athletes to compete in downtown Austin. Celebrate the 2013 Capital of Texas Triathlon and the
public holiday with ATC’s Memorial Day sale!
All hands will be on deck to make sure you find what
you’re looking for, and vendors from Mavic, Cervelo, Fuji, Bell, Giro, Zevlin,
and Shimano will also be helping out.
Matt
Reed is an American elite triathlete. Reed became a US citizen in 2007, and
currently lives and trains in Boulder, Colorado. In 2009, Reed won 7 triathlons
and the Toyota Cup Series. His triumphs came at Ironman California 70.3, Miami
International Triathlon, Pan American Championships, REV 3 Half-Ironman, Life
Time Fitness Minneapolis, Chicago Triathlon and Dallas Triathlon.
Reed
was named USA Triathlon’s Athlete of the Year for 2008. He won the US
Olympic trials and placed thirty-second at the Beijing Games. Reed also
finished fifth in the 2008 World Championships, the highest place ever for an
American male.
The Fuji Norcom Straight
The
pinnacle of Fuji innovation, design, and engineering, the Norcom Straight is
one of the fastest bikes in the world.
But
most importantly, it offers more positioning options than any other superbike:
If speed is the goal, fit comes first. Meet the Norcom Straight.
Wetsuit Rentals:
ATC offers sleeveless and full-sleeve wetsuits in men’s
and women’s cuts for rent. Click here
to make your reservation request online or call 512-494-9252 and ask to speak
to Missy. Limited availability. Wetsuits must be picked up at ATC downtown
location.
Race weekend rate: $30
Full week rental: $50
Extended store hours Saturday & Sunday at ATC Downtown!
ATC 360 is a very different sort of
dillo. The new store, opened this February, is located in Westlake’s
upscale Davenport Village. Adjacent to Highway 360, a popular route
with cyclists, and next door to popular eateries like Maudie’s, Uno
Café, and Eleven Plates, ATC’s second store is in a prime spot. Blending
in with the surroundings as any respectable xenarthran must, ATC 360
is the same grease-smeared dillo you know and love in a top hat and
tails.
Missy and Don Ruthven have owned ATC downtown on Barton
Springs Road for 12 years. While the idea of a second store had often
come up, the stars had never quite aligned before the end of last year.
ATC 360 was once the home of bike shop Cycle 360, and driving by the
location in late October, Don’s question of “Whatever happened to
that space?” quickly turned into a “What if...?” Missy and Don
got the keys to the building in early December, and after eight weeks
of gutting and refinishing the interior, they opened on February 9 with
a well-attended party and a few truckloads of Coors.
Though ATC 360 doesn't have the same charmingly
grungy South Austin character of ATC downtown, its unofficial slogan
is “Bringing the Weird to Westlake.” ATC employees were the architects
and carpenters of nearly all the interior improvements, building up
the display racks, decking, and service counters as skillfully as any
new P5. The inventory is largely the same between the two locations,
with the full range of Cannondale, Cervelo, Lightspeed, Quintana Roo,
Boardman, and Kestrel bikes, as well as triathlon and cycling apparel
and accessories. Based on demand, however, ATC 360 is beginning to offer
a wider selection of mountain biking equipment. Though ATC downtown
continues to do all wetsuit rentals, customers who call in advance can
pick up their rental at the 360 location.
For many athletes, ATC 360 is a location of greater
convenience. The store serves an area without any other bike shops and
offers everything the downtown store area does, minus the drive. It’s
also a welcome salvation when you find yourself stranded on a ride out
360 without the right fuel or a flat kit. But even if the older dillo
is still your closest dillo, ATC 360 is worth a look. After all, how
often do you get to see your favorite armor-plated mammal in his fanciest
duds?
Austinites prefer a little green space with their urban jungle. Like the greenbelts that crisscross town, the Veloway is a unique venue that highlights the city’s love for physical activity and the outdoors. Approximately 3.1 miles long and 23 feet wide, the paved one-way track is a free and public-use facility completely closed to vehicular and foot traffic, designed expressly for the use of cyclists and rollerbladers.
The Veloway is surrounded by undeveloped land with small trees and brush, and in season, offers brightly colored fields of bluebonnets, Indian blanket, and other native wildflowers. Squirrels, roadrunners, and deer are common sights, as well as the occasional rattlesnake and tarantula. The track is designed in a large loop, with several hairpin turns and rises, and is divided by a center stripe into two wide lanes, the left of which is meant to be the “fast” lane. Traffic travels in a clockwise direction, and beyond the sound of a noisy free-hub or poorly maintained chain coming up behind you, there’s no road noise.
The Veloway is, above all, a safe place to ride your bike. As a pleasant change of pace from pickup trucks and suburbans, indecisive squirrels are a rider’s biggest threat. And though the course isn't completely flat and “easy,” it’s a good place to bring an inexperienced or novice rider who isn't comfortable riding in traffic or navigating around obstacles. On the weekends when the weather is favorable, the Veloway is full of recreational riders and parents coaxing their kids around the loop. During the week or on particularly cold or rainy days when the crowds are gone, the Veloway is excellent for faster training, with the added bonus of building good cornering skills. It’s also a venue where, along with roller skates and inline skates, virtually any species of bike is welcome and safe—unicycles, tri bikes, road bikes, mountain bikes, recumbents, and even stranger inventions.
The Veloway does have its drawbacks. For one, it’s located too far south for many cyclists, adjacent to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center at the intersection of South Mopac and La Crosse Avenue. Some weekends it’s closed to the public to host private events (check the schedule here). Cracks are widening in the pavement, and the track floods in spots after heavy rains. The only facilities are two porta potties typically in an extreme state of overuse. On that note, you can sign a petition for Veloway improvements here.
Overall, however, the Veloway is an undervalued space that offers a truly special opportunity to ride. As a person who loves to be outside and trusts her handling skills but not area motorists, I give the Veloway full credit for saving my sanity over the past nine months. My son will have logged approximately 85 hours of Veloway time by the time he’s born at the end of May. Many thanks to the city and the volunteers who keep this incredible space up and running, aiding the current crop of cyclists and building a future one.
Veloway Rules
Only bikes & rollerblades allowed.
One way, clockwise travel.
Closes at dusk. No night riding.
Helmets required.
No removing or disturbing flora and fauna.
The left lane is for passing.
Veloway Common Sense Etiquette
Pass on the left.
Allow lots of space when passing.
Leave your headphones at home.
If you’re going to “race,” make sure the other person wants to. Don’t assume another rider wants to be drafted or wants to draft you.
Take Mopac South to La Crosse. Turn left on La Crosse. Park on the street or in the dirt parking lot to the left. The Veloway is clearly marked. There are also some unofficial dirt paths to the veloway behind Bowie High School (avoid this route during school hours) and neighborhoods off of Brodie Ln. These are visible on Google Maps.
The Driveway is one of Austin’s most beloved and popular bike racing venues. Every Thursday evening from March to October, a car racetrack deep in the woods of East Austin transforms into a cyclist’s mecca. As hundreds of competitors and spectators pour in along the narrow country road by car and by bike, you can almost hear the bells tolling, the steadfast parishioners returning yet again for more penance on two wheels.
For years, the series’ popularity has been growing by leaps and bounds. This season, the men’s category 4/5 and P1/2/3 races regularly reach their respective field limits of 75 and 100 riders. Andrew Willis and Holly Ammerman, husband-and-wife owners of Holland Racing and the Driveway Series event, had every reason to expect continued success without changing a thing, so I was surprised when they convened a focus group of women bike racers over the winter off season to talk about how women’s racing could be improved at the Driveway.
To appreciate what such a gesture means, you have to understand the role of women’s racing within the sport of cycling. Races cost money, and women don’t have the numbers to be profitable. When turnout is low or convenience dictates, officials often combine us last minute with men’s fields. Our payouts are half or less the amount awarded to the same category of men. We’re rarely taken seriously. And no one really cares what we think about all of that, nor should they, financially speaking. But it’s awfully nice to be asked.
The Driveway committee meetings, composed of a small group of women racers from various categories and Austin teams, discussed how to improve the Driveway experience over the course of three meetings, and Holland Racing implemented many of those changes in the 2013 season. This Thursday, May 2, marks the first of the new Driveway Series “Ladies Nights.”
The Changes
Last year, the category 3/4 women were the first race of the day, scheduled at 5pm. The 1/2/3 women, though scored separately, raced with the men’s category 3/4 field at 5:30pm. The women's 1/2/3 race was often poorly attended.
W1/2/3 podium, Week 5
This year, the women’s race schedule changes according to the amount of daylight. At the beginning and end of the series, the women race at 5pm in a women’s 1/2/3 and 4, scored separately but starting together. The men’s 3/4 race still offers women’s primes, and some women also choose to race the men’s P1/2/3. In the middle of the season—from May 9 to Sept 26—the traditional women’s 3/4 starts at 5pm, and the W1/2/3 starts with the Men’s 35+ race at 7:45pm or 7:05pm. Many women in the Driveway focus group considered the later master’s race, which typically has a smaller field and less crashes, preferable to the men’s 3/4.
The new “Ladies Nights” occur the first Thursday of May, June, July, and August, offering a women’s only race (1/2/3 and 4 scored separately) on the top track while the master’s 35+ race is held on the bottom track. The Ladies Night format answers many of the requests made by the women in the focus group—a women’s only field, a later start time for those who can’t make it to the track as early as 5pm, and increased recognition. The women's 3/4 is still held at 5pm, which has the added benefit of allowing cat 3 and cat 4 riders to race two women's only races in one day.
Why You Should Attend Ladies Nights
W4 podium, Week 6
Though Austin’s cycling culture, which has a long and illustrious history, may not have started at the Driveway, that’s arguably where, heart and soul, it’s being cultivated today. The Driveway Series is an event that’s as much social as athletic. You don’t just go to the Driveway to race—you go to watch, to drink a beer, to catch up on gossip, to show off your bike, to blow off steam, to find your niche in a community that’s as patently and uniquely “weird” as any other Austin tradition.
As the hub for so much of what shapes Texas bike racing, the Driveway is in a position to significantly impact women’s racing, not only in how it is perceived, but in how it grows and develops in the years to come. There’s a very simple solution to many of the problems in women’s cycling—more women. With more of us actively competing, women could have separate category 3 races, providing a middle ground of learning and development for riders moving up in the ranks. By default, we’d have more clout in organizational decision making, be eligible for more prize money, and avoid the inconvenience of combined fields.
Like those cheesy bar campaigns offering happy hour specials and free drinks for women (minus the calories and the come-ons), Ladies Nights at the Driveway provide ample incentive for the fairer sex to attend in force. In the women’s 1/2/3, $200 prize money is divided among the top five, with awards for the top three in the women’s 4. And most importantly, we get a chance to race in our own field in the prime time spotlight. The top track is completely visible to spectators, so they’ll be able to experience the race from start to finish.
Show your appreciation for a good deed and your love for women’s bike racing by coming out to participate in or watch the Driveway’s first Ladies Night criterium of 2013. Click here for more info.
By Allison Atkinson, ATC Racing The Matrix Crit takes place in the streets of the quaint Wilson Historic District located in downtown Dallas. White picket fences surround the perfectly green, manicured lawns of the Victorian era homes that line the staging area. Amid this picturesque scene, you'll find the most technical crit course in Texas. With eight 90-degree turns on fairly flat terrain, it's a fast race where hesitation is not an option and crashes can be bone-crushing.
Day one I raced the 45-minute Women's cat 3 at 7:45am. It was chilly enough for arm and knee warmers. I agreed to work with Ash Duban (Comanche Racing), who is an amazing crit racer. It was also her birthday, and she wanted a win. On lap one I worked my way to third wheel, but not much happened until the straightaway after the sixth turn. The straightaway is a false flat about two blocks long, so it is one of the only places one can launch a big attack without worrying about an upcoming turn. I launched my first attack there to kick up the pace and hopefully stir things up. Think Finance, a team based out of Dallas, had a huge presence in this race. Once I was caught, they countered by sending one girl up. Andrea Thomas and Kelly Barrientes attacked the hardest and most often out of the Think women. Instead of being swallowed by the gruppocompacto, I fought my way to the front to stay on wheel one to three. My goal was to chase down as many attacks as possible and keep Ash from having to work too much. Think Finance launched attack after attack and snatched almost every prime. Either Ash or I steadily bridged the group back to any girl up the road. I knew that this was not too smart for my personal results, but there were not many Austin girls willing to help us out. At two laps to go, the pace slowed a bit as everyone waited in anticipation for the next big move. A big breakaway never happened, as we were all pretty tired from attacking and chasing. Those who sat in continued to do so. It would come down to a pack sprint. Basically the first three to get to turn seven would be in the best position going into the short sprint to the finish. I decided to get a jump on what I knew was going to be a sketchy situation by launching a huge attack coming out of turn four. I kept control through turns five and six, and then jumped again on the straightaway with the last of my energy. A few Think Finance girls, including Thomas, countered, and Ash followed their lead to that important seventh turn. Rounding the corner, I pulled out a half-hearted sprint just to stay in the top 10. I kept my head up to see how Ash did. It was too close to call! Ash thought she got second or third, but was not sure. It turned out that she won by basically a millisecond thanks to her heroic bike throw! We were so excited! I placed seventh.
After a good nap and some food, I lined up for the Women's Open with much less clothing and perfect spring sunshine. My goal was to hang on and help the chase group. I say that because women like Lauren Stephens (FCS/Cycling p/b Zngine + Mr. Restore) and Christina Gokey-Smith (Rouse/OOGIE Racing) are expected to break away.
From the beginning, I felt a difference compared to the cat 3's. It's not that it was harder for me. In fact, I worked less because of the larger field. The difference was the speed at which we took the turns, plus the extra 15 minutes. The mental focus alone that it took to execute each turn safely and efficiently wore me down. The Open race was also an hour compared to 45 minutes. This was the longest crit I'd ever raced. My hands became numb after 30 minutes from being in the drops. Every time I would jump out of the saddle or countersteer, they'd go completely numb. When it became impossible to shift, I sat up and shook out my hands. It's probably all in my mind, but I felt like my eyes were tired, too! I had to shake my head and tell myself, "Focus! Eyes forward! Stay on her wheel and don't give up your position!" Four women were in the break that formed: Gokey-Smith, Stephens, Kathleen Hattaway (Jubilee), and Catherine Moore (Think Finance). Jubilee and Think had the biggest presence, and with teammates up the road, they were not going to chase. Ash, Allison Floyd (River City Market Racing), Kim Ciolli (River City Market Racing), a few other "single" ladies, and myself stayed steady to help keep the pace up. We each did our share of attacking and bridging when the group split or someone went off the front. We stayed together and before I knew it, I heard the bell for the final lap. This was where the crash went down. I saw Andrea Thomas out of the corner of my right eye attack in the same place I made my move in the morning race: turn four. She was up toward the front coming out of turn five. This was an aggressive, smart place to attack, but it's risky because you're rattling everyone's cages right before two major turns. Thomas simply slid out of turn six, taking Michelle Montoya (Jubilee) out as well. This being the last lap, we were all coming into the corner hot, so it was hard to avoid the crash and make it out cleanly. Half the field took off with little hesitation, while Floyd, Ciolli, myself, and others picked up from a dead stop. As disappointing as it was to not make it into the top ten, I was glad to stay upright and live to race another day. I finished thirteenth. Stephens won, with Gokey-Smith second and Moore third. Day two I only raced the W3 morning race, same course and same time. The difference was that there were less Think Finance women present. I decided to chill out mid-pack to scope out who to watch for. There were a few girls that stood out and did a lot of pulling. The pace was faster than the day before, whipping around the turns. For the majority of the race I stayed rear-pack (which is hard not to do when the field is small and everyone is strong), but I'd come out on occasion to attack after turn four and on the straightaway. Ash and I worked to chase down attacks by Rockwall Cycling. Tracy Christenson (Rockwall) managed to stay away for nearly two laps before I bridged up to her. Here is where you may ask, "What were you thinking???" At two laps to go, I launched the same big attack I did the day before and kept a good position. The problem was that I had no clue how many laps we had left. The lap cards were not displayed, and a bell rang for almost every lap due to the abundance of awesome primes. I underestimated my effort, and what I thought was two to go was actually one to go! I was wondering why Allison Floyd and other riders kept looking back at me like, "Hello??? Are you going to attack or what?" I watched the sprint happen and cruised through the finish for tenth place. I was mentally tired and happy to be done, but very mad at myself.
Let it be known that I went into this weekend with fear and doubt in my mind. I had never been a fan of crits, but knew that if I wanted to race for real I'd have to overcome the fear. I learned that it's okay to feel the fear while bombing down a straightaway setting up for a hard turn. What matters is how you react. I accepted the fear by trusting that all the preparation that went into my cornering skills was legit and that the tires on my wheels would hold me up. I also accepted that I trusted the women I raced with. It's hard but necessary to trust the right people and know they will make it through the corner safe. With the acceptance of fear comes the acceptance that you could go down. As I was walking to the car to head back to the hotel Saturday afternoon, I witnessed a bad crash in the men's cat 3 race as they took turn four. One rider broke his collarbone and the other broke his arm. Catherine Moore went down on day two of the Open race and was sent to the hospital, where she was slipping in and out of consciousness. There were more crashes than I can mention, but that is part of this brutal sport. On a positive note, the heroic bike throws, strong attacks, and well-deserved wins outnumbered crashes. So streets of the Wilson Historic District will remain like any other neighborhood until we come back next year for the fastest crit in the state! I cannot wait! Results and pictures on the official Matrix Challenge Facebook page
Can't decide if you want a stylish, boutique European brand, or a cleverly engineered North American bike? Boardman Bikes may solve the dilemma for you. Chris Boardman is an Olympic champion, three-time World Champion, and hour record holder. Those unfamiliar with his history of time trialing prowess and technical acumen both in training and bike design may enjoy this documentary. Unlike other brands that just pay to plaster a former pro's name on the bike, Boardman Bikes actually employs the person it touts on the downtube as the head of the company's Research and Development department.
So what has the Boardman brain trust produced? A line of time trial bikes that won the 2012 Kona Ironman World Championship, an aero road bike that won ITU triathlon gold and bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, a super-light sub 900 gram frame, and a whole line of road, mountain, and cyclocross excellence. Until now there was no way to get these bikes in the U.S. other than mail order. Austin Tri-Cyclist has brought Boardman Bikes to Texas, with models already in stock for you to test ride! We don't have the space to review every model that Boardman offers here, but we will give you a quick look at two of their coolest options:
The Kona Winning Boardman AiR/TT
Boardman AiR/TT/9.8
This is the time trial bike that Pete Jacobs rode to Kona victory last year. It features an overall shape very similar to a Cervelo P2, but with a trick fork that includes an integrated front brake and a hidden rear brake. Additionally, the stack and reach on these frames are lower and longer than the P2 or the new P3 and P5. Athletes who are frustrated with the high stack trend of some of the usual brands should give this frame a look. The AiR/TT comes in a variety of different builds and colors, all sharing the same frame and fork. The frame is CFD and wind tunnel designed, with a BB30 bottom bracket and internal cable routing. If you've been seeking a well-engineered TT bike, but want your ride to stand out from the crowd in the local transition racks, the Boardman is the ideal choice. Check out the video below for a tour of the bike's features from Chris Boardman himself:
The Gold and Bronze Medal Winning Boardman AiR Road Bike
Boardman AiR/9.4
Aero road bikes have been catching on big time, and Boardman's AiR road frames have been proving themselves for years under the Brownlee brothers in draft-legal ITU triathlons. Numerous race wins, ITU world championships, and a gold and bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics have established the bike's ability to go fast and handle well in a pack of triathletes going full gas. Like the TT frames, these road bikes offer lower, more aggressive geometry than other aero road frames such as the the Cervelo S5. They also build up light enough to weigh in under the UCI-legal limit of 15 pounds, even with aerodynamic wheels. The same design philosophy of the TT frame is applied to the road frame, with the stiff BB30 bottom bracket standard and internal cable routing to shave away aero drag. The road frame uses standard brake mounting for ease of maintenance and wheel changes. Again, many models and colors are offered, and all are based on the same frame, so you don't get shortchanged going with a less expensive model. Chris takes you on another tour:
The AiR 9.2S Field Tested
The Veloway Testing Grounds
I decided to put the aero road bike to the test up against one of the fastest bikes in the world, the Cervelo S5. The testing ground was the Austin Texas Veloway, a 3.2-mile loop featuring short, steep climbs; tight, technical turns; bumpy pavement; and fast, straight descents. The area is also somewhat shielded from the ever-present, gusty winds of Central Texas, which makes comparison easier.
I set the fit coordinates of each bike to be identical – saddle setback, saddle height, and the stack and reach of the bars. I then did a series of laps on the Veloway, alternating from one bike to the other. An important detail is that each run was done on the exact same set of wheels and tires: HED Jet clinchers with Continental GP4000S tires. Since wheels and tires can have a profound effect on speed, handling, and comfort, this is an essential, if annoying, step you must take when test riding or comparing bikes.
The Boardman felt great. I was immediately able to attack the corners just as confidently on the Boardman as I was on my own S5. Comparison with the super-cool Strava website Raceshape confirmed that the bikes were evenly matched around the hairpin turns. Up the steep, short kicker on each lap I would do a 1000-watt surge to get a feel for how the bikes felt at full power, and the Boardman proved to be plenty stiff and stable powering up the hill. The bike showed none of the uncomfortable properties some say they experience on aero road bikes, with everything feeling perfectly composed over the sometimes cracked and bumpy pavement at the Veloway.
GoldenCheetah's Aerolab
Virtual Elevation
A total of 6 laps were performed, a set of 2 with each bike at increasing power levels: the first at 200 watts, the second at 250 watts, and the third at 300 watts. I was careful to hold the same position with my head, body, and hands for each lap, and I wore a skinsuit to reduce the error that loose clothing can introduce. Using a clever method called the Chung Method, also known as Virtual Elevation, you can take power files from these runs and determine an approximation of the aerodynamic drag. Since public wind tunnel data is not available for the Boardman bikes, I was curious to see if they stacked up well to the known brands. While tests like this are fraught with error from imprecise body position and varying winds, 4 of the 6 runs produced fairly consistent results, suggesting that the Boardman was just a touch less aero than the S5, with a CdA about .005, or 50 grams @30mph more drag. This would put the Boardman AiR in the same ballpark as the Cervelo S2, or Specialized Venge, without tricky custom brakes or tire-limiting rear wheel cutouts. To put this in perspective, a typical round tube bike would come in at about 300 grams more drag than the S5. This test suggests definite aerodynamic legitimacy on the part of the Boardman AiR road bike.
All hands will be on deck to make sure you find what
you’re looking for, and vendors from Mavic, Cervelo, Fuji, Bell, Giro, Zevlin,
and Shimano will also be helping out. 
Special Event:
The Veloway does have its drawbacks. For one, it’s located too far south for many cyclists, adjacent to the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center at the intersection of South Mopac and La Crosse Avenue. Some weekends it’s closed to the public to host private events (check the schedule here). Cracks are widening in the pavement, and the track floods in spots after heavy rains. The only facilities are two porta potties typically in an extreme state of overuse. On that note, you can sign a petition for Veloway improvements here. 
By Allison Atkinson, ATC Racing
Basically the first three to get to turn seven would be in the best position going into the short sprint to the finish. I decided to get a jump on what I knew was going to be a sketchy situation by launching a huge attack coming out of turn four. I kept control through turns five and six, and then jumped again on the straightaway with the last of my energy. A few Think Finance girls, including Thomas, countered, and Ash followed their lead to that important seventh turn. Rounding the corner, I pulled out a half-hearted sprint just to stay in the top 10. I kept my head up to see how Ash did. It was too close to call! Ash thought she got second or third, but was not sure. It turned out that she won by basically a millisecond thanks to her heroic bike throw! We were so excited! I placed seventh.
Day two I only raced the W3 morning race, same course and same time. The difference was that there were less Think Finance women present. I decided to chill out mid-pack to scope out who to watch for. There were a few girls that stood out and did a lot of pulling. The pace was faster than the day before, whipping around the turns. For the majority of the race I stayed rear-pack (which is hard not to do when the field is small and everyone is strong), but I'd come out on occasion to attack after turn four and on the straightaway. Ash and I worked to chase down attacks by Rockwall Cycling. Tracy Christenson (Rockwall) managed to stay away for nearly two laps before I bridged up to her..jpg "Boardman SLR")
