What about all that Bike Racing?

Bike racing has been a blast. The Merco weekend (March 1st and 2nd) was fun, fun, fun. Although Merco was a solo adventure for me, I had huge support from my teammates and director from the sidelines, which is always a bonus. I was pleased with an assertive performance on my part, and a field placement on both days of racing. A great weekend for me. The Cat. 3 Divas did a spectacular job cleaning up top ten placements in both the Merco Crit and the Merco Road Race.

The Berkeley Team Time Trial on March 9th was almost too much fun to be had on bikes. I did it with my teammate Alison, who also happens to be bionic. What does that word mean anyway? ..."having particular physiological functions augmented or replaced by electronic or electromechanical components." O.k., so she's not really bionic, but it sort of seems like it, because she goes so fast, so hard, and makes it all look so easy. Cheers to developing riders in this sport!! We need 'em, we want 'em,.... even if it makes us cringe when they ride so well.

What's next? Redlands. Redlands is a 4 day stage race April 3-6, in Redlands, CA. It's brutal, it's super competitive, and we have a composite team of 8 riders sporting Dolce Vita colors entered in this classic. We have a stellar host housing situation, and look to be well thought about well before we are even in Southern California. We all look very forward to whatever the event brings us in terms of challenge, racing, team-work, and overall experience on the bike!!

Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson Memorial Ride

What an incredible experience. Many thanks to all who had to push the depths of grief aside to make such a moving event happen with the Memorial Ride. I am not really a crowd counter, but I would say there were at least 800 people in attendance. Third Pillar and Roaring Mouse, great gratitude in your direction for the way the ride was handled and organized. Webcor, beautiful support of the entire ride. Thank you.

Many thanks to the families of Kristy and Matt for helping make such wonderful people out of Kristy and Matt. Much love to you during this time.

And to every person in attendance out there, thanks for showing up, and blessing the rich lives of Matt and Kristy. It all makes a difference. Every ounce of affection in their direction and in the direction of their close ones, makes a big difference.

I hope we can all look to one another as time moves forward, the same way we all looked at each other on this ride.... With respect that we all feel the same things.

My best to all who were deeply touched by Matt and Kristy.

Children Really do Have the Final Word

My land-mate has a preschool (3-4 year olds) in her home. Every day, I can hear the children playing out in the back yard on the big play structure. Today, a boy fell in the dirt, and was crying. He seemed most upset about how dirty his hands were from falling on them, and of course the long way he had fallen to the ground from his 2.5 foot stature likely shook his little world too. But, the real kicker was, the girl who came to help him. She was so little! Yet, so powerful. She looked right in his eyes, and said, "Sometimes your hands get dirty when you're having a lot of fun!"

What a blessing to experience these small moments in life.

I love children! Please bless the young ones in your life today with some gesture of grand respect.

Kristy and Matt Memorial Ride

Team Roaring Mouse Cycles and Third Pillar Racing Team are holding a joint memorial ride this Saturday March 15th, to honor the lives of Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson, our two teammates killed on Steven’s Creek Canyon last Sunday while on a training ride. We welcome friends, family, fellow cyclists and all those whose lives have been touched by Matt and Kristy. Our ride will include a visit to the site of the crash site for those to share their memories.

When:
Saturday, March 15th
Where:
Leaving from Foothill College
12345 El Monte Road
Los Altos Hills, CA 94022
Google map to location: http://tinyurl.com/2b6qvb
**We kindly request you do NOT drive out to the crash site during this time, as we need to keep cars to a minimum in the area, given the road conditions.
Time:
Meet at 2:30pm, ride by 3pm
Length:
30-45 minutes to the crash site. Base pace (ie, mellow). No drop.
R
oute:
Start @ Foothill College (Parking Lot #1, near the football stadium)
– Left on El Monte
– Right on Foothill Expressway
– Continue on Steven’s Creek Canyon
– Return
Route directions via Google: http://tinyurl.com/2pc8pf
*Press are welcome to attend, however we request respect during our ride. It would mean the most to us if press were to accompany us on their bikes, as we are all cyclists this week.
http://rememberingmatt.blogspot.com/
http://thirdpillarracing.com
e Kristy Gough & Matt Peterson f Memorial Ride

Kristy and Matt-Incredible Champions

Of course words cannot describe what we are all feeling about the tragic accident on March 9th, that took the rich lives of two incredible individuals, Kristy Gough and Matt Peterson.

Roaring Mouse, Third Pillar, the Cat.3/4, Master's 35+ women who raced with Kristy, the men who raced with Matt, everyone who is closely connected to both of them....My best to you right now. What an unbelievable happening. The tears are overwhelming.

Be near everyone you care about.