Listen to Children, Listen to Your Heart

2010-02-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

Recently, my friend Kenneth Walker put a shout out to the cycling community to ask for old cycling clothes that folks were willing to part with, so I sent him a few kits. I am so honored to report that my old kit from Dolce Vita Racing is currently making history:

From Kenneth Walker: Dedicated to my friend Angela, who is becoming the first black woman to race bicycles in Kansas City- What you are is symbolic of a woman's need to have power over her own body, as well as the ability to possess that power...you are going to solve a lot of problems for women in KC...and every time you make some guy taste his own lungs on a ride, a little bit more of the problem is solved! You go, girl...

2010-01-25T20:00:00.000-08:00

Hey There Sweet Peeps!

What a blast we had at the Early Bird Races this weekend! 350+ racers, 25 Juniors, 50 women, a bunch of great teams represented. Awesome. Above is a shot of Cortney. She likes to race her bike, as you can tell.

A highlight of my day at the races yesterday was seeing the Cat. 4 Men duke it out, working to figure out which team was gonna do what. Some teams' plan was to watch what other teams did. Other teams had serious leadout plans, or attacks up their sleeve every lap. Either way, at the end of the day, it was all fun and games and nobody lost an eye.

Larry Nolan, Alan Atha, Laurie Fenech and myself make up the director's team to get the Early Birds going.. But, the 70 or so mentors who actually show up each week, are the backbone of the program. A huge thank you to all mentors who come out to help teach bike racing in Fremont every Sunday in January.

Back to the Present-Must Be Present to Win

2010-01-16T07:17:00.000-08:00

Hello Cool Fans, Supporters, and Friends,

It's been awhile, I know. I've been a tiny bit distracted by fun and other stuff. The good news is that the Early Bird Women are soaring. We've got 19 women on the roster, and they all wanna bike race! Sweet!

We have been working our wings at the local Early Bird Racing Series, after which our team was named. There's some learning going on. There's also some fun being had.

We'd love to have you hang with us at the bike races, so see you there!

www.earlybirdwomen.com

Farewell Pablo.

2009-06-28T17:23:00.000-07:00

What a good life you lived. I know you'll be here with us always, when we just listen, and pay attention. Thank you for blessing the lives of all of us for the time you were here.

Love, Laurel

R2D2 Loves Pablo

2008-12-31T00:00:00.000-08:00

This note is for my friend Pablo. Pablo, you are one solid kid! I like the stories that your dad told me when we hung out for coffee. He raves about you. We know you're dealing with some silly something that's bugging you all inside. Well, I'm here to remind you, that you're beating it!!!

You're doing it! R2D2 is here to help too! He can project images of people through his special eyes, and he's projecting an image of you, Pablo... all BIG AND STRONG AND HEALTHY!!!

YUP! That's right! I can see it now!!

That's the picture I'm seeing:

YOU + R2D2 = BIG & STRONG & HEALTHY!!!

Happy New Year Pablo! I look forward to seeing you!!!

Love,
Laurel

A Cool Way to Make a Kid's Day!!!

2008-12-23T10:37:00.000-08:00

Hey Laurel,

I am working on a project called the Wheels Can Take Me Places Project. I am training a class of twenty two 7th grade youth from a local charter school to participate in the 2009 Katy Trail Ride- 225 miles in one week. Fourteen of those 7th graders are girls. We presently have some used donated clothing for boys, but nothing for the girls. We are hoping that we can get some help from people wanting to support this project, and ask that if you have it, to donate some used clothing (or equipment) for the girls.

Please send clothing to:

Urban KC Community of Cycling

3008 Drury Ave.
Kansas City, MO 64128
(816) 326-7924

Thank you for your support.

Best Regards,

Kenneth Walker

www.UrbanKCcc.com

Community Cycling Representative for Urban Kansas City Community of Cycling

The Winter Solstice

2008-12-21T23:44:00.000-08:00

A time of more light. A time of renewal. The season shifts to Winter for real, according to the seasonal calendar. While we go about our busy lives, let's remember to wear the rain coat, hug the ones we love, have compassion for the ones we can't tell we love, and have a real life. Make it real. You know, shift it up, make a difference. For you, for them, for anyone.

I was hanging with some friends in a restaurant tonight. Their family had three children in it. The youngest was 6. All she wanted to do was put the leaves at the end of the table UP and DOWN, all night. She thought it was fascinating how she could lift the leaf up, then prop it up , then hold it up with these little sliders that pulled out from under the table. Putting those table leaves up and down was all she wanted to think about. So, when she was at the end of the table where I was....she got to put those leaves UP and DOWN. She would tell me exactly where to hold it with my finger, while she pulled the little sliders out. It was so fun. Her parents were getting a little worried that she was having too much fun, but we handled them... the sweet ones that they are.

Parents are some of the most incredible people on the planet. Bless them deeply. They were children once, and are back for more by having some. I love it.

Thanks for reading.

The Ride was Cool, Fresh, Crisp, Packed with Climbing, and Then.... The Road Side Find was Awesome Too!

2008-12-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

I know, I know, one person's trash is another's treasure, and maybe that's the case here, but I think I scored....right there on the side of the road.

Yup, a fresh roll of RED:

12.5 mil Premium grade cloth duct tape used for protection of window and door frames during stucco application, and high performance motorsports applications.

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS: Heavy duty bundling, holding, and splicing.

What am I going to do with this tape? I can think of some awesome things to do with this tape. I'll start by repairing some cracked jump rope handles at school, then get to the badminton racquet handles, then, then, then..... I'll keep you posted, and I will accept suggestions that are within reason.

Checking in with Jack

2008-12-11T21:32:00.000-08:00

Whoa. It's been awhile.

But, thought you'd all like to know: Jack and me, we're on a first name basis now.

I remember his name, and he calls me Laurel. So, I think that's o.k.

Today's dialogue, after running around for awhile doing P.E.:

Jack: "I'm tired Ms. Green, my tummy hurts."
Me: "Jack, did you have too many nails for breakfast?"
Jack (long pause): "No............today, I had tacks."
Me: "Tacks? Oh geesh, Jack, no wonder your tummy hurts!"
Jack: "I know................ tacks hurt."

Some teachers are lucky. I consider myself one of them.

Thanks for reading. I'll try to be more consistent.. xo

What's Your Favorite Food?

2008-09-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

In order to learn 540 names, I come up with strategies. Today, I asked them to tell me about their favorite food. The top responses were pizza, enchiladas, tacos, and corn dogs. But, not surprisingly, and, as amazing as young people are, many of them love salad, fruit, chicken, broccoli (o.k. only one student so far), fish, lobster, squid, and a variety of other awesome healthy foods.

And the student whose name I will most certainly remember: Jack.

Jack's favorite food is nails. Yup. Plain nails.

He was very matter of fact about it.

Cooperative Games

2008-09-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

O.k. this week, it's a game called The River. They have to get all of their teammates across the river without anyone touching the 'water'. Even a shoelace, in the 'drink', forces the whole team back for a do-over. It's sort of like a bike race, you want everyone to cross the finish line in one piece. So, they put their heads together, to figure out how they will use their sticks, their rope, and their scooter to try to get each person on their team across the River (which is actually only about 8 feet across). It's sort of like a video game, they have to get across the river AND BACK in order to progress from Level 1 to Level 2. Level 2, they don't get to use their sticks anymore to 'paddle' with. Level 3, no rope. Level 4, 2 people at a time on the scooter, with the rope. Level 5, 2 people at a time on the scooter, no rope. Most students make it past Level 5, then Level 6 is 3 people at a time, with the sticks and the rope. This Level has the most laughs and people piles involved, but some teams figure out how to pass it. Children are Amazing, Amazing, Amazing.

This week vs Last Week

2008-09-12T14:59:00.000-07:00

Last week, I explained to the 4th and 5th graders in my Physical Education classes, that I simply don't support the concept of throwing an object at someone IN ORDER TO HIT THEM, such as you might find in the game of Dodgeball. ...and that such a concept doesn't foster valuing lifelong physical fitness ideas....blah, blah.... So, we play other super sonic fun dodging games that help them forget that Dodgeball even exists...

Then, this week, students were a little unruly in one class, and the steam was starting to seep out of my ears. Being in tune, as many 4th and 5th graders are, I had one come up to me, and say:

"Ms. Green, this class really just needs some Dodgeball."

I chuckled, and somehow everything was better after that.

4th Graders Putting Things Together......

2008-09-12T14:47:00.000-07:00

Today as I was sitting in my office working, a student poked his head in the door:

Student: "Ms. Green, do you have husband?"
Me: "Uhhh, no, why do you ask?"
Student: "Well, because my friend, who used to go to Mary Hill School had a P.E. Teacher there named Mr. Green."
Me: "Really? hmmm, well, I guess he could be my husband....good question!"

And off he went, having put it all together.....and his friend hasn't....so, he'll be on the upside of the Ms. Green/Mr. Green sleuthing effort.

Carrera De San Rafael-Finally a 1 hour Crit in Nor Cal!

2008-08-10T20:53:00.000-07:00

There were about 40 women on the line. Some big local guns like Shelley Olds, and Sarah Bamberger. The course, a breakaway course. Gradual hill all the way up the start/finish stretch, down, down, down gradually, on the backside of the course, to the technical last corner. Excellent course. It was strung out single file for awhile, attack, attack, attack, until the winning break separated with none other than my super star teammate, Starla! I worked on blocking for her with the other teammates of riders represented in the break. Pro Man squeezed a couple more riders out of the field to bridge across to the break...Grrr...but, nice work Helene Drumm. Starla ended up 7th and I was 18th. Way to go Starla!! I was very happy with our efforts!

Onward ho!!

Frank-ly, here's what I think:

2008-07-29T12:40:00.000-07:00

I wrote this as I was sitting in Carbondale, Colorado on my aunt's cattle ranch, in awe of the land, the wilderness, the 6000 feet of altitude, the lightning storms, and most of all, the amazing life I am so grateful for. What has come of the last few weeks of racing? Some missed marks, some lessons, some near misses, and some so-so results. Overall, some victories that may go un-articulated, but I will take a risk here, and share some of my thoughts, because now's as good a time as any, to do it. To those of you who read this. Thank you.

I am on my way to my potential as a bike racer. Only I will know when that day, year, month, race, comes. I imagine it will be in the next few years.

A bit about my big picture: Why do I do what I do? Why press on? In a sport so brutally competitive, and full of suffering, where the chances of winning are slim for most of the competitiors?

"Never more than 30% of the peleton is a major factor in a bike race. As a matter of fact, there are never more than 5 or 6 riders in a field of 100 who are strong contenders for any race, including the Tour de France." (Carl Cantrell)

So why settle for being pack fill? What's the point? Is it settling, or is it being a true competitor?

I do it, because I respect myself and my competitors more every time I race.

If I wasn't doing it, and the rest of the 70% of the peleton wasn't doing it, we wouldn't have bike races.

I have a dream that all women can look one another in the eyes and recognize how powerful each other are. Can we all just stop talking smack for a minute? Why do we love Elis Bradshaw, Karla Kingsley, Kim Anderson, Carrie Cash, Starla Teddergreen, Morgan Kapp, Dawn Neisser, Sabine Dukes, so much? They are models of women in sport, of mutual respect between female competitors, that we all can look to. Kudos to all of you!

I have a dream that all adults will reclaim their sense of play, and remember that playing is the way to learn more about themselves. Michael Hernandez is a great example of this. He has brought a sense of play and fun to the sport that no one else ever has. Thank you Michael.

I have a dream that all young people are treated with complete respect. I will continue to hold out that young people are models of wonderful human beings, and that their brilliance and power is our present, not just our future...(as if the future even existed).

I have a dream that all athletes discover along their path, that real competition means to have our competitors at their best, and that winning isn't just winning, no matter what. Crossing the finish line first, too often reinforces an ego that fosters the inability to look across to those you have "beaten". If it weren't for those of us who come to the starting line, to play, to race, to compete, the "winners" would be riding by themselves.

A true victory is one that combines the crossing of the finish line with a genuine advancement in the inner world of the athlete.

Lance said: ...."winning only measures how hard you've worked and how physically talented you are; it doesn't particularly define you beyond those characteristics....If you're willing to examine failure, and to look not just at your outward physical performance, but your internal workings, too, losing can be valuable."

Do I want to WIN an actual bike race? Of course!

I want to win, now, more than ever.

As I chase my dreams, I invite you to re-examine your own dreams, and walk the path that leads you in the direction of those dreams, no matter how small your steps.

Thanks for reading.

Back to Cali from Colorado!

2008-07-28T16:27:00.001-07:00

If it weren't for Auntie Emma, lots of things would be different in my world. She is a friend, a mentor, and runs me more than I run my kids in P.E. Class! The first day of my visit to one of my family homes, Ty Bar Ranch, in Carbondale, Colorado I was making 120 breakfast burritos for a Tour of the Mississippi Cattlemen's Association coming through. Tables were set up in the barn, and we served 55 retired ranchers and their wives breakfast in the barn...That was cool. They were so smittin' with the whole thing, they wanted to take Aunt Emma home with them, but I would not let them!!

The next day we were off to the Rodeo, where I got to see something I never would do in P.E. class, called Mutton Bustin'! Imagine a big 'ol wooly sheep, running around in a pen with a 5 year old person attached to its back! Yup, you have to be only 5 or 6 years old. After that, you must retire from Mutton Bustin', 'cuz then, you're just too darn big. They do have helmets on, thank goodness, but geesh, it looks really hard to do!! Those sheep just run and look like they are super bumpy to ride! Please do not try this at home...and just because I write about it here, does not mean I think it's a cool idea. It was simply the first time I saw it, and was a little taken aback!!! Folks will do what they do, and sometimes we all are witness to it. How we respond, is up to us!

Superweek 2008-Wrap Up

2008-07-22T23:12:00.000-07:00

First big highlight of Superweek was local Nor Cal phenom, Karla Kingsley (pictured above) winning on her first day racing!

Second big highlight of Superweek was Dolce Vita's awesome sprinter Starla getting 4th place on the last day of the series in Evanston!

I raced the last 5 of the 7 days of criterium racing for Pro 1/2/3 women. $1000 purse each day paying 20 deep. Dolce Vita teammate and sprinter, Starla, along for the Superweek experience. 50-60 women on the line each day. Teams to contend with were Verducci Breakaway Racing, Team Revolution, Kenda Tire, Hub Racing, Mesa Cycles, America's Dairyland, and a few strong independent riders such as Skylee Armstrong of Bicycle John's. 50K crits, that were taking about 90 minutes to do. Some days were hot, others were not. The racing was fast and strong, but also swarmy and sketchy too. So, not a whole lot of strung out fast racing, but certainly enough talent to be challenging.

Day 1: Bensenville Crit in a Park-on-a-bike-path-, up and down driveway aprons on two parts of the course, yukko.....Hot and humid, like breathing thick warm soup compared to 3ooo feet of high desert air in Bend, Oregon. Teammate Starla out due to pinched nerve causing her left arm to NOT WORK. I had not eaten enough in the morning, nor on my 3 hour drive to the race, and went into some debt about two thirds of the way into the race. Basically a bad day at the races for Miss Laurel. Hammer Gel was not cutting it. I dropped out with 7 laps to go. Hmmm, impressive, huh? Tomorrow's another day. I actually love long criteriums, so looking forward to it.

Day 2: Shorewood Criterium, finally a real crit course. Fast and somewhat technical. Very good course with a long sprint. Although they shortened our race significantly, which always sucks. Starla racing with me. We worked together well. The race was neutralized once, due to a horrible crash. Starla and I found each other with a few laps to go, worked together most of the last lap, then she found another wheel two thirds of the way through the last lap, to get 7th place. Sweet racing Starla. I was 30th, but pleased with our efforts together.

Day 3: Ripon criterium. Hot and windy. Starting on time, and keeping our race the normal distance, YES! Great, great, great course with 3 little power climbs in it. I was very much looking forward to it, as I love these kind of courses! It was mostly a race of attrition. Starla was in with me for awhile, then needed to bail due to her arm not working right...geesh, brave girl to get out there in the first place with a bum arm. I stayed in, sitting in about 15th with 2 laps to go...it was strung out pretty well, a few folks went down with a lap and a half to go, and I chased the main field for 12th place. I was very pleased.

Day 4: Waukesha Criterium-No Starla today, she was taking care of her back and her arm. A great fast course. I was sitting in about the top 15 with 11 laps to go, it was nice and fast, and strung out. Then, a Revolution rider attacked off the front to chase a small break, and crashed herself in a corner, breaking her hip in two places. The race was neutralized for about 40 minutes or so. We sat on the line passing the microphone around introducing ourselves, and telling jokes, because they would not let us ride around the course. Finally, they started us again. I have to admit, when they told us 8 laps to go, I had lost a little punch with the neutralization, and with the fact that I knew the crashed rider had really hurt herself. I finished mid field, 32nd place. A lesson in re-collecting focus when stuff like that happens.

Day 5: Evanston Criterium, great course, great weather, no crashes!! YES!! Starla racing with me again, YAY! We raced well. With 3 to go, Star and I were at the front, 2 to go, at the front, last lap swarmed a bit, we lost one another, but she stayed forward to get 4th place, and I was 19th place, just in the money. Overall, a good race.

Great Superweek, looking forward to next year.

The Victories of the Inner World at the Cascade Cycling Classic

2008-07-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I didn't finish Stage 5 of Cascade today.....and I ended up having a great ride in the high desert of Bend, Oregon instead. I feel satisfied with what I came here to do. I believe the demons I came to slay with this event went down in Stage 2. The slow TT on Day 3 represented that, and I was lucky to get to dance around in my specialty at the criterium Friday night. What a great feeling to actually hold my head high (not higher, mind you) amidst a bunch of folks who can't even look me in the eye because I'm not kicking their ass. Due respect and compassion to every one of my competitors. If my write ups were about them, their names would be here. This sport is amazing. The strong get stronger, whether it's those left on the bike or off the bike. I love cycling for that reason, and will continue to do it as long as there's more to build in my inner world with it. Another victorious adventure with bike racing.

My SouthBay Wheelmen Teammates did a really good job finishing the entire stage race. They are such an incredibly sound bunch. I absolutely loved supporting them, and getting to work for them when I could.

Morgan Kapp was an awesome 22nd overall in the General Classification of 61 finishers, Kelli Jones was 58th overall, and Jennifer Reither was 45th overall. STUDS!!!

I am looking forward to getting to some plain 'ol criterium racing in the Midwest.. with my AWESOME teammate Starla!

More later....

Thanks for checking in.

Oh geesh, by the stickers on my bike......Still in the bike race- Cascade Cycling Classic Stage 3 and 4

2008-07-12T06:56:00.000-07:00

This will be brief: A VERY slow day on the TT bike. 83rd out of 84 riders. First
I was time cut, then I was not. Raced the crit: 49th in the crit of 82
finishers. Overall GC placement: 75th of 82 riders.

The results for the morning time trial were posted at the sign-in spot for the
criterium. It looked as though 6 of us were time cut. (greater than 25% back
from the winning time for the TT). BUT, the officials rescinded the time cut.

I was literally back in my civilian clothes after having warmed up with my
teammates, thinking I was not going to race the crit, when they rescinded the
time cut. Our team director comes running over to the warm-up area, and yells,
"Laurel, get dressed, you're racing!!! They rescinded the time cut!!" I know who
argued with the officials, for the 6 of us who were cut in the TT. Go figure.
Some of the officials are soft that way. Who knows why they decided to let us
race. This is America, not Europe. We all know that. We live here, not there.

So, we all got to race the crit, tonight 20 minutes into the race,
I was caught inside of a 12 person pile up in one turn..meaning: I was upright
after having t-boned someone who had gone down in front of me, and about
to get smoked by people ripping through the turn from behind us.....
and everybody around me was on the ground.
One of my teammates went down super hard.... we all went to the pit,
officials put 12 of us back
in BEHIND the pack, my teammate who went down hard needed more attention, so she
sat out two laps, and was put into the middle of the pack again...Anyway, my
pack chased very hard for awhile, then got pulled at the 33 minute
mark.....within the time cut (which was 20 minutes of the crit), which means
those of us who chased our asses off will race tomorrow.

The crit was fun and fast, and awesome, very technical. My other three teammates
finished with the main field of about 50. Overall, a good, but weird, up and
down day. Whether it's an up thing or a down thing...it's all bike racing. The
main lesson: Let it go. Whatever it is....it's bike racing.
There's another bike race tomorrow, or next week, or next year, or next lifetime.

Bringin' up the rear loud and clear....Great day on the bike...Stage 2 Cascade Cycling Classic

2008-07-12T06:53:00.001-07:00

Hot, but not all day, because we climbed and climbed to cooler land.  86
starters.  78 miles.  Oh my body was sore from the tip-over, bike pile-up
yesterday.  I was grateful for the medical tent at the finish though yesterday,
because one of the guys gave me a big bear hug, and my back went pop, pop,
poppity pop, and I felt much better.

O.k. more about today. It was SUPER DUPER fast for the first 30 miles or so with
a few rollers that split things up a bit, until a couple of breaks got away with
Webcor, Tibco, and Aaron's represented, then it was chase, attack, chase, attack
for a little while, then the pace simmered down until we got past the first feed
zone at about 40 miles, then there was all of this crazy wind, and it was fast,
and close to the edge of the road for awhile, where there were rocks flying, and
people tapping their brakes, blech.

I must say there were some times in the first 60 miles that I fought harder than
I think I have fought in a long time to get good position, and not get
caught in the wind, and hang INSIDE  the pack, not just on the back
.....although I was there too...

I was a bit behind on the the first QOM, but there were several of us, including
my teammate Kelli, who is GREAT to work with!  So we chased back on to the main
field.  Then we plowed through a little town called Sisters, which meant the
final climb was in reach.

The guys at the bike shop told me that if I can make it to the base of the climb
with the field, I'll be good to go, and will not get time cut.   So, when I got
to the base of the climb with the main field, I wanted to climb more than ever.
It was my kind of climb...about 10 miles of gradual 3-6% grade.  I would pull
some people in, then they would get ahead, then it got a little steeper toward
the end, and a few really pulled away from me...(like Emily Zell, and a few
others..she might have been having bad day, but whatever.). 

Overall, I felt great about the work I did today.  I placed 73rd out of 84
finishers.  I am sitting 71st of 84 in the GC going into the TT tomorrow.  My
teammate Morgan got 26th today, and is sitting in 23rd overall!  My teammate
Jenn cramped really severely today, and it was a slow go up the climb, but I am
sure she will be back in the game tomorrow.  She's very strong.  Kelli and I
worked together some on the final climb.  Great team! 

It was great for me to feel like myself in a road race.

Tales from the Back of the Female Peloton-Cascade Cycling Classic Stage 1

2008-07-12T06:47:00.000-07:00

Hey Gang,
It was a hard, hot day. 80 miles. 88 starters. Lots of strong women.
SouthBay Wheelmen (Morgan..team leader, Jennifer, also very strong rider,
Kelli at her first stage race, and doing GREAT, and myself). At about 40 miles in, my
teammate Jennifer Reither got a front flat, so I waited to get her back to the
group...ouch. Back in the group, hammering toward the QOM which sits at about
mile 47 or , dropped on the QOM climb only to see them waiting as a group at the
top....WTF? They're waiting for me! Cool! Maybe NOT. A rider from the Pro men's
field had gone down up the road, and had to get airlifted out. He rode through
the center of a cattleguard, which you are NOT SUPPOSED to do, because
they are not joined in the center, they just have one 2 inch wide
crack for you to ride right into, and it was not covered...
although supposedly there was a cone there...hmmmm...

Anyway, we stopped for what felt like 4 years....but was only actually about 30
minutes. Then, there were all kind of breaks of 4 and 6 riders that they had
to re-form before they let us go. Fortunately, I was not separated by the
minute I was down from the group, nor were the women behind
me....whew...o.k...got lucky today on that part of the race.

Then, there's the last 30 miles, much gradual downhill, lots of wind, some very
fast racing going on.....with 12 k to go, #@&%^)@*&#%^*&#% 15 or so riders go
down when a rider (who will have to go unnamed) responded to someone's sketch by
literally jumping laterally!!! So, I was riding with Jennifer, and we were
sitting pretty in the pack, and whammo....dominoes, I managed to come almost to
a stop before getting smacked from behind, knocked down, and stuck at the bottom
of a pile of three riders on top of me, including Jennifer. We get up, untangle
our bikes, get back to chasing, and I bring her up to Kelli, right as we are
going over a little roller....and I can't hang on their wheel? WHAT? I almost
cave. I could not believe it. I just keep going, and some riders whiz by me, and
I can't get their wheel either.....WHAT? Am I blowing up? I guess so?
It was frustrating. But, very, very motivating. I just couldn't believe it.

Anyway, I keep hammering. At the 10k to go mark, I look at my front brake, and
it's slammed up against the rim! OHHHHHH sugar. I open it up, and am relieved,
to keep hammering on my own. ......well, I am out of the rolling caravan,
so....yup, a STOPLIGHT, that I can't run because it's a super busy one....

I finally make it to the finishing hill, which is about 1 mile long, ..and sort
of as steep as that one coming out of Sausalito back to the city...yea...it's
all kinds of fun, and then, I make it to the top eventually for 77th place out
of 86 finishers. Two women were not able to finish that crashed. Anyway, a rough
day, tomorrow's course looks harder... Yay. Will let you know how it goes..
--

A Little Birdie Told Me..

2008-06-28T21:32:00.000-07:00

That bike racing in hot weather is fun! Go do it! So I did. In the Napa Grand Prix, last weekend. Geesh, it was hot. A few women even melted into the pavement. The course was technical, short, and fast in some spots. I am not sure it was a favorite course of mine, but it met the needs of most of us on the day. I attacked a few times and was off the front a bit, but really it made no sense to overheat my little engine to get chased down. The field still had a few good riders in it when I made my moves, so nothing stuck. Overall, a good race. I started with 2 teammates and about 15 competitors. I ended with 8 competitors, and a 5th place. Sprint? I'll get right on that. My sprinter, Starla, was one of the women who melted, unfortunately. Before she melted she got herself a couple of primes. My superstar (soon to be Pro) teammate Alison, made a gutsy move into a very technical turn, and oooops....went down, not hard, but took some skin off of her incredible leg...poor girl. No more free laps. She got back in to help me at the finish, which was much appreciated. We won some cash, and prizes, and went away hungry for cooler weather. On to Cascade Cycling Classic, then to Superweek, followed by a visit to Auntie Emma in Colorado, then finally back to Cali. to get ready to take on the 4th and 5th graders again in the gym, as well as more California racing!! WAHOO! Please keep me posted about what you're up to. I love to hear about whatever all of you all are doing!!

Love, Laurel

Velocitation-Does This Happen In Bike Races?

2008-06-04T22:47:00.000-07:00

Velocitation is caused by long periods of high speed travel. The eyes become fatigued in the horizontal plane due to images streaming through the windshield. Velocitation can be noticed when entering slower traffic after long periods of country driving. A sudden drop in speed gives the illusion that you are traveling much slower than you actually are. When you experience velocitation, stop for several minutes and allow the eyes to rest.

I'll be doing some racing here soon that will allow me to experiment with this.....I'll get back to you on it.

Oh to Be in 6th Grade Again.......

2008-04-23T06:12:00.000-07:00

I am subbing this year during my year away from the full gig as teacher. The other day, I subbed at the middle school where all of my 5th graders from last year, are now big 6th graders. When I was there, I received the usual: "Miss Green!!! Are you coming back to teach us again?" The questions are usually combined with hugs and tackles of some sort. There's something about being a P.E. teacher that brings out the 'tackle' in young people. So, anyway, I see a student who I know from last year, now a big 6th grader, and he's pretty excited to see me. But before I really get to greet him, he holds his hands up.......and shows me a little embarrassed, proud smirk.

J: "You know, I've got a girlfriend."
Miss Green: "Wow! Really?" Do you think she'll be mad at you for talking to your P.E. teacher from last year?
J: "Na...I can talk to you."
Miss Green: "Well where is she, can I meet her?"
J: "Na, not right now. We've been going out for a few weeks now, she's in class."
Miss Green: "So what kinds of stuff do you do together?"
J: "Aw nothing."
Miss Green: "Nothing?" Wow, it sounds pretty cool to have a girlfriend. Does everyone who's going out with someone do nothing with them?"
J: "C'mon Miss Green, you know what I mean?"
Miss Green: "No really, I'm curious, do you hang out, ride bikes together, go to the park? What kinds of stuff do you do?"
J: "Miss Green, you know all of this, you have a boyfriend!"
Miss Green: "Oh yea, you're right, I do know all of this...I'm sorry, I just thought it might be different for a 6th grader, but I guess not!!"

The Redlands Dream Team-Devon 23rd, Denise 36th, Karla 57th of 66 finishers!! Enjoy the show...

2008-04-09T06:19:00.000-07:00

Mary-Ellen finishing Prologue

Denise motoring at the Sunset Road Race

Denise finishing the Prologue

Laurel finishing Prologue

Elis finishing Prologue

Kristen motoring in the Beaumont Circuit Race

Devon in the Criterium

Devon and Denise (far left of photo) at the front in the Beaumont Circuit Race

Kristen motoring in the criterium

Karla on Colavita's wheel in the criterium

Elis in the Beaumont Circuit Race

Elis and Mary-Ellen in the Beaumont Circuit Race

What about all that Bike Racing?

2008-03-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-12T12:08:00.001-07:00

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

2008-03-12T05:31:00.000-07:00

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

2008-03-10T13:46:00.000-07:00

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.

Fast February!!!

2008-02-23T21:39:00.000-08:00

Hey There!
Well, there's been some racin' goin' on. It's fast, and these women in Cali are smokin'! I feel honored to get on the line with them. Highlight #1 from the Amgen Women's criterium happened on the starting line, when Amber Rais tossed a look over, and threw her big 'ol smile at me with a "Hi Laurel!" Highlight #2 was staying upright, and finishing the race. Highlight #3 was seeing my solo sisters out there, Kristen Meshberg from Flatlandia in Chicago, and Trish Bell from Morgan Stanley. The Los Gatos Girls....the Nor Cal women..., everyone was represented. Vanderkitten raced well, Cheerwine was all that and a bag 'o chips. Tibco did it... anyway, no matter what happened anywhere before the finish. Team High Road, great work with Emila. Aaron's, Colavita (Kori and Nikki RAH!!!), ValuAct were all solid, Proman...whoa. Very good bunch we have here! I think we are in for a great season. Thanks to my awesome teammates for coming out to cheer!

Onward ho, next stop, Merco. March 1 and 2.

Fourteen Fabulous Women, and Three Fabulous Men......

2008-01-21T20:21:00.000-08:00

DOLCE VITA RACING!!!

On one cycling adventure in Discovery Bay, and the hills of Morgan Territory. Training camp it was, with women from all kinds of brilliant backgrounds on the Dolce Vita Women's Racing team. Who're the men, you ask? The one and only Chad Fischer, of course. The soon to be dad, with his bike in tow, drove hours and miles to show up, and lead, reprimand (in all good ways of course), laugh, and generally kick ass in the director department. The other two men are Jamaine and Bret from Flight of the Conchords. I'm pretty sure this was the hardest I have laughed in a long time.

One of my highlights of the weekend was getting to witness all of my teammates go to new levels with their riding. Whether it was on the bike, or off the bike, development happened. I'm proud to be a Diva!!

Thanks To ALL OF YOU, for a great weekend!!

Let the New Year Get Under Way!!

2008-01-15T21:57:00.001-08:00

Whew! It was my birthday, my friend John from Wisco rode a Test Mountain Bike in the Early Birds, and hung in there, a bunch of Cat. 4 women raced really well at the Early Birds, some of my DV teammates worked their arses off, and raced very well! Thanks to Roman for the help, holy smokes that was great. Thanks to Larry? Or who was it? I am sure the excitement will continue, but this last weekend was a good one.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated my birthday with me! Thanks to those of you who sent their wishes from elsewhere around the globe!

May everyone who has started racing recover well, from such bouts of intensity, and race smart.

Onward HO~!

TRAIN, RACE, TRAIN, RACE, Practice the Emergency Stop.

2008-01-03T21:32:00.000-08:00

Which will it be this weekend? Hmmm, somewhat of a no-brainer, right? First 'racing' weekend of the season, with stories of last year's broken collarbones, and femurs, and yea, the Early Birds.

Here's the mantra in positive semantics: "I always have my rubber side down," "I remain upright at all times." "I can bunny hop large piles of cyclists".

But, when the mantras don't cut it:

I'll say this: getting out there in the mentoring clinics, before you race, will certainly be useful in the area of reminding the nervous system about the whole going fast and turning right and left thing.

In the event of a mishap in front of you, choose to hold your line...Easier said than done. But, hold my line when I'm about to go down? What? Why is that? Well, when you decide to swerve to avoid someone, or a group of someones flailing in a pile in front of you, you force the rider behind you to T-bone you, or swerve as well. If there's a curb where you swerve, or another rider, then guess what? More people are in danger of going down than might be, if you held your line.

Stopping Your Bike in an Emergency. Remember your front brake has more stopping power than your rear brake. If you apply them evenly, you can stop the bike effectively, very quickly.

Practice slowing down fast, to a STOP...by strategically applying even pressure to the brakes, pushing your weight back over the center of the bike, hunker down toward the top tube. You can stay upright, while holding your line, track stand for a millisecond before putting your foot down, or before rolling to safety while still upright. Avoiding the whole pile-up by simply braking strategically. The pile-up simply won't be as severe.

So, what about getting hit from behind? Well, take the width of your body from behind: It's roughly between 12-18 inches, no? Maybe a little more for some folks. Then, take the width of your body looking at say, the show-side of your bike, if you swerve to the right: It's probably 4-6 FEET, based on the length of your wheel base. Which 'area' is more likely to get hit by a moving object from any direction? I think the wider one.

So, practice using those brakes strategically....NOT in corners or in response to someone yelling some goofy thing in the pack, or anything, but in the event that you have to save your BOOTIE, and the ones behind you. Say yes to SAFE BRAKING, before knee-jerking to swerve in an emergency. Practice, Practice, practice!

And, I repeat: This is not to be done while the pack is moving forward in the regular cycling direction in response to some 'fear' of something happening. I only recommend this strategy for response to an impending position on top of, or into the center of a pile of downed cyclists, or those in the process of becoming a pile.

Battle Scar from doing in Wrong: Final sprint, slightly downhill, very wide road, 39 miles an hour, tried to go around, go around, go around the carnage, and whammo, front end hits a curb, and there I go...onto the local bike path neighboring the race course in a Superwoman Swan Dive: Stitches in chin from nice friend who was a Physician's Assistant, DNF, no racing for a few days, had to get skull bones reorganized.

Battle Scar from doing it Right: Final sprint, 30+ miles per hour, flat, very wide road, burned a hole in my sew-up, rolled around the pile, finished 25th (and they paid 26 deep...kidding). But, you see, I had my sense of humor intact, simply from the pleasant memory.

Keep The Rubber Side Down.

THE TOP TEN (or twenty), ....THINGS I LOVED ABOUT 2007!

2007-12-31T17:46:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Anita Bear-Steadfast in Friendship, Life, and Parenting

Is there really a duck to shoot?

Children are worthy of every speck of loving attention we have for them.

Not necessarily in this order, but these were the TOPS.

1) Racing in Wisconsin.
2) My best bud, Anita Bear.
3) Coaching, Coaching, Coaching, and more Coaching.
4) Racing for Team Mack Paper Company. Thanks Gary, Sharmin, and Fleck! You are the best!
5) Living the good life with my twin brother.
6) Hanging out with young people on bikes!
7) Dancing in Vegas with two of the best people on the planet!
8) Hanging out and traveling with Sweet John.
9) Frank and 2 Wheel Racing Team
10) Riding with Dolce Divas
11) Winning $400 in a bike race.
12) Adam
13) D.J. Wright
14) The people I met at Shawn's Cycling clinic.
15) Playing Foot Fish with Max and Grant
16) Hanging out with Ryan
17) Shooting the duck at Martina's birthday party
18) Rick B.

YOU JUST LET ME KNOW, if there's something I am missing here!

SUNSHINE makes the world go round......and my pedals, and my wheels, and my legs......

2007-12-30T21:48:00.000-08:00

I could have stayed inside to cuddle.

But.............I didn't.

This time of year, when the sun is out in Way West County, and it's 53 degrees,.....and it's been raining, and the ground is cold, and the trees are wet, and the shade is wet....it's not really all that warm. When the air is moving along, up your nose, through your helmet, and in all the little spaces in your kit, it's not 53 degrees. Is this rocket science?

The air is moist.... As the body gets more moist, and the clothing being worn gets moist, that moisture starts to match the temperature of the air which is breezing at you, ...at a pretty good clip, even on a low key ride. So, the moral of the story: Base, Base, Base, Baby. The base layer is what you build on to make the intensity more handle-able (sounds like a talk on periodization) ....of course I am referring to the intensity of the cold moist clothing you are wearing as you roll along. Isn't this obvious to most? Of course, but hey, some folks aren't most. I recently had to make just these points to someone who I know. This particular person lives and rides near SNOW!! That's why it's good to make these points! What a glorious sunshiny day it was today.

What did you do today?

RIDING IN THE RAIN RULES

2007-12-29T16:30:00.001-08:00

Well, if you have the right gear, anyway. Hands are tricky to keep warm. I notice that my friends who don't wear the right gloves get grumpy really fast, and start fantasizing about their warm showers really early in the ride. Yes, you know who you are.

Anyway....as long as you keep moving, hypothermia stays in check very well. And, yea, there's the bike cleaning, and the removal of wet clothes to a pile, that you better do something with very soon, or else. But, all in all, a rainy calm day can be super cool, and enjoyable......Have fun out there!!

Right here on the homefront........West County Cruisers

2007-12-25T23:30:00.000-08:00

The Divas have come to Sonoma County a couple of times now, they rock. Funny, relaxed, serious, (about the important things), but generally living as genuine Dolce Divas.

And about the season, since it 'tis the season:

What a wonderful winter so far! Dodging raindrops, getting caught in the fog, then in the clear, when the ocean is near, then in the trees, where the road may be wet, but dry are my knees.

So many updates......For now, the update will be today. Christmas was sunny and relaxing. My twin brother is the best. He's named after Basil Rathbone, the British actor who used to play Sherlock Holmes, pronounced: Bazzle...

Basil: "I got the yams, the turkey, and the cranberry stuff, what do you have?"
Laurel: "I've got the salad, the dressing, and the pesto."
Basil: "Pesto? That sounds yummy....NOT."
Laurel: "Well, I think it's good on the turkey!"
Basil: "I'm sure you will love it."
Laurel: "Well, I think mom will like it too."
Basil: "Yea, let me whip up some angel hair for us."

So, yea, pesto on the turkey...mmm tasty.

He's one of my bestest buds in the world. I can talk to him about anything, and he'll say, "Well, Laurel, it's gonna happen this way, or it's not.....Either way, you'll know in good time." Wise old soul.

I'll be checking in more often, I promise.

The Sweet Life Continues-Dolce Vita RAH!

2007-11-11T09:58:00.000-08:00

After taking two years to fly solo, and take care of some miscellaneous details like a broken shoulder, and missing racing legs, I have found a place to be for the next phase of my bike racing scene. They are the Dolce Vita Racing Team. Based in Marin county, they have phenomenal leadership, and fun, down to earth folks who love to ride and race. The Men's side is super supportive of the women's side, and vice versa...the way a great team should be. Onward, ho, more later, but here's a shot of last year's squad and a shot of myself with one of the packages of potential on the team, Sarah Miller.

The Cross Training Season and My Friend Ryan

2007-10-31T09:07:00.000-07:00

Whoa, where did the off season go? Well, my friend Ryan can tell you, a small chunk of it was with him!!! It went to playing flag football, hand ball, buns-up (a throwing game with a tennis ball) , basketball, and Mr. Beanbag! What? Let me explain: You see, in the process of trying to come up with fun stuff to do that was unrelated to cycling, I had an opportunity to hang out with my friend Ryan for 4 days! Geesh, if you ever want to really get some good cross training in, hang out with a 9 year old for 4 days, and play whatever sport he wants you to play. Wow.

I know, all of you parents may be snickering, "she has no clue." or maybe you're saying, "I wish she'd come do that with my kid". But, there I was, in charge of Ryan, his 13 year old brother, and his 15 year old sister for 4 days, while Mom and Dad were out of town. One day, I was completely tuckered from the outdoor activities that we had been doing, we watched a movie (thank goodness, I got to sit down), then we played some cards. While we were playing cards, Ryan pulled this huge beanbag over to where we were sitting, so he could sit on it. The rest is history.

We had been talking about Halloween, and this is how it unfolded:

Ryan: "I want to be a beanbag for Halloween!"
Me: "Well, if you're gonna do that, you should practice first!"
Ryan: "O.K.!"

And the next thing you know, he was inside the beanbag, dragging it around, and jumping in it and on it, and with it, and ............after awhile, I think the whole idea of being a beanbag wore off. He was all out wrestling the thing! It was hilarious! These shots barely touch the fun that was had, but I had to share a bit of it. 9 year olds ROCK!!!

Round and Round They Go!!!

2007-10-10T20:17:00.001-07:00

Today was a great day for a little bike clinic for 4th and 5th graders. Sometimes, even if you spell it out in big letters for them, they still just want to go as fast as they can on their bikes. They are so funny. One of the drills was with pairs, and they were to ride side-by-side, then switch to riding single file, then side-by-side, then single file with the other rider taking the lead. But, they simply could not help riding really fast AWAY from their buddy. It was pure humor. Close the gap!!

The real fun started when I had the front rider come upon an imaginary "huge rock" in the road, and do a quick-stop! The rider behind had to be at the top of their game, so they would not ram into their friend. Not even a casualty here. They did great (must have been all of that skidding I let them do beforehand).

Mandalay Bay Super Crit in Las Vegas-Sunlight, Twilight, Bright Lights

2007-10-02T16:32:00.001-07:00

The course was flat and fast. There were about 60 women on the line. Big guns from all over. Cheerwine ruled the day, no surprise there. Aaron's had some riders on the line, some other strong solo riders. It was warm, and oh so dry. It was hard to move forward in the field, but with about 10 laps to go, I finally started edging forward. With two to go, I had made it to the top third of the field, and was moving forward when a rider on my right, tipped into a metal barricade. I did not go down, but I was gapped with several other riders, and we chased for the last lap and a half. I ended up 29th out of about 54 finishers, and I was upright. More next season. Look for updates on my new team, and other cool things I am up to.

A Personal Record on Mount Tamalpais-Stinson Beach, CA

2007-09-16T21:02:00.000-07:00

The weather was great. The competition was inspiring. The mountain, of course, is awesome with 12 miles of terrain and 2000 feet of climbing. My legs felt a little tired from previous days training, but there I was, settling into a rhythm up the mountain, that felt like it was going to help me reach my goal of sub 52 minutes at the finish. I looked at my watch twice: Once at 30 minutes, when I thought to myself: 'I have 22 minutes to get to the finish.' Then, I looked again at 50 minutes, and kicked my bootie into high gear to finish in 51:51!! I was elated. What a great ride. I visualized it this way, then, during the race, I stayed true to believing I could make the goal, and there it was... I was officially 9th place out of 20 riders, because two people tied for 8th place. A great ride. Way better than that broken shoulder I had last year. Whew.....
Thanks for reading. Infineon races on Tuesday night...and Super Crit on September 27th.

Benicia with Wind and Rollers

2007-09-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

Another criterium! Wahoo! Fixed distance, multiple laps, as per crit usual, 45 minutes, 18 women on the line. Windy on the backstretch over the rollers, and on the final stretch, and on the other stretches. Yup, simply windy. The field was pretty stacked with our local, darn near Pro, ValuAct gals, Cheerwine rep, Sarah Bamberger, Metromint, and a few others. The little digger and rollers on the back stretch reminded me of a Midwestern criterium. I loved the course! A few sketchy moments here and there, like any crit, and a few attempts to get away from the field...but the last lap was the best: I jumped pretty early and pretty hard over the second roller, and found myself uncomfortably at the front. I hesitated a bit, and folks came by me....'o.k., o.k.' I thought...get your bootie up there. There was still two turns before the finish and a good downhill stretch to the line. I finished 7th, .....close enough for government work. I held off a few riders. On to the Infineon raceway on Tuesday night, again.

My Buddy Sierra-She's 4, and Sharp as a Tack!!

2007-09-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to get a call from Sierra's mom, asking me to hang out with Sierra last Friday night. I was welcomed with squealing and hiding, so I was on.
The first game we played was "hot lava". The carpet was lava, then it wasn't, then it was, then it wasn't. Once she was laughing hysterically at my confused "fearful of hot lava" frenzy, 'we' decided that the downstairs was lava, and the upstairs was not (I was working toward getting her into bed, you see). So, finally in the bedroom, getting jammies on, and getting ready....making the bed, just this way, and not that, according to Sierra. Then, bedtime stories. One story, then another, then, lights out, and we are getting very close to sleepy bye. Well, it all appeared that way.... I was lying on the floor, in the dark, next to her bed, chatting with her, as she fell asleep. I was about to enter dozeville, when the real dialogue began:
Sierra: "Are you awake?"
Me: "un-huh...." (I think I am, anyway).
Sierra: "Can you hear the crickets?"
Me: "Oh yea, they're loud."
Sierra: "They sound like baby birds."
Me: "Yea, you're right."
Sierra: "Did you know that baby birds walk sooner and talk sooner than people do?"
Me: "Wow, I guess I never knew that."
Sierra: "My mom and dad told me that."
Me: "Wow."
So, more tossing and turning in her little bed, and more, very near what appeared to be slumberland for her, I think,.....and for me too.......even though I was on the floor.
Then, out of the darkness, and the sound of crickets:
Sierra: "Does c-o-y spell sausage?"
Me: "I don't think so."
Sierra: "What does it spell?"
Me: "It spells coy".
Sierra: "Well, then how do you spell boy?"
Me: "b-o-y."
Sierra: "Oh"
And the next thing you know, she was fast asleep.
To all of the wonderful 4 year olds out there figuring out their world through play, and discussing it along the way! My best to you always.

Giro de San Francisco-Big Girls, Big Bumps, Big Field

2007-09-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

The weather was beautiful, although very windy. There were, I think maybe 35-40 women on the line. A very strong group of Elite Amateur women who pretty much run the show when it comes to Northern California racing. There were potholes galore, and some uneven patches of pavement, forcing all of us to really handle our bikes. For the most part, I think we all did. The finish was about position, position, position. In order to be a contender, you have to get yourself forward before the last turn. I was not as far forward as I should have been, so I had to rely on my "sprint?" to get me by a few riders on the final stretch after the last turn. I ended up 12th place. I was pleased with this because I have not raced the Nor Cal Regional circuit in 2 years! It was great to be back. I feel lucky to be a part of such a talented female cycling community!
This week: Infineon raceway, for a little steep hill, and sweeping wide turns.

Bye Bye Wisconsin and Illinois-Back to Cali!!

2007-08-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

As much as I love my birthplace, Wisconsin, and consider it a second home in many ways, my current home is California. So, with that said, thank you to everyone in the Midwest who backed me this summer with racing and coaching. I will always come back to visit.

Thanks to the City of Elk Grove, Illinois for naming the streets so kindly. I'll be back for sure.

I am back in Cali now, finishing up the season with some criterium racing, and great Northern California training.

A Few Pros at Elk Grove, and a Drug Test.

2007-08-15T19:16:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS BY KURT JAMBRETZ www.actionimages.cc

Elk Grove, Illinois: 1.7 mile, flat neighborhood loop with 2 pretty wide 180 degree turns, for 1 hour and 33 minutes. The weather was hot. 37 women on the line. The purse was something big. The flyer, and the website said $15,000. The official at the starting line said $11,000. It paid 20 deep, onward ho. Cheerwine, Express Copy, ValueAct Capital, Target Training, Kenda Tire, Hub Racing, and a bunch of solo acts.

Cheerwine ruled the day. A crash on the last lap left the field less top heavy (mainly from people getting caught behind it) while coming down the final stretch. We were missing a few good contenders like Leigh Valletti of Target Training, Lara Kroepsch of Team Lipton, and some of the Kenda Tire Team. I managed 19th place, just inside the money, but it felt weird to have the field all mixed up, and not really racing with leadouts all over the place. Cheerwine was the main team doing a leadout. ValueAct Capital had lost Taitt Soto to a mechanical at 5 laps to go (at which point there were no more free laps from the wheel pit), which was ridiculous, since there was still so much time, and distance (5 x 1.7 miles) left in the bike race. They really should have had free laps until 3 to go, with such long laps. Anyway, the eventful part of the day was the drug test afterwards. I was chosen as a random rider to get tested. The only other reason they test you, is if you WON. It was so hot that I could not give the doping agents enough of a sample. So I got to wait around, drink some water, and keep trying, and trying....finally they had what they needed. Whew. What fun.

Back to the Children-My friend Grant

2007-08-09T04:09:00.000-07:00

Have you ever been absolutely charmed by an interaction with a child? I encourage you to chat with a child, if you haven't lately. My best bud, and teammate, Anita, has a son named Grant. Grant and I have known each other since 2003. He's 8 years old now. Yesterday I was able to chat with him on the phone in the wee hours of the morning between Wisconsin and California. He has also shared some of his cool computer art with me too!!

Laurel: "Grant, what are you doing right now?"
Grant: "Playing with leggos. I just got up about 10 minutes ago."
Laurel: "Wow, you slept in today!"
Grant: "No, I usually get up around 6:00 every day."
Laurel: "I heard you got a new kitty cat! How is she?"
Grant: "She's great. Right now, she's waiting to play with me. Every time I pick something up, to put it away, she wants to come and play with it."
Laurel: "What are you up to today?"
Grant: "Swimming lessons, and I'm not sure what else."
Laurel: "How's swimming going? What strokes are you learning?"
Grant: "The back stroke, and the crawl, then we use the kick boards to go from one end of the pool to the other. You know what? I am in the big pool now, and I can swim all the way to the other end and back! All of the other kids start out ahead of me, and then I catch them, and can beat them all! They are stronger than me in the beginning, then I pass them."
Laurel: "Is that because you're in better shape than they are?"
Grant: "No, it's because I have more endurance, and when they get tired, I just keep going, and going."
Laurel: "Oh yea, that's right, you have all of that endurance. How did that run go, that you did a couple of weeks ago?"
Grant: "Oh yea, that was a fundraiser. I ran 12 laps, which was about 3 miles and I raised $115.00. But, I have not been doing much running since then. Just soccer tournaments. We have one this weekend. We are going up against a really good team though, so we may not win it."
Laurel: "You never know, your team might play better than they ever have and surprise the other team with a really good game!"
Grant: "Well, maybe, but the other team is really good."
Laurel: "How many games will you play this weekend?"
Grant: "Four. Two on Saturday, and two on Sunday."
Laurel: "Whew! You have a big weekend ahead of you!"
Grant: "Yea, well there's my brother, and he wants to play, so I better go. Do you want to talk to my mom? She is still in bed...."
Laurel: "Oh no, don't wake her up!"
Grant: "It's o.k, she's awake, she's just lying there, and I am sure she would love to talk to you!"
Laurel: "Aww...thanks buddy!"

Midwestern School of Bike Racing.....Homework Journal Entry

2007-08-06T06:04:00.000-07:00

Hey All,
Racing in the Midwest is a little different than racing in Northern California. In Nor Cal, the biggest jackpot we get in most bike races, is on the starting line with the incredible talented field of riders from all over the region (which, by the way, is why I love Nor Cal Cycling so much!!). In the Midwest, we have a small pool of strong riders, and interestingly large purses.

Saturday August 4th- Lessons in Basic Bike Racing at Grayslake, Wisconsin:

Ten women on the line. 40 minutes plus 3 laps of a flat criterium. $650 purse paying 7 places deep. There were several attacks that we reeled in by the ISCORP girls from Milwaukee (there were 3 of them). Another strong rider from Athletes by Design (ABD) in Chicago area helped with the work, a brand new, strong young rider from "Get a Grip" Cycling Team and a local sprinter from Mercy Cycling team in Iowa City were there to cover things. There were cash primes (race within a race prizes for winner of the next lap), so those fast laps would string out the field a bit. With 3 laps to go, the officials rang the bell for a prime. I went with the lead riders, but was not interested in the prize. However, they went pretty hard, so it was a good effort to stay with them. Right after the prime was won, the ABD rider launched a beautiful attack from the back of the group of about 8 of us, and got a huge gap. We all hesitated, and missed her. There she went. We all chased (well I DID, with the field in tow) very hard, to no avail, then there it was 1 lap to go, still chasing, and not reeling her in. Geesh, good job ABD! I did what I could on the last lap, but it only got me 6th in the field sprint, and 7th overall. Optimal frustration, and humbling were a wonderful piece of this re-learned lesson. But, I was "in the money", I had stayed upright, and the workout was good. So, onward ho.

Sunday, August 5th-Going back to School in Elgin, Illinois:

Eleven women on the line. $2000 purse, paying 20 deep (hmm, with 11 racers, what does that mean? Yup, we would all get paid). Same crew as yesterday. My goal was to apply lessons re-learned yesterday today at school. 40 min plus 3 laps, technical criterium with a 1 block decent, followed by two flat corners and up into a 1 block climb that took about 15-20 seconds to get up in the big chain ring. Then the course kept ascending very gradually as a false flat around 2 more corners to the finish line. The ISCORP women were attacking and getting primes, as well as the "Get a Grip" rider. I decided to just watch everything happen today. I actually have never ridden a small race as conservatively as I did today. With 3 laps to go a prime was won by an ISCORP rider, and she, and another rider got away with a pretty good gap. Then two riders followed them with another good gap. I was gapped behind these four riders. I was not too worried as I knew I could make up ground in the corners and on the descent. I heard some yelling behind me about closing the gap, but I was not concerned. On the last lap, I let myself float back a bit, to see what was going to happen. The pace picked up, but it did not pick up over the digger, so I dug in, and stomped on the pedals hard passing the whole group by the top of the climb. I had a little gap after the climb, and just pressed as hard as I could over the long stretch to the finish. I was nipped at the line by ISCORP's sprinter, so I got 2nd place, but I was very pleased....I won $400, and a cool medal!!!
I know this is not nearly what racing with the Pros is like, but hey, it's fun, and lucrative, so what the heck. It's what I am doing right now. More school next weekend with the Pros.

One of the Guys for a Few Days

2007-07-30T09:47:00.000-07:00

These races were 35 mile criteriums (about an hour and 15 minutes of racing..)

Day 1 (Sheboygan, WI): Racing with the 40+ Master's Men at Superweek started with a small Midwestern monsoon, that soaked the field. The race started with a sprinkle, then, more and more...what seemed like puddles fell from the sky. I ended up using some good 'ol homegrown common sense after 15 minutes of racing in the rain with the guys. It was wet while I lasted, but I was glad I was not in there when some of those big guys started going down on the wet course. Whew!

Day 2 (Kenosha, WI): A little over 50 guys on the line, 2 women, sunny, breezy, great day for racing. I held my own, and finished in the field in 33rd place. Average speed was about 27 mph...not as fast as the Pro Women, but hey, I'm gettin' there.

Day 3 (Whitefish Bay, WI): 41 guys on the line, 2 women, sunny, breezy, perfect day for racing. Somewhat technical course with a couple of tight corners (which I love!). The group was smaller, and harder to hide in. I worked pretty hard when the group strung out in a single file line. But there I was in 28th place when the day was done. Great race, fast and hard, just like I remember!

The Final Four Women's Races of Superweek

2007-07-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

I took a few days to recover (coach's orders) from the first weekend of Superweek racing. I was feeling my bum a bit from crashing on Saturday, so it turned out to be a good thing. All of these races had 40-50 women in them, and they were 30-35 mile criteriums.

THURSDAY (July 19)- I was back to the mix in Shorewood with some other fresh legs. I did not feel that great, so I mostly sat in the bike race. The course was super bumpy, and there were several attacks here and there. The back stretch was wide and safe, but it was not quite enough for me to move far enough forward on the last lap to be in the money, or in contention. Race over, stayed upright, kept half the pack at my back.

FRIDAY (July 20)-was a great course in Green Lake, Wisconsin (the deepest lake in Wisconsin). I loved the course. It had a little (big ring) digger hill on it, that took about 15 seconds to get up and over. There were some fast laps, and I burned a few more matches than I would have liked, in order to get a good finish, so, no stellar finish today either. But, one more race in my legs. I can feel them coming along. YES!!!

SATURDAY (July 21)- Carl Zach Memorial in Waukesha (in Memorial of a great Midwestern bike racer, and wonderful guy). First day racing without the Pros. It was still relatively fast, but for shorter stints than the pros can put out. I felt better today. I really liked the course. It was fast, and fun. Some good attacks, and a TON of prime laps (race within a race for one lap to get CASH). I got myself farther forward at the end of the race, and was able to get myself in the money for 16th place. I was happy....Still am...

SUNDAY (July 22)- New Superweek course in Evanston, Illinois. Great racing, great corners!! The race was fast, there were some fresh Chicago legs there. I felt better today than I have felt ALL season! I was in heaven racing today. I avoided a crash pretty early on, and was able to close the gap in front of me to stay in the bike race. I moved forward on the last lap, the sprint was LONG, so I just kept holding wheels in front of me, and going around them. A few riders went by me in the long sprint, I was nipped at the line by 11th place, and got 12th in the race. Felt great, look forward to more!

Now, more rest, and I will race with the guys later this week.

Bensenville-Ahhh Much Better Bike Racing

2007-07-16T06:51:00.000-07:00

Sunday was Bensenville (near Chicago). Again, about 40 women on the line. 40 laps. A few fresh legs that I did not see on Saturday. Course was somewhat technical with 6 corners instead of 4. The pace was much faster, and more steady (huge sigh of relief). I stayed farther forward (duh). But the course was also more conducive to a steady rhythm of racing. There were plenty of attacks. I brought one back to the field, which had gone up the road about 15 seconds or so. As a solo rider, it's a bit risky to do that. But I only did it once, then took my place back in the field as far forward as possible, but not at the front....to keep myself in the fast part of the race. There are quite a few solo riders here this week! A few attempts to get away got reeled back in by the aggressive field. The South Bay Wheelmen's Women's Squad from Southern California has a good strong group of 4 women. With 4 laps to go, the pace increased. Whew. With 2 to go, we slowed up a bit...no....no... Then, the Cheerwine Team formed as much of a train as they could with 2 riders, to bring up the pace for Kelly Benjamin, sprinter extraordinaire. Thank goodness! I stayed as far forward as I could. I stayed intact, and came around a few riders in the final sprint for 16th place. I was pleased. Thanks for reading.

Blue Island-Blue Bottom First Race at Superweek

2007-07-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

Hey All,
Saturday was the first race of Superweek (7 days of NRC racing with Pro 1/2 women, and 2 additional days of NON-NRC racing with Pro 1/2/3 women). Followed by another week of men's racing and Cat. 3/4 women's racing.
At Blue Island, Illinois (near Chicago) the course was about 1 mile, very non-technical, 40 laps. There were about 40 women who started. A few select Pros from Cheerwine and Aaron's, but mostly Elite Amateurs from around the USA. The race was not all that fast, which sometimes makes for sketchy racing....in fact there were a couple of dangerous slow-ups on the straightaways that caused havoc in the field. I was right in front of the first one, and missed it. With about 15 laps to go, I was right behind the second crash, and was merging left, merging left, applying the brakes, still rolling slowly right before the pile of bikes, that had gone down....and WHAM &@#^%&^!!! someone T-boned me from the side, and while rolling along slowly, I went down on my left B--- Cheek, and skidded on it. I got up, walked around a bit, to make sure nothing was too "off". I went to the wheel pit, got back in the race. The race sped up a bit after that, and I hovered about mid pack. I felt a little banged up, so was a bit hesitant to change my position too much. When it came down to the last lap, I just followed suit, and sat in the line. I was 22nd overall, and really glad I was o.k.

Wisconsin State Criterium Championships

2007-07-12T07:23:00.000-07:00

Racing in the Midwest is always a treat, whether it's with the men, or the women. Although the women's race was brief and to the point, there were 20 women on the line, including a couple of local stars good at sprinting. We formed a break of 5 of us pretty quickly, representing 3 teams back in the field, and two solo riders like myself. The break stayed away, and boiled down to 4 of us coming through the second to last corner side by side (we were all from different teams, and no one wanted to lead anyone else out). Two riders jumped, then I jumped, and the winning rider was on my wheel. She came around me, and the other two riders to win. Good Girl! I got 4th. Now I know which riders can sprint. I won some cash, and had fun! I cooled down, got some food in me, and a couple of hours later, did the Master's 30+ Men's race (60 min). The course was a little technical with corners, so I was loving it. I love corners!!! I finished with the field, and called it a great day of training at the races. Next week, racing with the big girls again......

Racing back to Racing

2007-07-05T12:01:00.000-07:00

In the world of bike racing, there is a flow to things. When you train for racing, you are basically preparing for a physiological and mental experience that is tough to match anywhere but in an actual race. This may also be true for other sports, but it's especially true for bike racing. My season started off very slowly. Over the past few weeks, I have been re-entering the racing scene, after a couple of good training blocks. Ideally, I would have been racing since February or March, but this season was a little different, and I am here now, in the Midwest, growing where I am planted, where the racing is hot, and fast....with Midwestern women and men in some regional events.

Tiny moments that bring laughter.....

2007-06-19T06:52:00.000-07:00

So, I was JRA (just riding along) the bike path yesterday, and came upon a family. The parents were walking arm-in-arm, and the roughly 13-year-old was tooling along at walking speed on his BMX bike, helmet straps flying in the breeze. I approached them from behind, saying, "On your left." The boy looks directly at me, in the eyes, and says, "Pop a Wheelie!!" I laughed out loud, and actually considered trying it. But, since I have never done one, I thought twice...but it sure made me laugh. And, you know the cool thing about young people, even if they are smarting off, is that they do expect more of adults than they are displaying in any moment. Just reflect on any button you have ever had pushed by a young one. Have a great day.

See what needs doing, and have fun doing it!

2007-06-02T22:13:00.000-07:00

Today, here in Santa Rosa, we had a work party to build road closure barricades for our weekly practice races. What fun! Lars, foreman in charge, was flexible, fun, easy to be around, and did a GREAT job directing all of us. His wife Danielle directed the paint party once the boards were all prepped. She also offered us beverages. Thank you Danielle! I also got to meet Eternity, (is that a great name, or what?) a wonderful 1 or 2? year old who said, what sounded like, "De, te, dee" when I asked her name. Danielle helped me out with her language. Then when Eternity was leaving, she said, "Thanks for the juice." to Lars. It actually sounded like, "anks foo ooose." Lars said, "What did she say?" and she said it again...very clearly in her own mind. Her father heard it the first time, and knew what she said. He gave Lars a hard time for not understanding 2-year old girl language. After all, Lars has a 2 year old BOY! How would he know that language?? And, you know what's great about Lars? If there were a class in that language, he'd probably take it.

When I got back home, to Great Graton, I noticed Erica (2nd grade) and Clint (3rd grade), buzzing around the streets on their little bikes....except, they were really pumping their legs around, bouncing up and down. Neither one of them had more than 10 pounds of pressure in their 35 psi tires. I called Erika over first, as I pulled my floor pump out of the back of my car. She was so excited. I told her she was gonna go so much faster with more air in her tires. Pretty soon, her brother picked up on what I was doing, and came to stand in line at the pump. Two satisfied, excited customers! On the way out of my driveway, Erica says, "It's a good thing you had a pump!"

Homestretch

2007-05-30T22:12:00.000-07:00

When school is almost out, the days seem like weeks, and the weeks seem like months. But the minute that bell rings on the last day of school, it feels as though it all started just yesterday. I love my job as a teacher. I also love bike racing. Next year, I will take a leave of absence from my teaching job to raise money, train, and race full time. One of my students said to me today, after I told them about my dreams to pursue my potential as a bike racer, "Miss Green, can't you ride your bike after school?" I said, "Yes, I can, and I do! But I want to ride my bike before school, during school, and after school!"

I will be coaching, doing cycling clinics, and substitute teaching in order to make a few ends meet.

If you are interested in holding a cycling clinic for your neighborhood children, or know someone who needs a coach, let me know, and, please send them my way!

Off to do more grading!!!

Just Break the Ice

2007-05-21T21:46:00.000-07:00

So there I was on standby at the airport to catch a flight home from San Diego last weekend. I got the spot on the earlier flight, then moved slowly onto the already loaded plane. I see the one seat left on the plane. It's in the center of a row of three. The guy in the window seat has already lifted up the armrest to claim the space he needs. I'll call him, Big Guy. He's got one of those basketball jersey type tank tops on, with some Dickies shorts......that are, you know, the baggy, cool kind. He's probably 35. He's about 6' 4" and easily 300+ lbs. The guy on the aisle, white t-shirt, plaid shorts, baseball cap, and barely takes up half of his seat. I'll call him Cool Kid. I can tell Big might be nervous about who will sit in the center seat. Cool is just hoping whoever sits there won't rub up against him. I put my stuff up in the overhead bin, and scoot into the center seat. I notice that Big stops breathing, as to not take up any more space. As I sit down, and reach for my seatbelt, I tap Big on the leg, and say, "Could you scoot over please? Just kidding!" He laughed. Turns out, he's a foreman for an ashphalt company, has a couple of kids, likes Jack and Coke, couldn't believe he barely fit in the lavatory, and has big concerns about how you just can't let your kids run around in the neighborhood anymore, like we did when we were growing up.