Tanasi SERC 2012

So, this isn't a race report per se.  It's more a spectator's view of the awesome race that SERC/goneriding puts on at the Ocoee white water center.  Since getting a bit further along in pregnancy, I've taken the role on the US-Stove/Trek team of photographer, water girl and cheerleader.  Today provived ample opportunity for photos and cheering-- the US-Stove ladies had a very strong showing!

Of the expert/pro women podium, 3 of the 5 spots where US-Stove::

Kym got first

Paula got third (I can't hold back from mentioning that last weekend Paula won the Big Frog 65 with a time of 5:12 and then came out the very next day and got 3rd at the Winder, GA SERC race.)

Catherine got fourth

Pro/expert women's podium.

Emily P. held strong in the expert/pro cat as well.

In the Sport category, despite doing the 3-state. 3 mountain century yesterday, Stephanie Smith held her own in one of her first handful of cross country races.

I'll let the racer's reports speak for themselves.  From my vantage point, it was a fantastic performance.



Happy bike.



For some exercise while they were racing, I rode my beloved Superfly (that I've shifted into a more pregnancy friendly 32-22) on the forest service roads from the Thunder Rock Campground to FS221.  I retraced my steps back to the race start and hurried up the first singletrack of the race course-- hoping I could make it to a pull off to take pictures before getting overtaken by the race.  It was a success and I snagged numerous very blurry photos and a handful of decent ones.  After that, it was back to the Trek tent to meet up with Mark F and Joel to hand out water bottles and cheer. 

Catherine P's husband Reid came through looking tough.  Then, the US-Stove team blazed through the feed zone and thankfully no water bottles were dropped in the hand offs.  Next, it was time to cheer for Fenton Scruggs, my husband Tony, Richie Daigle, Tim Bell, Ginger Sillery and a few others.  After everyone I knew had gone by, with Mark manning the remaining bottles, I darted off to try to snag some more photos before people descended Thunder Rock Express.  By the time my tired legs reclimbed the gravel road, took the Benton/McR trail to the race course, I missed most folks except Emily, Ginger and then the fast duo of Ryan Woodall and Thomas Turner (who ran into a bear while racing!).
Once back at the finish, the US-Stove team and support crew relaxed before hitting the podium.  Chattanooga in general made a nice impact on this race with Tim Bell doing his normal feat of greatness in SS, Fenton getting 1st in sport 40-49, my hub Tony getting 2nd to Fenton, Ginger placing 1st in Sport women and I'm sure some others who I can't recall.  To top it off, I ran into folks I haven't seen in what feels like forever: the Pillsbury Posse of Desiree, Jamie and Miles.  Was great so see them.

I may not be racing this season's SERC, but I'm thankful to ride with teammates who do so well!  Great weekend overall.  Stay tuned for the next installment.

Here are some of the other photos of the race and afterwards:

Pro/expert women's field led by Kym, Paula and Catherine.

US-Stove looking strong on the starting climb.

More of the starting climb Pro/expert women's field.

The other half of Team Angevine took the hole shot.

Post-race: Emily, Paula, Stephanie and Kym.

Single Speed: Tim Bell 1st place!

Team Angevine in second!

Ginger Sillery won the Sport women.

Thomas Turner and Ryan Woodall, after, I think, their bear encounter.

Us, post race.

Big Frog, here I come

As many of you know, the Big Frog 65 is a race that takes place near the Tanasi White Water Center. It's about 65 miles with quite a bit of elevation gain. It's a sister race to the longer Cohutta 100, which is part of the NUE series. It's April 28th.

I've done this race on two other occasions. Once 3y ago on my geared 26in bike and 2y ago on a 29in singlespeed. This year I'll be doing one of two very different things: riding my lovely Fisher Superfly SS or riding a Trek Superfly 100 elite. Hardtail ss or geared FS. A variety of things are influencing which ride I'll use, but it's not an easy decision. The ss is so light and easy while the FS will give a smoother ride with the perk of derailleurs.

This year, at least four of the US-Stove Company women are racing in 65 or the 100.

With only a few more weeks of training before the race, I've got some serious mileage to put on my legs/bikes before I'm ready. Stay tuned for updates!

Here's to speedy and safe finishes for all the US-Stove/Trek racers.

Cross season 2011

After a fun cross country season, cross season began. My husband and I travelled primarily to races in the Georgia Cyclocross Series and the Bama-Cross series. While he raced in the singlespeed category on his Traitor crusade, I got to enjoy the plush ride on my Trek Cronus cx. Thanks to the fast bike build by the guys at the Chattanooga Trek store, I was on the bike early in the season. It is one light bike. It handles great, tracks well, and overall, suited me very nicely.

This was my first season racing as a cat 3, so it meant doing a lot of chasing the faster cat 1-2-3's from behind. It also meant racing for 45, instead of 30 minutes. Talk about high intensity training. In addition to the high intensity and short (shorter than cross country distances) races, cross season also means it's time to bring out the skin suits, aka unitards at their most stylish. Our US-Stove Company suits are really sleek and comfortable, and heck, who doesn't love the wood burning stove inspired flames we have on one sleeve? Thanks to our sponsors, our clothing not only looks good, but feels good.

Overall, the cross season was eye opening-- the cat 1-2-3 women are one fast group of racers and 45 minutes is a whole lot of time to be pushing hard. I didn't break any records or sweep any series' podiums, but it was immensely fun and I really look forward to the 12/13 cross season.

Photos from the cross season will be added soon!