Bellas Love Lollipops
September 2, 2011
by Marsha Kirschbaum:
The West Coast got lucky this year with Masters Nationals being held in Bend, Oregon. We stuffed our Prius to the max with the TT Bike and Road Bike and all of the wheel choices that I owned and headed up to Bend where we shared a house with 2011 Bella National Champion Liz Beneshin and 2011 Bella Supporter National Champion Julie Kaplan. We got lucky as our house was within minutes from the courses. I entered the ITT and criterium.
No matter how much research one does for the courses, they have surprises for me when I actually see them. This year’s TT course was very technical with a gradual climb out and descending return to a 90 right turn onto the technical part which everyone nicknamed The Lollipop due to its shape. The “stick” consisted of a few sweeping rollers through high desert terrain of sage brush type plants and a few pine trees. There was construction on this part of the course as the whole area looked to be a planned development surrounding a golf course, and contractors were laying pipe along side of the road. The “stick” went into a round about — Bend is full of these things — which started the “lollypop” circle. This became my first challenge, how to take this thing at speed as we headed into it going downhill. I practiced this about 10 times trying to get the right lines and getting the shift timing for the hill that started right after. The next challenge for me was the left hand turn in the middle of a down hill, which after the turn was made became a short steep uphill. After a few chacanes and another round-about, you were back to the stick and the return trip to the finish.
The morning of the ITT was cold. Lucky for me, as I don’t do so well in the heat. Down the ramp I went and had to curb my excitement a little so I don’t blow up on the climb for this first part of the course. I knew I had to save my energy for the LollyPop w/ its rollers. I hit the first turn around and now I can turn the gas on a little more for the downhill. I was flying along around 29 -31mph. Up comes the first 90 degree right turn. What the heck is that orange fencing? It seems that due to the construction, the organizers have divided one lane into two lanes for us, leaving the other lane for construction works and their vehicles. Ohhh this is going to be a tight turn. I’m around it and driving my legs inside the little orange chute made of fencing and cones. At last I am past that and feel a lot freer w/out those boundries. Now comes the round-about and I take it as fast as I dare, hands on the sides, in as straight a line as possible which exit takes me close enough to the curb but I’m okay. Up and over the hill and set up for the next left turn into the middle of the hill. I take it fast enough that I can let the momentum take me over the top of the hill without having to change gears. It’s flat for a little while and then down I go still in the bars into the chacane. Oh Sh_t! Yes, they did pave over the dirt like they said they would, but the construction equipment is still there and it makes for a narrower road. I come out of the bars and tap my brakes just a little to make my turn. After that I know I can stay in the bars and pour on what power I do have as the road is wide and very slightly downhill to another left hander. I’m through the development gates, which are now open to us (on recon - we had to trip them with a car or duck under), over a slight rise and now the right hander back through the round-about, which I pedal through, to the “stick” part of the course and return. As I drop over the last down hill I see the one lane divided part of the course with a course marshall waving her flag and saying ‘go to the right, go to the right” My brain cells are starting to die off or dehydrate and I’m thinking, which right? There looks like 2 rights or a right and a center. In my confusion, I slow slightly, finally figure it out and enter the “chute” again for the finish. My time is good enough to get me on the podium in 5th place! I am very pleased.
I entered the criterium the next day as — well — it was short compared to a road race, after the ITT, and when I entered the course only had 4 corners. When I got there, the course was still short, but the location changed and 4 corners were now 7. On the day of the crit, Bend had a freeze warning with an admonition to its residents to protect tender vegetables. Based on the good advice of my housemates, I warmed up in the house, driving to the course with just enough time for a couple of practice laps. The good news is that I stayed with the pack the whole way. My legs however weren’t up to any sprinting and yelled at me when I tried. I did have a lot of fun though and finished 7th.
A.V.R.E Race for Sight 2011
July 25, 2011
A.V.R.E Race for Sight 2011 in Windsor, NY
Blue skies, Hot Humid weather, 80’s
B Field:
Kara Frostclapp: 1st Woman,
Cynthia Schnedeker: 2nd Woman
Open Tandem: Ellie Bayles: 3rd
Always a VB at Heart, Lilynn Graves: 4th Woman, A Field
Owasco Flyer 2011
June 30, 2011
The Owasco Flyer 2011 held on Sunday June 26th in Auburn, NY had a relatively large cohort of 6 NY Velo Bellas participating in the race and/or race committee. This is a well-run race, with a beautiful course, breathtaking views of the Owasco Lake and great post race prizes, raffles and food, including chocolate milk served by Dairy princesses wearing pink tiaras, no less! The weather was perfect for racing, in the low 60’s, overcast with only a few sprinkles towards the end of the race. Thank you to Velo Bellas Kim Behrman and Linda Tersegno who were part of the Race committee.
Sue Kahler, 10th Female, 4th in 50-59 age group
Linda Tersegno, 12th Female, 5th in 50-59 age group
Kara Frostclapp ,14th Female, 2nd in 40-49 age group
Cynthia Schnedeker, 15th Female, 6th in 50-59 age group
Michelle Dellilo, DNF d/t broken pedal L
Race4Hope 2011 on May 29th
May 30, 2011
24 miles of rolling hills between Skaneateles and Otisco Lakes
NY Velo Bella’s were AWESOME!
First Race of the 2011 Season
April 23, 2011
Ciao tutti!
CYL or Check Your Legs in New Lisbon, NY one week ago was a cloudy, dreary, cold and blustery start to the road racing season! The two lap 25 mile course featured a half mile climb with rolling hills. There were 7 women riders representing Corning, Mission in Motion and Velo Bella (me). Ex VB racer but will always be a bella at heart LiLynn won riding for her new Corning team.
I was able to stay with the leading group of 5 women until the first major hill and then proceeded to get dropped. TT’d it all the way home and felt like a kite blowin in the wind (at one point racing downhill at 10 mph!). It reminded me of a math word problem…if you are traveling at x mph against a 30 mph wind how long will it take you to travel a 25 mile course. Answer-too long!
Hopefully, the weather for upcoming races in May will be a tad warmer and not quite so windy!
Hope to see you out on the bike!
Cynthia
Riding with a Smile makes you Faster!
March 26, 2011
Michigan Bella Erin Lumbard brought some game to her first time riding as a Bella in one of Michigan’s largest cycling races — the Killer Gravel Road Race held March 26, 2011. The race tests riders against rolling gravel roads (80%), pavement, one mile of rough two-track, rocks, sand, mud, and even snow and ice, along with 2200 feet of climbing over a 35-mile loop.
“What an awesome day it was,” says Erin. “It was just 19°F at the start, and I hadn’t even been on this cross bike since November. Thirty-five miles of hilly, winding gravel road and a party at the finish line — I never felt that it was cold while riding until my water bottle froze over.” Erin conquered hill after hill and chased each biker in front of her, so despite the frigid temps, she stayed “toasty warm. I felt good about myself for trying something different. I love the feeling of conquering fear. But the icing on the cake was a 1
st
Her mentor, Monica took 3
rd place for the 35 + division.
Third Annual San Diego Velo Bella Spring Camp
March 25, 2011
Nearly two dozen Velo Bellas attended the 3rd Annual San Diego Velo Bella camp at FunctionSmart in Sorrento Valley and deemed it — FANTASTIC!
Athletes from San Diego and North County rotated through three clinics- simulated outdoor riding on the CompuTrainer with Gino Cinco, Core Strength with Chris Hebeler, and Flexibility led by Jenny Skorcz-Gadbois from Serenity in Sport.
Jenny’s class combined the fundamentals of yoga and pilates to loosen up tight muscles and ready participants for the morning’s activities. A cyclist herself, Jenny knew exactly what Bellas needed to be strong, yet flexible for the bike.
With TRX straps hanging from the rafters, Chris’s core class had Bellas jumping, squatting, swinging, pulling, and pushing.
Gino proved that riding on a trainer doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, when you and your bike are hooked into his CompuTrainer system with several of your teammates it can be downright fun (and sweaty)!
During a brief snack and recovery break, Becki McClintock explained lactate threshold testing and how it can improve your running and cycling performance. She’ll be conducting testing sessions by appointment at UCPT.
Julie Lestyan brushed up Bellas’ basic bike maintenance and minor repair skills to ready the bikes for the road.
Bellas were also asked to bring food and personal hygiene items to donate to the Women’s Resource Center in Oceanside. We were able to fill two boxes with items to help the women and children at this facility!
Thank you to Gino Cinco and FunctionSmart for hosting the San Diego Bellas for the third year in a row. Thank you to PowerBar for supplying lots of great products that kept Bellas moving throughout the workout as well these sponsors who so generously donated items for the Goody Bags!
Hoo Ha Ride Glide, PowerBar, Aquaphor, Zealios Sunscreen, Celestial Seasonings Tea, The Kiwi Tree, Moment Cycle Sport, B&L Bikes, and Road Runner Sports.
NY Bellas Finish out Cross Season
November 27, 2010
Angela and I finished the Cyclocross season with a race from hell! After completing two fun races in Greene, NY: Nov 7th Greene Cyclocross and the Dave Panella Memorial Cyclocross Race on Nov 14th, we headed to Power Cross in Baldwinsville on Nov 21st with much anticipation. We were both riding our new cyclocross bikes, Angela on her new Fuji comp and me on a Ellsworth Roots in VB colors! Thank you VB Emily Kurze!!
The contrast was stark both in weather and terrain.
The weather at the Greene and Panella Cyclocross races was sunny, and a balmy 48-50 degrees!. The course designers perfected the Death Spirals with bikes seeming to head towards each other for a game of chicken. Unfortunately at the Dave Panella race a rider crossed over into Angela’s path and collided into her. Angela with that VB spirit jumped back on her bike and was able to throw herself right back into the fray. To celebrate our participation, we were treated to a free bottle of Ommegang beer at the Panella race and crazy decorative mugs at the Greene Cyclocross.
The Power Cross was another matter-cold, cloudy with a sadistic hill requiring a Herculean climbing effort including a barrier? placed smack in the middle of the hill, heading into the steepest part! Picture a hill most suitable for downhill skiing. My shoes kept popping off my heels with every step! There were two all too brief down hills to recover but both required intense concentration to avoid wiping out on the turns or rattled to death by the uneven terrain. Other than that the course was flat and soggy so no opportunity to coast through the turns. We were very happy we persevered and finished no worse for wear, loving our respective bikes and ready to end the season!!
VB Kathleen Rutishauser was there to cheer us on with cow bell and camera. Thanks to Kathleen for some great pictures!
Cynthia
PS Hope to see more VB’s out there for the 2011 season!!
New York Cross Champion: Kim Behrman!
November 2, 2010
Kim looks at her hardware wistfully…
Parma, NY October 31st.
After an uneven season of two bouts of sicknesses, Kim Rory Behrman was the one NY Bella to muster the courage to race after a serious season change here in NY state. Despite having had a stomach bug the week before and lingering bad cold for several weeks before that, Kim pulled herself together to represent the blue, black and magenta! Her efforts were well worth it, as she WON the NYS Championship for Cat 4 Women! The suspicion is that Kim has discovered “her” sport and more greatness will be revealed!
Syracuse Grand Prix Cross 2010
October 19, 2010
NY Bellas were sporting the winter whites for the Syracuse Grand Prix - though it was the PERFECT weather, and I’m not saying “real cross weather” is “perfect”…
Our own Sue Atwood was the Big Cheese Organizer and Promoter of this race. Her first ever in this position and she and her team of volunteers did a fantastic job of setting up, prizes, break down and scoring. She had some real help from the gods with the weather too.
The course is a ball buster - Not a moment of rest - soggy, muddy grass made for slow going on the back stretch, a sandy run/ride up, rollercoaster bumps and barriers as high as legally possible, which for shorties can be a real pain in the butt.
Angela rips it up!
Cynthia shows intensity (and fluff on her headset.)
(Photos courtesy of James Pitarresi)
Results:
Open Women
Cynthia Schneideker 9th
Angela Ott 11th
Masters Women:
LiLynn Graves 1st
Kate Stewart 3rd
