2010 Owasco Flyer!
June 28, 2010
NY Bellas Kim Behrman and Linda Tersegno duke it out for the finish line!
Hot, humid and hilly. Those are my three main adjectives to describe this year’s Owasco Flyer, a beloved citizens’ race in Auburn, New York. Of course, it’s hilly every year, but some years those climbs are more painful than others…and obviously heat and humidity contribute to the perceived elevation of the last “Three Bears”, the finishing hills, which annoyingly are really FOUR climbs, not three. The worst is, that while you know you’ve got those four last grinds to get up to the finish line, you forget that there are about 87 other hills to climb BEFORE them! (Ok, maybe not 87, maybe really 12…10? ok, how about 8 pain in the *ss climbs?)
This year, there were somewhere around 250 racers, which made for a CRAZY “controlled start” with people jockeying for position before even a mile had passed. (The course is 36 miles.) Survival includes suffering the usual terrifying shouts of “braking! Braking!! Braking!!!!”, the SMELL of braking and the knowledge that lots of people in this massive pack possessed neither skills nor the understanding of how squirrely riding can have a dangerously domino effect. Nonetheless, all participating Bellas made it unscathed - we were treated to shrieks of enthusiasm from the lead car, carrying none other than our distinctly vocal LiLynn, who was sitting in on account of her injuries from an awful crash in last week’s citizens’ race, the Giro de Otisco.
Kate whistling a little ditty as she finishes.
Everybody has a different story of the outcome - mine was of being dropped on the first hill, but working with a splendid crew to miraculously catch back up to the “pack” at about mile 12 - the pack still being in the range of 100 people! Then on yet another climb, an unexplained pile up (I looked up and saw bodies somersaulting into the ditch - and a dog shooting out of the pack, but no one else seems to have seen the pooch..) broke up the pack again, and from then on it was, for me, various small groups of fellow suffering non-hill climbers. Thumbs up from a corner marshall that I was “3rd woman!” which turned out to be off by two, rats! Oh, well, I’ll take it.
Excellent to see Linda and Kim mounting the last hill side by side, then a sudden burst as they tried to out sprint one another for the final stretch. You can see from the photo proof above who got it, sorry Linda! Meanwhile, Sue Kahler devoted her race to assisting newer racers by hanging back and being encouraging. I had chatted in the bathroom with a woman who said it was her first race ever and that she’d “never even ridden more than 24 miles before” - Sue had her work cut out for her. This was also the first race for NEW NY Bella, Kelly Bulkely - who has ridden her bike something like 483 days in a row, and who raced, as far as I can tell, with PLATFORM PEDALS and NO clips?!? (But WITH, mind you, a 4 tiered black mini-skirt over her bike shorts. Gotta flaunt the flair, baby, flair. And she’s working on getting a jersey…at least her handlebars are pink.)
All in all, we had a decent showing (thanks to LiLynn’s berating email urging everyone to race because we were “lame” this year. It worked!) and the NY Bellas are BACK!
Bellas in Repose:
Front: Honorary Bella Ruth (2nd woman overall), Sue A, Kelly, Kate, Ellie
Back: Kim, LiLynn, Sue K, Linda
Kristin (and her brother-in-law, Mr. Clean) who missed our group pic.
Results:
Overall 3rd place woman, former NY Bella, Gaetane Perreault
Women 19-29:
- 3rd Kristin Mullally
Women 30-39
- 4th Kim Behrman
- 7th Kelly Bulkelly
Women 40-49:
- 1st Kate Stewart
- 5th Sue Atwood
Women 50-59:
- 2nd Linda Tersegno
- 5th Sue Kahler
Tandem:
- 7th Ellie and Ernie Bayles
Herald, CA 6/5/10
June 25, 2010
Monica Nelson
Summer Duathalon #1
Rancho Seco Park, Herald, CA
TBFracing.com
1st Place Woman
5th place overall
Shannon Races Chalk Creek Stampede
June 7, 2010
Jen Tilley and I showed up for the next National race of the season- a Colorado shootout between the locals and the WorldCuppers. After having the perfect downhill road start, the selection was made on the short hill up sandy doubletrack. I just couldn’t stay with the first group 
of Georgia Gould (who lapped many of the pro men), Kelli Emmett, Katie Compton, Heather Irmiger and Jenny Smith. I sat up, let a bunch of women by and just settled into my own pace.
The course was rolling and singletracky, perfect for my new Ellsworth 29er Enlightenment carbon hardtail, with Stan’s NoTubes 1300g wheels, Maxxis Aspen tires, Magura Mag brakes, and Crank Brothers 4ti pedals- 21.2 pounds all built up with SRAM X.O. Even though I lost my Heed bottle and was taking only the neutral water, I felt steady the whole race and picked ladies off one by one. I need to work on my purple zone, however, because after taking almost a year off racing I am missing some high end. Still, considering the caliber of the ladies’ field, I’m OK with my 11th place finish.
I just have some more fitness to work on. I love that racing gives motivation and goals to spice up my time on the bike. Next up- Iron Horse, or maybe the pro XC cup at Lance’s Ranch. Decisions decisions!
—Shannon Gibson
Durango, Colorado
Misery Loves Company
June 7, 2010
Misery loves company. That is the actual race name of the race, a reference to the challenging dirt roads, deep sand, and climbs that make up this inaugural 14 mile mtb event. Also, but surely not what the promoters had in mind, I managed to create even more misery (but 
without company, thankfully) by racing a la batwoman (tights and long sleeves) on an 85oF day. (”why” is a long story involving an unfortunate encounter with poison ivy & the resulting complications which meant I absolutely had to stay out of the sun) Very sad that Shari didn’t have time to get her batman mask from the car before my start time….THAT would have been flair worth remembering!
So, while not a great day for fashion statements (on or off the bike), it was a gorgeous day for a ride. I’m grateful for running into Kisscross promoter & Misery Loves Comapny volunteer Rick Plite at Yankee Springs mountain bike trail in the morning, because he reminded us of this new event and encouraged us to zip over and give it a try after finishing up at Yankee.
The race was the first of a 2 event series put on as a membership drive for the West Michigan Mountain Bike Association (the generous volunteers who build and maintain the great trails in west michigan … if you use the trails, for riding or hiking or xc skiing, please become a member or send a cash donation or come out to a trailwork day!).
Highlights:
• Great concept: Fun, FREE race to members, start from and finish at a local pub/pizza place.
• Great people
• Very challenging (but not miserable) course, made Barry-Roubaix look like a piece of cake … chocolate cake … with pink frosting & whipped cream
• Time trial start format made it easy (and unintimidating) for beginners through elite riders to participate side by side
Monica Tory, Velo Bella, 1st women 35+. Check out the full results!
Come out and check out the next FREE event in August !
PM me for details or watch the MMBA blog and facebook sites)
—Monica Tory
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Auburn Half Ironman, Auburn CA
May 23, 2010
Auburn Half Ironman, Auburn, CA, May 10, 2010
5/17 DeeAnn Smith, 40-44
My First CycloCross Season
April 6, 2010
AND it was rad… and hard, and fun, and….
I will do it again next year. Hopefully better.
I rode in some surf city races, cccx and the one Peak Season. I accomplished my goals. One being to race, two to not come in last (That happened the Halloween Surf City Race), and the third to get one of those beers from Santa Cruz Ale Works.
I did drop out of one race, it was a low for me. I was so frustrated with how clumsy I could be with mounts and dismounts, the super technical stuff, and how slow I could be. But I came out of it with a new attitude. No more dropping out, and to just have fun!
Yesterday was my first muddy race, and boy was it muddy. I fell three or four times. I lost count. The last lap was all about staying on my bike and finishing. I was so glad I did because I got Santa Cruz County Cyclocross Champion for womens C’s!!! I don’t know what it means, but I got a great hat out of it!! Thanks Sheila Moon!
It was awesome to meet new women. Thank You Mary for your encouragement and guidance. Dionne, I hope to see you out at more races. And to the whole cyclocross crowd, you are rad!
Now to catch up on housework I have neglected for the last few months!
Rachel Wolff
Santa Cruz, California
Snowshoe Nationals - NY Bellas’ Jano!
March 13, 2010
Fabius, New York
Saturday, March 6, 2010
(pictures courtesy of NY Bella and professional photographer,
Laura Kozlowski
(Be sure to see her “pets” section on her webpage…)
It was a delightfully sunny and balmy day, and thanks to a more than 2 foot dump of snow the week before, there was plenty of snow for the racers to actually run through. While Janet looks the relaxed sunbather in the pic above, the 10K course for the senior racers was incredibly grueling. The finishing hill was at best “pukable” and Jano’s cheering team all agreed, we would not want to do what she just did.
Almost done…just a few more steps!!!
Too pretty, eh?
LiLynn sporting the proper Bella Cheerleader Flair.
Janet’s Fan Club (this pic not by our professional, but rather a course marshall who was very excited by the bella hoopla that just came with us…)
We are so proud of her!
Binghamton Bingo Cross Race
November 16, 2009
Binghamton Bingo Cross Race - 15 November 2009
“My report” from L. Dawg Graves
About 3 weeks ago I started taking this sport a little more serious. I started pointing questions to the “pros” on strategy and specific training and all I could get was just go “balls to the wall” and hope you don’t blow up. Well easier said than done. That is a very scary place to go without a little guidance. So I had to practice this feeling and try to get used to it. Kinda like riding “crossed eyed.”
I’ve been dragging my cross friends out on Tuesdays to do these painful 30 second to 1 minute all out sprints with 1 minute easy x 12 times on a gradual uphill. We have been doing these on our road bikes and they make you want to puke especially when it’s 40 degrees out. Then skills work on Wednesday in some park for a few hours. Some really cold road rides for as long as we until we can’t feel our extremeties on the other days. On saturday we get together and do a little skills work and then some 5 min medium intervals with 5 minute rest and then some 1 minute grass sprints with 5 minutes rest and race on Sunday. Not much but it definitely kick started my confidence into cyclocross “redlining” for 45 minutes.
No more riding a cross coarse like a 50 mile road race. NO SPINNING. And to think I have spent a few years mastering the art of high RPM’s. Just throw it out the door and make those thighs burn baby. Power to the pedal. Well that’s what I keep telling myself and it’s starting to work. Plus my sprint work has helped my starts so much. I have started out in second place the last two races and finished 3rd overall. Up until my “training” started 3 weeks ago I was mid to bottom of the pack. Whoooo Hooo.
And now that I’m figuring it out, It’s quitin’ time. And soon it will be time to go back to spinning on the road bike. So I guess I am hooked on cross and will be back next season. I might even train a little before I start racing.
Two Days in Louisville
November 3, 2009
Full concentration as Kari navigates through the mud in Louisville.
Velo Bella-Ellsworth riders Kari Studley and Devon Haskell headed out to Louisville for the U.S. Grand Prix series race. Recent rains left the course muddy. Though the grass made the course look fast, the reality proved rather different as the wheels sunk into the soggy grass. The course also included a staircase run-up. Kari took 9th and Devon finished 12th. Katerina Nash of Luna won ahead of her team-mate Georgia Gould. Velo Bella alum Amy Dombroski, the current U23 U.S. National Champion, rounded out the podium. Roll over to Podium Insight for more stories from the race.
More mud for Kari.
The following day, Kari and Devon lined up for a second day of racing at the Derby City Cup. Sunny skies greeted the riders for this second day of fun in Louisville. But the mud still lingered and the course included a staircase and flyover. Kari bettered her pervious day’s result to finish 7th, while Devon took 11th in the deep women’s pro field. Luna again dominated the field as Nash took a second straight win. Amy Dombroski of Richard Sachs finished second, followed by Alison Dunlap of Luna. Check out the full story at Podium Insight.
Keep up with all Kari’s adventures on her blog, Studley Racing. Want to know about the Velo Bella-Ellsworth pro cyclocross team? Check out our Pro Cyclocross Introduction.
Thanks to Lyne Lamoureux of Podium Insight for the use of her photos from the Louisville Grand Prix. All photos this page copyright Lyne Lamoureux and are used with permission.
Kathy’s On a Roll in Utah
October 24, 2009
Kathy Wins Three Straight!
Velo Bella-Ellsworth rider Kathy Sherwin currently leads the Utah Cyclocross Series after winning three straight races. This weekend, Sherwin put 30 seconds into the field after just one lap of racing at Andy Ballard Equestrian Center in Draper, Utah. She held just under a minute lead over the second place rider all the way to the finish. The course included a 500 meter road climb, followed by a descent into sandy terrain, and a run-up. Kathy is racing this season in memory of her mother, who passed away recently. She will race next at the Longmont and Boulder races on Halloween weekend. Congrats to Kathy on another win!
Read more about the Velo Bella-Ellsworth Pro Cyclocross Team!
Christopher See contributed reporting to this story. Photo is copyright Christopher See and is used by permission. See more images from the Utah Cyclocross Series.
