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The Bridges Family Members Continue Their Racing Efforts

Marie and Katie at Yankee TTWSI Cycling’s “cycling family” – The Bridges – have been busy these past couple of weekends. In addition to the two following race reports featuring their exploits on trail and road, you can expect at least one more report on their most recent triathlon, the Seahorse. Scott’s doing the sprint distance, Marie is racing the duathlon and mom and dad (Katie and Kevin) racing the Olympic distance triathlon. Can’t wait for the results!

Yankee Springs Time Trial – Sunday, May 18, 2014

Yankee TT 2014 was almost a repeat of Custer Stampede; Scotty was first in his age group with a 1:03, Marie second. Kevin was 18th racing in the Sport class for the first time, turning in a 1:03. Katie was 13th. Scott’s time was about 20 seconds faster than the old man’s (daddy might need a new bike). Although the trail was fast and the racing fun, I think hanging out with the family and friends at the finish line was the best part of the day. Hopefully next year’s race will be held on a day as nice as this year, but moved to April. The Bridges don’t have any more mountain bike races on our schedule for this year, but we might try to squeeze in one more race, if we can find the time. Triathlon season is starting soon it’s going to be a busy summer.

~The Bridges Family

Tour de Frankenmuth – Saturday, May 24, 2014

Kevin Bridges - FrankenmuthThe Tour de Frankenmuth 2014 was Scott and my (Kevin, the dad) first road race. Scott raced as a junior that was one 20-mile lap. I raced Cat 5 over 35, which was two laps. The first lap was uneventful, at every turn the peloton would slow then everyone would sprint back into a group. The farther back in the pack you are the harder it is to catch back up. I managed to stay with the peloton until the last left-hand turn where the road widened out the group spread out and picked up the paced, I tried to stay with them, but all I could do was keep them in sight to the finish line. Riding in a large group was very intense. I averaged 22 mph with a top speed of 34 mph and finished in 41st place. I want to go back next year to see how much I can improve.

Scott’s race started with about 15 riders, at the starting line the starter lady said that if there was any swearing you will be disqualified (this may be an issue) but all the riders agreed not to snitch. After the first turn the group narrowed down to about eight riders. In a single file line taking turns pulling, they cruised at about 22 mph. Every two mile there would be one rider drop off the breakaway, until there was five of them, things were calm for about five miles. Then as he got back into position after a pull, took a drink and a deep breath, the person third in line crashed, Scott and the rider in front of him managed to miss him. After they regrouped, there was four of them, knowing the top three got on the podium, he tried to lose at least one rider, but it did not happen. He finished fourth with a 59 second gap between Scott and the winner.

~Kevin Bridges

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And they’re off…..

Last Night WSI Team Active Racing got together to kick off  planning for the 2014 Season.  Eric Cook was nice enough to host at his house and, since I was driving from out of town, I convincedWSI Team Active 2014 Kick Off him to go for a ride in advance of the team meeting.

That may not have been the best idea.  Dwight  joined us and is (for some reason) at mid season form and Eric is, well what Eric always is…a machine.  I was a bit late for our departure time after making some much needed purchases at Team Active, although I was dressed and ready to go, my bike still needed to get prepped and I wanted to put toe warmers in my boots and hand warmers in my gloves.  Not sure what the temperature was, I remember seeing about 20 degrees.  While I was prepping my gear, I told Eric and Dwight that I needed about 5 minutes.  Dwight said “Okay, you get all ready, then we will start spinning and warm up on our way to the ‘Dump’.”  I thought he meant, we would have time to warm up, not that we would get on the bike and proceed to ride at 22 mph right out of the driveway!  I got warm, but not much of a warm up.

We met Kathy at an intersection about a mile from the entrance to the Dump.  It was too cold to socialize too much, but very good to see her.  I had not seen her since she returned from RAAM.  The Dump is a great technical morass of cement, tar and tile and, if you go down, something gets scratched or broken.

Last time I rode the Dump was 3 years ago, that was in the middle of the summer and I was much more comfortable handling my bike than this ride when the ground was frozen and I was cold.  Nobody fell, though I did do some sight seeing a couple times, but all in all a great ride through the woods.  On the way home, Dwight pulled and I locked on to his wheel as if my life depended on it.

My feet were so frozen, that they were numb, and (you know the feeling) I wanted to cry they hurt so bad when they started to thaw out.  But then we went to Crazy Horse for some pizza and a beer…then all was good.

All got much better when I saw the team that I started riding with 5 years ago.  Mike, Eric, Kathy, Dan, Danny, Hannah, Devin, Chuck, Charles, Dave, Dave Sr., Eric, Cameron, Dwight, April, Keith, JJ, Groat, Josh, (and I probably forgot a couple guys), have all been around since I started riding.  (JJ brought his daughter with him, it was great to meet her too.)

There is something about the internal fight you have with yourself while you are putting out a big effort (or fighting the elements) and then get together with friends who do the same thing.  It is a fraternity and sorority and a family.  It was great to see everyone, go for a ride and talk about all of the great things coming for 2014.  I value our friendship and look forward to an awesome 2014.  For those who could not make it, we missed you.

Go WSI/Team Active Racing.  Jack.

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3,000 Miles… 12 States… One Amazing Woman.

On behalf of the entire WSI Cycling Team, I’m excited and proud to introduce you to one of our most amazing teammates, Kathy Roche-Wallace. I’ve known Kathy for years, in fact she was even one of my “groomsmen” when my Alicia and I got married over 15 years ago. She’s completed Ironman™ triathlons, tripple “Iron-distance” triathlons, multi-day adventure races, ultra-distance runs, 12-hour mountain bike races and in 2011 was the first 50+ woman to complete the solo Race Across America. During her 2011 RAAM event, she even won the Queen of the Mountains award for summiting the major mountain passes faster than any other woman. Despite all this, she’s going back to RAAM again this year to do even better.

Kathy Roche-Wallace

When you hear these accomplishments, one may assume all she does is ride, run and workout but that’s not true. While she certainly does train more than most, she’s got a “real job” with the local fitness center, a wife, mother to six children and a proud grandmother. Yes, I said grandmother and this “granny” will ride circles around you (I know first-hand because it’s happened to me!). I think that’s one of the special things about Kathy. While she did get official sponsorship as a professional cyclist  in the 90s, she’s been racing and competing “for the fun of it” for well over a decade and isn’t showing any signs of slowing down.

Coming up next month, Kathy will throw her leg over her Cannondale and start her second 3,000 journey across the country in her second RAAM event. She’s got a great crew to help take her across the United States (and have been there for the past several months on training rides and team meetings). Unless you’re part of that elite crew, you’re not going to be able to physically travel with Kathy for those 12 days in June. But, you CAN offer your support and help to ease the financial burden, as well as support charity at the same time.

At Kathy’s RAAM 2013 contribution page (http://bit.ly/raam2013) you can make a donation with a credit or debit card directly online. There’s instructions on how to send a check if that’s a preferred payment method. Either way, your support will help to ease the financial burden of competing in an event of this magnitude. Plus funds received beyond expenses will be donated to charity.

Kathy starts RAAM on June 11th in Oceanside, CA and updates will be shared on her Facebook page, GoKathyGo. If you’ve not visited and become a Fan yet, stop by and click the LIKE button. The crew will be posting photos, videos and updates from the road so you can keep tabs on Kathy’s progress. Her goal this year is to compete the race in under 12 days and I’m excited that Alicia and I will be there in Annapolis, MD this year when she comes across the line.

Eric

P.S. Join me this week on Wednesday, May 29th when Kathy joins me on my weekly webinar show, Free Webinar Wednesdays. The show starts at 1 pm Eastern and we’ll be talking all about RAAM and the many things that make Kathy so special.

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The Lady Luck of Racing

Race #1 Grand Rapids Criterium (Women’s 3/4) – BAD Luck.

This weekend I decided to go up and race the Grand Rapids Criterium (Women’s 3-4) on Saturday.  Not much in miles this year, haven’t done a crit in 3 or 4 years I think, but what the heck, the Michigan Women’s Racing Forum was encouraging 3’s and 4’s to come out and race as the promoter made a separate race this year for the 3/4’s.  Three days before the race, I renewed my USA Cycling road license and registered for the race.  Two days before the race, some aggressive bouldering at the local climbing gym tweaked my hip out.  As Danny, Devin and Brett can attest to, I was a whiny bundle of nerves during the drive and before the race.  I squeezed into the skinsuit and warmed up on the rollers of which I gracelessly slid (ok, fell) off 5 minutes later – maybe the beginning of the brake issue?  Warming up on the course (there were delays in starting our race), I just felt tired and sluggish – thinking, yeah a bit out of shape, but must be nerves.  Race started with 15 of us, not too bad a pace on a great 8 corner course – and I felt awful.  I was up where I needed to be, but after a few laps I was so utterly exhausted, I  just slid off the back and finished the race by myself, not quite dead last, but almost.  Very heartbroken, thinking the Wednesday ride is faster, maybe I can no longer do this, I sat next to the car for a bit then as I lifted my bike to the rack, I noticed the back wheel was immobile….come to find out, my brake had shifted and was rubbing quite nicely against my wheel.  I laughed.  Frustrating, but laughing was all I could do.  Bummer!

Race #2  Milford State Criterium Championships (Women 4) – GOOD Luck (and darn lucky!)

Saturday night, I couldn’t stop thinking about racing, about maybe more structured training next year…and thinking about the Milford Crit.  But our house has been in construction mode for a while and really needs to be done.  I promised I would work on it this weekend.  But the race….  Couldn’t sleep, woke up at 6 am, debating, what time do I have to leave, but the house…  Paced the house, finally Brett grabs me and says go, I’ll load your bike, you can still make it over for the 10:45 am start (it was 7:25 am).  Some slight exceeding the speed limit, I didn’t tell anyone from the team in case a repeat of performance of Saturday (minus the brake – just my lack of endurance).  Made it, walked into Devin around a corner and to my nervous delight, was thrilled to see him.  He helped pin my number on a smelly skinsuit (sort of forgot to wash it..) and got me set up before heading out for church. 

13 strong Cat 4 women (I was the 13th) for 35 minutes plus 2 laps on the great, technical, bit hilly Milford course.  Off the get go I was out front for a lap to test the corners and then tucked myself in the top 5.  One gal decided she didn’t want me to have the 4th spot and kept trying (quite unsucessfully) to ‘push’ me back.  I politely declined her advances, took the spot, then when she made a small verbal complaint, I very gently guided her tighter into the corner than I think she preferred (I did not and would not intentionally ever put someone in a ditch or off course, but if you are going to actually bump shoulders with me over a spot, I will happily let you know that I could put you in a ditch if you persist).  It was all good btw, we chatted afterward.  A good race, several of us led some strong laps.  My cornering was stronger, but my low endurance wouldn’t allow me to stray far from the pack without risking a blowup.  The last left hand corner is just wicked and requires a lot of handling skill at high speeds.  I was testing the corner, trying to tighten my line to gain spots.  Final lap, and one of the stronger, better cornering gals, Shannon, attacked the field, and with a quick jump, I tucked in right behind her, ready for the final sprint.  We hit that corner fast and hard and Shannon went down right in front of me and slid slightly right.  Never touching my brakes, I actually tightened my line into the turn and flew right by her.  My sprint needs some serious work, I forgot I was on the hoods, but sprint I did, not knowing who else was right behind me.  Almost to the finish, I risked a look back and they were far enough back (they told me they got caught behind Shannon – took their corner too wide), I was able to do a victory salute….except, I wasn’t over the line yet!!  They have a banner over a section of bricks – looks like the finish, but the tiny white line is 20 feet more forward.  After looking at the finish picture, I was really, really darn lucky I didn’t get passed at the actual line (with my hands in the air)!!  Thank you Lady Luck for that one – I owe you!! 

Thanks to Devin and to Jack for making the day fun!

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Tri Del Sol Duathlon Race Report 7.21.12

On Saturday my wife twisted my arm and made me do a duathlon while she competed in her first Triathlon. The duathlon consisted of a 2mi run / 19mi bike / 4.9mi run. The first run I did fairly well and finished in the middle of the pack with a total time of 14:30. Then the bike started. It was a very rolling course with almost no flat sections. I made up a lot of ground and passed nearly everybody with a average of 22. Which is pretty good for me considering drafting is illegal, and as many of you know that’s the only way I can keep up on Wednesday night rides. Overall I had the third fastest bike split in the duathlon. Then the dreaded final ran began. It took almost ¾ of a mile before my calves stopped screaming at me. All that hard work and huge lead I had gained was quickly washed away by mile 2 or 3 as the other runners appeared to be sprinting right by my slow ass. I finished the run with a time of 41:24min – avg 8:30min/mi. Which is way better than the goal I had set for my self. Finished 3rd of 4 in my age bracket and 22nd of 59 overall.

Special thanks to WSI and Team Active for making all of this possible.

David Goff