2012 blog posts

12-29-12: I'm in the midst of what I'll call "amateur training camp" in a warm sunny place, putting in miles, trying to get fit.  (amazing how fast we've becoming "un-fit).  Today we rode a local pass where they do a yearly hillclimb TT race, and I snagged 3rd on Strava among women! Daggone I'll take it! perhaps all is not lost ... fitness is better than expected which bodes well for the season!

12-2-12: If you'd like to watch the Pedal The Plains documentary onAltitude Sports and Entertainment you still have a few chances! Here are the remaining times: 
Thursday, December 06, 2012 1:00 AM
Saturday, December 08, 2012 5:00 AM
Monday, December 10, 2012 8:00 PM
Saturday, December 15, 2012 2:00 PM
Monday, December 17, 2012 3:00 PM
Monday, December 17, 2012 1:00 AM
Tuesday, December 18, 2012 11:00 AM

11-28-12: be sure to watch Altitude Sports and Entertainment tonight at 8pm or 11pm for the Pedal The Plains documentary!

11-23-12: I've been using powerbar products now since 2006, and still can't say enough positive things about their products.  They've got the complete lineup too -with bars, drinks for before/during/after, gels, bites, chews and bars for day to day activity.  So many flavors an athlete never gets sick of the options.  I really can't recommend Powerbar enough.  If you haven't looked lately at all the products they offer, I'd encourage you to take a look at www.powerbar.com right now!

11-14-12: 2013 team kits are in!  And I couldn't be happier with how they turned out.  We've got some new and returning sponsors -all of whom are amazing. Incredible support for a beginner team (our members don't realize they receive better perks than most CAT 2/3 riders around here!!!). 

It's all awesome stuff and I'm looking forward to getting the season underway shortly. 

10-26-12: I had a lot of fun recording my first radio interview last night with OverTheTop Radio, click here to listen!

10-17-12 - just a few weeks away from November which means indoor cycling classes start soon in the new studio above my law office!!  Visit http://www.thecyclist-lawyer.com/studio for more info!! 

10-15-12: the team had a BLAST on our first ride of the 2013 season - 17 members showed up for our ride at Centennial Cone!  Such a great time.  This team is becoming more and more fun, and more and more excited about racing their bikes next year.  We brought in some new and amazing sponsors for 2013 as well.  Team kits are ordered- the season is officially underway!  You can read all about our team (and order TCL merchandise too!) at: http://www.thecyclist-lawyer.com/team.

10-1-12: what an honor (and total blast!) to film this commercial and represent my positive car buying experience at Larry H Miller VW in Lakewood.  Watch for it on upcoming Monday night football broadcasts! 

9-24-12: home from Pedal the Plains! So much to report!

Day one: Yuma to Wray -super easy 28ish miles, great way to open up the legs a bit after the drive before Saturday's Gran Fondo!  We spent the rest of Friday filming in Wray with the High Noon crew for the documentary they are making about this event.  Then we drove to Burlington and slept HARD in that country quiet ...

Day 2 -Saturday- was the 120-mile gran fondo.  I got in the lead group near the front and things stayed together until the first sprint point around mile 38.  I went for it and took the sprint, narrowly.  The climb and acceleration really broke up the group and we found we were a group of about 24 off the front -so we rolled paceline formation making great time.  Around mile 70 we all decided to stop at the lunch stop for quick bottle refills and sandwiches.  Unbeknownst to us a boyfriend/girlfriend duo kept going while we all stopped.  Once we got going we learned they were up the road, and we went into hardcore freight-train paceline formation just hauling to try and catch them -no one was ok with letting the race go up the road!!!  We couldn't believe that with our group of 20 working hard, we were unable to reel in two riders who were battling the high winds on their own for all those miles ... we kept waiting to see them at a rest stop filling bottles but nope ... they apparently survived 120 miles on just 2 bottles.  Slowly but surely the effort whittled down our group to 10, then to 7, then finally there were just 4 of us ... the group broke up and I found myself alone with 7 miles to go, racing to be the 3rd place finisher.  Those were brutal miles.  I hammered, still hoping I might catch a glimpse of 1-2 and maybe just maybe could catch them before the line.  But nope.  They'd been done for awhile by the time I crossed the finish line.  I was disheartened, but also pumped with the effort I put out, riding 120 miles in 5:48 -much faster than I expected. I won the sprint competition and was the 2nd place female finisher.  At the awards presentation I was given some cash for both of those results -a totally unexpected BONUS!!!  Here's my radio interview about Saturday.

Here's the strava low-down:

Sunday was 83 miles- Katie and I decided to just roll it and take our time, enjoying the stops, etc.  We were both tired and ready to be off the bikes by the time we finished in Yuma.  Then we packed up and drove home!

All in all, this event was really great.  We cannot say enough positive things about the Denver Post folks and their SUPERB organization at this event - nor the small town hospitality we received from the locals.  Not one issue with farmers or semi-truck drivers -- but there were plenty of flat tires among the riders in the event due to those darn goat heads -but somehow Katie and I managed to make it the entire weekend without a single flat ourselves! 

I posted a TON of photos to my FB page here but am also posting a couple of my favorites here and more in the photo gallery on this website

Before the start of day 1:

finished the gran fondo!

With our FFA mentees- who did so WELL all weekend (brand-new to cycling!)

9-20-12: I raced my first singlespeed CX race last night, it was a blast.  I love my new belt-drive Spot Brand bike -esp the 29er wheels.

9-18-12:  Pedal the Plains here we come!

9-16-12: SO excited to announce TheCyclist-Lawyer.com's partnership with Larry H Miller VW!!  Check out our spiffy new ride:

9-9-12: please share this flyer with your cycling team and friends! Hope to see you there!

9-8-12: ooof ... I'm behind on posting! I raced the King of the Mountain hillclimb back on 8/24 -the day before the USPCC came through Golden -and narrowly missed the win -by 3 seconds! It was windy but I still took 15 seconds off my time from last March, so I consider it a success!

The next morning I set up our team tent in the Golden USPCC expo and handed out all kinds of goodies to cycling enthusiasts who passed through ALL day long!  So fun to connect with fans from all over the country and World who came to Golden to see the race.

The next morning -the day of the final USPCC stage, I took part in the Founders Ride with my friends from Treads and Cannondale.  We had police escort the entire time and we rode on parts of the TT course -it was awesome. And look who else I met on the ride! Fmr Gov Bill Ritter and current Lt Gov Garcia!

THEN the following morning -The Monday post-USPPC, I joined Cannondale in Boulder for a "Ride with the Pros" -Ted King and Timmy Duggan, to be exact.  It was a BLAST!

And ... It's been insane since then...My new office was cleared for move-in right after the pro ride last Monday so I've been moving, decorating and cleaning the place to get it ready and open! 

This time of year is also when new members apply for our team, we order and design new kits, new sponsors come on board - it's all hectic but fun! In the midst of all this, I threw in a car deal and purchased my very first VW -it's a TDI (diesel) so it gets amazing mpgs.  I LOVE the car.  And highly recommend the dealership too!  Larry H Miller VW in Lakewood.  Can't say enough positive things about doing my deal there -they knew I was beyond-busy and helped me get the deal done fast.  This is Josh -see him next time you need a car!

***

8-25-12: the start of the USPCC stage 6 here in downtown Golden!

8-22-12: rode up Fremont pass (both directions) this morning and enjoyed a GLORIOUS ride as well as lots of cycling traffic headed up to see the race.  Loved seeing all the cars with bikes on top! 

Also reclaimed my QOM on Fremont from Copper:

8-21-12: Reflections and Comments on last night's Jefferson County "Roadway Safety Meeting" at Ken Caryl Ranch House... Hosted by Commissioner Rosier and Amy Pamperien with presentations by Lt. James Lucas, Jeffco Sheriff, and representative of Jeffco Transportation and Engineering Division -- click here

 see also - attached powerpoint presentation (I apologize they are out of order in this file but you get the gist).

***

8-19-12: Today I rode in the INAUGURAL Cannondale-sponsored Vail Gran Fondo!! 

It has been AGES since I've done a century - or really - any ride over 80miles.  It is and always has been my opinion that no matter who you are or how fit you are, being on the bike after about 70-75 miles typically just isn't fun. The body gets cranky, things start to hurt and the fun ride becomes work.  So I can't really explain why it is that I found myself about to start a 117 mile ride, other than to say that I wanted to support a Cannondale event and see some new roads up here in the mountains...

So we took off as a mass start at 7am from Vail.  I came prepared clothing-wise this time after freezing at the copper triangle 2 weeks ago - and I was bundled up and warm this go-round, especially since the ride effectively descended for the first 40ish miles.  I even had the winter gloves!  Lots of layers + a backpack to put stuff in later when it came off. 

I immediately sensed this would be unlike the last 2 organized cycling rides I've done -the lead group of about 20-30 guys were treating this like a road race complete with game faces -we're talking fit looking dudes with sweet bikes.  I got in the mix working in the pacelines, etc and next thing I knew we'd rolled 45 miles under 1:45.  Sweet. Everyone in the front group rolled past the first aid station, but pulled into the one near mile 45ish.  I took the opportunity to strip off my extra layers and get comfortable since it was already heating up.  Problem was, the group of fasties was already outta there.  Dang.  I was bummed to miss the chance to ride in a group and resigned myself to a LONG day of solo miles ahead.  The upside to riding alone was that, instead of focusing on the wheel in front of me, I could focus on the scenery as I rode.  Wow.  Amazing stuff, let me tell you.  Roads less traveled, low traffic, gorgeous green pastures and rivers running through them.  Breathtaking.  Parts of Colorado I haven't seen before too. 

After awhile, groups of a few guys would catch me and I'd try to hop in but I realized that it was actually harder to do that than to ride alone.  Riders who haven't been taught -or don't care about using -the unspoken rules of road peletons - will make it absolutely challenging to ride with them.  Lots of surges and accelerations as guys would pull through, pacelines quickly falling apart.  I pulled away on a climb and continued on alone.

Then came the gravel section.  Approx 14 miles of loose gravel - great scenery though.  But challenging terrain, that unpaved section absolutely ate up the power.  The downhills sections were a bit freaky to me, especially where the road curved.  Lots of riders flatted here (and of course the SAGs were nowhere to be seen) ... But I made it through and was never so glad to be back on smooth blacktop!  This brought me to around the 75 mile mark.  I had about 10 miles before the KOM/QOM climb, which spanned miles 85-90.  We were given timing chips for this specific climb, to compete in the KOM/QOM competition.  I found it actually pretty cool that the "race" component of today didn't start until after 85 miles of riding. 

As we approached mile 85 the climb started and I just put my head down and committed to suffer suffer suffer. It was tough to hammer a climb when the legs were feeling pretty empty.  But before I knew it there was the summit.   This left me with miles 90-117 to go to the finish.  And I knew after mile 100 it was uphill.

I was feeling pretty good until about mile 105.  The gradual uphill + headwind + riding alone and having no one to draft off + feeling like I was the last one on the roads led to my head going into a negative zone.  I began to fixate on my odometer.  Finally I got to 115 and realized that 117 would not put me at the finish.  Let me just tell you how defeating it is to realize you have to ride even MORE than they told you at that point in a long ride.  Whereas before I was on schedule to hit my 6 hour target, I began to lose time in a big way those last miles. 

Finally - Mile 117, then 118, then 119 at the finish.  FIRST FEMALE FINISHER they announce.  Alright!!!  No word on KOM/QOM results.  But all in all, a great ride.

Here are the things I learned/things I was reminded of:

-don't overdress.  My backpack ended up being pretty heavy after I added all my layers to it.  Not optimal on a long ride where you really want to be comfortable and not weighted down.  Don't overdo it like I did.  Be prepared to be a bit chilly at the start of an event, but if you know the temps will warmup, don't overdress

-don't lose the main group.  I wish I had NEVER stopped to take off my layers.  I bet my ride would've taken an hour less had I ridden with that group of guys the entire time.  And I know my legs would feel better right now if I had - having people to work with and draft is crucial on a long ride like this

-but given that I did the majority solo, I was really grateful I had my iphone and headphones to listen to for those many many miles

-I wish I had not slacked on my fuel those final 20 miles.  I kept thinking "I'm so close" that I didn't really eat at the final stop and wasn't eating on the bike.  Big mistake.  Fuel THROUGH an event - don't stop at the end - that's when I needed it the most!  I was feeling fuzzy and weak towards the end and it made those final miles a real test

-aerobar comment again here we go: saw several, including one guy on a tricked out TIME TRIAL BIKE with deep dish tubular tires.  WHA!?!!?  Gang -leave the aero stuff at home!!!  With us riding in groups especially at the beginning it was just straight-up frightening to be next to people with aero bars on their bike.  There is NO NEED.  Take em off.  I think ride organizers should mandate this!

-pack what you need!!  I saw one guy who'd flatted on the gravel stretch asking every rider that passed by: "hey do you have a long stem tube, I need a long stem tube for my wheel."  Dude- did you seriously not pack yourself any tubes??  Or any that are the stem length that you need for your wheels??  Really??  SAGs were sparse today.  You needed to have your supplies with you.  There was no excuse for him not to be prepared.

(a note about SAGs: Yes Fiats are super cute, but SAGs that can barely fit one rider in them are definitely not practical):

-riding on gravel: keep the power on the pedals.  Anytime you let off the gas the bike starts to get squirrely.  This is what made that section so hard, because it ate up the energy.  but that's how you ride it safely.

-if you're going to make a habit of riding in groups of cyclists, learn the nuances.  Either have someone teach you, or be receptive when someone tries to give you tips (as I did to a few folks today).  There was some seriously silly and sometimes scary group riding going on those first 45 miles.  Where did they learn this stuff??   For example -some guys decided to do pee breaks on the shoulder of the road.  No biggie.  But instead of just pulling over to the right, they cut off to the left in front of other riders, crossed the center line and crossed in front of oncoming cars, and peed on the left shoulder.  REALLY!???!?

-if you feel like you may need SAG or opulent rest/feed stations, don't sign up for a first-year event.  They usually have kinks to work out.  Today we were pretty much self-supported, other than the stops, which offered a VERY limited list of food and drink options.  The route was off the beaten path and since there were just a few hundred riders, I could look ahead and behind me on a road and not see another rider, nor SAG, nor race direction sign, and swear I was totally lost.  (This leads me to my next tip):

-know the route!!  Bring the map if need be.  Today was not a day to rely on the race organizers to tell you where to do.  The arrow signs were not posted regularly enough to ever get a confident feeling you were riding the right way

I'm not sure I'd recommend this event if you need a big expo, a big finish line meal, or any schwag.  They didn't get the jerseys in (so they're mailing them at a later date), there was no expo, and the "Italian-themed meal" afterwards was single topping pizza.  However it was cool seeing cannondale everywhere here and lots of folks grabbed a demo bike and got to try a 2013 model out -which is sweet.

Vail is gorgeous, and this weather was pretty amazing.  The route scenery was spectacular.  So on those grounds I'd suggest this event to others in future years.

Thanks for reading!

And --here's my strava file:

***

8-11-12: I woke this morning, checked the weather (nice and cool and overcast!) got on my bike and rode to a criterium held here in Golden -at the Colorado State Patrol evasive driving course located on TOP of south table mountain.  It is so rare that a women's pro/1/2 crit is offered before 9am -usually we race after 1pm, sometimes as late as 4 or 5pm - so I couldn't turn down the chance to race early PLUS the race benefits Craig Hospital -a very worthy cause.

The course is wide open with sweeping turns -no technical spots -but we did have plenty of wind this morning to keep it interesting for our 50-minute race.  After the first few laps a group got off the front.  This course does not favor breakaways, especially on windy days.  However I noted that each team was represented with a rider in the break.  I bridged up to the break thinking it was likely to stay away and sure enough, off we went.  With just a few laps to go, we lost 2 riders -one to a flat tire and one who took a bad line out of the turn and ended up riding off into the gravel.  When it was time for the finish, I went early - loving the uphill sprint finish.  I was able to pull out the win - such a pleasant and very unexpected surprise! 

Informal podium-shown here with 2nd, 3rd, and 5th place finishers:

8-7-12: a very nice writeup about eastern Colorado and Pedal the Plains in today's Denver Post!  Click here to read.

8-4-12: First Copper Triangle in the books!

I started a little after 6am, waiting for enough sunlight to be able to see while wearing sunglasses.  (They said we could start anytime between 545-8am).  Holy cow there were already hundreds of riders on course!! I had to work hard to pass a lot of folks on the first climb south on Hwy 91 (Fremont pass) and into the second pass (Tenn. Pass).  After that, the riders were more disbursed which made it easier to ride safely on the right shoulder at my own pace.  GORGEOUS scenery.  I decided my target would be to finish in 4 hours.  My first 2 hours were strong- 180w avg power and I felt really good.  But DANG I was cold.  At one point my Garmin showed 39 degrees.  Even with arm/leg/toe warmers, embro, vest, Rapha jacket, jersey and undershirt I was FROZEN SOLID.  Fingers and toes were totally numb for most of the day.  I wasn't prepared to be quite that cold for so long.  But there's no way I would wait any later to start the ride, either.

As we approached mile 60-ish, the ride got fairly difficult, passing through Vail and then beginning the Vail pass climb (the hardest of the 3, IMHO). There are a couple SUPER steep pitches once you get onto the bike path as it runs parallel to I-70.  I second guessed my gear selection a bit there.  Luckily we had a tail wind on that section as we came back east towards Copper.  Sadly though, my 4 hour mark went out the window as we approached the final rest station before the bike path descent (which I shall refer to now as RUNNING THE GAUNTLET).  Oh my -families with small kids on bikes, dads pulling Burleys on their MTBs, groups stopping for photos ... all on a relatively rough and narrow bike path (with our side being downhill the entire way).  It was terrifying.  I was very cautious and gave up a lot of time in those final 8 miles of today's ride.  I was so glad to be in the first 15-20 riders, all spread out, instead of in the midst of thousands of riders all trying to navigate that section at the same time.  That HAD to be chaos.

But arriving in Copper to everyone clapping and cheering was awesome.  About mid ride the rest stations began telling me I was the lead female.  I also heard this as I finished.  I'll take it!  All in all it was a pretty big ride/effort for me:

• 77.8mi
  Distance
• 6,247ft
  Elevation (?)
• 04:39:55
  Moving Time
• 2,829
  Calories

***

8-3-12: all checked in here at Copper Mountain and all registered and set for tomorrow's ride!  I explored a bit of the expo and resort today -here are some photos of my adventures:

Sporting my new Copper Triangle event jersey by Shaver Sport:

Rode the ski lift up (never done that in the summer time!) and then rode it down (I've never ridden a ski lift DOWN!) -it's a great way to enjoy the scenery while staying off the legs!

8-2-12: Preparing for the Copper Triangle 

As part of my selection to be a correspondent for the Pedal the Plains event, I was given entry into the Copper Triangle.  I've never done this event before, it's a pretty massive one-day ride.  And it sells out EVERY YEAR!

From their website, I learned it is a: 

"78-mile loop cresting three Colorado Mountain passes - Fremont Pass (elevation 11,318’), Tennessee Pass (elevation 10,424’) and Vail Pass (elevation 10,666’). The total elevation gain for the course is 5,981 ft."  

See: http://www.coppertriangle.com/course.html

That's a LOT of elevation gain!  What that meant for me as I signed up:  I need to do more climbing! And more big rides to prepare! 

Luckily -just two weeks ago, I did the Courage Classic - it was a 3-day tour totaling 157miles (or 201miles in my case since I added a few extra in) and it climbed the same pass -Fremont pass- that we'll start with at the Copper Triangle.  

Unfortunately for us at the Courage Classic, Hwy 24 was temporarily closed due to the sinkhole issue, so our Courage Classic courses were amended slightly to remove that portion of the event.  However now for the Copper Triangle, CDOT has found a way for us to ride from Leadville via Hwy 24 towards Vail!  So I will get to see some new scenery and climb 2 new passes  -- Tennessee and Vail passes.  

When you go into an event like this, preparation is key if you want to enjoy the day.  You don't sign up for a 70+ mile event with nearly 6,000 feet of elevation gain and then try to "fake it."  This type of an event requires some longer rides in the saddle, at elevation if possible, but certainly some rides with climbing, to prepare the body for 3 mountain pass climbs.  

Riding 70+ miles in itself is a feat- assuming you average 15-16mph, that is usually a 4+ hour ride.  So in training I've been trying to do 3-4 hour rides several times/week to increase my endurance.  This means that my back, butt, shoulders, neck, arms, and most importantly LEGS are accustomed to riding not 1, not 2, not 3 but 4 or more hours at a time.  At all 3 days of the Courage Classic I rode 3:30-4 hours/day.  That was a HUGE endurance boost. 

Last weekend I raced in Salida -doing a time trial and criterium.  I also added a road ride in, giving me 3:30 ride time on Saturday which included a fast paced 45-minute criterium.  This also helped increase my endurance.  

Additionally as I said, you have to train your body to CLIMB.  Many of my local weekday training rides these last few weeks have been done on Lookout Mountain, Highway 40 (from Golden up towards the Buffalo/Lookout Mtn exit on Hwy 70), Highway 74 (from Morrison up to Evergreen), and so on.  Climb climb climb.  It's not unusual for a ride here in the Golden-Morrison-Lakewood area to yield 2500-4000 feet of elevation gain in 30-40 miles.  

I also recently invested in the best rain jacket money can buy, from Rapha (www.rapha.cc) to take with me in case I get caught in some wet stuff midday (very typical in the Colorado Mountains this time of year!).  Expensive but worth it when you're trying to stay warm and dry while descending mountain passes at altitude where the temps are cooler and the rain feels COLD!

All told, I feel I'm prepared and ready to tackle this event, which begins at 5:45am on Saturday morning!  I will get to Vail early on Friday to get there for a nice easy spin on my bike to "ride out the car legs" and then get my packet and all the info I need for the ride.  Then it will be a VERY early bedtime for me so that I'm up and at'em in time to start the early ride, in the hopes that I can outrun the rain.

I am really looking forward to the Copper Triangle and look forward to reporting back on my experience after it's finished!  Thanks for reading. 

7-31-12: WOW! Just like that, July is over.  Whoa!  So up next, August 4, is the Copper Triangle.  I was awarded an entry into this event as a result of my selection as a Plains Pedaler correspondent for the Pedal the Plains event Sept 21-23 in eastern CO.  I've never ridden the Copper Triangle, but I will know a few of the roads from the Courage Classic 2 weeks ago.  However this is one big ride in a single day, rather than shorter rides over 3 days.  It will be a lot of climbing, but I'm looking forward to getting back up to the mountains.  I also recently registered for the 8/19/12 Cannondale (woot woot!)-sponsored Gran Fondo in Vail.  Over 100 miles -not a race, but it's timed (so you're given a finishing place) ... I'm really looking forward to that as well!  Lots of fun ahead, not to mention the US Pro Cycling Challenge Aug 20-28.  Come visit me at my theCyclist-Lawyer.com tent in Parfet Park, Golden, on 8/25!

7-28-12: day 2 of salida today, the criterium.  I haven't raced a crit in a year -since my surgery a year ago today! Needless to say there were nerves at play and cobwebs to clear out.  I was surprised by a couple things, including how good my legs felt despite the lack of intense training, and also my ambivalence regarding my finish.  I was completely happy to sit on the back "tail-gunning" during the race, not even sprinting at the line. I guess I'm either getting old or soft or both.

This morning I had a gorgeous road race recon ride, to scope out tomorrow's race venue.  Salida is beautiful - it feels like farm country, but very green and humid.  Here are both rides from today:

7-27-12: off to the races! On a whim (and to escape the heat again) I registered and drove to Salida for the weekend to race the Salida Classic, a 3 day omnium event consisting of a time trial, criterium and road race (happens to also be the CO state RR champs).  I am well-aware that I'm not in race shape (having won it back in 2008, I know I don't have the form!) but I'm looking forward to riding in the Salida area, and also to hanging with my teammates and supporting them -something I haven't been able to do in awhile.  As the road season begins to wind to a close, these opportunities are fewer and farther between, so I am going -come what may - and am determined to have FUN above all else! 

My TT was at 2:40pm.  It was ugly -It was WAY more fun to time trial when I was in shape.  But I did get some cool pics on my warmup ride, including:

Here's the strava data from the warmup and TT:

***

7-24-12: while the event's still fresh in my mind, I thought I would post some suggestions/observations/ideas/tips here for future Courage Classic (or any charity event or distance ride) participant: (you can also read this list here)

1.  I saw a lot of baggy cycling clothing.  Order/wear shorts that fit well -i.e., snug, so the chamois is where it belongs.  Same for the jersey -snug.  Keep that baby close to the skin!  Baggy jersey = extra drag/wind resistance.  No time to be modest, wear your cycling clothing TIGHT as it's meant to be!

2.  I saw many riders using clip on aero/TT bars. These have a place in 2 events: time trials or triathlons.  Anything else, take em off.  When you're riding/sharing the road with thousands of other cyclists, you need both hands on your handlebars, near your shifters and brakes!  You do not need to be aero.  In fact, flying down those descents in aerobars is downright DANGEROUS!!!  Having hands so far from the brakes is a bad idea.  Plus it's really hard to steer/control the bike in aero bars.  Not to mention they wreak havoc on your low back and hamstrings!  I know new riders suffer from some upper body fatigue and the temptation is to eliminate that by laying down on the bike in TT bars but that is not the answer.  Instead, train more often and develop those upper body muscles.  Please don't use TT bars in large cycling events.

3.  I saw a lot of riders spending HOURS in their chamois after they were finished riding.  This is a bad idea on so many levels.  You are stinky for one thing.  Second, all that salt and bacteria is now left to chafe your skin in sensitive areas, setting you up for a painful ride the next day.  As SOON as you're off your bike you want to get out of the cycling shorts AND rinse off.  Consider also applying a moisturizer or post-ride balm to keep your skin healthy "down there" because if it gets angry, your rides will not be fun thereafter.

4.  I observed many riders going straight for the free beers post-ride.  At altitude!  Up that high, where it's that dry - you not only risk one heck of hangover, but also serious dehydration which can lead to muscle cramps and other painful problems while riding.  This can absolutely undo the best-laid plans for a multiday event.  Steer clear of the booze and focus on hydration.  Save your alcoholic celebrations for after the final stage!

5.  A lot of riders stop at the aid stations for a long period of time.  I don't recommend this.  I also don't recommend stopping at EVERY station.  Choose one or two when your bottles need refilling, to stop.  Fill bottles, grab a small snack like a half-banana, and then get riding again.  Standing/stopping for too long will cause the legs to stiffen and overall, tricks your body into thinking it's done for the day.  This makes restarting the ride very difficult.  (Along these lines, consider skipping the lunch station if there's more riding to be done after to get back to housing.  Riding with a full belly is SO uncomfortable!).  Save the big meals until after the ride of the day is finished.

6.  I encountered several riders who freaked out when I passed them somewhat closely (usually close because to move out any further would've placed me well out into the traffic).  Riders need to trust experienced riders.  I am obviously not going to do something that would risk crashing myself out.  In racing space, the room I left between the rider and myself was GINORMOUS.  But I recognize that to less experienced riders it felt "very close" and several swerved away from me as I'd ride by.  The lesson here is to just hold your line steady -continue steering in the same straight direction you were.  Hold your position and let the passing rider make their way around you.  Being predictable and consistent makes you a safer rider and makes others riding around you feel safer too.

7.  I observed many riders who fancied themselves skilled bike handlers, showing off their skills by taking BOTH HANDS OFF THE BARS as they descended.  For no reason.  Not to get something out of a pocket, not to eat or drink.  Just to do it.  This is soooooo unsafe.  Please don't do this, ever.  Descents are scary - both hands need to be on the bars (in your drops) with both hands having fingers on the brakes at all times.  One small bump for these showoffs and they will find themselves inside an ambulance. 

8.  I would encourage the less experienced/weaker riders to start earlier, not later.  I observed many in this category waiting until the end of the departure window to get started.  This is not good for a few reasons.  First -you're positioning yourself to the back, which means you won't have people around you to encourage you, you'll be alone most of the ride (no fun).  Second- you are behind the main thrust of riders, which means many of the SAG wagons will be up the road already, and many of the stations will begin tearing down their booths, potentially before you reach them.  If you know you may struggle on a stage, start early and give yourself the maximum time possible, and also be surrounded by other riders so you'll be encouraged and inspired to keep going -rather than off the back all by yourself feeling like the last rider on course. 

9.  Start early no matter what.  Mountains usually mean afternoon thunderstorms.  Yes it's early and it's chilly in the early mornings, but it's so nice being done by noon, well before the rain hits, and with plenty of day left for massage, nap, ice bath in the creek, eating lunch, socializing, etc. 

10.  Dress in layers and have a way to discard the items you strip off.  I like to use a small drawstring bag that is carried like a backpack.  It's super thin and light and fits under my vest.  As the ride heats up, I stop and take off leg/warm warmers, shoe covers etc and stick into the bag.  This frees up precious room in the jersey pockets for the essentials and reduces the chances of dropping an item if it's just stuffed willy-nilly into the jersey or shorts.  Being able to strip down while climbing, and then bundle back up with dry gear for the descents, is critical.  Don't get your stuff all sweaty and wet on the climb, or the descent will be uncomfortably cold.

11.  Eat before you're hungry and drink before you're thirsty.  I spoke with several riders who "bonked" or got light headed.  They simply got behind the curve on nutrition.  You must keep small amounts of calories coming in the entire ride.  Continuous calorie ingestion is far better than big aid station binges once or twice.  

12.  Rest goes a long ways.  Staying off the legs after the day's ride will help for the next day's ride.  Avoid walking, running, standing.  Try to sit, and always have water nearby for hydrating.  Consider an ice bath for added recovery.

13.  At an event is NOT the time to try new things.  New shorts, new shoes, new cleat position, new bike.  I saw so many riders "trade in" their bike for a demo Cervelo for the entire weekend.  YIKES.  The best way to develop new aches and pains is to ride a totally different setup at the event.  Stick to what you know and how you've trained.  Save the demo for a single day at home. 

14.  Thank the volunteers! 

All in all, I saw a lot of supportive fun folks having a blast at this event.  I will add to this list as I think of more mental notes I made and want to share. 

***

7-23-12: Stage 3 of the Courage Classic -I started right at 7am and rode up to Leadville, arriving around 9am. The woman at the finish line told me I was the day's 6th finisher.  Sweet! 6/2000 isn't too shabby ;) I grabbed an OJ at the lunch tent and then began my ride back to Copper, stopping to chit chat with the Treads guys before making the final descent back to the condo.  I spent a lot of my ride today thinking about how I can help Wheels of Justice prepare even better and come to the 2013 CC even stronger ... I've got lots of ideas!!!  I did stop to take a couple pics today, one with the best costume-wearer I saw all weekend and one at the most festive aid station:

My finisher's medal:

Here's the ride data from today (which brought my total miles to 201.7 in 3 days):

***

7-22-12: Stage 2 of the Courage Classic- I took the century route turnoff so that I could ride Ute pass since I knew it'd be gorgeous -and it was.  I shaved off a few miles here and there, as I had no desire to ACTUALLY ride 100 miles though.  As it was, the ride was plenty hard.  Less elevation gain than yesterday but more KJs expended, probably since it felt like we fought a testy headwind from about mile 30, on.  I only got one photo today -of my pinwheel at the top of Ute pass...otherwise, I put my head down and rode hard, since I knew the storms were coming in early this afternoon.  I even skipped the lunch stop and just booked it back to Copper.  And it paid off, I made it back safe and DRY!

Tonight our Wheels of Justice team met for a program, to thank our sponsors and to hear a 13year old speak about how he defied the odds, surviving cancer TWICE, thanks to the care he received at Children's Hospital.  The presentation brought home for all of us why we do this ride and where our fundraised dollars go.  It was really inspirational.  We finished with a team photo:

7-21-12: Stage 1 of the Courage Classic was a SUCCESS!  I did my extra miles before breakfast instead of tacking on the optional miles post-lunch.  After fajitas at the lunch tent and skittles at the candy tent, climbing vail pass didn't sound like a good idea ;) So I'm glad I got up and went early, even though it was FREEZING for the first 45 min of my ride towards leadville.  Thank goodness for embro, and arm/leg warmers! The pinwheel on my helmet was a huge success today, it garnered many funny comments and cheers. 

Shown here with the Lakewood Treads mechanics, the BEST in the world!

And here with Wheel of Justice team members, including fellow attorney Bernie:

Here's the data from my ride today:

7-19-12: All told I've raised $1,150 for the Courage Classic thus far.  Now I'm shooting for $2000.  And I will MATCH ALL DONATIONS OVER $25 UNTIL I'VE REACHED MY NEW GOAL!! Please donate here!  So grateful to all of my gracious friends for donating. 

Today I'm doing my research on the Courage Classic ride routes so that I don't find myself off course! I'm looking forward to escaping the 100 degree temps in Denver for some cooler mountain air and scenery.  I've actually never been to Leadville so I'll get to check out some new places as well! The Wheels of Justice group has some fun events cooked up while we're there, and Copper Mountain also offers concerts and expos etc each afternoon/evening.  So once the riding has ended it looks like we'll have plenty of things to fill our downtime.   

And today it's officially time to start packing!!  I'm treating the 3-day, 157mile Courage Classic like I would a stage race: a multi-day event where the weather can turn, where mechanicals can happen, where I could get a saddle sore, a sunburn, sore legs, etc etc.  That means Preparation is KING to be sure everything goes according to plan.  The list is L-O-N-G but since I'm a list maker and it helps me prepare and not forget something important, I thought I'd share my packing list here for readers to use in their pre-bike event preparations:

BIKE STUFF:

***bike, helmet, shoes (the 3 non-negotiables!)

-bike computer, bike tools (at minimum a multi-tool and tire levers), spare tubes, one spare tire as backup, bike pump (floor pump and travel pump for the back jersey pocket), perhaps a few spare bike parts if in doubt ... some rags to clean my bike with (esp if we get stuck riding in the rain), chain lube, garmin and HR strap

-jerseys, shorts, socks, ROAD ID bracelet, undershirts if it's cool, rain/wind vest or jacket, arm/knee warmers

-on-the-bike nutrition (usually POWERBAR stuff!), two water bottles plus a spare, drink mix, distilled water, pre-during-post foods and recovery foods/drinks ...

OTHER STUFF:

-chamois cream (and travel packets for reapplication during the rides), sunscreeen, toiletries, Suuthe skin repair for saddle sores or sunburns or bug bites), bug repellant (for nighttime activities), visor or hat

-clothing for out-and-about including comfortable shoes for walking, compression tights for sleeping in, a couple tshirts, a sweater/jeans or something warm for the cooler mountain evenings

-laundry detergent for washing cycling gear (hand washing isn't as good as machine washing), ear plugs, laptop, snacks and food for meals, iphone (and charger), garmin (and charger), USB cord for uploading rides to STRAVA!!

-cooler filled with snacks and goodies to eat post ride and in the evenings, i.e. protein powder, meats and bread to make sandwiches, some fruit ...the essentials (since the race meals don't look particularly healthy -i.e. hot dogs! blech) and eating out isn't always the best choice when there's more riding to be done the next day.

-Directions to lodging, entry card, maps, and printed off race/ride info (ie race bible, event route and instructions).

Whew!  No such thing as over-preparedness -for a multi-day cycling event.  One forgotten item can be crucial!  Better to be well prepared if you have the luggage space for extras or "what-if" items!

 

7-13-12: I'm a week away from the one-year mark of my crash at cascade last year.  In a week -on July 20, 2012- I'll be headed to Copper in preparation for my first-ever Courage Classic -and I anticipate I won't have time to reflect on this in a week so I'm doing it now... Hard to believe it was a year ago already.  Truly, it has flown.  With the benefit of hindsight, I can look back now and see that everything happened for a reason.  That it all led to me being right where I was meant to be.  That my broken collarbone has given me common ground with my law firm clients is an understatement -I can fully, truly, appreciate and understand their pain and frustrations, inconveniences, and fears.  The entire experience has reformed and reshaped my thoughts about cycling generally, bike racing, and life. 

Everyone acts like a collarbone break is no big deal -probably because so many in cycling deal with this injury at one point or another.  However, it is a big deal.  It's a broken bone that affects your shoulder and arm function, it may be near your heart, it may result in extended PT or rehab, it may result in temporary or permanent nerve damage ... and the end result is that you have stainless steel parts in your body.  You undergo anesthesia.  These procedures are serious.  [Read BJM's story to see just how serious it can become!]  I've come to realize how lucky I was that I got the care that I did, that my subsequent crash did not result in hardware failure or a new break, and that my shoulder healed so well and my scar is barely noticeable (thanks to Dr Rowland!).

I'll remember every July 20th -and my hardware won't ever let me forget the experience. 

7-9-12: Today I was notified that I am one of the three chosen cyclists to ride as "plains pedalers" in the Pedal the Plains event this September.  This means we get to blog, photograph, video and share our adventures leading up to, and during, this first-annual event.  As part of my preparation package, I also get entry into the Copper Triangle in August.  Missing out on most of the 2012 race season wasn't by choice, but it sure is giving me the opportunity to go and do other cool non-race cycling events!  Many of these mountain passes will be brand new to me.  Gorgeous scenery and fun stories await (and hopefully some new Strave QOMs too!) ...Stay tuned! 

7-4-12: Happy 4th of July!  To celebrate, we enjoyed a team ride -the first to depart from my NEW OFFICE (still under construction but getting close) -

Here is our Strava map:

 6-27-12: happy bike to work day!!!  Today was so much fun.  We started off the morning with a Bike to Work day breakfast station at 32nd and McIntyre in Golden and got a lot of traffic!  I packed everything up and later in the day, went downtown for Bike from Work Bash -which I was proud to sponsor and enjoyed being there to hang out and chat with thousands of cyclists!  You can view photo albums of both events on my facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/meghottman see also here

6-24-12: folks ask me now and then "why aren't you racing?"  Three words I know everyone's sick of hearing: my back hurts.  Old news?  Yes.  Still the reason I can't train hard or race?  Yes.  Had another major flare up of serious pain a few weeks ago after my final hard tuneup workout leading into the CO State TT -my target event of this month.  Back was so bad I spent most of the week off the bike and was ultimately unable to race the TT.  Back to the drawing board -and with a vengeance this time.  Bye bye cycling coach.  Bye bye intervals.  Bye bye weight training.  Let's go back to basics.  And this time I decided to try and see if I can't treat the actual cause of the problem -rather than just treating the symptoms (ie pain) all the time.  I stopped my weekly chiro appointments and all the chasing of providers and fixes and pain killers.  Enough!!!  It's enough to make a person lose their sanity.  Not to mention the hole in the wallet all those providers and treatments cause.  First step -new bike fit -major position overhaul.  Second step -structural and functional analysis and screens.  We know I don't have a slipped disc -so let's get these muscles working right again. 

Yes it's a slow process.  No, I don't have the patience for it. 

I'm so glad I have the Courage Classic to look forward to, and to "train" for or I'd be losing my mind.  Bike racing will have to take a backseat (yet again) to general overall health.  I know some day I'll have this figured out. 

6-19-12: Please consider attending this amazing event.  Use code "legend" at checkout, and pay only $40 to register!!  It includes:  2 meals at the Table Mountain Inn, a soft women's fit tshirt, free spin class at my new studio, discount card for Smith Optics sunglasses, Vitargo, chapstick, sunscreen, water bottle and more ... Plus you will learn so much from Alison via a presentation, skills clinic AND supported 25 mile ride in and around Golden. 

6-11-12: I've been coaching the Wheels of Justice group since 2008 -but was unable to join them for the @courage classic due to race conflicts. This year I am IN! I've met a few of the families who've benefited from WOJ's fundraising efforts for Children's Hospital ($1.6M to date!). Their stories amaze and inspire me! Please contribute to my page and help me reach my fundraising goal of $1000. I'm up to $425 already!
THANK YOU!!!  http://www.couragetours.com/2012/cyclist_lawyer

6-3-12: first XC MTB race for me today!  I debated doing the full marathon but decided against it for a variety of reasons (60 miles on a MTB??  Brutal).  So Rob and I went for the 1/2 (30 miles) instead.  It was a great day.  I mastered some fears, learned some new skills, had fun, got a great workout and got to hang with teammates who also raced and cheered us on.  Rob and I both made our respective podiums as well, with him taking the top step, I was so proud.  Since he taught me everything I know about road racing I'm hoping he'll also share his MTB wisdom with me and help me get better.  There is a LOT of room for improvement. 

5-24-12: so many fun things coming up I wanted to share them here to try and round up as many interested folks as possible!  The last week of June is going to be a RIOT!  

June

27 -DENVER BIKE TO WORK DAY! Find our breakfast station 630-9am, 32nd & McIntyre, in Golden We're a proud sponsor!

27 -Denver BIKE FROM WORK BASH ! We're a proud sponsor -come join the party starting at 5pm, 15th and Little Raven in LoDo.

28 -Panorama/Dr Rowland presentation at Treads, 6-8pm.RSVP on Facebook! We're a proud sponsor!  Flyer here

30 -USPCC/City of Golden Ride/clinic with Alison Dunlap!We're a proud sponsor!  Flyer here

5-10-12: last night I raced my first short-track MTB race.  WHAT A BLAST.  25 minutes of full gas, on a race course just down the road from my house.  And I took the win -woot!  Can't wait to do more of these, so fun to get off the road bike and into something new ;)

and ... happy birthday to me!  Today is a "big" birthday -not because it's one of those monumental birthday years, but because of the year I put behind me, and the fresh start to the year ahead of me.  So much has happened since my last birthday... seems hard to imagine it all went down within just 365 days!  I think in terms of years so far, this past one has been a defining year for me.  Lessons I've learned, experiences that shaped me, I've come out a different person than I was a year ago.  For the better, and wiser, certainly.  I've learned everything happens for a reason -that you have to trust God's plan, even if you don't understand it, even if it's incredibly painful.  And that, like Einstein said (?), insanity truly is doing the same thing repeatedly, expecting different results. 

I feel like I've aged a lot in one year.  The setbacks and injuries I sustained certainly took a few years from me, as did an especially stressful and large case of mine.  But it was all meant to be ...  I am TRULY blessed.

5-6-12: yesterday was my 4th race of the season, yet another time trial.  This one was at a brand new event on a new course and it was awesome -15 miles of great roads and terrain.  And great competition, with me taking 3rd place to two current members of the 2012 London Olympics long team!  Not too shabby.  Always a good day when I can share a podium with two olympic hopefuls (AND they let us keep the sombreros!):

4-26-12: one of the ladies on our team wrote an essay about us, which she plans to enter into an essay contest and hopefully win some $$ for herself/the team to spend!  I wanted to post it here because she really captured the essence of what we're all about:

Here goes:

 

Maybe it is not unique to find athletic women with talent, integrity, strength, spirit for adventure and a "make way boys" attitude.  Maybe it is not rare to find a lawyer who is also an advocate for cyclists in addition to being a pro-racer who has a burning desire to give back to the sport of cycling.  Megan Hottman encourages women who ride to become women who race.  Strong leadership laced with a heart of gold and a spirit of giving might be somewhat common in the racing world.  It was not common in my cycling world.

 

When learning of The Cyclist-Lawyer team, I had visions of blood thirsty piranhas chasing ambulances for training... finding inspiration by threatening to sue one another!  If one could not keep up, or chose to throw up, these women would just as soon ditch you.  I thought becoming a racer would invariably turn me into a vagabond, sharing a van with a bucket of white grease and a raccoon named "Pedals".

 

What I am acutely aware of... I was immediately drawn to The Cyclist-Lawyer team because of the enthusiasm, the shining eyes, the radiating smiles, and the really cool socks.  I had never considered racing, never belonged to any team.  Bottom line-I didn't know if I had what it takes.  When I met the Cyclist-Lawyer group at my favorite bike shop, "Treads" recruiting for this years team, I felt like a monkey in a banana tree.  It seemed unusual to discover a female mountain biker and it seemed to create a buzz.

 

I believe it is rare to bring together 24 women who bring so much experience and wisdom to a team and want to share with others.  We all know we have a lot to learn and are open to any opportunity that comes our way.  With a willingness to try new skills and drills, we realize we do not know it all and can learn from one another. 

 

The Cyclist-Lawyer team has opened doors to learn trak racing at the Velodrome in Boulder, conducted maintenance clinics at Treads bicycle shop, held skills clinics, spin classes, yoga, and coaching classes.  They even have book clubs about what it takes to become proficient in sports. 

 

The Cyclist-Lawyer team are extraordinary women with ordinary lives; women with families, careers, and busy schedules who love biking enough to make it a priority.  Each of us has contributed to the biking world in our own way.  We have volunteered for trail projects, bike events, and have raised money and bicycled for great causes.  Now we are working together, becoming great friends, and having a lot of fun...with winning in mind.  We truly care about one another and succeeding as a team.  We also care about the face and future of women racing.

 

If attitude is truly the biggest factor in racing, we are on the road!

JQ

4-22-12: yesterday was my 3rd race of the season, and our most recent large team event: Haystack TT and TTT.  I came up short and took 2nd place in the women's p/1/2 category - I had some serious shifting issues and basically had just the 3 middle cogs of my rear cassette to work with.  No excuse for my 2nd place finish though - while I spent everything I had, I needed more to spend.  (Time to start hitting the intensity in earnest before my next race!!)  The upside is, my time of 38:38 was better than last year's winner, and - I beat my 2009 time (39:07) and my 2008 time (39:51) by a LOT.

 More importantly, the ladies were very impressive, with us sending 4 TTT teams to the line.  Everyone did SO well, with our top team placing 5th.  I am so proud of them!!

3-18-12: Yesterday we had over 12 athletes racing the Lookout Mtn hillclimb in Golden.  We had 3 photographers on site - here's a link of photos taken by professional Mark Wolcott - http://www.markwoolcottphotography.com/Cyclist_Lawyer_Lookout/ 

Our SW4 ladies did awesome- for most of them this was their first race EVER!  Our top woman placed 8th with a time of 25 minutes (wow!!).  I managed to nab my 2nd win of the season in the women's pro category, my back and legs felt great!!

 

3-4-12: yesterday was the season's first race.  It was epic.  No - it was uber-epic.  The TT runs parallel to I-25 just a few miles south of the CO/WY border.  Translation: INSANE WIND.  Yesterday it grew from 25mph when I arrived to around 35mph by the time I raced.  Oh -and it was 32 degrees.  So factor in the windchill and BRR.  We had 4 ladies and 3 men there from the team -for most, their first-ever race.  I was nervous about us racing in those conditions.  Actually though, once out on the course, it wasn't so bad..  I was able to keep myself down in the TT bars the entire ride and battled the wind using a serious side-lean and my biceps to hold the bike upright.  When all was said and done, my first race of the season was a victory in the women's 1/2 fields.  Our guys and gals did great -all raced well, no injuries, no issues, lots learned.  A success all-round.  Photos here.

2-26-12: it was cold, it was windy, and my average speed wasn't pretty, but I got out today despite the weather, and had a great ride.  I spent almost as much time dressing for the ride as I did riding, but the warm layers and toe warmers made a huge difference. 

2-21-12: after 6+ months of serious treatment with @steveproactive, my back issues are truly resolving... I can do more than 1 hard workout in a row! I feel better than I've felt in several years. Crazy how fun it is to ride my bike when I'm not in pain!  It has been such a long journey.  We've made sooo many changes: bike fit, position at my office/desk, position in my car, the way I sleep, the way I stretch, how I ride ... so many things over so many years contributed to the mess that was f/k/a my back.  I'm so excited to see how riding and racing goes this season with those ailments addressed and corrected.

2-17-12: I had a meeting this morning with a client and I met her in her home.  Her husband was an avid photographer of all things cycling back in the 70s and 80s and he showed me the photos he'd taken of the "big names" in cycling at events like the Coors Classic and Red Zinger.  Many of the names I knew - those that've remained in the sports as coaches or leaders -people like Davis Phinney, Grewal, LeMond, Alan McCormack to name a few.  But most of the photos and names were of cyclists I'd never heard of.  And I consider myself a pretty big fan.  What struck me is just how fleeting fame is, in this sport.  And it made me grateful that I got my degrees and started a profession before I got sidetracked with cycling.  It reminded me that 10-20-30 years down the road, after those medals are packed away in shoeboxes somewhere, the famous names simply aren't famous anymore.   Winning is awesome, and achievements in cycling are great, don't get me wrong.  But seeing my client's home wallpapered in images of cyclists I've never heard of, really was a reminder that success is so fleeting and so fickle in this sport.  And that it's so important to have something else in life for the day when the music and fame stops.  

2-12-12: Friday night Rob and I decided to race in the "First Friday" event at the Boulder indoor velodrome.  It was a BLAST.  We raced in the exhibition rounds between the pro men's events.  Because there were so many racers, we only got to race twice -the tempo and scratch events.  I took the early points in the tempo race and then sat in 3rd wheel for the rest of the race -I have no idea who actually won! While not on purpose, I rolled off the front in the scratch race 2 laps in -with 28 laps to go! Rob blocked for me and forced the other guys to chase.  I held them off until 2 laps to go -when Jerry Greenleaf eventually caught me and took the win.  It was really fun and exciting to race in front of so many spectators, and our team/my law firm received a lot of promo during the night.  I will DEFINITELY do it again!

Shown here with team members Tami, Shelley, Kristen, Emily and Shelly

Friday night date night = racing against my husband ;) good times.

2-7-12: Yesterday I attended the 2nd annual Bicycle Colorado Bike Summit.  Really cool to interact with the state's leading "bike people" with discussions on the state of the laws and policies as well as how the transportation funding from the state and feds breaks down for cyclist and pedestrians.  Gov Hickenlooper spoke, as did the promoter of the US Pro Cycing Challenge.  It is so amazing how much money that event brought into our state last year.  I decided to sponsor the event this year, which meant that my logo was visible throughout the event and my cards and pens were in the goodie bags handed out.  So cool.  Exciting things ahead.

Shown here: Gov'r "Hick" speaking on cycling in Colorado (he is a true champion of all things cycling and our state is so lucky to have him):

 1-18-12: this blog's starting to collect some dust.  Funny how times and priorities change.  I'm following politics way more than I am bike racing news these days.  Work stuff has EXPLODED and I'm so grateful to be busy and productive, helping people (mainly cyclists) who've been injured recover and get back on their feet again.  We did sneak off to a warm sunny place for some miles and tan lines over the new years holiday.  What a wonderful break from all the snow Denver's received this winter.