Mt Hood

Jill takes 3rd after mid-race crash at Mt. Hood Criterium. 1st Kat C. 2nd Katie M. Huge thanks to Mike H for the sideline guidance.

Never a Dull Moment; Mt. Hamilton RR 2007

This was Janeen's first race as a Cat 2, and she did a fine job of rolling to the top of Mt. Hamilton with the leaders. Attacks flowed fast and quick up the 19 mile climb. Several breaks of two racers stayed away for at least 10 minutes at a time before they were caught. Shelly Olds (Proman) made a solo break to take the QOM. After her came a group of about 12 racers who made it to the top together. The descent broke up that group even more. I got gapped by some slower descenders and managed to get around a few of them, but by then the leaders were out of sight.

I hit the climb out of Isabel Creek thinking I'd never see any of leaders again. BUT, I worked hard with Jane Despas and another girl, and caught a group of four. Then, we kept hitting it hard and caught Brooke Miller's small group. We became a group of about 9 and FINALLY caught Shelly Olds. Brooke Miller and another Proman racer attacked about 15 miles out from the finish. They stayed away until about mile 8 or 9 to go as our group worked fairly furiously to catch them. Things eased up until the last descent. I had a lapse of attention when Brooke and the other Proman girl attacked. Brooke's teammate did a fine job of blocking their attack on the downhill. I raced after Brooke and the Proman girl. Brooke won the sprint, Proman second, Jane Despas third, Brooke's team mate 4th, and I came in 5th with Tracy Lillig on my heels. The rest of our small lead group crossed the finish line shortly thereafter. -------Pat

SPECIAL THANKS TO DEREK FROM CHICO FOR PUTTING IN A FANTASTIC EFFORT TO MAKE SURE THAT JANEEN AND I GOT OUT FEEDS!!!

Soto Memorial Stage Race

Kelly psyching out the competition

Kelly at TT start


Kelly in GREEN!!!

Hope ya’ll can read southern…

The Soto Memorial Stage Race in Country Music USA (Nashville, TN to you west coasters), where I was born and bred, was the perfect opportunity for me to do some bikin’ and visit my kinfolks. It was four days of fun, ‘specially if you like it hotter than a June bride, are keen on a good ho-down, and ‘ppreciate good ‘ole southern hospitality.



Day 1 - a 6.7 mile TT in historic Leiper’s Fork, right off the Natchez Trace. It was a rollin’ and curvin’ from the start - Chet Adkins couldn’t a found a rhythm on that course. With my spinaci bars and road bike and set out to tear it up! I managed to pass me a few youngins, but not long after the turnabout, here come ole Debbie Milne speedin’ past me like her bike got a hemi. I tried my darndest to stay with her and finished up in 3rd, just behind Miss Robin Farina, who was out to defend her title. After warshin’ up, I strolled on down to the country store to fetch a Co-cola. A good ‘ole boy came up to me and said, “ma’am, you sho’ do have a nice redneck tan.” I thanked him, as I knew it was a mighty fine compliment.


Day 2 – the gol dang hardest 33 mile race of my life! Up, down, up, down in 11 mile loops. Short, steep little boogers that whooped up on ya’ without relent. Debbie was out for blood and she attacked them hills as if they’d done her wrong. I dug deep and stuck on her and soon we had us a nice little party of 3, with Robin off the back. Debbie, Tracy and I shared the chores and put on quite a show at the finishline, with Debbie sprintin’ for the victory and me and Tracy finishin’ a respectable 2nd and 3rd. At the end of the day, I’d earned myself the green jersey. Surprisin’ as that may sound, even a blind hog finds an acorn now and then.



Day 3 – The crit started right out front of the Wild Horse Saloon in downtown Nashville, and a heap of city folk turned out to see what all the fuss was about. We lined up, all 35 of us Southern Belles, but before we’d made the first turn, Debbie was goin’ whole hog. I think she was trying to put a hurtin’ on me, and along with Tracy, that is exactly what they did. I suffered somethin’ awful, but my ma and auntie were cheerin’ me on, so I stuck it out and finished a righteous 3rd, behind Debbie and Tracy.


Day 4 – Debbie was up by about 40 sec and I was 2nd by another 20 sec or such. This would be my day to show ‘um a thing or two as the 57 miler ended on a 3.5 mile climb. Too bad the first 54 consisted of them short, steep things that had been beatin’ my legs since Day 1. The first few miles were harmless enough and everyone seemed good-natured. But that just wouldn’t do for my friend Debbie! She decided about 14 miles in that enough was enough. She goes tearin’ off the front again. Tracy and I looked at each other and I said, “if that don’t beat all!” “Does she really want to go it alone for over 40 miles, ‘cause I ain’t going with her today.” But she kept goin’, and the gap was a growin’. Finally, Tracy and I were forced to chase her down. No one else was feelin’ generous enough to take a pull, so Tracy and I slowly worked her in, droppin’ some gals in the meantime. After that, Debbie behaved herself and a group of about 12 of us rotated ‘til we hit the climb. Wastin’ no time, I accelerated, but Debbie was quick to respond. It was clear that there was no gittin’ rid of her, so we circled and increased our gap on the group. I was feelin’ purty good at the top, but was no match for the 200m sprint that fired out of Debbie’s legs. She “roundly kicked my tail” at the top of that hill. It was mighty impressive if I do say so myself. That Debbie was tough as nails and twice as sharp, so that settled that – I took 2nd place in the RR and 2nd in the GC.



In all seriousness, although I love to make fun of my roots, this was a fantastic stage race and one that was very important to me, as it was the first time that I’ve gotten to race in my hometown! The venues were challenging, the organizers and volunteers were tireless and the people I met felt like family in only 4 short days (especially Debbie and Tracy, who I spent a good bit of time with) – I guess that is one of the most beautiful things about the South! Having my mom and aunt there to cheer me on during the day, and my dad sending positive vibes (or worrying) from home, meant the world to me. This race brought out women from over 12 states around the South and mid-west and there were over 500 participants in total, in just the 2nd year of the event. This race honors Edgar Soto, who was killed on his bike by a motorist just a few years ago. It is a charity event that raises money for bike awareness in the TN area. Even so, it had great sponsorship and the largest payout of any non-NRC race that I’ve attended. Racing for the National Ataxia Foundation (in honor of my dad) had an even deeper meaning in my hometown. I’ll go back faster than a bell clapper in a goose’s a*& (sorry, I couldn’t help it).



Kelly