by admin | August 3rd, 2009
The following is a letter from Melanie Melendrez, our source of Newbie racing 101 posts. This is what it’s all about, folks…
How does one decide to finish out a race season? Why, in Missoula of course, at the Zootown Throwdown Crit Race in 95+oF weather and a hot headwind that follows you whereever you go. Like racing in a hair dryer, as Bryan Frykman (the TT freight train) so aptly stated at the Hamilton TT. It was a fast, hot race and the course ate me alive and spit me out, but I survived it and was even able to help a few riders along the way hook onto other riders. I will admit, I am a little bitter the FIRST lap was a prime lap! I looked at Mollie and said ‘well….damn.’ I’m not a sprinter and needless to say was promptly shed after that lap! Combined categories made the race that much more challenging as well. 40 min. of dragon’s breath riders, dropping like flies and 2 strong packs of ladies flying around curves at greater than 24 mph. After promptly falling out of contention, I basically kept racing, figured I might as well practice cornering, tag onto wheels when I could, and stay out of the way when Geraldine or any of the other ladies came plowing through. Crits aren’t a steep learning curve, they are a vertical ascension with no net–where you learn the hard way. But I can see how they become fantastically fun races… when you can finally ‘hang’.
My first race was in May, the Belt Omnium 48 miles of hilly hell and now it’s August and, thanks to Team Delphine, I have had the pleasure (and pain) of finishing 7 cycling events and a total of 8 races at the Cat 4 level: 3 TT’s, 3 road races, and 2 Crits. And…it was brutal. Racing in the Cat 4 field in Montana as a newbie, getting passed by everyone and their 3-legged dog in TT’s, getting dropped within the first 5 miles in road races where hell and hill are one and the same, getting lapped… up to 3 times in crits…damn, it’s enough to make one want to get off their bike sit on the pavement and rock yourself, wallowing in self pity.
But it forces you to have perspective or get swallowed alive in one fo the most competitve cycling fields in the country. Set your own goals, don’t get discouraged, and ride your hardest…it’s all anyone can ask. And it helps that one of the most competitive fields in cycling is also one of the nicest, most encouraging set of people I have ever come across. A shout to NRO ladies, Tamara and Ivy; amazing cyclists and amazing ladies–not to mention hot in neon green lycra, hard to pull off. The GAS Team: Julie, Lisa and John Curry (oh so fetching in his pink jersey!), Josh, Jenner, Amy C., Dave, Alex, Jason and new rider Tyler and countless others whose names are slipping my mind right now. Phil Rotherham from Masters, who generously lent me his TT wheels and gets as excited as I do when I best my times. Phil, I cut a minute off my 20K time and did sub 80 on the 40K (76.16)…a personal best. Bryan Frykman, who yells out encouragement in the form of keep it up, go go go, cupcake or was it sweetheart…or some other sugar enhanced encouragement.
And I don’t know where to begin in thanking Team Delphine. Cycling is an intimidating sport, they supported me in every way they could; covering fees if I wanted to race but couldn’t afford it, offering equipment, mentoring, encouragement, mechanical support (Thanks Bill!). They were at the finish of my first race (Marjo and the Rognlies) where I was last to come in long after awards were done and people were heading home. They stayed at the finish in Cow Country and insisted to Don I would make it across unless I was in a ditch somewhere and then I’d probably still be dragging myself forward if I was conscious (thanks Laurie and Marjo and the Rognlies and Tyghe!). Team Delphine has some amazing ladies and not once this entire season did I ever feel less valued as a team member, which is huge when you are coming in last in all your races.
Mollie, 2 years, you said Colin was trying to get you to race. This season you did two and one being a Crit no less and not just a Crit, a wholly hell on wheels Crit! I know where Colin is, he is so proud of you, so proud. You are sunshine on wheels. Marjo, you were such an amazing cheerleader, wearing your arm-warmers for my first crit was awesome. Laurie, every time I climb there you are next to me… even if you aren’t. Patricia (sprint queen) and Lara, starting last season with the LIR’s with you both– racing this season has been because of what I learned from you both. Amy and Kim, I remember every time you shouted encouragement at me or offered advice on races or rides and it was so appreciated. C.roy you make riding so entertaining! Your ability to not ride much this season and still kick ass on a bike is enviable…and awesome. Anna for sticking with me on that long GVBC race up Bridger Canyon! Bill, for teaching me the fine art of transferring dance to my bike. Graham, Molly P., Brandy and Alisa; you ladies are awesome.
It was a privilege to race with Team Delphine. And I cannot help but mention Tyghe…a personal cheerleader who was at the finish of my races and decided to start racing with me after the Belt race. He did 4 races, surviving Cow Country, breaking a spoke in Bearmouth, hauling at the State TT and then making sure the right man was awarded the medal that was mistakenly given to him, and finally whooping it up in his first Crit, taking 4th in the Cat 5 mens field….because he is all kinds of a rockstar (the pomegrante flavor).
In September I will defend my Ph.D. dissertation and move on to a job opportunity I was offered at a U.S. Military Medical Science Inst. in Bangkok, Thailand for 1-3 yrs.
At the start of the season I knew it would be rough. I started at a 15-16 mph average, I finished with a 19-20 mph average. My 20K TT started the season at 44 min. 42 sec and ended at 38.08 (halfing the 76.16 from the 40K State TT). ~ 50 mile road races: My first road race in Belt, over 4 hrs. Cow Country just under 4 hrs. Bearmouth 3 hrs. 15 min. And I survived 2 Crits.
There are some ladies who are naturally inclined in their sport, in cycling. Having natural ability and penache. Kudos to that, and to those of you who have the ability, I sincerely hope you will never waste it or take it for granted. The rest of us work… we are not so naturally inclined perhaps but we love it and are willing to work at it. I fall into this group. I love to ride and aside from the 10 min I gave myself this race season to wallow in self pity after being lapped 3 times at zootown, I can honestly say I have had a fantastic season and as I move on, I take that and all my memories, all you ladies with me. I know C.roy would approve of the following: “no excuses, no whining, love it, live it, shut up and ride.”
Thank you ladies.
–Mel Melendrez