Fifty Plus (50+) - Red Rider and Velodiva are Awesome!!!!

My hat is off to Red Rider and Velodiva, both proud members of the Fifty plus community. They are both strong, intelligent, beautiful women not afraid of challenging themselves to new levels of physical endurance. This Sunday they both competed in the Esparto Time Trial. Both were doing this for the first time. Both did exceptionally well for a first effort. Both took on a challenge and competed against women ½ their age. In case no one realizes it, that was an 18 mile, out and back with a technical turnaround. Not only did they have to ride their guts out for 18 miles but they did it each alone, competing with their bodies, the bikes, the weather, the clock and their minds.:eek: They had to figure out how to ride hard without blowing up and have enough left to go all out at the end. Not an easy thing to do. I consider myself lucky to be married to Red Rider and a friend and riding buddy of Velodiva. I am proud of you both.

You girls rock!:beer:

Congratulations to both! It had to be tough competing against those younger women.

Rock on! It does take guts to put it on the line against a stop watch. I too should be so bold. But I'd use a calendar for my time.

REALLY, well done.

Congratulations! You two are an inspiration to me.

Awesome performance and a righteous tribute. Very good.

Bl**dy women- Showing us all up.

Well done to the pair of you but I reckon its time that you slowed down a bit and let the rest of us catch up.

Will be posting about this later on but you have just given me some inspiration to get out a bit more And reach a goal that I should have done ages ago. See the link below to see what I mean.

Once again- well done.

http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?p=5059399#post5059399

Well ridden, well written.
I'm generally fearless at challenging myself on my bike...but I could never
muster up the courage to race or run a time trial!
My hats off to you YOUNG ladies.

Congrats all around

It is written: this thread is (not really) worthless without pics.

Pictures are definately a must:D. Well done Ladies:beer:

Tip of the hat to the time trial ladies! :beer:

Time trials are for those at a higher level of biking than I . . . I can't imagine going all out for 18 miles, let alone doing it with other riders equally motivated to go faster! :eek:

Studettes.

Great job, ladies! :beer:

Pics...we have pics.

I, as Velodiva's manager and bike slave, was responsible for equipment and media. Coaching...forgetaboutit. She never listens to me.

Setting up bike on trainer...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/MEATTPosition.jpg

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/MEATTPosition2.jpg

Parking at race...well, she did not have to put anything up her nose to clear out her nasal passages where we had to park.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/MEAWarmingup.jpg

Starting line...I walked to the starting line to take pics. I was as nervous as if I were going to the line to race.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/StartingLine.jpg

In the start house. I saw the big guy with the beard at the checkin table. And he got to hold the ladies. What is he up to back there?:eek:

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/MEAinStartHouse.jpg

Right after start...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/MEAAfterStart.jpg

Down the road...

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/Ontheroad.jpg

I'm impressed, but not surprised.:beer:

+1

My goodness, they look so sleek & fit that I suspect they could drop me even when they are on a trainer.

My goodness, they look so sleek & fit that I suspect they could drop me even when they are on a trainer.

+1. She really IS a diva! Great shots.

Great job!

Scary, mean-lookin', drop-dead gorgeous, intimidatin', fit'n'lovely, time-trialin' megacyclists. Please don't hurt me.

Red Rider pics coming. Stay tuned.

Great, great job ladies!! I think it's just terrific you'd step out of your comfort zone and try something very challenging like that. When you're on the East coast, I'll reserve you two FREE slots to ride in our Time Trial at Lowes Motor Speedway. Closed course, only 10 miles, no technical turns, and young studs will hold your bikes at the start!!!!

First, a bravo for the guts to race the clock.

But a question as to why no aero bar ?. I only use mine on flat'ish courses, or on a course where a headwind is going to see serious reductions in speed, but don't use it on hilly courses.

From the photo, the course looked flat and I know that with some training time and a bit of adjustment in position, you gain a mile to mile and half per hour speed advantage. Certainly more advantageous then a heavier and hot, but aero helmet and semi-disc wheels (nice wheels though).

Something to think about.

Steve B.

Great, great job ladies!! I think it's just terrific you'd step out of your comfort zone and try something very challenging like that. When you're on the East coast, I'll reserve you two FREE slots to ride in our Time Trial at Lowes Motor Speedway. Closed course, only 10 miles, no technical turns, and young studs will hold your bikes at the start!!!!

Yea yea...now I will be packing up a bicycle in the carrier for a plane trip.:p;) Didn't that holder look like a ZZ Top guy?

Awesome job, ladies. Sorry I missed you (I was lookin' for those red Sidis, but got too distracted with warmup, nerves, etc.). And since the Masters 45+ guys went off last, you all were probably leaving about the time I got done.

Will you all be at the Dunnigan Hills Road Race (http://velopromo.com/dngn-ent.htm) this Saturday?

Didn't that holder look like a ZZ Top guy?
I'm not positive...but it could be DG in disguise.

I'm not positive...but it could be DG in disguise.

Hmmm...I think he's lost some weight. :)

Hmmm...I think he's lost some weight. :)
It's probably part of his Gabby Hays costume from his Roy Rogers days.:p

Okay, here are the Red Rider pics. Notice the white patch on her left knee. Just a week ago she was getting up off the road, bleeding from her shoulder, arm, and leg, cussing me for dropping the bike. She is healing quickly but still sporting bandages on her shoulder and knee and nursing a giant bruise on her left hip and thigh. That was another story.

http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/DSCF0444.jpghttp://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/DSCF0443.jpgThese women are the bomb.http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w76/cgallagh/Deborah_Down_the_road.jpg

How much for the women?

Your women, I want to buy your women.

Jake Blues

Wow! That is incredibly impressive! Good job!

Great first TT!
Did you plan to have jersey match the porta-potty colors?

Pics...we have pics.
Parking at race...well, she did not have to put anything up her nose to clear out her nasal passages where we had to park.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u250/rallen94402/Esparto%20TT/MEAWarmingup.jpg



Nice legs! ;)

My hat is off to Red Rider and Velodiva, both proud members of the Fifty plus community. They are both strong, intelligent, beautiful women not afraid of challenging themselves to new levels of physical endurance. This Sunday they both competed in the Esparto Time Trial. Both were doing this for the first time. Both did exceptionally well for a first effort. Both took on a challenge and competed against women ½ their age. In case no one realizes it, that was an 18 mile, out and back with a technical turnaround. Not only did they have to ride their guts out for 18 miles but they did it each alone, competing with their bodies, the bikes, the weather, the clock and their minds.:eek: They had to figure out how to ride hard without blowing up and have enough left to go all out at the end. Not an easy thing to do. I consider myself lucky to be married to Red Rider and a friend and riding buddy of Velodiva. I am proud of you both.

You girls rock!:beer:

Wow, it is Monday evening and I was just having dinner with Hermes and saw this incredible thread. Thank you, Cgallagh, for the kind words and to all of you on the 50+ forum for the great comments! So happy to have met you and Red Rider through bikeforums. Thanks, Red Rider for "accepting the challenge" - it was great to share this scary experience with you - you really kicked butt. Our first and definitely not the last ITT. And, of course, thanks to Hermes, my Bike Slave (This is beginning to sound like the Academy Awards - enough!)

I thought about you two while out on my ride this evening. How long have you been cycling? How long until I have legs like that? :)

Congrats to you both!

But a question as to why no aero bar ?

Something to think about.

Steve B.

Good question - I just got fitted for the new Orbea Ordu TT bike, but it won't be delivered for a couple months (bike was just released last month). I thought about putting aero bars on the Orbea but really didn't have enough time to practice with them. For my first TT, I thought I'd be better off riding in the drops.

What were your times, if I could ask?

How much for the women?

Your women, I want to buy your women.

Jake Blues

You can't handle the women.

Jack Nicholson quote (from "A Few Good Men").

Just sayin'.

What were your times, if I could ask?

Mine was 51:31, good enough for 5th place, but not for a T-shirt, d*mmit. >pouts<

Next time I want a tangible prize.

What were your times, if I could ask?

Ah ha! The salient question! We raced in the Cat 4 women with a field of 12. Red Rider placed sixth with a time of 51:31, and VeloDiva placed seventh at 52:33. Our times were actually faster than a couple of the pro/1/2/3 Cat women.

First, a bravo for the guts to race the clock.

But a question as to why no aero bar ?. I only use mine on flat'ish courses, or on a course where a headwind is going to see serious reductions in speed, but don't use it on hilly courses.

From the photo, the course looked flat and I know that with some training time and a bit of adjustment in position, you gain a mile to mile and half per hour speed advantage. Certainly more advantageous then a heavier and hot, but aero helmet and semi-disc wheels (nice wheels though).

Something to think about.

Steve B.

Mine is a borrowed bike. I had never done a TT before. I had two weeks to "train" (ha-ha), and lost the second week to recovering from a crash on our tandem. I feel fortunate to have been up to even trying the race.

Should I decide to pursue TTing I'll definitely look into aero-equipment, as well as a TT bike. No sense in making a huge $$$ investment in equipment until I'd given it a try.

If I decide to be a TT specialist I'll definitely be looking at the right equipment for the job. Feel free to PM me if you have suggestions (because it seems as though I'm hooked....Velodiva may have unleashed a monster...).

Ah ha! The salient question! We raced in the Cat 4 women with a field of 12. Red Rider placed sixth with a time of 51:31, and VeloDiva placed seventh at 52:33. Our times were actually faster than a couple of the pro/1/2/3 Cat women.

I was 6th? Dang, I could've sworn I saw "5" in front of my name! Boo!

I didn't compare the CAT 1/2/3 women's times...I was too excited about my own...call me self-centered...:o

I thought about you two while out on my ride this evening. How long have you been cycling? How long until I have legs like that? :)

I've been riding a road bike since Dec. '05. From July '05 to Dec. I rode a Specialized Hard Rock with slicks. Once I got to 60+ miles I realized I needed a rode bike.

As to the legs -- both my parents had well-developed calves. I come by them naturally. I always wished for the kind of legs that would fit into go-go boots or Fry boots back in the day. Now I wouldn't trade them for anything.

Keep pedaling, Yen, and the legs will find you.

Congrats!!Great thread!!!
But whats the deal with the guy of the beard???
Motivation so you zoom out of there as fast as u can????

Awesome job, ladies. Sorry I missed you (I was lookin' for those red Sidis, but got too distracted with warmup, nerves, etc.). And since the Masters 45+ guys went off last, you all were probably leaving about the time I got done.

Will you all be at the Dunnigan Hills Road Race (http://velopromo.com/dngn-ent.htm) this Saturday?

Sorry we did not get a chance to meet - I'll speak for myself - I'd like to get into road racing, but still need to work on my power and pack skills. So, no, I won't be at Dunnigan Hills - maybe next year . . . I think Red Rider and I are hooked!

I was 6th? Dang, I could've sworn I saw "5" in front of my name! Boo!

I didn't compare the CAT 1/2/3 women's times...I was too excited about my own...call me self-centered...:o

They have the race times posted on line atwww.ncnca.org/road/2007/espart07.html. That is how I was able to check out all the times. FYI, we placed 21st and 22nd respectively in the women overall out of a field of 29 (and most had aero bars). Winning women's time was 41:05. There were some strong women there.

Wow, it is Monday evening and I was just having dinner with Hermes and saw this incredible thread. Thank you, Cgallagh, for the kind words and to all of you on the 50+ forum for the great comments! So happy to have met you and Red Rider through bikeforums. Thanks, Red Rider for "accepting the challenge" - it was great to share this scary experience with you - you really kicked butt. Our first and definitely not the last ITT. And, of course, thanks to Hermes, my Bike Slave (This is beginning to sound like the Academy Awards - enough!)

Hey, I owe you for extending the challenge -- I would never have thought of it, nor had I any idea I would enjoy competition so much!

And there aren't enough words to thank my hubby, bike-slave, and master chef.

Who says you can't meet great people on the Internet? Surely not I.

Here's to the next challenge! :beer:

Good job, ladies!

Excellent Stuff!
Its great readin both your comments (and those of the 'support' staff) about your TT prep and experiences.
Keep the notes and thoughts comin.
It been so long since I;ve done a TT, I've pretty much forgotten how hard they are. But I'm thinkin I now need to get back to doin a few. I think I could benefit from the discipline a good TT requires.
You ladies did great! And its great to be a 'spectator' of all this, here on BF Ole Folks.
BTW, the pics really helped bring it all closeup and personal. Post some more if you have em...

They have the race times posted on line atwww.ncnca.org/road/2007/espart07.html. That is how I was able to check out all the times. FYI, we placed 21st and 22nd respectively in the women overall out of a field of 29 (and most had aero bars). Winning women's time was 41:05. There were some strong women there.

No kidding! Dang!

I'm impressed with what we did without the fancy equipment. This makes me want to get a coach to get me to another level.

Props to the winning woman. She kicked it big-time, a mere 3 min. behind the overall men's winner.

Girl power!:beer: