The Old Women of Worlds
10-16-17, 07:46 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
The Old Women of Worlds
Hi, @rensho3! Thanks for coming over and saying hi, I appreciated that!!
Worlds was quite an experience. I'm gifted at understatement, too! This was my first year on the track, as many of you know. I acquitted myself pretty well for my first "big" race, too. I was one ride from a likely silver in the F 60+ match sprints. I had to ride three against a really tough competitor whom I had speed on, but she had the experience and the savvy. I missed bronze in two in a row, too, bested by a rider who knew the drill much better than I did. I rode a 14.775 in the 200, which landed me in second place. I rode a 44.072 in the 500, which put me in sixth among the 60+ women. It was also a PB by a half second, and I did it in 86 inch gearing. I rode the 2K pursuit in 3:13 and change, besting my previous time at Districts by almost 11 seconds (and I'm NOT an enduro!). I was seventh overall. I did a team sprint with a mismatched partner. She tried hard, but she was no where near fast enough, and we finished well out of the finals. The same with the team pursuit, and I had a wheel touch in that that I had to ride out, and I did. I did smack every sponge in three and four in the save, though. I'm sure I got style points for that!
Anyway, I wanted to complete the circle from when I first posted here a year ago. I'm a trackie now, a pretty good sprinter for an old lady, and I will be at Nats and Worlds, and several LAVRA's next season, racing with my own kind.
Thanks, fellas!
Worlds was quite an experience. I'm gifted at understatement, too! This was my first year on the track, as many of you know. I acquitted myself pretty well for my first "big" race, too. I was one ride from a likely silver in the F 60+ match sprints. I had to ride three against a really tough competitor whom I had speed on, but she had the experience and the savvy. I missed bronze in two in a row, too, bested by a rider who knew the drill much better than I did. I rode a 14.775 in the 200, which landed me in second place. I rode a 44.072 in the 500, which put me in sixth among the 60+ women. It was also a PB by a half second, and I did it in 86 inch gearing. I rode the 2K pursuit in 3:13 and change, besting my previous time at Districts by almost 11 seconds (and I'm NOT an enduro!). I was seventh overall. I did a team sprint with a mismatched partner. She tried hard, but she was no where near fast enough, and we finished well out of the finals. The same with the team pursuit, and I had a wheel touch in that that I had to ride out, and I did. I did smack every sponge in three and four in the save, though. I'm sure I got style points for that!
Anyway, I wanted to complete the circle from when I first posted here a year ago. I'm a trackie now, a pretty good sprinter for an old lady, and I will be at Nats and Worlds, and several LAVRA's next season, racing with my own kind.
Thanks, fellas!
__________________
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"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
Last edited by sarals; 10-16-17 at 09:06 PM.
10-16-17, 07:56 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
10-16-17, 08:08 PM
#5
Lapped 3x
Sounds like you've not just found success, but you've also found a sport and a community. Keep up the good work and keep us informed. It's always great to hear of others making it!
10-16-17, 08:36 PM
#6
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I'm glad you had a great first season! Stick with it!
Expect a lot of ups and downs. The first season is always fun and exciting because everything is new and you keep getting faster. From here, gains become exponentially harder (this goes for all levels, including top elites). The journey is very fun...but expect to be pissed a lot, hahaha.
Also, don't forget to get involved off of the bike. There are lots of big and little ways that you may not see immediately like:
- Volunteering at events big and small. Even working the ticket booth or concessions or ringing the bell, it all helps.
- Helping juniors and college students get to big events either monetarily or by loaning them equipment.
- Promoting the sport among friends (online and in person).
- Making products for trackies or encouraging manufacturers to tailor products for us. We still tend to get hand-me-down stuff from the road and triathlon world.
- Showing up to race even when you are slow and tired as hell and let someone else beat up on you for experience (and points).
- Showing up to watch others.
Expect a lot of ups and downs. The first season is always fun and exciting because everything is new and you keep getting faster. From here, gains become exponentially harder (this goes for all levels, including top elites). The journey is very fun...but expect to be pissed a lot, hahaha.
Also, don't forget to get involved off of the bike. There are lots of big and little ways that you may not see immediately like:
- Volunteering at events big and small. Even working the ticket booth or concessions or ringing the bell, it all helps.
- Helping juniors and college students get to big events either monetarily or by loaning them equipment.
- Promoting the sport among friends (online and in person).
- Making products for trackies or encouraging manufacturers to tailor products for us. We still tend to get hand-me-down stuff from the road and triathlon world.
- Showing up to race even when you are slow and tired as hell and let someone else beat up on you for experience (and points).
- Showing up to watch others.
10-16-17, 09:02 PM
#7
Idiot Emeritus
Thread Starter
@carleton, yes, agree. I know the second season is going to be harder, and it's not just because people know me, now. Although that part is big! I've had plenty of ups and downs on the road, @Racer Ex can tell you stories about me!
And you don't have to tell me twice to stick with it! Worlds cemented my addiction as a trackie! I'm all in.
I do a lot of work off of the bike already. I was on the NCNCA Women's Committee, and I'm actively involved with working to get older women racing. And to racing on the track. We need more older women at Hellyer (I need a third for a TP, and a second for a TS next season!), and I'd love to see a program(s) get going, similar to what they have at VSC. There is a very vibrant community of masters women racers down there. I wish I lived closer!
I do go race with the kids. They beat the crap out of me, but it's good for me, and fun for them - and it helps fill the fields at the Hellyer WNTL events. I'm all in on that.
Thanks!
And you don't have to tell me twice to stick with it! Worlds cemented my addiction as a trackie! I'm all in.
I do a lot of work off of the bike already. I was on the NCNCA Women's Committee, and I'm actively involved with working to get older women racing. And to racing on the track. We need more older women at Hellyer (I need a third for a TP, and a second for a TS next season!), and I'd love to see a program(s) get going, similar to what they have at VSC. There is a very vibrant community of masters women racers down there. I wish I lived closer!
I do go race with the kids. They beat the crap out of me, but it's good for me, and fun for them - and it helps fill the fields at the Hellyer WNTL events. I'm all in on that.
Thanks!
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
Last edited by sarals; 10-16-17 at 09:05 PM.
10-16-17, 09:08 PM
#9
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10-17-17, 11:09 AM
#10
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John
10-18-17, 11:24 PM
#11
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Thread Starter
10-19-17, 10:02 AM
#12
Full Member
Congratulations! And I'm glad to see that you've also taken to trying out some of the mass start races at Hellyer and not just specializing in sprints. Have fun next year!
10-19-17, 12:14 PM
#13
Senior Member
Hi, @rensho3! Thanks for coming over and saying hi, I appreciated that!!
Worlds was quite an experience. I'm gifted at understatement, too! This was my first year on the track, as many of you know. I acquitted myself pretty well for my first "big" race, too. I was one ride from a likely silver in the F 60+ match sprints. I had to ride three against a really tough competitor whom I had speed on, but she had the experience and the savvy. I missed bronze in two in a row, too, bested by a rider who knew the drill much better than I did. I rode a 14.775 in the 200, which landed me in second place. I rode a 44.072 in the 500, which put me in sixth among the 60+ women. It was also a PB by a half second, and I did it in 86 inch gearing. I rode the 2K pursuit in 3:13 and change, besting my previous time at Districts by almost 11 seconds (and I'm NOT an enduro!). I was seventh overall. I did a team sprint with a mismatched partner. She tried hard, but she was no where near fast enough, and we finished well out of the finals. The same with the team pursuit, and I had a wheel touch in that that I had to ride out, and I did. I did smack every sponge in three and four in the save, though. I'm sure I got style points for that!
Anyway, I wanted to complete the circle from when I first posted here a year ago. I'm a trackie now, a pretty good sprinter for an old lady, and I will be at Nats and Worlds, and several LAVRA's next season, racing with my own kind.
Thanks, fellas!
Worlds was quite an experience. I'm gifted at understatement, too! This was my first year on the track, as many of you know. I acquitted myself pretty well for my first "big" race, too. I was one ride from a likely silver in the F 60+ match sprints. I had to ride three against a really tough competitor whom I had speed on, but she had the experience and the savvy. I missed bronze in two in a row, too, bested by a rider who knew the drill much better than I did. I rode a 14.775 in the 200, which landed me in second place. I rode a 44.072 in the 500, which put me in sixth among the 60+ women. It was also a PB by a half second, and I did it in 86 inch gearing. I rode the 2K pursuit in 3:13 and change, besting my previous time at Districts by almost 11 seconds (and I'm NOT an enduro!). I was seventh overall. I did a team sprint with a mismatched partner. She tried hard, but she was no where near fast enough, and we finished well out of the finals. The same with the team pursuit, and I had a wheel touch in that that I had to ride out, and I did. I did smack every sponge in three and four in the save, though. I'm sure I got style points for that!
Anyway, I wanted to complete the circle from when I first posted here a year ago. I'm a trackie now, a pretty good sprinter for an old lady, and I will be at Nats and Worlds, and several LAVRA's next season, racing with my own kind.
Thanks, fellas!
Results for 2017 USA Cycling Masters Track Nationals - USA Cycling
Last edited by 700wheel; 10-19-17 at 12:25 PM.
10-19-17, 03:22 PM
#14
Idiot Emeritus
Thread Starter
With those times you would have medaled in at least one event at this years nationals (60-64 age group).
Results for 2017 USA Cycling Masters Track Nationals - USA Cycling
Results for 2017 USA Cycling Masters Track Nationals - USA Cycling
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
11-18-17, 12:57 PM
#15
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Thread Starter
Mike Gladu just started releasing the photos he and Craig Huffman took at Worlds. I thought I'd share this one of my flying 200. I was second in the 60+ women.
__________________
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
11-19-17, 12:02 PM
#17
Idiot Emeritus
Thread Starter
I LOVE it. It's a beautiful thing, well made, it has ceramic bearings and rolls very smoothly, and it's light. The decals look like they can be removed, they're not covered by paint or anything. I'm told the wheel is made from the same mold as the FFWD five spoke, although I have no way of knowing that for sure. Side by side with a FFWD they sure look the same.
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"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
"Can you add a signature line please? The lack of words makes me think you are being held hostage and being told to be quiet"
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