Prophylactic shock
Can I just sit here in the sand and play for a while?
I really liked this weekend's cross course. I loved the sand, the turns and the little up and down hills.
I did not like the mini pack of angry bees I somehow ran into.
I did like the benadryl.
I was surprised to see that I could make up time on the turns. That used to be a real weakness of mine. I was not surprised to see that I lost time in the fast straightaways. Although it does suck because that used to be a strength of mine. It gives me hope though, because I can get the fitness back. Or so I keep saying. I hope the techie skills stay. So elusive. Blah blah blah.
I love racing with a bevy of bellas. Even when I am lying face down in the sand, it makes me happy to see a swirl of blue and pink go past me. Go pffftttt Bellas pffft pooey Go!
Another thing that makes me happy is seeing the turnout for C women. Right on. I just wish we could be more appreciative of them being there. Instead of complaining about how tough they are to lap. As if they are just something in the way....
Its just a local cross race....lets think about whats really important in the long run. I. Just don't want anyone thinking that they are a less valued competitor than anyone else. Its tough being out on the course at the same time as women who have been doing this for years. Let's honor their bravery and cheer them on when passing, instead of cursing.
Cuz in a few years, they could be passing you.
I, on the other hand, haven't been passing anyone. Unless it was in the first 200 meters. And I am fine with that.
For now.
posted by Velo Bella @ 8:25 AM
52 Comments:
right on!
VB sez:
"Its just a local cross race....lets think about whats really important in the long run. I. Just don't want anyone thinking that they are a less valued competitor than anyone else. Its tough being out on the course at the same time as women who have been doing this for years. Let's honor their bravery and cheer them on when passing, instead of cursing."
Hear, here! I've got 6 new women racing this season. This is the first week they actually picked out the A women they think are "evil" because they swear at them when passing. I had to run interference which is tough when the same women bitch at me sometimes too. No VBs, BTW.
It's challenging. We wouldn't asked elite road racers to race with beginners (with rare exception). But we do it in cross and create a women's race which is cool. But the elite women should try to be a little more encouraging and a little less bitchy.
i have found (so far) that the elite women are very tolerant of my not-so-perfect attempts to get out of my way and from time-to-time actually say encouraging things as they pass
I'm with Bunny...the majority are nice and encouraging. And give back at clinics and all that good stuff.
But, of course, it only takes one or two bad apples to spoil the day for a beginner just testing the waters of the sport.
And if these were important UCI type races, we would not put this variety of racer out on the course at the same time.
But these are just local Hoo Haww races. An opportunity for our local heroines to test their mettle against each other, and I'd hope, do a little outreach to help grow the sport. Not spoil it.
I just want the beginner racers to feel important. If all they hear on the start line is how we need them to get out of the way of the real racers and we don't balance that with anything else, how welcoming are we being?
I agree on all points. That's why I told my women that they're all nice, supportive women, they give back to the sport, blah, blah, blah. In the heat of the moment they may sound "mean" but that's just because they're busy trying to win races.
Now, the bitchy Cs are another story!!!
;)
Oh, and it's not personal. Never personal.
the meanest thing i've encountered from an A was a nervous "coming through" after I endo'd -- which was followed immediately at the finish by an unnecessary apology and a "are you okay?"
the coolest was "leader" from behind me...which did the trick and got me the hell out of her way.
This past weekend I heard
"what are you doing down there?"
was that Wild Dingo?
Leader is good. Hold your line is good. Passing is even good, especially if they tell you which side.
This "tracking" stuff from Casey is bogus -- this isn't skiing, dude!
I've gotten "which part of on your left don't you understand." while I was on singletrack and had nowhere to move.
I've also gotten intentionally buzzed by someone on a huge wide stretch just so she could get a rise from me.
I've had folks swear at me.
Oh, and I've been called a stupid bitch.
I don't seem to get it as much this year as in past seasons -- maybe because most of the women know me now, although I had two As apologize to me post-race at Soquel because they thought they'd been rude. I didn't think they'd been rude.
Maybe the solution is to run the Cs in the reverse direction on the course!!!
I crack myself up sometimes.
... you said 'hoo haw'
i just love racing...
nothing is personal...very cool and I like that!
my friend's girlfriend tried her first 'cross race this weekend in the Cs and got intimidated by the lead racers yelling and lapping her. she ended up pulling out after a couple of laps.
from a "c" point of view, i think most elite chicks are actually quite nice out there. i almost always get a "thank you" for gettin' out of the way.
now those crazy c chicks on the other hand... i think i'm going to move up to the b's soon just to get away from all the stumbling, bumbling and crashing in our c races.
VRG - Please tell your friend to try again at our Halloween race.
That is exactly the thing I hate hearing.
I am thinking about giving C women and junior women their very own race at the November event.
VeloRainDog said...
my friend's girlfriend tried her first 'cross race this weekend in the Cs and got intimidated by the lead racers yelling and lapping her. she ended up pulling out after a couple of laps.
Hey, tell her to come hang out with the Bellas or the Velo Girls -- we'll take care of her. Just knowing that it might happen and that it's not personal is all it might take for her to feel more confident. It's definitely intimidating out there for your first few races.
VB -- if you give the C's & juniors their own race I'll help sponsor if you need. That would be just awesome!
oh, a women's C race all on its own? i might just get on a bike and race, if that's the case.
This is a great thread -- thanks, VB. So, the question is, do the elite women know that they affect the C women in this way? Do the promoters/officials know that the way they address the Bs, Cs, and Masters in their pe-race instructions could make them feel that they don't belong or that their race is less important than the Elites?
What's the solution?
I remember the Elite women used to race with the Masters Men and all the other women had a race of their own. Any idea why that changed?
so did your neck ever get red or swollen?
Well, I know what I can do as a promotor, but that only answers it for our races. I make certain that I am at the start line and that I thank them all for attending and that I hope they have a great race.
And as a racer, we can look behind us, or beside us, and wish each other luck, or somehow other make new ones feel more welcome
That makes them all less likely to step on me when I fall face down in the sand.
No, my neck is fine.
If the EMT had not pulled a couple of stingers out of me, I would have sworn I hallucinated the whole thing.
me and bee encounters go way back.
I hope I don't encounter any crazy bees this weekend!
Is that what happened to you? And you still finished? Wow! You're one tough schnitzel!
The masters races are too full and too ornery themselves to have them race with the women.
Besides, I think the elite women deserve their own show, not be second fiddle to the masters men.
I remember hating racing with the master men. They were always polite and passed with care, but they were so much faster than us, it was creepy. And we were definately second fiddle.
I think, that what we have now, is the best of the not the best options. For UCI races, we had elite women and Jr A men race together. And that would work out (As would running A women and master women), IF we had just a little more growth in the womens categories. As it is now, running a race with just 40 people on the course, won't work. With the winter hours of cross season, there is only so much time in the day.
But I really am thinking about the C/Jr WOmen only race. Bicycle Outfitter is game too and we'll raffle off a cx bike. Lorri, email me off line if you are interested in pushing this little experiment.
if you need an extra official for the women's Cs/jrs to help out along those lines, let me know too, I'll scribble numbers for that race
p.s Master men are definitely fast even when they are like 70 years old...
"With the winter hours of cross season, there is only so much time in the day."
Night time cross perhaps? Hmm... reminds me of our failed attempt at the dirt crits under the lights in Live-no-more. Oh wait, that's right - they were a failure.
You women should just go back to being subservient and making pies. Then you wouldn't have to worry about who's racing with who and who's being rude, etc.
(you know I'm kidding, right?)
or just work the feedzone, right?
So right on....thank you for always keeping this silly sport in perspective. ;)
I like this post and all it's brought to the surface.
thanks VB
we modern women get our pies donated by sponsors
come out and win one on sunday, gin
Does finishing last qualify for a pie? Yummy pie.
I'm so there.
i like yelling too! to those drivers that are freakos that don't give me space...
uhummm - bitch on the road...
in seriousness...i think VB is doing something very extraordinary
BTW, all the Velo Girls did limbo cross and we didn't get any pie.....or beer. How can we rectify that for costume cross? Must have pie!!!
You can rectify it by not missing the start!
Since we only had 10 people (well, actually 12, but Laura and I didnt count) at the start and 10 prizes, we told all starters that they automatically won.
I had no idea there was a vg crew trying to be fashionably late to the party!
oh and oops. Back a few comments I said Bicycle Outfitter, when I really meant Bicycle Trip.
Both great shops, but Bicycle Trip has told us that they will be getting us a CX bike for a beginner challenge contest.
Yay
Well, we couldn't find the start....and you started early!!! Oh well. We'll be on time this week.
Mmmm, pie!
They had better not curse at Groovy T.
She is a spitefull little thing and they might find themselves...well who knows she is full of surprizes these days.
You see, she is not competitive, she is vengeful.
i thought I saw "flatulating"...
ooops...
i've got nothing to add, just want to
see you get up to 50 comments
If we get 50
then we'll give the Cs their own race at the last Surf Silly
i just dropped an m&m
... i'm gonna eat it anyway.
i think i'll have soup for lunch.
my green pumpkin that I bought on saturday is turning orange
:-(
Julie, it'll be great to see you out there on your bike!!!
Nome, is T racing this weekend?
Am I 50?
ps -- who broke blogger? I can't post any photos today. Argh!
oops, I was 49.
my green pumpkin that I bought on saturday is turning orange
:-(
... this is just cracking me up. MissMary get the prize in our short lived thrill of the non sequitur.
i bought my hunny a green tomato
last surf city race...hmmm tempted and a possibility...
well, okay. We hit 50. Looks like we'll do it.
The race time for Cat C women and Jr Women will be changed to 11:45am for the race on Nov 12. They will be the only category out there at that time.
All finishers of that race (you have to finish, even if its just one lap) will be entered into a drawing for a 2007 Giant Cyclocross bike with a retail value of $1,200.
We'll work out details with all those who want to get involved after this weekend's race.
Where in the world did you find that picture of Curious George!
That is simply hilarious. I used to take benadryl a gazillion times a day for my chlorine allergy. I would e-mail friends a warning "Benadryl Alert: Extreme Crabbiness" whenever I was taking it.
I felt a lot better about myself when I saw "irritability" listed on the bene side effects. Then felt even better when I quit taking it and my chlorine rash was no better or worse. Stuff is nasty!!!
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