Going to have an affair! Please advise..

[Pixiepowered]

(for Knotted) Yesss sssiiillllk!!
Ok, if Jamis was silk and it was your SECOND choice, then what you ridin' now girl, a caddy?? Those Waterfords look really cool. Never heard of them until your post. Did you post a pic of yours? They are so pretty.

Cyclo Kitty ~ Great name by the way. I agree, if competing then whole different specs are needed. That is awesome you compete. I swore I would never compete... I swore that about speed skating also, and now I have a pair of 5wheel long blades for short track I only used briefly for my short career. (but worth it for the memories) Toys toys toys! If you have any pics of you competing or any race day with female track,(if it is separate from the mens) would you mind showing it?

Kali ~ Thanks on the congrats for the baby. Believe me, I am looking 4 months prego over here..lol and will be soooo glad to be riding again. If only I can get use to the bent over position...

[Cyclo Kitty]

So no pix yet. The BSGs kept saying, "Throw leg over" but I wasn't ready last fall and I don't know that I will be this fall. I have more falling to do-- and while the women's classes are small, maybe 10 riders for some races, I could still wreak havoc going down.

Well, I don't fall that much-but I have a lot of learning to do. Even in training, though, there are advantages to the alu bike over hefting steel.

[SheFly]

have more falling to do-- and while the women's classes are small, maybe 10 riders for some races, I could still wreak havoc going down.

Where in the NorthEast are you? Cross is becoming very popular here, and you will find that most races at the beginner level have around 20 riders. I started racing 'cross last year and LOVE it - ended up with 14 races, including Nationals. Focusing my training this year on the 'cross season culmiinating with a trip to Kansas for nationals!

SheFly

p.s
Lighter is DEFINITELY better!

[Cyclo Kitty]

Providence, home of the Nats (for a while!). Loved the course in RWP, which remained clearly visible for weeks after the race. My mother looked at it (I didn't ride it) and started very strongly suggesting that I take up yoga.

Yes, the women's field is definitely growing, which is positive. There are some very hard-core, very macho-seeming men riding (living for) cross here. They make the skill clinics pretty intimidating. The rumour is that one of the BSGs wants to set up some clinics with the local NEMBA chapter, which could be a different crowd.

I didn't upgrade my ride from the commuter until mid-November so I've got a lot of training to do. Luckily there are good parks here with places to ride a variety of terrains and fields that can be soft enough to practice dismounts etc. The joke is that all of Providence is a cross course every spring and summer, when the DPW tears up the street and sidewalk.

Kansas City should be interesting...I won't go but I'll be paying attention!

Looking forward to your race reports!

[KnottedYet]

(for Knotted) Yesss sssiiillllk!!
Ok, if Jamis was silk and it was your SECOND choice, then what you ridin' now girl, a caddy?? Those Waterfords look really cool. Never heard of them until your post. Did you post a pic of yours? They are so pretty.

This is Flosshilde:


21.5 lbs of gorgeous old-gold painted lugged steel. With a Brooks B67 saddle and Salsa Short-n-Shallow bars, Campy Athena and some Shimano. She's 10 years old and lovely to behold. Almost every time I stop somewhere I end up with someone commenting on my bike. That's her in my avatar, too.

Edit: I've changed out her cyclocross double for a compact double and put on a lovely Nitto stem since this pic was taken.