Ravin' on... Racin' Goals

[RoadRaven]

On the 14th July we raced around Apley, and we did it again yesterday... on the scale of the other 124 riders there my ride was probably unremarkable... but in relation to me... it rocked.

I shaved a full minute off my July time despite an extremely strong nor'wester on the way out and nasty cross gusts on the downhills. I could have probably got another minute or so because the tail wind back was mighty, but I was towing two other vet women and everytime I got up over 45kph they dropped off. Next time I think I'll just TT it on my own if I am in the same position and go for a PB.

One of the more senior/better riders who was supporting some of the other riders there passed me and slowed down and passed me a few times as he checked on other riders. He came up to me afterwards and told me what he thought I was a very strong rider... that was nice to hear.

Afterwards I sat and waited for my partner to arrive back from marshalling, and chatted with a few other riders. One was telling me how her husband was comparing her to one of her training partners (as in, you're not as strong/fast/quick as her). I sat and listened and thought how very lucky I am to have a partner who believes in my ability so strongly and unquestioningly even though we are poles apart in ability. He has never once told me that I am not good enough, fast enough or should be doing better (or ever given me reason to believe he even thinks this).

He is one of the main reasons I keep turning up to races... cause he knows that just finishing a race can be challenge enough.

Saturday was a good race day... and I wasn't last home either!

[Trekhawk]

On the 14th July we raced around Apley, and we did it again yesterday... on the scale of the other 124 riders there my ride was probably unremarkable... but in relation to me... it rocked.

I shaved a full minute off my July time despite an extremely strong nor'wester on the way out and nasty cross gusts on the downhills. I could have probably got another minute or so because the tail wind back was mighty, but I was towing two other vet women and everytime I got up over 45kph they dropped off. Next time I think I'll just TT it on my own if I am in the same position and go for a PB.

One of the more senior/better riders who was supporting some of the other riders there passed me and slowed down and passed me a few times as he checked on other riders. He came up to me afterwards and told me what he thought I was a very strong rider... that was nice to hear.

Afterwards I sat and waited for my partner to arrive back from marshalling, and chatted with a few other riders. One was telling me how her husband was comparing her to one of her training partners (as in, you're not as strong/fast/quick as her). I sat and listened and thought how very lucky I am to have a partner who believes in my ability so strongly and unquestioningly even though we are poles apart in ability. He has never once told me that I am not good enough, fast enough or should be doing better (or ever given me reason to believe he even thinks this).

He is one of the main reasons I keep turning up to races... cause he knows that just finishing a race can be challenge enough.

Saturday was a good race day... and I wasn't last home either!

Well done Raven!!!
Yes sometimes its good to be reminded just how wonderful your partner is. Obviously from your conversation they are not all like that.
Sounds like you have a gem.

[RoadRaven]

Yeah, I do.
I must have done something right sometime, because I sometimes wonder how he chose me.

Hawk, I have been meaning to ask you how your holiday went... if you have written about it somewhere here and i have missed it can you link me to it?

[Trekhawk]

Hawk, I have been meaning to ask you how your holiday went... if you have written about it somewhere here and i have missed it can you link me to it?

Here it is mate:
http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showthread.php?t=17103
Its pretty brief but it has a few pics.

It was a great holiday just wish we had more time to spend in some of the lovely places we visited.

[RoadRaven]

Well... last race of the winter series yesterday... and it was really good - I got a place!
Woohoo!

I have been eligible for the Lanterne Rouge all winter but today I actually got a place in my grade. There were 16 starters and I came 8th.

I hung on to the handful of leaders (the pace hovered between 34kph and 38kph) for the first 7kms or so... people were dropping off like flies from about 2kms in. Somehow I managed to be in the right place at the right time and was able to stay with them every time the pace went on and a break was made.

My partner has been unwell, so he rode with me today rather than racing in his grade. It was so good to have him there beside me encouraging me along. Having someone tell you you can do it and having that tangible, physical belief in you makes all the difference.
He hasn't ridden with me in a race situation since the start of the year and can see the improvements and says he was impressed with my grit and determination to hang on to the leaders as long as I could.

Once I was spat out the back, I ended up riding with two others who were not in my grade, and boy, I was "on the rivet" for much of this race... although all flat (which I love) the wind was strong and often we were heading into it, or it was blowing us sideways.

My average ended up at only 30kph for the 28km course, but the conditions were tough. I feel very pleased with it (despite having another rider whom we passed say 'I don't ride with cheaters"... like any of the three of us were going to affect the final placings in any of the grades! grrrr... I wish I had registered who it was so I could have had a chat with him afterwards.)

And last week’s race I was very pleased with (despite getting thoroughly trounced). I was dropped on the first hill and arrived last-equal with C (from the TTT). However, we both rode much of this race on our own in difficult windy conditions over a hilly course, and we were only 4 minutes behind the winners of our grade. I thought we did very well.

So... my goal at the start of this series was to ride every race of the 13 scheduled - which I have.
I also wanted to "be competitive" in this grade, and today I proved it is possible... I got placed in the top ten at last.

It was the last race of the series, and I came 12th overall in my grade. There are a total of 38 riders in F grade.
(I was the only one in my grade who turned out for every race over winter... my points are indicative of consistent riding rather than sterling results )

The Spring series has no graded racing for the next 8 weeks - it is made up of interclub age races, club champ age races and events/fun rides and opens. So I will look to the summer series to try and be "up there" in the top ten a little more often.

[Trekhawk]

WOW Raven!!
Sounds like you had a great season. Give you self a big pat on the back for getting to all the races.

I look forward to hearing about your next load of adventures.