Local Racing in the FLA

After being home for a mere 36 hours, Todd and I jumped in the elephant (a.k.a Green Honda Element) and headed up I-95 for a weekend of local racing in Sanford, FL. I'm tired but it was fun for sure ... I showed off my new kit and got some good work and speed in the men's races and Todd's team, Santo Cycling Team, dominated by winning both days! It was a great weekend away with my Honeybunny, just what the doctor ordered since we were apart on Valentine's Day!!! What could be more romantic than flying around some small town in Central Florida on 23X700s?

Back from VAC Camp

Gosh there's a lot to report for my nearly two weeks in Northern California at the ValueAct Capital Women's Professional Cycling Team training camp.  I'm not even sure where to begin...so let's start with the team:  ten awesome and talented women, one fearless leader and one very brave man who will spend the season with eleven women through stress, drama, tragedy and triumph!  At camp, we got a taste of the team dynamics and chemistry and it's obvious we're solid as a rock.  I'm one of three newcomers to the VAC team and I've never felt so welcome.  In a matter of days, my new teammates started to feel like old friends.  It was an easy week in miserable weather filled with great training, sponsor product education and promotion and a sloppy messy crit in the rain.  We're solid, bonded and looking forward to putting people under pressure...then stepping on their necks!  

Lisa the FAAAHHHHBULOS, DahlinG!

Today I had a 3 hour training ride with climbing and, being that I'm in Northern California, I'm in the place to get-r-done, right?  Yeah, ok so on paper YES but today in Fairfax it was 45 degrees and overcast...and then it got worse.  As we climbed Mt. Tam (over and over again) we actually reached right up into the clouds.  The fog was so thick, visibility was around 10 feet and the wind was strong enough to see the clouds moving across the road in front of me!  The icing on the cake, truly, was that on the top half of the mountain we also had the pleasure of rain!   So conditions were epic for me, for sure, and I really didn't even care because I love going uphill and I never get to do it! But the super star of the day was my new director on the ValueAct Capital team, Lisa Hunt, who put up with this insane weather on a ride she really didn't have to go on.  Her company, and navigation skills, were top-notch and I really appreciate her faaaaaaahhhhhhhbulousness, DahlihG! 

ValueAct Capital Team Training Camp

So I arrived today in Sunny Northern California and I'm so happy to be here!  ValueAct Capital team training amp officially begins on Tuesday but I headed out early to get in some extra days of climbing.  And, today, we did one little climb, enough to get my feet wet and enough to make me look forward to tomorrow!!  Also, I met my new show pony for the year, a 2009 Specialized Ruby SL complete with SRAM Red from head to toe, pimp white LOOK pedals and Mavic Wheels. I sure am lucky...here's a sneak peak...    

Today was also the day I got my VAC Team schwag and boy did I ever cash in...again sponsors came through is SUCH a big way...Champion clothing rocks and I LOVE my new kits...you'll be seeing them first hand on the PB and Jupiter group rides...hopefully, I'm flying!   Also, Specialized again came through with top of the line carbon sole shoes, helmets and optics. Again, superb equipment...here's a peak at some of the schwag I snagged today...
More fun to come...we're training here and in Sonoma County for the next 2 weeks...I'll keep you posted!  

VAC and Proud!

Officially, on January 1, 2009, I became a proud member of the ValueAct Capital Women's Professional Cycling Team!!! I'm new to them, an already a stellar group of some of the best women bike racers in America today. I'm looking forward to a fabulous season, taking on a big schedule of stage racing and more so keep in touch! More to come for sure...