Saturday

I was finally able to do the Chattanooga 3 State 3 Mountain ride because in the past I had to go to a funeral, the weather was bad or I was racing.  This year due to tornado damage the last mountain was bypassed and I ended up riding 90 miles in 4 hrs in 55 minutes including one rest stop, so that means I have to go back again and finish the whole 100 miles.   It was a great ride, beautiful scenery and very well organized.

Sunday – Harpeth Bicycles Criterium

Our team rode hard right from the beginning and we attacked multiple times hoping to break away but nothing stuck. In the last lap we started out with a lead out train that was not quite fast enough and some racers got by us and the group was bunched up during the last 2 turns. I saw an opening right before the last turn and told Kat to get on my wheel so I could lead her out for the sprint. As soon as I went around the corner, I went as hard as I could until I had nothing left. Unfortunately Kat got cut off by another racer during the turn so she was not on my wheel.  It was a good try and next time I need to make sure she is behind me.

In the end Cali busted out a move that was amazing. She won the Cat 3,4 crit earlier and then came in 5th in the Cat 1,2,3 criterium. My husband took some photos that are seconds apart and Cali was blocked in the first photo and was able to bust out a move that got her 5th place. That girl is strong! Parri 6th, Kat 8th and I came in 11th.

This crit is fast, well run and is one of my favorites.

This race had 2 laps with a total of 55 miles of chip seal road and potholes and gravel section that is about 1/2 long in Berlin, TN. There was no tree cover with winds at 13 mph which made for a very tough race.

We hit the gravel section at mile 7 and I was in the front and I told Parri to hang on. I love gravel and I am not afraid of it and I went up this section pretty hard to break up the group.  I am very proud that Parri was able to keep up because she was a little fearful of that section. At mile 13 Parri was able to get ahead and keep ahead for the remaining 40 miles and she came in 1st place. Very impressive!

I was in the 2nd group and worked on being disruptive. I just read this book called “Racing Tactics for Cyclists” by Thomas Prehn lent to me by Todd and used some of the tactics that he recommended. It helped Parri get further ahead.

During the 2nd lap a group of 4 of us were able to break away on the stair step hill and stay together until the end. I was behind 2 racers that I thought would be a good lead out before the end until Katie Ryan came around me and attacked near the 500 m line. I had to work hard to get on her wheel and it was a very close finish.  I used a tactic from the book that helped me to come in 2nd. You will have to read the book because I am not telling you.

1 and 2.