Photo courtesy of Tim Willis

Contributing editor Natalie Tapias didn't share a lot of team information in her bio when we announced that she was coming on board at Pretty Damned Fast. But now that its official, we are beyond happy to share the good news. Natalie, along with Rhys May,  is joining JAM Fund as an elite rider and will be moving western Massachusetts to train and focus on cyclocross. We are so excited to follow along with Natalie on her journey, and are excited to see what the future holds. 

Read JAM Fund's full announcement here. 

Words by Jen Abercrombie

Photos by Jordan Clark Haggard

Rapha continues to bring art, design, and fashion into the cycling space.  This week as the 2016 Amgen Tour of California race travels from San Diego to Sacramento, a cycling cap will be released every day for each of eight stages of the men's race and one for the Women’s Tour of California.  A limited number of the caps will become available to purchase online, in Rapha Cycle Clubs, and out on the race course at Tillie, the mobile cycle club. The nine caps are a collaboration with iconic brand Herman Miller and the prints, designed by former Herman Miller director of textile design, Alexander Girard, are pulled from their archives.   If you want one, you better hurry.  As of this writing, the first designs released are already sold out.

 Rapha's limited edition 2016 Tour of California cycling caps

To celebrate this collaborative intersection of cycling and design, we took a ride with Rapha and Ben Watson, executive creative director at Herman Miller. We began our city ride at a conversational pace with from the Design Within Reach store in West Hollywood with a group that included local architects and designers.  We wound our way through the west side of Los Angeles, visiting mid-century modern architecture classics plus a house that’s a newer example of sustainable technology.  The ride took us to the Schindler House, through Century City past "The Barn" which served as a home and studio for modern architect A. Quincy Jones, and on to the Eames House in Pacific Palisades overlooking the ocean.  After a quick ride along the beach we visited the McKinley House, also known as the "The Californication House" for its appearance in the eponymous television show. 

Rapha x Herman Miller Architecture Ride start at DWR in West Hollywood photo: Jordan Clark Haggard

Hillary Benjamin of Rapha North America and Rapha Women's Ambassador Crystal Haggard

Crystal Haggard pre-ride lounging at Design Within Reach

Caps up close

Jess and Gabby, a designer and an architect along for the ride

Heading into the Schindler House, the first stop on the ride photo: Jordan Clark Haggard
 

The Schindler Chace House in West Hollywood, designed by Rudolph Schindler and built in 1922

The Eames House in Pacific Palisades

Hillary Benjamin enjoying the ride

Architect David Randall Hertz tells us about his McKinley House in Venice which is designed to take advantage of ocean breezes, eliminating the need for air conditioning.

The Stage 5 cap and some Herman Miller inspiration at the Rapha popup shop in Venice, CA

Crystal Haggard at the Rapha pop-up shop in Venice

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Interview by Sammi Runnels

Photos courtesy of Ridebiker

The Ridebiker team is sponsoring seven women for the 2016 season making them one of the largest Pro women's mountain bike teams in the world. The team is made up of a lot of bold face names that you may know from watching cyclocross and fixed gear crits. And while they may be known these days more for their podiums, everyone was a beginner once. The ladies of Ridebiker shared a little about how they got started, what inspires them, and what their goals are for this season.

Taking a page from pro motocross, the team uses the privateer format. This team model sponsors athletes with gear and a salary, but also allows them to build individual sponsors. This makes each athlete unique, with bikes from Rocky Mountain to Felt. being able to visually identify each athlete makes it easy to cheer and follow along in races and photos.

The team hit women's mountain biking with a bang this year.  Larissa Connors won her first UCI race at Fontana and has gone on to podium several times in the past few weeks. We look forward to see what the rest of the season holds!

Sammi Runnels

Sammi Runnels

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?  

When I started cycling and racing I started with road cycling. I started missing being in the woods surrounded by nature. So I bought a mountain bike and have since fallen in love with dirt riding.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

I believe working with the young girls is the best way to grow women's cycling. This year I’ll be working with two children's programs. Boneshakers Project is an after school program that works to get more kids on bikes and running. Texas Cyclocross Project is a kids racing team. It’s so rad working with little girls stoked to ride bikes.

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

My goals for 2016 is to figure out where I stand in the Pro field. This will be my first year doing US Cup races.
I really just want to assess where I am and just learn and grow as much as I can. I'm really stoked to be able to learn from all the other ladies on my team.

Larissa Connors

Larissa Connors

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?
My little sister and I used to ride these hybrid/rigid bikes up the rockiest trail we could find in the state park behind our house growing up. Our goal was to make it to the top without putting a foot down. That was long before I started racing bikes, but the ability to set a goal and work hard to achieve it, that's what inspired me to ride then and still inspires me today.

How has mountain biking change your perspective on cycling? On life?

Mountain biking has taught me in a huge way that if you think you can do something, you can. I am constantly reminded through the bike that believing in myself can be the most powerful tool, and I think that is a lesson most of us need to be reminded of on a regular basis.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

Marketing the sport towards women is huge to me. I have had so many conversations with industry folk who say that marketing to women isn't worth their time becasue X, Y and Z, and that's always felt like a slap in the face to me. So if the industry (as it seems to finally be doing) would stop treating it like dude's bikes are more important, I think more women would pick up a bike and try it out. Design rad women's bikes, spec them out with XX1, treat your women's products like the best and lightest and fastest. Women will eat it up!

What do you wish you knew about MTB before you started? Any advice for beginners?

I wouldn't change my mountain biking story for anything. I like that I came into it not knowing what I was doing, that I crashed my brains out over and over until I figured out how to unclip/how to roll over a rock and how to corner. The progression is such a beautiful thing, so I would tell beginners to enjoy the process. You'll see improvement very quickly in the beginning, enjoy that, and be proud of yourself. Never apologize for holding people up, for having to walk over a rock garden... that's the learning process we ALL went through. You'll be riding that gnar stuff one day, and you'll look back at your first ride and smile.

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

Well to put it all out there and be vulnerable and whatnot, I would give my left leg to be on the Olympic short list and to compete in Rio. I get all itchy and anxious talking about it because the self doubt is strong in me sometimes, but that is my big, shoot for the moon, what motivates me each day when I wake up goal. Along with that I want to compete in Worlds, stand on as many US Cup podiums as possible, and to inspire others to race their bikes.

Emily Schaldach

Emily Schaldach

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?
­In middle school my best friend joined DEVO, the local Junior Development team. I have always been incredibly competitive with her, and therefore, I had to join as well. This was the start of eight years of racing and competing with my best friends in Durango, surrounded by trails, mountains, sunshine, and happiness.

How has mountain biking change your perspective on cycling? On life?

­The cycling community is the people whom I love, respect, and want to spend all extra minutes surrounded by. In the most cliche way, my heart feels full when I am out on the trails shredding around with fellow cyclists.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

I think there is a negative stigma for women in cycling. I find myself apologizing for being slower than the men I am with, or even other women. If we can embrace the power and lung capacity we have at this time, today, and thank others for waiting, instead of apologizing, mountain biking would be more appealing. Chasing people is the best way to improve and embracing the fact that people will go faster than you makes the daunting ride drastically more attainable.

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

On an individual level I want to learn how I race best and stay in tune to training and racing to make the most of the time I put into cycling. On an interpersonal level, I want to encourage people everywhere to get outside and start pedaling. In the community, I am working with Durango DEVO to start a scholarship program to help kids in the community ride with DEVO regardless of the program cost. On a global level, I have partnered with World Bicycle Relief to raise money to build 100 bikes in sub­Saharan Africa for children, doctors, and entrepreneurs. It's going to be busy and so so epic! I'm more and more excited everyday.

Amy Beisel

Amy Beisel

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?

My brother and Hartman Rocks in Gunnison.  Kalan, an elite mtb racer as well, was always  telling me how fun mtb'ing is. Because if his constant excitement and crazy stories about mountain biking, I finally bought a bike in 2009 and I started racing that same year.

How has mountain biking change your perspective on cycling? On life?

Mountain biking translates in so many ways, on and off the bike. I am a more confident person today and I give a lot of credit of this happening from riding my bike.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

One of the top 3 reasons why women don't ride is because they do not want anything to happen if they are alone on the trail. Afraid of something happening.Having women feel prepared to hit the trail is essential, I think, to growing our sport.

What do you wish you knew about MTB before you started? Any advice for beginners?

Have fun!! Just enjoy it. Mountain biking never gets easier (always something new to learn on the bike) we just start going faster. Stop and enjoy the views!!

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

I will be racing all US Pro Cup races. Goal is to be top 10 overall in the series. US MTB National championships is always a high priority ­ Goal is for a top 5!! Plus some amazing local races ­ Go Pro Games and the Original Growler just to name a few.

Mikaela Kofman

Mikaela Kofman

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?

I grew up as a downhill ski racer and would occasionally use MTB as a form of cross training in the summer months. When it came time to go to University and being my undergraduate degree I had to make the decision whether to continue to ski or focus on academia. It was at this point in
my life that I realized that biking was a sport that you could do anywhere, right from your front door and it certainly didn’t require flying across the continent to search for the best snowy conditions. Naturally the more I rode, the more I fell in love with mountain biking and the bike became my relief during the stress of school...the rest is history!

How has mountain biking change your perspective on cycling? On life?

I always say that mountain biking is “the great equalizer;” no matter who you are, where you come from and what life experiences you’ve had. I have come to learn that the moment most individuals hop on a bike, they transform into the same type of person; they are searching for a sense of freedom on the trails and to leave the chaos of life behind.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

Cycling is a very male dominated sport. There is little information in the media about women’s cycling; especially mountain biking. The disconnect between women and the mountain bike has created a stigma that mountain biking is “too radical” for females. I believe that in order to get more women involved in mountain biking you need to start at the grass roots level. Involving young girls could help feed the system in hopes of creating a generation that grows with the sport. Additionally, learning mountain bike skills from a young age, will build confidence on the trails and help mitigate the fears associated with the extreme factor.

What do you wish you knew about MTB before you started? Any advice for beginners?

Mountain biking is an addiction, once you start you will never stop!
A great day in the saddle requires a good chamois and some chamois butter.

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

In 2016 I will be racing both for a new team and bike company; Ride Biker Alliance and Liv. My goal is to represent, promote and attain results on behalf of both parties on the domestic and international circuits. I hope to qualify for the Canadian World Championship team as well as contribute to the Canadian team point count for the upcoming Rio Olympics in August.

Ellen Noble

Ellen Noble

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?

I started racing MTB when I was 5 because my parents both rode and raced MTB. I’ve always thought my parents we’re the coolest people ever, so naturally I wanted to do what they did — especially when I was younger. I started going on the adult rides with them when I was ~7, and have been enjoying the ride every since!

How has mountain biking change your perspective on cycling? On life?

MTB was my first true love in the sport of cycling. So, whenever I start to lose perspective and begin to question whyI’m doing it, I think back to the pure joy I get riding trails and adventuring around. Mountain biking has served as reminder of why I started riding in the first place: to have fun! In life, mountain biking and cycling in general has given me more than I can really articulate. I really feel that it’s shaped me as a person. MTB specifically has taught perseverance, goal­ setting, work ethic, and so much more. I really can’t image my life without cycling and what it’s taught me.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

I think the best thing we can do is continue to work hard for equality in the sport. I know that there is the argument that women’s racing is smaller, so we can’t offer equality. That said, someone needs to make the first move, and I strongly believe in the saying “if you build it, they will come.” So, if promoters of races (big and small) make the women’s races “equal” to the mens, I hope more women will feel welcomed in the sport and the sport will grow.

What do you wish you knew about MTB before you started? Any advice for beginners?

The best advice I can give to beginners is to remember why you love it. When it’s cold and rainy and you don’t want to go train, or your race didn’t go as planned, it can be easy to get discouraged. That’s why it’s important to remember what got you into the sport to begin with, because it makes the bad days a lot easier!

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

I’m really focusing on development in 2016! I want to push myself as hard as I can technically, and race events that will challenge me to race cyclocross better. I’m excited to be riding for RideBiker this season, and hope to do events for them that will grow the sport, and help increase women’s mtb involvement in New England especially.

Erin Alder

Erin Alder

What inspired you to start riding and racing MTB?

I was inspired to ride and race in college, because of the people I met in the sport. I've made some lifelong friends because of cycling. Living in Nevada City and Downieville has inspired my mountain bike racing. The mountains called to my lioness spirit...

How has mountain biking change your perspective on cycling? On life?

In general, the sport has made me grow. The
people that I have worked with and who I am currently working with, have been a big part of my growth. I see the place I live (more) because of a bike.

What do you think can be done to get more women into mountain biking?

Bike shops need to take the lead and have weekly group rides set up for women, that are beginner/ intermediate friendly.

What do you wish you knew about MTB before you started? Any advice for beginners?

I would say take a skills clinic... Some clinics are taught by women, and some are taught by men. One full day, or one full weekend of instruction can accelerate your riding capabilities so quickly, without having to learn things the hard way.

What are you 2016 cycling goals?

A couple top 10's at the US Cups, and to have breakthrough podium results this season at races with long, sustained climbing and descending.Mostly... to have fun!! 

Photo courtesy of Felt

So we are rarely fans of anything 'women's specific.' Outside of saddles and garments, it's mostly just pinkwashed marketing. But this asymmetrical, left side drive design is something else. Designed exclusively for the US women's track team, we cant wait to see how these ladies do at the 2016 games in Rio. Not sure whats more ground breaking, the overall design, or the fact that female racers are using it first.

"It’s a sport-altering design that was built 100 percent from the ground up for female racers — with the women’s team getting unprecedented financial and technical support. If male pursuit riders ever end up on bikes like this, they’ll be following the women’s lead."

Read the full article at VeloNews 

Photo courtesy of Felt

LA Sweat was formed by the need to infuse a little more estrogen into the male-dominated, testosterone-soaked world of cycling without sacrificing speed and style.

Team rider Becca Schepps told us a little bit more about the team.

Natalie: Tell me about your team! How did it all begin and what is your mission?

Becca: We started a few years ago when Kelli Samuelson was the bike painter over at Ritte. She started this women’s program with the idea of doing things differently, and perhaps showing a different version of strength. Last year we morphed the Ritte Womens’ Racing Team into LA Sweat. Cycling is such a weird sport. It’s hard to be a fan because everything is always changing. We wanted to change that and looked towards how other sports do it. So originally the idea was to create a team that could be something to root for independent of changing sponsors and riders from year to year. It would be this staple that you could always count on.

One of Kelli’s sticking points when picking riders is to find that female who is dominating locally, and wants to get out and race the bigger national races, do it. It’s why we’re super excited to support riders like Christa Ghent, Christina Birch and Jen Sharp (although she’s only part of our travel squad, she races for Stages Cycling when not on the road). These are women who have full-time jobs, but are strong as hell. They may or may not want to be full-fledged pros but we want to give them the chance to flex. And hey, we’re women and we should be able to have it all, right?

Natalie: How do you make it all work, financially? How do your sponsors and partners support your racing?

Becca: Bike racing is so expensive. We try to give our riders everything they need to be competitive and successful at the national level. So that means bikes, wheels, nutrition, clothing, travel to and from races. 

That’s why when we add the logistical cost of having to schlepp bikes on planes, the price of a single ticket can easily double. We try to do everything we can to negate those costs. We will drive to races when we can. But I will say that BikeFlights.com has been a life saver. They’re like our super secret weapon when trying to make a budget when you don't’ even have a budget to work with.

BikeFlights will ship your bike for incredibly low prices, and give you peace of mind because they actually insure your bike and belongings. If for some reason, the delivery deadline is missed, BikeFlights will give you a stipend. Seriously, no airline says that, and we’ve lost plenty of bikes on airlines (last year coming back from SpeedWeek the airline actually lost my carry-on that had ALL of my team clothes and gear in it).  

After a long week of racing we’ll usually print labels on BikeFlights and leave our bikes at the front desk of the hotel, or drop them off at a FedEx shipcenter for pick up. Then they arrive home to us 2-3 days later, right when we’re ready to get riding again. It saves us time and money at airlines. It also forces you to get some recovery time in. So that’s huge.

And really, in a bike race only one person gets to win, so you have to make sure you’re enjoying the race. That’s why we make sure that we look damn good, win or lose. Seriously. Maybe it’s like faking a smile when you’re in a bad mood. But hey, it works. Look good, feel good, and project confidence.

We’re fortunate to not just have fast clothing that we love (I personally love the Castelli materials. When you’re in the skinsuit it makes you want to caress yourself), but we’ve also been fortunate enough to work with great artists like Alex Ostroy of Poseur Sport, who worked with me to design this year's kit, and Yoko Honda, who did the artwork for last years kit. We’re dedicated to going against the grain of logo clad clothing, where the logos are just covered up by race numbers anyways, and making strong designs that are fast and feminine.

We’ve been really lucky that our sponsors have been onboard with this approach -- the whole, no blatant logos on our kit. Cinelli, which supports us with bikes and cockpits, has a history in great art and design, so they understand that presentation is everything, and we love being able to represent them in a wacky way. We worked with Nuun last year, and absolutely loved the zero-calorie hydration option. It lets you really control your calories and electrolytes. We wanted to work with them again this year, so when we told them our no-logo approach, they were amazing and used our kit to create custom bottles to match.
I guess you could say we’re an aesthetically focused team. Or brand for that matter. I think that’s why our partner brands have been able to get on board. They know that we are going to be sticklers on presentation. From giro helmets and shoes to Selle San Marco saddles, to Chris King, Smith Optic glasses it’s really great to see the companies understand that this approach can gain you the consistent eyeballs and media impressions that winning doesn’t always provide.

Our relationships with our sponsors really do become more of a partnership where we both promote one another. We’re super excited to do this with some more unexpected partners down the road, right now you can score that LA Sweat look with our Nuun Bottles and the pre-sale of our Gold Chain kit.

Natalie: Were should we expect to see LA Sweat racing this year?

Becca: This year we’re trying to hit most of the USA Crits circuit. It’s a great race series that offers equal pay and great coverage. We had our team camp in the hills of California outside of San Luis Obispo, near Cambria. Then the girls had a month to get home, get used to new team equipment, race locally before heading to Speedweek. After that we’re off to Tulsa Tough, Dairylands, Boise Twilight, then Intelligentsia Cup in Chicago. That takes us through July, and then August will be some Colorado racing and then ending with Gateway Cup in St. Louis.

Good luck to LA Sweat on the rest of their racing season! Check out LA-Sweat.com to read more, and while you're there, check out their Gold Chain kit and Nuun bottles they have for sale.

All images: Daniel Murphy

Go pro from your living room:

Zwift Academy begins June 1, 2016

Zwift has teamed up with CANYON//SRAM Racing to create Zwift Academy, a program that will offer three fast female Zwifters a spot at the CANYON//SRAM Racing training camp in Europe, where the newest member of the 2017 CANYON//SRAM racing team will be chosen.  It officially starts June 1. 

Intro by Jen Abercrombie. Words and photos by Crystal Haggard

 If you haven’t tried it yet, Zwift is a cycling experience that feels like you’re playing a video game, but your bike is the controller.  It allows the user to ride her bike on a trainer simultaneously with other people on virtual courses, both real and fictional, like “Zwift Island” or the course of the Richmond 2015 UCI Road World Championships. For the data obsessed, there are real-time speed and power stats and virtual rides can be uploaded to Strava to see how you stack up against your friends.

A few years ago, I was riding a trainer regularly to keep up some fitness after I crashed in a cross race and separated my shoulder.  I was amazed at how strong I felt when I finally got back out on the road, and it made me a trainer convert.  Of course, I feel a little guilty riding a trainer while living in Southern California where we almost always have beautiful riding weather, but it’s great to get a quick workout when I don’t have a lot of time or I want to ride at night without worrying about lights or safety concerns.   If I lived somewhere with harsher seasons, I'm sure trainer riding would figure heavily into my cycling life. When my friend Crystal Haggard began working with Zwift, I thought I’d give it a try.  Normally on the trainer, even when watching TV,  I felt so bored and antsy that I would jump off the bike the minute my timer hit thirty minutes.  When I tried Zwift, I found that I could easily ride for forty five minutes or more.  My competitive side was activated by the QOM’s and sprints along the course and by the fact that I was riding with (and against) actual people on trainers in their own living rooms everywhere. It made trainer workouts fly by so much faster.  Crystal and I even made a date to get on Zwift at the same time and went on a “lunch ride” while she was at work in Long Beach and I was home in Los Angeles.  We were real-life friends riding virtual bikes together.

 Although I personally use Zwift to get in a quick ride when I’m feeling pressed for time and avoid being a total couch potato, it’s also useful for amateur athletes and elite racers, especially now that there’s Zwift Academy.  Zwift has teamed up with CANYON//SRAM Racing and created a program that could turn one strong, fast female Zwifter into a professional cyclist. Crystal Haggard does Community Support for Zwift, and she recently joined the Canyon//SRAM women’s team at the Women’s Tour of California to ride with them both on Zwift and on the road in breathtaking South Lake Tahoe. 
- Jen Abercrombie

The Women's Tour of California with Zwift and CANYON//SRAM by Crystal Haggard

      This year's Tour of California started out like previous years for me.  I attended the first two stages of the Men's race.  It was exciting, filled with friends, fun and tons of spectators. Instead of continuing to follow the men's field as they headed north, I flew to South Lake Tahoe to spend a few days with the CANYON//SRAM pro women's cycling team on behalf of Zwift.  

      The alarm went off before the sun came up and I was rushing to the airport before I could finish my first cup of coffee.  The next few days were jam-packed. The biggest event was a one-hour live broadcasted Zwift ride with the CANYON//SRAM team on YouTube.  As soon as I got to the host hotel, we rushed to get the set dressed, all the computers updated and cameras set up before the team rolled in from a training ride. About 45 seconds before the team was slated to show up we were finally ready to go.  As they came into the hotel, we immediately put their bikes on the trainers and logged their computers in to join hundreds of people from around the world on a virtual Zwift group ride.  The Zwifters joining in on the ride were as diverse as the CANYON//SRAM team itself, coming from all around the world.  We had been collecting questions from the Zwift women's community for the team and live broadcasted the event on Youtube for those who couldn't ride.  The Canyon//SRAM women were so thoughtful with their responses and sounded exceptionally excited to talk about the upcoming Zwift Academy. 

For those who don't know, Zwift Academy is a program where Zwift and CANYON//SRAM have teamed up to create a platform to turn one talented female Zwifter into a pro cyclist with a CANYON//SRAM team contract for the 2017 season.  We kicked off in April by hosting 3 virtual women's rides a week in different time zones and different ride levels.  The goal is to provide something for any women who wants to participate.  The Zwift Academy contest officially kicks off June 1st and will offer women's group rides, a structured training program and eventually a spot for one lucky and talented lady on the pro team.  

What I love most about this program is that it isn't just the winner who wins.  Yes, it's incredible that one person could essentially secure a spot on a pro team from their living room, but personally I know I don't have what it takes to make it to the top.  I do however have the opportunity to tap into an amazing community of female cyclists, take advantage of the training plan and group rides and also set my sights on a killer local cyclocross season because of it.  It sounds cheesy, but anyone who participates wins. 

Wednesday morning I was invited on a two hour training ride with the CANYON//SRAM team as they previewed part of the next days Tour of California route.  I had ridden with most of the members of the team before on Zwift, gotten to know them through social media and became friendly with them at the previous afternoon's event, but being able to sit on their wheels and watch how smooth, confident and strong they are on the bike was a once in a lifetime experience and truly inspiring.  We rode a beautiful loop around South Lake Tahoe and ended the ride at their Stage One course uphill finish to Heavenly Village.  My sea level legs and lungs were screaming.  I was determined not to get dropped while the team looked like they were in zone 2.  There’s nothing like being around such strong and accomplished women to push and inspire myself to train harder and reach personal bests.  

The next day was the start of the Women's Amgen Tour of California, a UCI Women's WorldTour event.  Sure, I had a blast at the first two stages of the Mens’ Tour, but having a personal connection with the women's CANYON//SRAM team brought a whole new level of excitement to the race.  Feeling inspired by the previous two days with the team, I joined some of my friends at SRAM for an epic 60 mile 6,000 foot elevation gain day. I won't bore you with the ride details, but I will tell you that this was the single windiest ride of my entire life, I literally got blown off my bike a couple times and had to wait for the 65mph gusts to pass before starting again.  As we were riding, we were getting updates about the start of the Women's race which had been delayed because of this wind. Our goal was to make it back in time to see the finish.  It was an intense, beautiful, and fun ride but it took a little longer than we anticipated because of the conditions.  As we crested our last climb of the day (8 miles averaging 9% grade), we took a break to regroup and dropped back into Tahoe at top speed, racing the women's peloton to get to the finish before they did. Naturally, we couldn't beat them there but we did make it down the hill just in time to see the peloton whiz by and offer cheers of support about 4km before the finish line.    

We met the team at the finish line with huge smiles on our faces, a sense of accomplishment felt by everyone riding, pro or not. It was the perfect way to cap the week.  I'm already looking forward to next year’s event and watching the newest member of the CANYON//SRAM squad.  Whoever she is, she’ll be someone I’ve personally spent hours riding with on Zwift Academy.

If you'd like to find out more info about Zwift Academy and participate with me you can register here, and if you need help with getting started in Zwift at all, I'm more than happy to help.  Just shoot me an e-mail at crystal@zwift.com with any questions.  

- Crystal Haggard

Photo courtesy of @Tak_NYC

David Trimble Interviewed by Anna Maria Diaz-Balart

In the days that followed Red Hook Crit, the keyboard commentary was intense. Everyone had an opinion, a theory, an explanation accounting for every resounding success, and biting criticism for every perceived failure. Velonews credited the 'fixie' bike for the event's success, message boards dissected the moto stall and crash, the internet was filled with experts. And while some of the commentary was interesting, very little of it was illuminating. Perhaps because precious little of it went back to the source, race organizer David August Trimble. 

Certainly there are things to learn and ways to improve every single incarnation of Red Hook Crit. Its clear the Trimble Racing is a dynamic organization and continues to grow and continuously adapt every year. But no matter what one's personal opinion is of the event, one must recognize its success head and shoulders above any other bike race. The field is diverse and the giant crowds are positively electric. It feels like all of Brooklyn comes out to cheer, and for many spectators it will be the only bike race they see that year. The women's race in particular, is a resounding success, something which many in the larger cycling community still find baffling.

In partnering with brands like Strava and Levis Commuter, its clear that the RHC is bridging the gap between hard core racers, and the active/athletic community at large. The race itself still gives you the opportunity to cheer for dazzling European pros, along side hometown heroes and working bike messengers. There are so many metrics for calculating RHC's enormous success, but I might have to go with my own. I cheered so loudly for the women's race that I lost my voice. I cant think of any event that even compares. I asked David a few questions to understand where he credits this success of his events. 

Ingrid Drexel, Olympic cyclist from Mexico races with men in a mixed field at RHC6 in Brooklyn. Photo courtesy of @groovylab

You started the race as mixed field with just a few female competitors. What signs did you see that signaled to you that a separate women’s field was needed?

The modern era of the Red Hook Criterium started in 2013. We signed with Rockstar Games, introduced qualifying, and launched the 4 race championship series. At this point we still didn't have a women's race.

In Brooklyn we had 10 women register and only 3 qualified for the main race (Kacey Lloyd, Ash Duban, and Olympian Ingrid Drexel). Can you imagine a woman trying to qualify for the final in the today's men's race? It was incredible that even 3 of the women made it into the final. From this point on it was only a matter of time before we needed to add a women's field.

I used to joke that I would never add a women's race because Kacey won the first one. In reality it took us a while to feel that there would be a decent sized field. Once we were confident we added the women's race. I felt a lot of pressure because I knew there would be a lot of attention and hype right from the start. If we added the women's race and only 5 women showed up it would be embarrassing for everyone involved.

A small but growing field of women race in Milan, photo courtesy of @Tornanti_cc

A lot of attention is paid to the equal prize. What role do you think that plays in the success of the race?

I actually don't think we've put that much attention on it. If we are going to have both a men's and women's race they have to both be headline events. Any race that happens on crit day is there for a reason and not just a warm-up act.

If you just present the races the same way equally you don't even need to draw extra attention to the fact they are equal.

Of course the trick is making a race that is high quality enough that when both races are presented equally they both look amazing and create a lot of hype. If the main men's race is boring and not promoted well the only trick the promoter has for the women's race is to advertise equal prizes.

In summary the reason the women's race is a success is the exact same reason the men's race is a success.

To what degree is the parity we see now in your races a result of the cycling culture that surrounds fixed gear bicycles?

I don't think parity at the Red Hook Crit is linked specifically to fixed gear bicycles. I think it's more linked to our endless pursuit of making the absolute best possible event we can. In this pursuit having both the men's and women's race have equal stature is the only option that makes sense.

Hannah and David on the podium at the first RHC in London, photo courtesy of @Tornanti_cc

How has having a sister that races bikes informed your decisions as a race director?

My sister Hannah got me into cycling so it’s all her fault! All of sisters are insanely smart and talented (I have 4) and they help a lot with the race. I wouldn't say they help specifically with the women's race but with the overall concept. If we make the overall event better and smarter, then the women's race will be better as well.

Could road crits or even cyclocross benefit from moving closer to urban areas, or offering more spectator friendly hours?

This is a long and complicated subject but absolutely races need to be held in places and at hours where people will want to be at. The main problem with cycling is that it's not presented well and is not easily accessible to spectators. If nobody is watching a race then sponsors don't care about it. More than anything my pursuit with the Red Hook Crit has been to make a spectator friendly event.

RHC must take up almost all of your time, but you have done smaller races that explore other formats. Can you tell us a little about Neversink? And does it offer a model for other types of road racing?

When I have some free time I like to organize smaller races like Neversink. Unfortunately the last two years I've been too busy with Red Hook. So far Neversink has just been for fun but considering that everyone who races it loves the format I think there is something to be learned from the design. I would like to put a big effort behind a road race some day. I used to race myself, so when I design an event I just make the kind of race I personally would want to compete in. If I make something that I find interesting and fun usually other bike racers will as well.

I’m struck by how relaxed and egalitarian the athlete area is at the cruise terminal. Big teams coexist in the same square footage as local amateurs. No fancy RVs or team tent displays, how intentional is this?

The absolute best thing to come out of the RHC is the global community that has formed around it. I think it is a self fulfilling prophecy. If you make a race that is meticulously organized and promoted and then remove the stereotypically bad elements, you'll end up with lots of amazing characters involved. The prize money remains relatively low, you don't earn UCI or upgrade points, and no athlete is getting rich off of this. Everyone who is there is there because they want to experience this race and the culture around it.

Kacey Lloyd, from racer to race director, photo courtesy of @Tornanti_cc

What role does hiring women like Kacey Lloyd play in creating an great environment for women who race?

Having Kacey involved in the women's race has been great. I think she commands a lot of respect in the field because of her history in the race. Even when she was racing she would always be available to share advice and tips on competing in the race. Having a peer behind the organization of the event helps a lot in both the men's and women's race. In the men's race many of the riders understand that I used to compete myself so they can see that decisions are made from a racer's perspective. That same goes for Kacey in the women's race.

Female spectators at RHC 9 in Brooklyn, photo courtesy of @Tornanti_cc

What role do female spectators play in the overall race experience?

If I ever organize an event (race or otherwise) and only men show up I will know I did something really wrong. I think having women in the crowd is natural when we are working so hard to make a race that is great for spectators. If it’s truly great for spectators there is no reason it shouldn't appeal to both men and women.

In many ways your races have just broken the mold, and are something entirely new. Is there any hope for bicycle racing that’s steeped in dated traditions?

I think traditional cycling has endless potential that has been neglected. If anything we have broken the mold just by working extremely hard to deliver an event that makes sense and is fun. I don't believe there is a secret formula to the Red Hook Crit beyond attention to detail. If we had put this much energy and design into a traditional road crit in New York City it would also be famous by now.

The people that race your races are on the younger side, do you think we’ll ever see parity in races that accommodate giant masters men's fields?

I'm not really interested in adding more categories. We had a 47 year old rider finish top 10 in Milano in 2014…. I think one of the best things about the RHC is lack of categories. For example at a traditional road crit there are races all day long that all look the same. A normal person can't tell the difference between a Cat 3, 2 or 1 race so by the time the feature events come everyone is tired of racing already.

That being said I'd love to add a junior field someday.

Kelli Samuelson at RHC 9 in Brooklyn, Photo courtesy of @Coleswilson

What role do media savvy racers like Kelli Samuelson play in growing the public’s interest in fixed gear crits?

It might be an understatement to call her just media savvy. She's beautiful, well spoken, friendly, available, and fast. I personally want to be around people like her so I understand the appeal. We are blessed with so many great characters around the crit all of which help grow the public's interest in it because it makes sense to want to be around these people.

Kacey and David lead the women on a lap at RHC 9, photo courtesy of @Tornanti_cc

How did you come into bike race organizing? What are some of your organization’s other unique attributes?

I fell into race organizing. I never intended to do this professionally and never organized any events before the crit. I have a diverse background in cycling, motorsports, architecture, and design all of which have influenced the crit to some degree. More than anything my family which is full of crazy inventors and out-of-the box thinkers has shown me the right way to work and be creative.  

What made you decide to include a running event into the series?

I've always been impressed by one of my brothers (I have 3) who used to run at a high level. We were equals on the bike but when we ran together it would be such an intense experience just to hold onto his pace for a half mile. I knew how impressive athletes who run at a high level are and wanted to see them compete in front of all the spectators that come out to see the bike race. It also goes back to my desire to limit bike racing categories. We needed more races to fill up the day but didn't want to just add more bike racing which will eventually bore the spectators. Having the 5k break up the qualifying and final events makes for a diverse evening that is constantly changing.

The giant women's field we see today, RHC 9 in Brooklyn, photo courtesy of @Tornanti_cc

Words Anna Maria Diaz-Balart

We are all short on time. And if you're spending serious time in the saddle, it leaves even less time for everything else. We are always inventing little hacks to save a few minutes here, a few seconds there. From park laps to morning routines that get us to work with minimal prep, we'll take the extra time wherever we can find it. Here are some of our favorite beauty hacks. They might not improve your Strava stats, but we think they are worth the time the save.  

Eye makeup remover: This is my favorite go-to hack. When you get back from a ride and discover a giant 'cat-6 tattoo' on the back of your calf, eye makeup remover will take it in a second. Chain ring marks will not come off with soap and water, but eye makeup remover is a gentle degreaser that safe on even the most sensitive skin. 

BB Creme: Best for commuters that wear makeup, BB cream is a one step that replaces moisturizer, sunscreen, and foundation as well as a few other steps/products you probably weren't using anyway. Formulations tend to be gentle on the skin, and do an excellent job of keeping skin hydrated. My go to has always been Dior Hydra Life, but you can find multiple brands of BB Cream at drugstores. 

Keratin Treatment: Long haired cyclists rejoice. You just got back hours of your life. If you like clean long hair that looks styled, a Keratin treatment might be just the thing. While its designed to keep your hair straight, it cuts down on drying time anywhere from 40%-60%. If your hair frizzes at the first hint of moisture, Keratin will keep it looking sleek no matter the weather conditions, and goes along way to prevent helmet hair on morning commutes to the office. Its not right for everyone, and works best for those who have plenty of texture. The process takes about 90 minutes and lasts for  about three months. You'll have that sleek blow dried look with minimal effort. Its available at most salons. 

Mineral powder: Functionally mineral power is foremost a powder. It conceals, evens skin tone, and blots away grease. But mineral powder is really sunscreen. And while most of us are used to reapplying sunscreen to our faces on long endurance rides, too few of us reapply sunscreen during the work day. Having a mineral powder compact stashed your bag means youre more likely to use sunscreen more often. We love Bare Minerals for applying loose at home, but the Physician's Formula is inexpensive and comes in a travel compact. 

Softcups: Because its time to cut the cord on whatever else you are using! Nothing is more painful than an errant cord, and who wants to stuff tampons into jersey pockets. And please, don't even get me started on race port-o-potties. Softcups gives you up to 12 hours of reliable protection without cords and cotton. It's one less thing to think about on race day. 

Dry Shampoo: A go-to post workout product, dry shampoo cleans oil and sweat out of your hair without having to wash. Its great to keep at your desk at work, and generally spares your locks from over-laundering. While this isn't news to anyone, my go to hack is to dust my hair with dry shampoo immediately after washing. It forms an oil and sweat absorbing base, and lets you stave off greasy locks for even longer. Available in myriad scents as well as colors, I love to splurge on Phillip B Russian Amber, and pick up Baptiste for my budget option.

Good hair dryer: Ok for this one, there really is no budget option. Much like bike equipment, you get what you pay for. After years of using a hairdryer purchased at my local drugstore, I upgraded to the T-3. It's a solid investment for any long haired woman that works out a lot. It cuts your drying time down significantly, and damages your hair much less than conventional, budget dryers. They create less heat and are significantly quieter. What's not to like?

https://instagram.com/annamariastyles/

Pat Notaro/Red Bull Content Pool

Personal hero and all around badass Rebecca Rusch stays busy breaking world records, racking up podiums and going on epic adventures. I was lucky enough to interview her in New York for PDF, and it has been great just keeping up with her on social media. Her latest accomplishment is nothing short of amazing, and it was all done to support one of our favorite organizations, World Bicycle Relief.

Pat Notaro/Red Bull Content Pool

The past March, seven-time world champion, author and volunteer firefighter, Rebecca Rusch, and adventurer, Patrick Sweeney, summited Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit organization, World Bicycle Relief. Rusch and Sweeney rode, carried and pushed their bikes to the summit at 19,341 feet, then braved the journey back down, with the goal to ultimately raise one dollar for every foot of elevation, equaling 131 new bikes for students in Africa.

Pat Notaro/Red Bull Content Pool

Alongside local porters and a guide, it took the duo 6 days to complete the round trip journey.  At 19,341 ft., Kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa and one of the world’s Seven Summits. Due to its massive elevation gain of 13,238 ft. from the base to the summit, the team moved at a slower pace to allow their bodies to acclimatize to the extreme altitude.  Over 35,000 people attempt Kilimanjaro each year and the success rate is only 45%. Just a handful of athletes have completed the route by bicycle. And of those athletes, Rebecca is the only woman.

Professional athlete and world-champion, Rebecca Rusch has been working with World Bicycle Relief since 2013, to provide bicycles for individuals in Africa to access critical resources like education, healthcare and economic opportunities.  “I love a monumental challenge like this, and it’s even more meaningful if our adventure can help change the world,” said Rusch.

Pat Notaro/Red Bull Content Pool

Rusch rode a Niner JET 9 RDO with components, wheels and tire upgrades chosen specifically for this endeavor. Rusch’s bike used on this adventure was auctioned and the proceeds benefitted World Bicycle Relief. Built for trail, the JET has an emphasis on weight and efficiency with speed inspired geometry, and was the perfect “do-anything” bike - super light for the strenuous uphill and capable for the varied, technical descent. While we might not be summiting Kilimanjaro any time soon, we bet a set up like this would be incredible to ride. Its still possible to support Rebecca and Patrick’s efforts here,

 http://win.gs/bikekilisupport.

Watch the stunning film of that captures the entire adventure :

Interview with Jennifer Malik by Lori Nedescu

Ever look around at the riders lining up next you and think wonder what she eats ...?  Well you're not alone. It's totally common to wonder what your friends (and competition) are eating, especially when it comes to pro athletes who make us all stare in awe as they effortlessly spin their super quads and lean bodies in circles around us.  

WHAT ARE THEY EATING!?

Lets find out! In order to gain some understanding of how our fellow female cyclists fuel their sport, we are going to take a snap shot look at the diet of professional cyclocross rider (and my road cycling teammate) Jennifer Malik. Although this is just a peak at her fueling habits, we can learn from what habits are on track and what improvements she might want to make for better performance. This little exercise will also give you some insight into how a consult with a sports specific dietitian goes down and could help you pinpoint areas of improvement in your own nutrition needs.  

Before we open her fridge up... lets get to know Jen a little better.

(Lori) How did you get your start in the sport?
(Jen) I used to run and compete in triathlons, but was always terrible on the bike. I decided to become more involved in the Columbus cycling community to improve my cycling but ended up being introduced to cyclocross at a local clinic hosted by the Lady Gnar Shredders and fell in love with the sport.  

L - Understatement!! Not only did she fall in love with cyclocross, but she crushed the sport; going from her very first race to a pro race in the same season.  
 

Jen at Sea Otter Classic
photo by Jarad Kleinberg
 

L - What team(s) do you ride for?
J - Womens CX Project (cross), Womens Project Pedal + OSU (road) and Paradise Garage (UCI mtn bike)

L - Favorite bike?
J - Focus Mares CX

L - When you're not riding (and not eating) you are...
J - PhD student studying Biomedical Engineering at The Ohio State University
L - Where she designs models of the inner ear... yea it’s a thing and Jen does it.  

L - Do you have any off the bike special talents?
J - I can sleep through anything. Cannon blast, earthquake, smoke alarm, people hunting 15 ft from my tent while camping... the list goes on.

L - You have a pet right?
J - Otis – 4 year old rescue Ohio Brown dog.  
L - Ohio Brown? Is that an official color!?!

L - Favorite song:?
J - B52s – Rock Lobster
L - This is why we listen to separate headphones on car trips to races...

L - Alright, lets chat a bit about your eating habits and goals. Why is nutrition important to you?
J - Nutrition has an impact on all aspects of my life. I can tell both physically and mentally when I have been slacking on my nutrition! My schedule is incredibly hectic and given the amount of activity I do I want to make sure that I am providing my body with the appropriate foods to help me perform my best and make the most of my workouts. I also really want to make sure that I start developing healthy eating habits so that I can continue to rock my crazy schedule for a long long time.
L - It's super important that you are looking at nutrition as a right now AND long term factor! Every athlete should do the same. When athletes only consider how eating effects their current performance, they are liable to create future deficiencies.

L - Do you have any nutrition or eating goals?
J - Eat a clean and well balanced diet and minimize processed foods.
L - Perfect. This should be almost everyone's goal! Now that you have a goal...make a plan to set it in motion!

L - Do you follow a special diet?
J - Vegetarian. But I eat dairy, eggs and some fish.
L - Okay, it's good that you have limits, but are not overly restrictive. Any special diet can be done well or poorly.. .vegetarians should remember the root word is veg so the diet should be rich in produce.

L - Go-to fueling food?
J - Peanut butter toast
L - Are you sure you don't mean peanut butter by the spoonful?...
J - Hehehe....I don't know what you're talking about...

L - What food item do you always pack with you?
J - A banana.
L - Good choice; having a piece of fruit on hand is the perfect natural snack.
J - Yeah, otherwise I will reach for a Girl Scout Cookie. They are my weakness for sure – I got asked if I wanted some after a trainer night and ended up ordering 7 boxes and promptly eating them that night and felt terrible/sick. Oops.
L - OMG. We've all been there... stick with the banana.

L - If I looked in your fridge right now... you'd be most embarrassed by:
J - The current lack of food. Must. Go. Grocery. Shopping.
L - That is a problem. One, because you live 100 ft from a grocery store...
J - I know, I know!!!
L - But more importantly, readers take note, if you do not have good, quality food in reach, you are more apt to eat poor quality junk food. Always have an emergency meal on hand like canned tuna + mac n chz + frozen veggies or even a few healthy frozen meals on hand like an Amys Tofu Rice Bowl.

L - Post Race Craving?
J - Pizza!!!
L - Not a bad choice!
J - Yes! Winning! Ha.
L - Pizza gets a bad rap, but it can have a great balance of macronutrients to fuel your body. Just skip the greasy meat or thick pastry crust style pizza.

L - Favorite Food?
J - Currently, avocados... Although I still can't cut them into flowers. Damn #avocadochallenge.
L - That's a skill we will work on. Luckily for us that doesn't take away from how nutritionally sound the avocado is. I suggest eating them often. Calorie dense, which athletes need, and full of healthful fats to promote satiety, brain function and endurance.

L - What is your eating weakness? 
J - Sometimes I keep eating even though I'm full because I like the taste of what I am eating.
L - So many athletes struggle with this. The trick is to eat filling foods, eat slowly, and only serve yourself what you think you need. Athletes shouldn't skimp on food intake, but everyone is at risk of over consuming, regardless of activity level.

Alright, let's take a snap shot look at your diet. Tell me how your day played out, food & workout wise. 

Lori Nedescu, a certified dietician evaluates Jen's average daily intake.

Biggest A+ of the day: Great vegetable intake! Really proud of you stepping it up and moving away from convenience foods to cooking quality, veggie rich meals.

All athletes should take note; just because you burn lots of calories does not give you free reign to consume junk food. You won't be riding at pro status with a poor diet.  

Biggest area for improvement: Your riding would benefit from more calories and carbohydrates placed before and during the workout. Let's aim for 15 grams of carbohydrate in solid food form every 30 minutes during the ride while sipping the hydration mix for an extra boost and electrolytes.  

Hopefully this gives you a little insight into evaluating your own diet for better performance while feeling at ease that pro cyclists still have nutrition goals to work towards. Remember that every athletes needs are different, so if you're concerned you are struggling in this area, please consult a dietitian who specialized in your sport for a full consult.

You can find more information at The Cadence Kitchen. 

To see Jen Maliks pro adventures, follow her Facebook athlete page!

words by Kelly Krause
photos by Kezia Nathe

First, I'd like to take a moment of silence to give thanks to my new best friend: the yoga block. You know, the thing that sat next to me during my first few yoga classes, unsure of how to properly use. That is, until my instructor Leah came over, slid that thing under my hip ever so gracefully, got me into pigeon pose (think: #4 stretch but on the ground) and finally helped me address the hip pain I've been having.

Ok, moment of silence over, now I'm ready to begin. 

Hi! I'm Kelly Krause. I'm pretty new to the cycling world (just celebrated 2 years), but having the time of my life. By day, I run Publicity for SXSW Interactive and curate content for our programming lineup, including SXstyle. I'm also a writer and speaker, talking about my life mantra: Live Kindly, which stemmed from a pretty big weightloss journey I started in 2013 (I lost 140lbs). Cycling has been a big part of that journey, first starting with spin classes where I lost the bulk of the weight (shoutout to Soul Cycle for keeping me on track while I travel). Since I purchased my first road bike in 2014, it's been an epic adventure from the moment I clipped in.

I've gone from being completely intimidated and nervous on my first beginner group ride to racing my first (and last) triathlon, leading rides, traveling around the US with my bike, becoming a Rapha women's ambassador and encouraging women to simply get out and ride and share that same confidence I found in cycling. 

Since I've become a cyclist, I've learned that how I train off the bike is key to becoming stronger, both physically and mentally. I'll be the first to admit that I have a hard time with going too hard and constantly pushing myself. It's a by product of learning to manage my excitement. Several friends encouraged me to try incorporating yoga to my off the bike routine and after a few years, I'm happy to say I finally found it. 

Through a bit of serendipity, where the universe clearly had my bike, I was invited to attend a yoga + meditation retreat with 49 other inspiring and thought-provoking individuals on behalf of lululemon last month (#TheImmersionATX if you were following on social media). I wasn't a yogi, I don't meditate and I didn't know anyone going, so I immediately replied to the invite with a big YES. I always feel that the biggest changes occur when I spend time outside of my comfort zone. 

I had a chance to write about my experience for lululemon's Medium page, if you'd like to give it a read. 

While it's only been a month since yoga has been in my life for three short weeks, so much has already happened. In no particular order: 

1. I'm sleeping better. Ok, there's a slight chance my new sound machine might be helping, too, but every day I start with yoga, I sleep better than I ever have. 

2. My hip pain is completely gone. I truly believe it took deep stretching in pigeon pose to help, but I am no longer waking up at 3am to stretch because of pain. 

3. My focus is razor sharp on the bike. In yoga, they call this Drishti, which is a focused gaze and means for developing concentrated intention. At the beginning of each class, our instructor asks us to set an intention. Mine is usually "I'm going to go further than my mind thinks I can today." I focus on that the entire class and always nail it, then carry it throughout my day at work, on the bike, wherever. 

4. My breathing is mindful and productive. I know. . .if you would've told me to breathe mindful and productive, I would've given you a head tilt and confused face, like "Am I not doing that now?" In yoga, we practice breathing in full inspiration and full exhalation to help get deeper into poses. Same technique is super helpful on the bike vs. the shallow panting that I usually do.

5. I'm calm. Full disclaimer: I'm already pretty calm and happy, but like I mentioned earlier, I need to learn to contain my excitement. Practicing yoga is helping me get in a calm, no-need-to-grind-24/7 mindset. It doesn't mean I don't throw on the entire Lemonade album and completely go for it, but it does mean I'm learning to pump the breaks a little bit and listen to my body and what it needs. 

Because this is a new practice for me, I'd love to hear from you if you practice and have any tips . . .and if you can do a headstand, please teach me your ways, that's on my bucket list after seeing a badass woman do one in class. 

Find Kelly on Instagram or Twitter.

Photos essay by Michaela Albanese

Intro by Anna Maria Diaz-Balart

Pretty Damned Fast exists to share the stories of inspiring women. But as important as the stories may be, the photos often carry more weight, and present the larger perspective. I recently had the opportunity to cover the Philadelphia Cycling Classic for Rapha. I got access to interviews with the team and it's directeur sportif Ronny Lauke. I got to hold on for dear life in the team car as we raced through the streets of Manayunk PA to catch the riders. It was truly something else to experience the pro race from an insiders perspective. 

In deciding what to cover for PDF, I knew instantly I had to reach out to Michaela Albanese. A fellow UBI alum, and local Philadelphia racer for Team Laser Cats, I thoughts she'd have a unique perspective on the race. Unbeknownst to me, she lives on the actual race course, and had been spectating the women's race since she was nine years old. It is a powerful thing to watch the women's race change from an afterthought to the Women's World Tour feature. Because as Michaela grew up, so did the race. And the race that she dreamed of racing one day, is now packed with Olympic hopefuls and national champions. 

Michaela Albanese & Anna Maria Diaz-Balart

For all thats changed in the race over the years, its profound how universal the experience of the sport is for women. The course was dotted by kitted out female spectators, taking a break from their Sunday rides. The pre race rituals, the laughs, the ubiquity of race braids, were familiar to any woman who's competed on a bike.

Within the story of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic you can find the entire story of women's cycling, and to cover the event with someone like Michaela was truly special. Its rare that women who race get the opportunity to publish photos of women's racing. We think there's nothing better, and hope you enjoy this gallery. 

Words by Nicole Davison

Photos by Peter Baiamonte (IG: @peterbaiamonte) & Nicole Davison

“One day, this will be pleasing to remember” says the quote firmly stickered to the top of my stem. Wise words indeed -- hopefully I can remember why I put them there as I'm neck deep in lactic acid, kilometers clicking by, sipping steamy summer air through what feels like a straw atop some faraway mountain, several stages into what might prove to be the greatest challenge I’ve ever (willingly) confronted.

Photo by Peter Baiamonte 

The above being my first-tier-worst-case scenario, surely saddle sores, chamois woes, torched tendons, dehydration and utter despair are a close second. That’s what the fear and magnitude monsters want me to believe. What I expect to experience… no, what I demand of the experience, is a slow moving landscape,  rolling friendships, toothy grins and the occasional secretly shed tear.  

“Are you ready?” is the question of the day from customers and friends, every hour of the day for the last few weeks at least. How can you ever be ready? Does one ever head to France ready? That’s right, France. A great big bike ride. The biggest (one could claim) or at least the most recognizable.

Six months ago I got the harebrained idea to ride the entire Tour de France route. It wasn’t entirely my fault. I saw a random re-Tweet announcing dwindling availability to ride the 2016 tour with a charitable organization from the UK called Tour de Force. In exchange for the privilege of a fully supported adventure, participants agree to a fundraising minimum per stage. That sounded fair.

So off-the-cuff I mentioned to my husband (and co-conspirator of Veloville USA, our bicycle and coffee shop in Virginia) that I was going to leave him in charge for the summer and go on an adventure. Although I'm sure that sounded like a fun proposal, he replied, “You go, I go.”

Swiftly moving thumbs and two confirmation e-mails later, our fate was sealed.

Turns out, riding is going to be the easy part. Fundraising is hard. It’s the most uncomfortable thing, asking people for their hard-earned money so that you can ride your bike. The tricky part was separating the act from the purpose so donors knew they were supporting an actual cause. I’ve made missteps in selling the story, the raison d'etre of it all. Maybe I didn’t work hard enough to explain why it matters, why supporting a charity in the UK versus the USA was important.

On the most basic level, Tour de Force exists solely to raise money to support the William Wates Memorial Trust. The Trust, to be succinct, supports disadvantaged and underprivileged youth by funding creatively  relevant projects. Art, culture, education, sports. And of course, bicycles. For example, they just finished building a BMX track in the UK to provide an outlet for community youth to engage in a positive, fulfilling pastime. In essence, they are providing an option - this (bicycles) or that (shenanigans).

In a world that currently feels very raw and frighteningly vulnerable, supporting this kind of organization made sense to us. We are all connected.

Bicycles have done so much to change my life. It felt like a very reasonable thing to hope that bicycles could change the life of someone else too, and by changing their life, thereby collectively change the world.

Photo by Peter Baiamonte

Even before the first pedal stroke, this trip has been life changing. It feels cliché to say, “I’ve learned so much”, but to say anything else would be wasting words. Throughout the beginning of this journey I’ve felt every emotion known to humankind, sometimes an overwhelming mixture of them all. Mostly anxiety and not a small amount of fear. But that’s all I’m going to say about it since the fact is, this ride is going to be hard. It’s going to hurt physically and emotionally. I’m going to cry and curse and probably yell at my husband for no good reason. I’ll want to throw my bike off some annoyingly beautiful post-card mountain pass that totally just made me get off and walk and which completely bruised my delicate pride (anyone posting it on Instagram will be unfriended for life).  

And so enters my self-appointed mantra, “One day this will be pleasing to remember”. Because it will.

Each moment, each turn of the cranks, each labored breath, each bite of food, each morning I wake up with tired legs and a battered ego will be a cherished fraction of time that I feel very fortunate to have. I’ve finally learned to let go of the urge to burn through my book of matches.

This isn’t a Strava segment and neither is it a race. I’ve got nothing to prove, except to myself, and all I care to do is finish under my own power on my own bike with my best riding buddy by my side. From kilometer 0.1 to the red kite in Paris, I just want to remember the world as it goes by… slowly… and on two wheels.

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Words By Nicole Ortiz

In this digital age, it’s becoming increasingly easy to keep ourselves more in tune with our rides in a way that wasn’t previously possible. We can now track our routes and ultimate distance traveled, see how fast we’re biking, check weather conditions the night before we head out, and so much more just from one device. It’s convenient to have features like this available with just a few taps on a screen, so here are a few phone apps that can help enhance your next ride.

Strava

This app is great for cycling as well as any of you who also dabble in running! Once you turn it on, it tracks your route for you, letting you know the distance traveled, your average speed, and how long it took you to do the route. One of the most fun aspects of Strava is that it’s also a social network, meaning you can connect with other running/cycling friends and hold competitions with them. You can compete against others or try to beat your own personal best on a route. And there are also featured routes that you can use to challenge yourself, which are especially great for those that are looking for a change of scenery.

MapMyRide

If the name wasn’t enough of an indicator, this is a great app for tracking your route. MapMyRide is just one of the apps in the MapMyFitness series (along with MapMyRun and MapMyWalk). Using it, you can either create your own route or you can find one near you. And like Strava, MapMyRide offers you the chance to socialize with like-minded cyclists in your area and share your progress or challenge one another. Additionally, MapMyRide allows for you to track what gear you’re using, which helps users to avoid common injuries or discomforts. One of the downsides to this app, however, is that keeping the GPS on in the background risks draining your battery faster.

Cyclemeter

Lauded for being one of the most meticulous and advanced apps for cyclists, Cyclemeter unfortunately only works on Apple products. For those with an iPhone, iPad, or other Apple device, you can use Cyclemeter to record an unlimited amount of workouts (and they take up a surprisingly low amount of space!). Recording includes your heart rate, speed, cadence, power, and it also has automatic stop detection. You can also view terrain and traffic using Google Maps through the app. The app provides announcements while you’re riding as well where it’ll tell you your time, speed, elevation, heart rate, and distance. Using this app, you can easily train and create plans for upcoming rides or competitions. 

Endomondo

Known for its simplicity and easy-to-register appearance, Endomondo is a great app for tracking your heart rate, distance, time, and speed while biking. They tout themselves as being “a free personal trainer in your pocket,” offering tips on reaching your goals as well as audio feedback along your route. 

First Aid for Cyclists

Here’s an app that comes from a more unique perspective. Getting an injury on a ride can be scary and overwhelming, especially if you aren’t sure how to handle it. And a potential ambulance ride looming overhead can be unnerving. St. John Ambulance created this app based on the most common types of injuries cyclists experience and offer advice for how to deal with them. And if you find yourself in an emergency situation, you can connect with someone immediately. The worst part of this incredibly helpful app? It’s not available anywhere outside of England! Maybe a push for bringing a similar app to the U.S. is in order now.

My Virtual Mission

Staying motivated to complete your ride becomes quite simple using this app. With My Virtual Mission you set an ultimate goal that adds up to a ridiculous journey, something that can’t be completed anytime soon. Then each time you exercise, the app tracks your progress toward your end goal. While you cycle, you can even raise money for a charity along the way if you’d like! It’s a fantastic way to keep you invested in a workout.

Pocket Ranger® State and National Park Apps

Pocket Ranger’s apps focus on anything and everything to do with our country’s beloved state and national parks. Whether that means hiking, backpacking, swimming, or just relaxing, they cover it all. And that definitely includes a focus on biking, too. Using these apps, you can find a state or national park near you that has bike trails. The apps also differentiate between trails that are best for mountain bikes and paved trails as well as the difficulty of those trails when known. So if you’ve been craving an opportunity to explore our nation’s parks, then these apps were made for you!

Cycle Maps

Have you ever been interested in knowing all the bike routes in your given area, but weren’t sure where to find that information? Look no further than Cycle Maps. The app registers all bike trails, lanes, and maps of various areas so you can track routes in your area or in a place you plan to visit and want to bike at. It’s a handy app to have, especially if you enjoy biking when traveling to a new area.

Bike Repair

For those who want to start experimenting with bike mechanics on their own, Bike Repair is an incredibly handy app to have. It offers detailed guides for repairing your bike as well as some advice for cyclists, like how to tweak your bike to avoid lingering pains or suggestions on what types of clothes to wear in certain weather. You can also keep a log of maintenance done on your bike so you can be more informed if you do end up needing to go to a shop for more assistance. 

SizeMyBike

Finding a bike that fits you just right is often an arduous journey, especially if you happen to be a shorty like me. SizeMyBike works to make that journey a bit easier for you. Using six body measurements, this app helps you adjust a bike to be at its ideal size so you can perform at your best. It’s a helpful app to have and will lead to a much smoother ride experience. 

Hopefully at least a few of these apps are just what you’ve been waiting for to improve your rides. Apps develop every day, and I’m personally excited to see how it all changes in the coming years!

Words by Kate Erwin

Photos by Oliver Correa

I never intended to be a mountain biker. I am not even sure I knew what one was 5 years ago, but after breaking my foot in a motocross accident I was well on my way to becoming one. 

I never really rode bikes as a kid either.  My mother broke her ankle on a bike at age 16 and began what seemed to be an endless journey of hospital visits, chronic pain and a rather large mistrust of bicycles. I would not say that I lacked in my childhood, there were Labradors, skate boards, leotards and sailboats. But I never really rode bikes. I vaguely remember an archaic rust bucket that resembled a bicycle in our basement, and maybe there was a bell? Surely the bell got more use. To my mother’s defense -- she had a major trauma on a bike, so the general lack of enthusiasm had a basis in fear.

Although my mother and I share similar brokenness in our life, my recovery was very different. To me, anything motorized seemed a fitting physical therapy. My partner at the time did not agree. He basically forbid me to ride motos until I mastered the bicycle. 

I could count the number of bicycles I had ridden at this point in my life.

One, "Lemon Meringue" - the hand-me-down tricycle my childhood friend Mary Margaret taught me on (this was done behind my mother’s back).

I rode a sprinkling of rented bikes on various trips. Bike two, three, and four - Gunther (a Kmart bike), and Gunther 2 (the UK version), and another hand-me-down “party bike” a 26” Haro which I aggressively rode around NYC on, jumping stairs and hopping curbs. Word to the wise, you will get ticketed for this!

My partner's encouragement lead me to a road bike, which I enjoyed well enough. It certainly helped me with clipping in, balance and general riding. But I am not a roadie. It just isn’t in me. It’s too much with cars and riding, I became too aggressive. But the first time I tried single track something changed for me. A light was turned on. 

by Oliver Correa

Now that light isn’t very bright. I am not some gnarly rad mountain biker who catches big air and nails every feature. Far from it, but I love to mountain bike so much, this shit changed me - changed my life - my attitude, my chemistry and the odor of my car. When I am riding in the mountains, the woods, wherever I can find single trail, with my dogs, I am just in heaven. 

The point is, if I can do it, you can do it. 

Here are some helpful tips for women like me just starting to mountain bike. There might some useful reminders for those who already ride as well.

 

GIVE TIME TIME. 

I don’t know where this saying came from, but it is a freaking lifesaver for all aspects in life, and especially for mountain biking. Time is your friend, not your enemy. I want to be mountain biking past my 60s so I constantly remind myself that I have time. It does take time to learn to mountain bike and it can be super frustrating, but everyone else you’ll met on the trail has been there. “It just takes time” everyone says. So enjoy that time. Try and relax and stay in the moment and in no time, you will be able to master features. 

I recently asked one of the most badass female mountain bikers, but also one of the chillest, the infamous Lindsey Voreis about that moment when new riders "get it".

"Happy surprises are when it’s not as hard as the rider once thought. Once they learn to understand what's going on between them and their bikes, and start having 'ah ha' moments as they progress, they realize they can do a lot more than they thought they could on a bike. It’s so awesome to see!”

Another reason to give time time, is well.. time. Give yourself time to prepare to ride. Seriously, when you have to take on and off a bike rack using those tools that come with the kit, you can loose your mind before you even get to the trail.

Go out and get a socket with a ratchet. Make loading up easy. Keep your shit together - have a grab bag with shoes, tools, helmet, gloves, chamois, water, all that. If you have to take your bike apart to transport, make sure you keep your thru axle in the same spot. You only leave it once before you NEVER do that again! (OK, I did it twice because it takes me longer to get things - thick skull!) If you can prepare well before rides, you will enjoy riding more - and if you can ride to the trail from your home, well you should be riding everyday! 

SAFETY IN NUMBERS. 

Yes, I am telling you to ride with people. My two favorite riding buddies don’t have opposable thumbs and can’t make a phone calls. I broke a bone in my hand late last year and my dogs were great moral support, but it would have been nice to have a human with me. I like to ride with people for encouragement as well. I have NEVER ridden with jerk mountain bikers. There may be some out there, but I haven’t met them. Which is rather crazy thing to say confidently, but mountain bikers rule.

Everyone was a beginner at some point and for some reason mountain bikers love to get new riders going. I have ridden with super fast guys who are Strava stars, but they would always wait for me and were nice about it. I too have been the more advanced rider on some rides and have found myself nurturing automatically.

The one person who has been the hardest on me - is myself. Which leads me to the next reason there is safety in numbers. 

Ride with AS MANY people as possible, especially if you are learning to ride with or from a significant other. No one really makes a big deal about this, but it should be pointed out. Say you are a girl learning to mountain bike from you boyfriend, you need to branch out - ride with women, it will help your confidence, your love for the sport, your skills will improve and it will help your relationship. It is good to see how everyone rides, what trails they like best and any tips they give you will be better received than if the person you are dating gives them to you. 

LEFTY LOOSEY. 

Stay loose. Stay loose physically. I do yoga and strongly believe that it has helped with some really awkward crashes. I am that slow-mo crasher, landing in really strange positions. Keep your components on your bars a little loose so you can adjust them. Also, keep them pedals loose! Please. Trust me. Getting stuck sucks and it can hurt sometimes. 

Most of these crashes come from my mind being too tight as well - stay loose in your mind. If you know a feature is coming up and you immediately think “Oh I can’t do”, try to erase that thought and just give it a shot. Stay flexible with your expectations for a ride. Of course ride your ability or step a little outside of it, but be kind to yourself when you don’t make something that you have before. Mountain biking should be joyous.

WHY SO SERIOUS???

Final tip, don't freaking take yourself so seriously.

This is a bit of an add-on to the previous tip, but you really need to master this tip to have fun. Please don’t get all roadie on us or on yourself. Sorry roadies, but you guys looks angry and busy - very very busy. Mountain bikers usually have a shit-eating grin and dirty faces after and before a ride. I like dirt. Dirt is friendly. 

Mountain biking is a way to ride your bike in nature. Whether it is the desert or you are fat biking in the snow, you should remember that you are a guest -- a tiny little guest. 

by Oliver Correa
Shot on location planet earth in front of the Climate Ribbon tree.
“What do love and hope to NEVER lose to climate chaos?” Learn more here - http://theclimateribbon.org/english#home

Special thanks to Juliana Bikes, Giro, Kitsbow, Sombrio and Alpine Stars. 

Follow Kate Erwin on IG. |  Follow Oliver Correa on IG.

By Lucia Deng

CW: reference to sexual violence

Last week, I pre-rode a new race course on a beloved local mountain bike trail. It was a day filled with laughs, shredding newly built singletrack, and delicious recovery tacos. When I got home, I routinely uploaded the ride file to Strava. (1) It was then that I saw this:

“I’m here for the gangbang.”

This is the introductory climb of the course. It is the first segment that every racer who uploads to Strava, including kids as young as 13 (2), will see.

I wouldn’t consider myself someone who is easily offended, or prudish. I’m not anti-porn. I saw Old School when it came out, and laughed a lot (though, I didn’t make the connection to the movie quote until someone mentioned it later). Still, I had a visceral reaction when I saw the words, “I’m here for the gangbang.” It was imagery of a woman being violently penetrated by multiple men while others stood around watching and masturbating. NO! I do not want to think about gangbangs while I’m out riding in the woods, nor do I want other people who are riding or looking at my Strava activity, to imagine me participating in a gangbang. No. No. No. 

I reported the segment to Strava support. There was no option to flag it for offensive content as you would if a trail segment were unsafe, or if a user clearly cheated. I’ve since learned that you can “Hide” a segment, which prevents you from seeing it in your activities. But even when hidden, the segment still exists, with your name and PR associated with it, and will appear in the activities of others.

I then wrote a quick post on a local MTB message board and on social media. My intention was to alert people who might feel the same way I do and want to do something about it. In my ever naive optimism, I also hoped the segment namer would see the negative impact of his presumably harmless joke, and change the name. I assumed the namer is a man because out of 290 riders of the segment, only 13 were women at that time.

There was rallying of support, and calls for deleting or changing the segment. There was also a good bit of opposition:

“I don’t understand why you would choose to be hurt by [this].”

“It’s not that bad.”

“It’s only out of context because it’s the only one like it. If there were more, problem solved.”

“I am offended by how easily people get offended. No one is going to sugarcoat life for you”.

“You don’t have to use Strava. Nor do you have to ride that segment. So instead of asking others to change what offends you, why don’t you stop doing what offends you.”

“Just ride and don’t linger at the trailhead!”

“[Gangbang is] definitely not rape...”

“Nothing better than the old makeup run blowjob.”

Strava, for its part, responded quickly and changed the name of the segment to, “I’m here for the waffles”. This is funny (or very true, depending on your stance on waffles), and would be universally so even out of context. Bravo, Strava!

Then, the real trolls went to work. Even after seeing the response from many local MTBers, men and women, agreeing that the name was inappropriate, someone went into the open source map that Strava pulls from, and changed the name of the trail to “GangBang”(3). Other Strava segments appeared in that same park: “I was here for the gangbang but all I got were these stupid waffles” and “here for the Gb.” While the initial segment may have been created in homage to a Will Ferrell movie, there was no mistaking the intent of these subsequent actors: to make others uncomfortable. I’m still amazed someone would take the time to do all of that. I honestly hope they have more joy in their lives than the joy they get out of trying to razz other people.

Empathy is the capacity to understand or feel what another person is experiencing from within the other person's frame of reference. This means refraining from judgment, and not asking yourself, “how would I feel” in that circumstance. Rather, it’s acknowledging how that other person feels, and accepting that as truth.

A friend of mine was raped, and has recurring nightmares about being gangraped (or gangbanged - there is no distinction for her). Try to empathize for a moment. Then consider whether the joke is worth the emotions that would be triggered in her: the hurt, anxiety, fear, anger, and probably a host of other complex emotions I can’t even begin to understand. Is it worth it?

If these segment names persist, will I stop using Strava or stop riding in this park? No, not yet anyway, though it would not be a stretch if some women do. (4) However, I now know that when I ride these trails, there may be someone just around the bend who takes pleasure in watching others squirm. And that guy has now rallied a bunch of like-minded immature buddies to do the same… The message being perpetuated is, it’s totally acceptable and harmless to make light of references to sexual violence (especially against women) or to be an online bully. And if it’s acceptable on Strava, it is surely acceptable to intimidate women in real life…

There are some trails in the NYC metro area where I never ride alone. One is just a few blocks from my apartment. I avoid parks like Highbridge and Cunningham unless I’m with others because men and teenagers often loiter around - not on bikes, and I can’t be sure they have my best interest at heart. As women and girls, we have been taught to constantly modify our behavior to avoid rape. While I recognize this is a form of social control, it’s hard to walk away from a lifetime of acculturated fear. Dismissive attitudes toward something as seemingly insignificant as Strava segment names, contributes to this culture.

What amount of “fun” or “freedom” would these bullies really give up if Strava were to ban references to rape and violence? What is ultimately more valuable to the greater cycling community? What if instead, our collective response was, we hear you and empathize with you!

There was debate on whether gangbangs are consensual or whether banning that word would also require banning of dick or boob references (to me there is a very obvious distinction between body part jokes and rape). People pointed out the phrase has a different meaning in other contexts (e.g., the movie, rap songs). This is all beside the point. No judgment needs to be made on the jokes you make or what you do in your private life, for a phrase to be inappropriate when seen out of context in a public forum by hundreds or thousands of users every time they upload a file. While adults may understand the reference and brush it off, what about kids, specifically girls - aren’t they entitled to ride these trails as much as anyone, without silly adults clouding their fun?

A search for the word, “rape” yields over 20 segments containing that word. While Strava was responsive to a user complaint and cites a “zero tolerance policy” for offensive content, shouldn’t they make it easier for us to flag a segment as inappropriate, and empower users by creating an official mechanism for self-policing? Or, taking it a step further, what responsibility does Strava have to data mine for this type of content and preemptively remove/change inappropriate segments and warn/block users who create them?

Strava is used as a tool for riders to plot out new routes and discover new trails - an introduction to an area. Only about 10% of Strava users who are cyclists are women. Do we want “I’m here for the gangbang” to be the welcome sign? Especially, when we are constantly hearing industry folks, clubs and promoters ask, “hey how do we get more women out here riding or racing?”

We should all be able to agree that jokes, or worse - direct intimidation attempts, referencing violent acts, including rape, simply have no place in our sport. We should uphold Strava’s pledge that, as a community, “we are courteous and treat others with respect.” We should promote a welcoming and inclusive sport that nurtures exploration of new places and personal growth - “to strive” as Strava puts it. Rejecting behavior that condones intimidation is a crucial component of that.

1. Strava is an online social network for primarily cyclists and runners, that allows us to track our activities, and see how we compare against others and against our own personal records over time. Strava has grown to over a million users worldwide and has become ubiquitous in the cycling community. Members can engage in competitions via segment KOM/QOMs or other challenges, map out routes, and some have used it in highly creative ways, like this Strava art guy. But, as with any crowd sourced application or online public forum, individual users can introduce a sinister element to an otherwise benign tool.
2. The youngest users permitted under Strava’s Terms of Use.
3. A good samaritan quickly changed it back, but only after someone reported it with a screenshot.
4. A 2008 survey shows that women often avoid public spaces as a result of harassment, including paying to exercise at a gym rather than outside.

Lucia Deng is a an accomplished road, cyclocross and mountain bike racer. She is an active member of CRCA - Century Road Club Association, an A Classic SIG leader for NYCC - New York Cycle Club, and current board member of NYSBRA - New York State Bicycle Racing Association, with special focus on issues affecting NYC region and women racers. While not out riding, Lucia is a healthcare tech attorney working for a non-profit health care system in NY

Cover image by Laura Wilson

JAM Fund is a comprehensive year-round program with a mission to lower the financial barriers within the sport of cycling and to develop athletes who are cycling's true ambassadors. A key event in achieving this mission every year is a fundraising ride on July 17th, 2016:  the JAM Fund Grand Fundo!

Join PDF editor Natalie Tapias and her new cyclocross teammates, professional racers, and excellent company for a fun, challenging ride on pavement and dirt roads in Western Massachusetts. Read more about the day at this link and you can register for the ride here : bit.ly/fundo16. 

Send Natalie a message if you have any questions at all about the ride : natalie@prettydamnedfast.com

Words by Kelly Krause

If you've noticed #womens100 in your Instagram feed lately, it can only mean one thing: the annual Rapha Women's 100km ride is just around the corner -- 12 days to be exact. 

It also happens to be one of my favorite rides of the year. 

The thought of over 8,000 women across the globe coming together to support one another, set goals and above all, share one plan for your entire day - have fun on your bike.

On a personal level, this is the ride that taught me about the power of community. When my fellow co-Rapha Ambassador Jolene Holland & I sat down last year to plan out our training series and #womens100 ride, we had one goal in mind: let's bring women together to have fun on the bike. That simple. No other agenda other than enjoying time on the road.

We opened the rides up to everyone and encouraged beginners and seasoned cyclists alike to join us. We created a Facebook group, started a training series from May to July that would help women slowly build up to the 100k distance, and let the rest fall into place. We had a hunch we'd have enthusiastic women come out and support -- both Jolene and I had touch points in two different communities -- her with racing and me with social, local bike clubs and spin studios, and everyone seemed genuinely excited. However, our expectations were completely exceeded. 

Have you ever seen Field of Dreams? You know, the 1989 flick starring Kevin Costner who plays an Iowa farmer that hears mysterious voices in the cornfield saying "If you build it, he will come." After some nudging from his wife, he finally builds a baseball field on his land and ghosts of great players emerge from the crops to play ball. It's a classic. 

Anyway, it was kind of like that (minus the mysterious voices). The moment we kicked off our training series, new faces and women from all walks of life and cycling backgrounds emerged. Every month, someone new would join us. The momentum was amazing and truly gave me the chills to see so many women come out and just ride. 

I loved that we were all out there for different reasons. Some were reconnecting with the bike after years off. Others just purchased their first road bike and wanted to ride with other encouraging women. A few were using the #womens100 in their summer training plan. And for others, including myself, the #womens100 would be the longest ride to date. Regardless of the reason we showed up, we were all in it together. 

And when I say all in it together, I mean it! We bonked together, set PR's together, laughed, cried, talked about our insecurities, shared our vulnerabilities, cheered each other on, turned around or waited at the top of the climb for one another, offered up an extra water bottle, and celebrated with post-ride ice cream. 

Outside of the training rides, we became friends. We supported one another off the bike in our professional endeavors, we took road trips, went to concerts, tried yoga, shared heartache and even became bridesmaids in each other's weddings. As a matter of fact, this August I will officiate Jolene's wedding!

This, all because of a shared love for the bike and the community. The momentum from last year's Rapha #womens100 only keeps growing. Most of the women went on to race crits or cyclocross, and even created their own cycling clubs. This year, even more new faces are showing up and joining training rides, leading their own rides and above all, supporting women in cycling. 

For me, this ride isn't about going the fastest or beating last year's times. It's about keeping the momentum alive. It's about encouraging and supporting new and seasoned riders and celebrating women doing something epic together. 

Regardless of where you live, or whether or not there's an official ride in your city -- start your own, get out and ride and keep the power of community and the spirit of women in cycling alive. 

Because, who run the world? GIRLS. 

You can pledge to ride the Rapha Women's 100 at: http://pages.rapha.cc/womens100 and make sure to follow along and post your pics to social with #womens100.

Find Kelly on Instagram or Twitter!

Words, Photos, & Video by Ally Mabry

It’s 10pm and I am lying in my bed on top of the sheet, sweating under the steady oscillation of my ceiling fan. On any other night I would tell you I was sweating because I live in Austin, Texas and it is always hot here. Tonight I am sweating because I am nearly paralyzed with anxiety under the weight of my quickly approaching 7am flight to Portland. Once I land in Oregon, I will collect my bike from Virgin America’s oversized luggage bin, assemble my transportation all by my lonesome, and nervously make my way to the train station where I will board a train for Klamath Falls, Oregon—the start of the Oregon Outback.

The Unknown can be paralyzing in a big way—if you allow it. One of my favorite quotes was spoken by the “patron saint” of dirt bag rock climbing, Yvon Chouinard: “The word adventure has gotten overused. For me, when everything goes wrong—that’s when adventure starts.” In other words, things never go as planned and that’s the beauty of traveling. To be open to The Unknown is to allow yourself to be influenced by your experience in the moment. Taking this to heart, I have gotten into the habit of planning most of the big factors and leaving the rest to chance; hoping the stars align and things work out.

You always tell yourself you’re going to do X, Y, and Z to prepare for something big until you’re sweating in your bed the night before your adventure begins meditating on the fact that you chose to ignore Z and hope for the best. Although I identify as a cyclist and I have plenty experience backpacking on foot, before May 2016 I had never been bike camping. This small fact seemed half as daunting in May 2015 when I began planning my first trip with my friend Scott. Around that time there was a big stink about this incredible (and at times soul-crushing) 360-mile route through the high desert of Oregon mostly comprised of unpaved roads. OregonBikepacking.com released a recap of the 2015 Oregon Outback “event” organized by Donnie Kolb with the big, stark headline: The Death of the Oregon Outback. After thoughtful consideration Scott and I concluded with “Fuck it,” and decided we would do it anyway—completely unsupported, just the two of us—and believe that the Universe would bestow upon us magical camping availabilities that Kolb warned may not exist anymore. “It’ll be okay,” I mused, “last year there were 300 people on the trail during Memorial Day weekend. We’re only two people. And we’re nice.”

For the next year, I traveled to many new places with Oregon in the furthest corner of my mind. In addition to cycling on the reg, I am also an avid rock climber. I split my time between these two passions and the many jobs that make up my full-time self-employment by riding 20–30 miles before work, climbing in the evenings, and either riding centuries on weekends or pretending I’m a mountain biker on my Surly Straggler.

I returned home from a week of riding road bikes in Tucson one month before our departure. I realized I hadn’t bought my plane ticket to Portland yet. The final month of preparation consisted of almost daily trips to REI and my new mantra “all of your experiences combined have prepared you and toughened you for this trip. Everything will shake out. The stars will align.” Oh, and the miserable solo bike camping trip I attempted locally two weeks before I left for Portland (I rode to a metropolitan park 42 miles from my house, gaining 2800 ft in elevation on the way directly into a thunderstorm—once I reached my campsite, set my hammock and rain fly up, and made myself dinner over a pocket rocket, I crawled into my hammock and called a friend to pick me up.)

I never actually got on the train. Two days before my flight Scott and I were discussing the lack of buzz surrounding the Oregon Outback this year. It was possible that we’d be going at it alone, so I turned to Instagram. Under the #oregonoutback hashtag I found a guy from NYC with the username @Ultrastokedjohnny who was also preparing for the Outback. I direct messaged him and soon our party of two became three. He even offered to pick me up from the airport and together we would drive to Klamath Falls where we would meet Scott.

I stepped off the plane and hurried to baggage claim, palms sweating because I had never traveled with a bicycle before. I awaited the arrival of my battered cardboard box and breathed a heavy sigh of relief when it popped through the plastic flaps on the conveyor belt. My phone rings—it’s Johnny. I can’t understand a word he’s saying but I tell him to meet me outside of baggage claim. Again, remaining calm and telling myself that everything will work out. The two strangers, Johnny and his friend Ivan, greet me with big hugs and I am instantly relieved. This is the kind of generosity I would experience from strangers over the next six days.

Two days into our trip I remember thinking I knew this would be the best thing I have ever done. Rolling into Silver Lake after a rough 54 miles, we rejoiced at the sight of the mile-long town’s open convenient store. The owner, Les, greeted us and immediately offered to let us set our tents up in the shared yard between his house and the store. Overjoyed that the rumors we’d heard of Silver Lake’s negative opinions of bike packers were false, we accepted his generosity. The next day, 30 miles from the town and by a stroke of luck, Les and his family pulled up to us in an SUV as we rode through the most challenging gravel we’d faced and gifted us beef jerky and kind words

As the miles ticked away, my body got used to the long days. My biggest worry leading up to the trip was that I wouldn’t be able to handle back-to-back days of high intensity miles. My savior: chamois butter and trail mix with chocolate bits. I honestly didn’t focus on the physical pain much because every 20 miles or so the scenery changed. It’s pretty incredible what happens when you propel yourself and everything essential to life on your bike with nothing but your own [wo]manpower. I cried a few times when I was overwhelmed with joy.  I also cried a few times because biking fully loaded through deep, lightweight gravel uphill in the beating sun can be incredibly difficult.

Now that I’m home and out of my adventure bubble, what seemed like an amazing feat at the time seems so small. I have to keep reminding myself that it was the first of many bikepacking endeavors I will take on in the coming seasons. Two weeks after I returned from the Oregon Outback I convinced my friends to load up and ride 84 miles to a state park situated around a lake to camp for the night. I’m currently planning a two-week-long, 830-mile tour of Iceland’s Ring Road with two of my best girlfriends, which will be 100% paved. I’ll return to gravel sooner or later, but after 360 miles, I’ve had my fill for a while.

Follow Ally on IG: @a_mabry

Words by Erica Schwanke

There’s this climb just south of San Francisco that I find myself riding more than any other. Part of its allure is accessibility. I can be out my door and to its base in minutes. Those first few miles, a series of slight rollers that pop out to the ocean, give the opportunity to warm up my legs and clear my mind. The first part of the climb is a smooth, straight climb on good pavement with a wide shoulder leading to a right turn into a state park. The pavement breaks apart and the road switchbacks up to the summit with an almost complete lack of cars.

I attribute a lot of my love of cycling to this ability to escape. As an introvert and over achiever by nature I’ve always favored hobbies that get me away from people and far from the hustle. First it was skiing in the winter and lake swims in the summer - activities that put me in an environment where I’m forced to be present, relaxed and often alone. Now in California, cycling has become my full time respite. Or more specifically: spinning my legs up Radio Road.

After a successful early road season I hit a few bumps. I caught a bug I couldn’t seem to shake and convinced myself I could sweat it out. I told myself I’d just train through it. Learn from my mistake - that’s really stupid.

Once I took some time to get my groove back I hit the local crit scene and saw podium after podium. Once mid April rolled around so did travel season. First Las Vegas to ride and shoot a new bike, then a triple header of fixed gear racing starting in San Francisco with the Mission Crit, then Brooklyn for Red Hook, and wrapping up in Long Beach with the Short Line Crit.

The Mission Crit went well, for the most part. Two riders went off the front and I sat in the chase group hoping to launch a well-timed attack and secure 3rd place. I made my move too late and came in 4th, just off the podium. Still, my fitness was where it needed to be and I was relieved to feel comfortable in that race, especially since a few riders I’d be lining up against at Red Hook were present and came in behind me.  A few days later I boarded the plane to Brooklyn.

Red Hook was exceptionally exciting for me this year because it was my first year racing with teammates in the women’s field. We all qualified well and when the main event came I felt strong and ready. I claimed my spot on the start grid surrounded by my State Bicycle teammates and then it happened - I missed my pedal at the start. This wasn’t a I-tried-to-clip-in-on-the-wrong-side-and-missed-my-pedal error, but instead I went to clip in with enough force that when my foot didn’t catch the pedal it slid forward and almost rocketed me out of my saddle. I watched 30+ women pass me. It took 3 full rotations to finally clip in and while I spent the next 8 laps leap frogging from chase to chase watching the field splinter in front of me. By the time I finally worked my way up to the lead group, I had one lap to recover before two riders crashed in front of me during the mid-race prime lap and I spent the rest of the race in the wind, unable to close yet another gap.  Having a race go poorly is the nature of bike racing, but knowing that doesn't make it any less disappointing.

After the fixed gear crits I took a weekend off racing to train and get the self-doubt gremlins out of my brain. It worked, and the next two weekends I saw back-to-back podiums in local P/1/2/3 criteriums before heading to Reno for Tour de Nez.

Last year I raced Tour de Nez and fell off the back of the field in the first lap, claiming the oh so lovely title of DFL. With off camber turns and an uphill finish, Tour de Nez is one of the more technical carts on the local calendar.  It’s also in Reno which lands the course at an oxygen-robbing 4,500 feet of elevation. And finally, its large prize purse always attracts the local pros. As I checked registration the day of the race, I saw the names of all the Northern California sluggers on the list plus a few pros, as predicted. It would have been easy to let my nerves get to me but instead I reminded myself how far I’d come. I suited up, and landed a respectable mid pack finish.

After Reno, I packed up two bikes and headed to the airport. A flight to Minneapolis would kick off seven weeks of travel starting with Tour of America’s Dairyland.

I built my bikes in my parents’ garage and prepped for 10 days of racing. I knew the fields would be larger and stronger than I was used to and that the courses a little more technical. I did everything I could to prepare for the trip, being as diligent as I could with my training for the weeks leading up to the event. I was confident going into day one, but after a few hiccups in the first few races as I adjusted to the increased field size and the difficulty of racing in high humidity, that confidence started to wane. After a few races, ever so slowly, the self-doubt, or “brain gremlins” as I’ve heard it referred to, took its hold.

Brain gremlins, it turns out, is a surprisingly apt description. The relationship between confidence and self-doubt is not unlike the mid-80s horror film plot line: what starts out as a fuzzy, curious creature turns into a seemingly unstoppable havoc-wreaking force of nature that destroys everything in its sight. In the film, it’s the illogical and insignificant act of eating after midnight. In the case of this analogy it’s the similarly illogical conclusion that a few lackluster results in a season of great ones make someone a bad bike racer. While there aren’t little monsters chewing the electrical wirings in my brain, at times that would feel almost preferable. That fix would be a quick and easy one, while remembering to believe in oneself can be anything but.

My friend Beth Newell just wrote a piece in response to the recent Olympic selections. As a member of the US National Team, she’d been named to the Olympic long team in March but wasn’t listed in the final selections. On her journey to becoming an Olympian, she writes:

…I can say I probably did not enjoy the journey as much as I should have during the time. Just writing that list above, makes me think to myself: how could I not have enjoyed and appreciated it?!? But, for me, I know I really let the stress and pressure get me. In the end, I didn't care so much about the journey, I really wanted to achieve the goal. And being so laser focused on a goal really made it hard to take the process in stride.

After reading this I remembered something: it was just a few short years ago that I drove to Los Angeles and raced my first fixed gear crit and fell in love with bike racing. I wouldn’t be here in Wisconsin had it not been for that race in LA.

I took the next day off racing to clear my head. The humidity had finally dissipated so I hopped on my road bike and followed the shore of Lake Michigan with no particular destination in mind, eventually stumbling upon a sign “Beach” with an arrow, which I followed. It was the perfect reminder of why I fell in love with cycling in the first place. The respite.

The next day I lined up for the Fixation Open - a fixed gear race incorporated in this year’s Tour of America’s Dairyland and a nice break from all the road crits. The field was strong and largely made up of elite level athletes but I played it smart, happy to be back on a track bike. In a late race attack, one rider and I went off the front and stayed away, landing me a second place finish.  After the podium ceremony, I celebrated with my teammates. The sunshine had killed the last of the gremlins, and my confidence was back.