So the time had come. I was more than ready to trade in snowy New England for some Sweet Californian Racing. It was hard to believe the routine was starting again, but I was excited for the upcoming season. I ran around the house like a chicken with my head cut off trying to find all my gear, which someone had evidently hidden on me. I jammed bikes in boxes, I ran to and from the bike shop, I made phone calls, printed itineraries and threw a few temper tantrums. All of this nonsense culminated in me getting on a flight to Los Angeles with most of the things I needed and a husband that was thanking God that I had finally left the house.
Once I arrived, I met up with Team Advil-Chapstick. I would be guest riding with them for The Redlands Bicycle Classic which was a four day road stage race. Six women, our team director, and our team soigneur/mechanic, all descended on Glen and Suzanne- a sweet couple who had opened up their house to us for the race.
Redlands is one of the toughest domestic road races and these women had been racing for weeks to months by now. I had chosen to jump right in! What is that saying??? “Go big or go home!” I was really excited and also nervous to start racing and the first day of racing was a short but evil time trial which finished on a very steep climb. Before I knew it, I was in the starting gate and then off….the race against the clock was on. After 13 VVVEEERRRYYYY long minutes, I crossed the finish line. Boy was that a shock to the system, but what a blast. I finished somewhere mid field, not bad for day one.
Day two was a 70 mile road race with some crazy climbing. I was looking forward to it. It was going to be a long day ending with a 6 mile march up to a mountain top finish. The gun went off at around 10 AM and roughly 120 women set off. It was a nice day and the pack was slithering though the countryside. I bet it was pretty out there, but I would not know as I spent my time focusing on my place in the peleton. Our team was outfitted with radios which was new to me. The other women set my earpiece up and shoved the radio into a sock that they had pinned to my sports bra. Now I really felt official. I begged our team director to sing something to me during the race, but we were all business. I got a quick, “Roger…Roger” and, “What is your vector Victor” out before the race, but that was it.
I was having a good ride and stayed up front until the base of that final climb. When we hit the base of Oak Glen the climb to the finish had begun and the field shattered. I stuck to my pace and rode steady. There were people cheering on the way up but my vision was a bit too blurry to really see them. After what seemed like hours (well it really was hours), I crossed the line in 34th place.
