Race reports from riders and mentors

CAT 3 WOMEN'S RESULTS

100 Dianna Del Fante Paramount Racing
95 Rae Miller CA Pools
90 Heather Rose Paramount Racing
85 Shelby Reynolds Sugar Cycles Specialized women's racing
80 Ryan Hostetter Velo Bella Kona
75 Jenna Kowalski
72 Lauren Liscinski
70 Kelli Jones Paramount Racing
68 Karen Meske Karl Strauss/SDBC
66 Anna reinstein Bicycle John's
64 Laurie Simonson Metromint cycling
62 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
60 Virginia Solomon Metromint Cycling
58 Erin Reed
56 Kendra Higgins TBS Racing
15 Debbie Betts Helen's/Orbea
15 Jessica Moss

CAT 4 WOMEN'S RESULTS

100 Kimberly Turner Echelon Santa Barbara
95 Anna Wills Triathletix
90 Jennifer Weinbrecht
85 Sarah Hedger
80 Yukie Nishinaga 1st Race!
75 Nicole Stetson Bicycle John's
72 Julie Baird Metromint Cycling
70 Kelley Laxamana Paramount Cycling
68 Cynthia Lou Helen's/Orbea
66 Robin Usuld
64 Amanda Witko Cal Poly Cycling 1st Race!
62 Susan Farber Echelon Santa Barbara
60 Megan Cordes rock Solid
58 Natalie Smith Cal Poly Cycling
56 Amy Lyons

The Following Cat 4 Ladies are in alphabetical order and all receive 15 points for Participation!

15 Ginger Anderson Echelon Santa Barbara
15 Beth Kallok Triathletix
15 Jessica Layman Metronmint
15 Dara Richman Triathletix
15 Kylah Wyott

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!

WOMEN 35+

100 Bonnie Breeze Helen's/Orbea
95 Dolly Ginter Team Simple Green
90 Laura Hines SC Velo
85 Lea Adams Helen's/Orbea
80 Maike Sander Kalyra/Bella Nova Women's Team
75 Dorothy Wong Figueroa Farms-Redline
72 Hilary Crowley Paramount Team
70 Michelle LaPierre Kalyra/Bella Nova Women's Team
68 Louise Keoghan NOW MS Society
66 Neva Day South Bay Wheelmen
64 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
62 Malinda Maile NU Vision Cyclery
60 Julia Cross South Bay Wheelmen
58 Suzy Degazon

WOMEN 45+

100 Cheryl Roth Helen's/Orbea
95 Ruth Clemence Team Simple Green
90 Pamela Schuster Helen's/Orbea
85 Moira Gandy Velosport Racing
80 Laura Perdew Kalyra/Bella Nova Women's Team
75 Lisa Whetsler
72 Sarah Barron SC Velo
70 Trudi Schindler NOW MS Society

WOMEN 55+

100 Adrienne Brian Karl Strauss/SDBC
95 Donna Bertiger PAA/Bicycle John's
90 Patricia Baker Lightning Velo

A Whoop-Dee-Doo With More Experienced Women: A First Road Race

As I waited to move to the start line of my first bicycle race, it occurred to me to wonder whether I might soon barf in front of 200 total strangers. I had a vague idea that the Sisquoc Road Race course was a loop that I would have to complete four times. So, I turned to the women around me for clarification, “So all the turns are to the left, right?” All of the turns were, in fact, to the right, and my question was rhetorical anyway. Since I would not be leading, there was no need to find out which way to go.

The start line official took his time, and I began to consider all the other sorts of humiliations that one could suffer in addition to publicly barfing after a healthy breakfast. There was having talkative friends meet one’s mother. Then, too, one might become an accidental serial flasher, zipper down repeatedly or, worse, the back of one’s skirt hitched into the waistband of one’s underwear. Oh, and then I thought—a public appearance after an unfortunate and rapid weight gain. This last one metastasized to the unnamed dread that I felt, and I turned to my teammates and asked, “If I had a bigger number, would it make me look smaller?” The starter then got us moving to the line, which was fortunate since I could feel the growing irritation around me and realized that it might quickly alight on the only person talking.

I have no recollection of the whistle blowing, but we were soon on our way. I anticipated that the Category 1’s, 2’s, and, well, everyone would quickly dart ahead. Strangely, however, we crawled forward at a glacial pace. In the back of my mind, I thought, “They’ve got to be kidding—maybe they’re just toying with me.” Someone got panicky in front and grabbed her brakes a little hard, and I heard a series of hisses around me. It would be hard to explain to someone who has never been surrounded by a pack of more experienced women, going at a steadily increasing pace, toward a hard right turn, how much stress it is possible to feel. “Why don’t the fast women just get on with it?” I thought with exasperation. I made it around the first hard right only to find out that a large mud slick covered our entire lane. I moved a little to go through the shallow end, and an indignant voice behind me yelled, “Just ride through it!” Her instruction hit me like a confidence-building slap in the face. Relieved, I thought, “On the second lap, I can survive this pasture without the terrifying swerve to the left.”

After surviving the start line, the hard right, and the mud slick, we came up to what everyone told me was a “whoop-dee-doo,” which presumably is supposed to make it sound whimsical and fun. Jill Gass had advised me not to get trapped behind a big sprinter going up hill, and I had the presence of mind to recall her warning as I found myself trapped against the right-hand shoulder putting on the brakes as I headed straight up hill. Needless to say, after the uphill braking, the fast women quickly left me as the road dropped down to a terrifying hard right over pavement ground to coarse from cars peeling out on the gravel at the turn. As I accelerated toward the turn, I rehearsed Angie Bell’s advice about descending safely—“don’t freak out, outside pedal down, something about the hands,… ”

Once the fast women lost me, the race settled down to an enjoyable jaunt. I worked together with another rider to move closer to the peloton. In the second lap, I was able to catch my teammate, Ginger Andersen, who was half-blown after a big attack. I took a breather and enjoyed a mango goo, half of which ended up in my left palm. I spent another lap trying to lick it off. Ginger and I worked to join our teammate, Susan Farber, and the three of us had a really beautiful second and third lap with Susan and I taking the lead on the hills and Susan and Ginger getting us through the flats and downhills. It really wasn’t as awful as I had imagined, and I was able to make some personal observations. I was sustaining a consistent heart rate of around 175 and, incredibly, still without barfing; I wondered whether sunscreen was poisonous, and I realized that salty mango goo tastes a lot better than unsalted.

A Whoop-Dee-Doo cont’d

Susan and I were able to make it together almost to the end of the race. At about three miles to the finish, I started feeling peevish—stupid pavement, stupid hill, stupid brown grass. I told Susan to go on and save herself, and to my surprise, I made it to the finish line right behind her. Ginger and I stayed afterward to laugh about the experience like soldiers who have survived a superfluous hand grenade. Berserk with hunger, we managed to find a fast-food joint and order without passing out or killing each other. We had a few irrational exchanges as we made what seemed like an epic journey from the parking lot to the eatery,

“Oh, I left my wallet in the car.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, my God, it’s locked.”
(wind whistling)
“I said it’s locked.”
“I’m pushing the button; is anything happening?”
“NO! Aim it AT the car.”
“Wait—holy s***! Got it.... Why does Quiznos keep getting farther away?”
“It’s NOT farther.” — all irritably.

So, will I race again? Yes. Despite the discomfort, fear, and annoyances, it has a fun side. And, even better, I have the whole winter to get ready for my next race during which, the terrors of the Sisquoc RR will probably subside. Watch out Cat 4 women over 40—here I come!

--Olivia Walling

When Bonnie Bourque first told me about the Women's Cycling Challenge, I thought it was a really cool idea, and felt it would really help get more women out on the track. However, I never for one moment thought I would be eligible to actually win anything -- I come in dead last in just about every race I enter!! So, I pretty much forgot about it, and just went out to the track every chance I got and trained and raced.

Fast forward to the end of June -- one of my friends happened to comment to me, "Congratulations, Renee!! You're the leader for the Women's Cycling Challenge!!" Come again? That's preposterous! Again, I just ignored it.

Until Julia Cross sent out her monthly newsletter for the Ladies Only Training Sessions -- there it was in black and white -- RENEE ZAJAC is the Series Leader for the Women's Cycling Challenge on the Track!! This time, I actually went to the WCC website and checked it out. Unbelievably, it was true -- the track series points were being given out for participation, not for performance, and so I guess while I may lose every race I enter, apparently no one in Southern California can lose more races more consistently than me!!

But what was even more wonderful than seeing my name at the top of the list with all those points, was the long list of 38 women who had raced the track this year!! Last year, most of the time it was just me and one other person -- sometimes Julia, sometimes Tara, sometimes Cathy Keeley or Lisa Tonello. And looking down the list of names, it was like, "WOW!!" I see these women racing with me all the time now -- routinely having 6 or more ladies show up to race. In fact, we now have so many women racing now that we can have a field of beginner/intermediates, AND a field of Pro 1/2 Women up there racing with the men (and kicking some serious cycling butt, too). This is the REAL victory of the Women's Cycling Challenge.

I really felt kind of funny getting this award -- after all, I'm so awful on the track. But then, I looked at the Series Leader jersey, and what it says -- "Ignite the PASSION!!" There's no question I have a lot of passion for the track. And when you have that much passion and excitement for something, you will light that spark in someone else. And then they begin to burn with passion, and they ignite that passion in someone else -- and the next thing you know, there's an out of control wildfire sweeping through Southern California of women getting excited about track, hunting down bikes, coming out to train, showing up to race.

So, I'm proud that my passion, zeal, dedication, determination, and love for the track has helped to get more women into this wonderful, exciting sport. Igniting the passion is what it's all about!!

Renee

CAT 4 WOMEN'S RESULTS

100 Christina Cord
95 *Beatrice Rodriguez SC Velo
90 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
85 Stella Tong
80 Maren Spillane Karl Strauss/SDBC
75 Angela Bosco SC Velo
72 Michellle Arballo
70 Kristy Morrow
68 Angela Dybdahl NOW-MS Society
66 Katrina Parsons
64 Sarah Butler Dewalt
62 Carole Nix Kahala LaGrange
60 Heather Ruhsam
58 Nicki Loranger
56 Elena Haro
15 Jill Jones Karl Strauss/SDBC
15 Tara McCormick Lightning Velo

CAT 4's of the 3/4 WOMEN'S RACE

100 Christina Cord
95 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
90 Angela Bosco SC Velo
85 Stella Tong
80 Sarah Butler Dewalt
75 Nicki Loranger
72 Angela Dybdahl NOW-MS Society
70 Robin Brown Cliff Bar/Labor/Steak Knives
68 Susan Given

CAT 3'S of the 3/4 WOMEN'S RACE

100 Melanie Peterson Southbay Wheelmen
95 Simone Morissette Paramount
90 Beatriz Rodriguez
85 Heather Rose Paramount
80 Dianna Del Fante Paramount
75 Karen Meske Karl Strauss/SDBC
72 Laurie Simonson Metromint Cycling
70 Kelli Jones Paramount
68 Louise Keoghan NOW MS Society
66 Adriana Chavez SC Velo
64 Carol Ruckle Team Possabilities
62 Monika King SouthBay Wheelmen
60 Lynette Rock South Bay Wheelmen

CAT 3 RESULTS FROM WOMEN'S 123 EVENT

100 Simone Morissette Paramount
95 Dianna Del Fante Paramount
90 Heather Rose Paramount
85 Beatriz Rodriguez SC Velo
80 Michelle Webster Velosport Racing
75 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
72 Adrianna Chavez SC Velo
70 Kelli Jones Paramount
68 Nancy Seidler Team Velosport

CAT 3 RESULTS

100 Fiona Peterson Team Simple Green
95 Karen Meske Karl Strauss/SDBC
90 Alicia Boland Paramount
85 Heather Rose Paramount
80 Kelli Jones Paramount
75 Krista Panaro CA Pools
72 Juile Guthrie Southbay wheelmen
70 Louise Keoghan NOW-MS Society
68 Monika King Southbay wheelmen
66 Lisa Tokuoka Team Simple Green
64 Karryn Bowen UC Cyclery
62 Hattie Wetherington Dewalt
60 Beatrice Dormoy UC Cyclery

CAT 4 RESULTS

100 Amanda Felder
95 Michelle King
90 Angela Dybdahl Now MS Sociey *Team Change
85 Allison Dingler Karl Strauss/SDBC
80 Sarah Butler Dewalt
75 Cynthia Lou Helen's/Orbea
72 Robin Brown Clif Bar/Labor/Steak Knives
70 Carole Nix Kahala La Grange

*Not yet added to Individual or Team Standings

CAT 4 WOMEN

100 Kimberly Turner Echelon SBA
95 Julie Guthrie SBW
90 Suzie Willett Echelon SBA
85 Nicette Quintero Helens/Orbea
80 Michelle King Paul Tracy.com
75 Nicole Stetson Bicycle John's
72 Sue Skarin Bicycle John's
70 Sarah Butler DeWalt
68 Dora Lenovai Bicycle John's
66 Hahn Nguyen Velocity
64 Kelly Laxamano Paramount

CAT 3 WOMEN

100 Charlayne Barger-Hoover Patent
95 Cindy Morgan DeWalt
90 Heather Rose Paramount
85 Sandra Villareal Martin's Pro Cyclery
80 Louise Keoghan NOW-MS
75 Moira Gandy Velosport
72 Beatrice Dormoy UC Cyclery
70 Lisa Tokuoka Simple Green
68 Karyn Bowen UC Cyclery
66 Monika King SBW
64 Mimi Sheehen LaGrange

Women 1-3 Cat 3

100 Fiona Peterson Simple Green
95 Monica King SBW
90 Ryanne Spady SC Velo
85 Heather Rose Paramount
80 Charlayne Barger-Hoover Patent It
75 Beatrice Dormoy UC Cyclery

CAT 3 WOMEN

100 Janel Holcomb
95 Ginger Hsieh South Bay Wheelmen
90 Sandra Villarruel Martin's Pro Bicycles Team
85 Alicia Boland Paramount Racing
80 Hattie Wetherington DeWalt Racing
75 Rae Miller CA Pools Racing
72 Louise Keoghan NOW-MS Society
70 Kelli Jones Paramount Racing
68 Michelle Ignash Unattached
66 Peggy Cohen Helens/Orbea
64 Stacy Griffis Southern California Velo
62 Heather Rose Paramount Racing
60 Karryn Bowen UC Cyclery/JW Flooring
58 Charlayne Barger Hoover Patent It!
56 Karen Meske Karl Strauss/SDBC
15 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
15 Mimi Sheean Kahala LaGrange

CAT 4 WOMEN

100 Beatriz Rodriguez Southern California Velo
95 Julie Guthrie South Bay Wheelmen
90 claudia A. espinoza UC Cyclery/JW Flooring
85 Sue Skarin Bicycle Johns Serious Cycling
80 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
75 angela bosco Southern California Velo
72 Nicole Stetson Bicycle Johns Serious Cycling
70 Ana Odette Castaneda Kahala LaGrange
68 Cynthia Lou Helens/Orbea
66 Kathryn Donovan
64 Angela Dybdahl Block

Janel Holcomb in Black, Ginger Hsieh in Yellow.

Congrats to State Champions Debbie Durand for her 1st place in the 45+ Women's Division and to Hillary Crowley for her 1st place in the 35+ Women's Division!

35+ Results

100 Hillary Crowley Paramount
95 Dianna Del Fante Paramount
90 Sandra Kolb Bicycle John's
85 Charlayne Barger Hoover Patent It
80 Neva Day South Bay Wheelmen
75 Cathy Keeley Team Velosport
72 Brooke Saxon-Smith Bicycle John's
70 Simone Morissette Paramount
68 Krista Panero CA Pools Racing
66 Amy Russo Velosport Racing
64 Rae Miller CA Pools Racing
62 Nicette Quintero Team Helen's
60 Carine Bester Bicycle John's
58 Michelle WEbster Velosport Racing
56 Carol Lynn Neal CA Pools Racing
15 Ana Odette Castaneda Kahala La Grange
15 Gina Barbosa GS Adam's Avenue
15 Angela Dybdahl Block
15 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
15 Tara Unverzagt South Bay Wheelmen
15 Julia Cross South Bay Wheelmen
15 Donna Johnson Flores Team Velosport
15 Nancy Seidler Team Velosport

45+ Results

100 Deborah Durand Helen's/Orbea
95 Cheryl roth Helen's/Orbea
90 Liza Rogers Karl Strauss/SDBC
85 Sue Skarin Bicycle John's
80 Cindy Morgan Dewalt
75 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
72 Sarah Butler Dewalt
70 Pegge Cohen Helen's/Orbea
68 Carol Ruckle Team Possabilities
66 Laura Perdew Kalyra/Bella Nova
64 Irene Thomas Johnson Bicycle John's
62 Moira Gandy Velosport Racing
15 Jill Jones Karl Strauss/SDBC

Cat 4 Ladies Results (From Master Crit Results)

100 Sue Skarin Bicycle John's
95 Nicette Quintero Team Helen's
90 Shelley Imhoff Velo Allegro
85 Sarah Butler Dewalt
80 Ana Odette Castaneda Kahala La Grange
75 Gina Barbosa GS Adam's Avenue
70 Angela Dybdahl Block
68 Tara Unverzagt South Bay Wheelman
15 Jill Jones

Cat 3 Women's Results

100 Kelli Jones Paramount
95 Ginger Hsieh South Bay Wheelmen
90 Alicia Boland Paramount
85 Amy Russo Team Velosport
80 Ryanne Spady SC Velo
75 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
72 Cameron Byerley Team CES Racing
70 Heather Rose Paramount
68 Rae Miller CA Pools
66 Simone Morissette Paramount

CONGRATS TO THE RR STATE CHAMPS!

Women Cat 4 - Fiona Petersen - Team Simple Green
Women Cat 3 - Maike Sander - Kalyra/Bella Nova
Women Cat 1/2 - Ruth Clemence - Team Simple Green

Women Cat 3

100 Maike Sander Kalyra/Bella Nova Women's Cycling
95 Karen Meske Karl Strauss/SDBC
90 Anna Gerber DeWalt Racing
85 Alicia Boland Paramount Racing
80 Moira Gandy Velosport Racing
75 Heather Rose Paramount Racing
72 Monika King South Bay Wheelmen
70 Kelli Jones Paramount Racing
68 Lauren Liscinski
66 Ryan Hostetter Velo Bella-Kona
64 Debbie Betts Helens Racing

Women Cat 4

100 *Fiona Petersen Team Simple Green
95 *Cameron Byerley Team CES Racing
90 Belinda Eschenwald
85 Anne McLaughlin Team Simple Green
80 Nicette Quintero Team Helen's
75 Angela Dybdahl Block
72 Alicia Mitchell UC - Santa Barbara Cycling
70 Emily Georgeson
68 Franziska Williams
66 Gail Towsley
64 Cynthia Lou Helens/Orbea
62 Tina Chapa
60 Andrea Mobley

CAT 4 WOMEN

100 Fiona Peterson## Simple Green
95 Kelcie King York Cycling Science.org
90 Belinda Echeworld
85 Mimi Sheehan Kahala LaGrange
80 Doris Asombrano Cyclo Vets
75 Karyn Catalano ISN
70 Robin Brown CBR
68 Paula Ciardrelli Dewalt
66 Angela Bosco SC Velo
64 Debbie Betts Helen's/Orbea
62 Julia Cross SBW
60 Rachel Mikelson Velo Bella
58 Cynthia Lou Helen's/Orbea