PIR was really fun tonight. On the second monday of the month, they have a newbie women's 'clinic'. It is nice to hear what they tell everyone, though I have picked up most of it already riding with the guys on Thursday nights. Follow close, even how to shift (when we say lower gear, we mean a harder gear and that's the little gears on the outside in the back) I've got the paceline idea. I WISH they had said DON'T USE YOUR BRAKES. (There was one chick that just would NOT stay off her brakes. Kept scaring the crap out of me.) After the talk, we circled the parking lot doing pacelines. Poorly.

I liked hearing the strategy part better. I'm definitely still learning how all this works. Again there was one chick that pulled for 4 laps (out of 6). I did most of one lap, then got passed on a corner. That was okay. Some one else can jump on the fantastic opportunity of pulling into a stiff wind. There was also this one chick (who likes her brakes) that insisted on riding alongside the paceline and shoving in. Which is probably expected in a race, but she really didn't have good bike control. She swerved a lot, and it didn't seem like "strategy swerving" either.

On the last lap, at the beginning of the last set of curves, I was on the outside (right side) behind too many people. I moved left to the inside of the curve, now most of the people ahead of me were to my right, including Swervy Chick. One person about a bike length ahead of me on my left went oddly wide around the corner crossing in front of me. She may have caught the cross-head-wind gust just right or something. Whatever it was, she swerved wide, causing Swervy Chick to WAY overcorrect to the right and then crash! Fortunately for me, at that point she was off to my right and out of my worry zone. I can't go crashing hubby's carbon bike! 

The chick that sortof caused it didn't have any more problems, we got through the curves and sprinted to the end. I think I got 4th. Or 5th. Not sure. Probably 5th. I was disappointed that I hadn't positioned myself better. Sure was hard sprinting into the wind. Got to 27.3 today. 31 was definitely a pipe dream. The chick that won was the same one that I sprinted with when I got 2nd. She apparently always hangs in the pack and sprints at the end. Self-admitted. Hmmm.

I found out after the race that Crash Chick had fallen kindof on her front and was okay. Also, our "herd rider" (one of the experienced race chicks) stopped to help her. Fortunately, we weren't going very fast at the time, and no one else went down. She knocked the wind out of herself - and likely scared the crap out of herself too. Unfortunately, right behind our group was one of the men's groups. Instead of going around the outside, they cut tight to the corner - well, most of them. The rest of the group went around her on the other side. THAT was not good. I heard it really scared her. I don't blame her - that WOULD be scary. I don't think she was hurt though.

Anyway, it was a really fun, interesting race. I'm learning this stuff. :) I think I'll see if our library has any bike racing strategy books. And maybe go watch some criteriums.

In other news, I'm very excited, I have a swim lesson on Sunday. Hopefully he won't be appalled. I did SAY I was a beginner.

Here she is folks! My new bike! Specialized Roubaix Comp with the compact crankset. Red bikes are fastest! :) I think this one has enough red to qualify.

It is exactly like Hubby's bike. And it is on order, and not currently in my living room. It may be ready by Thursday though. Now I get new road shoes and pedals. I want Speedplay ones. I love my double sided mtn bike cleats. Hubby has suggested we dress alike for the Thursday night ride sometime, since we have the same bike. That would be funny.

I tried out the girl version. The Ruby. It was carbon with pink. and the accent tape and bar ends were pink too. Blech. Pink. That SO does NOT say 'I'm going to make you eat my dust.' Also, since I am 5'9" and in the 150# neighborhood, I am not really the 'women's specific' target market. My hands were too big for the handlebars (in the drops my knuckles rubbed against the shifters) and I really liked hubby's bars better. So I went with his. And I get to ride his until mine comes in. :) Cool!

Holy Moly! What's that in my blog??? It's a bird, it's a plane... no... it's a...   SWIM!!!!  No way!!!! LOL!

My chiro says that my upper vertebrae are incredibly tight and he probably can get them "slightly looser" than they are now. As opposed to "supple". He suggested downward/upward dog, tennis balls, and - drum roll please - swimming. Oh joy. My favorite. I had to laugh. I like swimming well enough - that nice smooth glide in the water, even breathing... what's not to like? Well, I'm slow as all get out that's what. But if it will get me to a century on the bike then WTH. Sign me freakin' up.

So in honor of all the swimming I'm going to be doing, I will for-sure-barring-incident do the Luna on August 2nd and the Scoggins Valley Oly Aug 30th. My current swim pace will put me DFL out of the water for Scoggins. Surely I can improve. I guess you can't place worse than DFL.

The Goddess of Swimming: Worship her at an altar covered with a slightly bleached out towel, several pairs of goggles and a new swim cap. Offer her Swim Out shampoo and a lap counter and she will make sure you are always in someone's draft but never get your goggles kicked off.

I can't stand any more of this freakin' REST!!! 

We're headed out to dinner tonight with Bro, his GF, and my stepdad. Bro wants to go to Indian food, but not sure if s-dad is up for that. I think I'll eat light. Maybe I can get a swim in tonight. Pool closes at 10:30.

Tuesday was my cyclical Carb Fest Day - 2 1/2 giant bagels, plus regular food, etc etc etc. It was The Day That There Aren't Enough Carbs In The Universe.  Fortunately the pendulum has swung back, and now I'm not hungry. I can work with that.

Tonight or tomorrow, the training calendar gets made out and hubby will be moving his azz. He is currently the Non-Motivated One. For June/July I will be the motivator. Come later in the fall, he will take over. It works out well.

I need a nap. I'm REALLY sleepy. Any tips on sleeping at work? :) It was sprinkling as I walked across the bridge this morning. Hopefully it won't be raining tonight.

It looks awful out. Sprinkly rain most of the day. The pavement has mostly dried, but it's cold, windy and the clouds are low and nearly black. I'm thinking that we will skip the ride, and instead go to the gym. Hubby will lift, and I will swim. And play with my new lap counter. :)

Kona is a very bad girl. She chewed up hubby's new(est) cycling gloves. Well, glove, anyway. She's quite thorough. The largest remaining pieces are perhaps as large as 1/2" by 3/4". So naughty.

Can't wait 'til saturday. Breakfast out and then bike shopping!!!

Headache is gone finally.

Hubby is having a stressful hearing today. His client's relative-by-marriage is causing no end of problems. His usual fee for this type of service is about $1,500. The bill has climbed to over $10K and does not include today's mess or the prep-work involved, if that gives you any idea of the problems this dork is creating. I think the relative may be one of those sort that would rather spend all the estate in attorney fees just so that no one else in the family will get a share. No doubt the relative is also one of those who complain that their attorney charges them too much. So much anger, so little point. Life is too short. Hopefully the hearing will go in such a way that hubby will be done dealing with it - and get paid.

I'm thinking a run would be nice tonight.  And it was!

Still have the headache. Phthbbbbbttttt. Stoopid headache.

I stopped at my favorite bagel shop this morning - two people in my workgroup had b-days. I got an jalapeno-swiss. MMMmmmmmmm!!!!