Team BH USA Race Calendar

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Squirrel Burials and other such discussions...

(Getting ready to ride!)
"Do you notice there are SO many dead skunks around here (CA)?"

"Yeah, kind of interesting. Wonder if skunks are as prolific here as the squirrels are back home?"
"Yeah, maybe. But thing is, we don't see that many dead squirrels on the side of the road. But there are SO many of them. Where do they go when they die?"

"Maybe they have big squirrel burials???"

"Dang, I think I would know for sure I had lost my mind if I was walking through the woods one day and came across a squirrel burial!!!!!"

That's just one of the many hilarious conversation 4 Team BH USA ladies had during a terrific week of training and team bonding. I believe the conversations became more ridiculous the tougher the training ride was that day! But all in all, it proved the four of us are quite the combination, sure to result in a spectacular season this year!

Team BH just wrapped up a terrifically tough week of training in beautiful Sonoma County, California. While we were plagued by cold rain the first few days we didn't let that stop us from some epic team rides that bonded us like nothing but freezing-cold drizzly rides will do.
(Inches deep in rain, how we started the first couple days of riding.)
(Winding through wine country with out hosts.)
(Post ride. A tad cold, quite a bit wet (including the camera!), but VERY happy to be in CA riding together.)
However, the weather finally turned warm and sunny and the team bonding and wonderful riding continued! Some of the epic rides included Ida Clayton (which is apparently Levi's favorite hill repeat route) and Coleman Valley which overlooks the coast and has been featured as a climg in the Tour of CA.
(Bay Hill)
(Coleman Valley-a beautiful climb that affords views over the ocean and the hills.)
(Devon and the ocean.)

It was definitely a week of highs and lows (mainly in the form of elevation changing) and learning new things about each other. For example: who falls asleep the earliest (Devon), who has to eat oatmeal every morning for breakfast (Madeleine), eats ice cream every single day (Devon, though on this trip, most of us!), who is the best listener (Anne), who are the introverts-so designated by our hosts (Devon and Anne) and our extroverts (Kristen and Madeleine), who hates driving (Devon, Anne, and Kristen), who loves to drive but is too young to "legally operate" the rental vehicle, so therefore broke the law the whole trip (Madeleine), who snores (will remain nameless), the best decision-maker and organizer (Kristen), the most experienced (Anne)...just to name a few.
We cooked in, we ate out, we practiced pace-lining and leading each other out, raced up climbs and raced down them. Trader Joe's was our "unoffical" sponsor for the week and Kristen introduced us to all their delicious foods which kept our bellies full and our legs pedaling in perfect circles even as we rode each other into the ground.
All we know is, the week went much too fast. Returning to the frozen tundra of the midwest is a bit disheartening since we could see the advantage of being able to train outside and on mountains everday! We grew comfortable with our new beautiful BH bikes and appreciated even more their terrific handling, light weight, and stellar look (we recieved so many compliments). We adjusted to the Sram Red and it's smooth shifting and ease of use. We fully enjoyed the great host housing we received from Greg and Jane Durbin and Chris and Teresa Coursey who made it possible for us to relax after our long rides. And most importantly we learned to be a team, learned about each other, our strengths and weaknesses, personalities, and it makes the up-coming season even more exciting!!!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Tour of California



Team BH-USA headed west for a brief reprieve from the Chicago/Wisco winter and some early season NRC racing experience. We all had a smooth journey and safely made it to our wonderful host home in Santa Rosa, CA friday night. Add Image
(Crossing the bridge from San Francisco towards our host housing in Santa Rosa.)


Saturday morning arrived quickly and we loaded up our rental vehicle with shiny new bikes and headed south to San Jose for our first race of the year. Given that we have been training indoors most of the winter, this would be not only our first race of the season, but one of our first times outside this season. We were all excited to finally get out -- and the weather looked like it was going to be nice -- 50's and sunshine -- perfect for racing!
The fields were stacked this weekend with top pro teams, various national champions, and world championship participants. We knew that the races would not be easy -- especially given that our team is still in pre-season training mode. But we were excited to get some top racing experience under our belt and to hopefully come away with some lessons learned as we look forward to training for the season ahead.
(Warming up, trying to stay warm, and figuring out how to ride "bot dots" safely!)

Saturday's race was a good step towards these goals. While we didn't go away with a podium (nor did we expect to), we raced well, attempted to make a break, and had a couple solid finishes in the top half of the pack -- Devon and Kristen were 24 and 25 out of over 60 riders. We all felt excited about finally racing together and realize we have a lot of potential for the season ahead.
Sunday's race was the women's tour of California Criterium. Once again, the starting line was packed with top teams from around the world.



(Kristen, trying to stay dry before the start of the race.)

Unfortunately, the weather was not very nice to us and we stood shivering in the cold and rain waiting for the starting gun to go. The race started off fast and furious. We were all a bit timid in the rain because our route was covered in "bot-dots" -- instead of using paint to line the roads in CA, somebody (surely a not a biker) thought it would be a good idea to cover the road in raised dots which go "KABUMP kabump" as you ride over them.

(Devon, getting ready to go!)

The race had some ups and downs for all of us. The downs included Madeline and Anne getting stuck behind a crash, Devon getting a flat with 5 laps to go (which was too late for a free lap and thus ended her race). The ups included a strong finish for Kristen - 33rd out of almost 90 riders, Devon almost making the main break, and all of us coming out of the race crash free!

(Devon in the field)

(Kristen in the field)


(Kristen got us a meeting with Phil Liggett, cause she's the best team manager ever!)

The races were a great taste of top level racing and left us with lessons learned and excitement for the racing season ahead. Now we have a week to train as a team in the (hopefully) warm weather -- we are all looking forward to lots of riding! Especially on our new BH bikes -- we all love the way they ride.
(Watching the men's tour come through.)

They looked just as miserable as we had been just a few hours before. But it was really neat to see our favorites like Boonen, Sastre, Levi, Lance, Hincapie, and many others.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Introducing Team BH USA (Pictures Coming Soon)

Anne Meyer, LaCrosse, WI
1. If you were a super-hero, what power would you have?
The ability to never need any sleep
2. What do you do in "real life"?
Clinical exercise physiologist working in Cardiac Rehabilitation
3. What is your favorite race?
The old Waukesha Superweek course from way back when
4. What was your first road bike?
A heavy steel thing that was considered a racing frame back then
5. What do you like best about your BH bike?
So smooth and light!
6. How long have you been racing?
This is my 20th year
7. What's the coldest temperature you'll ride in?
Upper teens for a road ride, if I'm desperate enough
8. Where's your favorite place to ride?
California
9. What's your favorite movie?
Field of Dreams
10. What's your favorite pre-race meal?
Eggs, or something else that has some protein in it
11. Who's been the most supportive to you and your cycling?
There have been many people over the years, but right now I am especially grateful for my manfriend, my cardiac patients who never get bored hearing about my racing, and my current teammates, who are absolutely awesome

Kristen Meshberg, Lyons, IL
1. If you were a super-hero, what power would you have?
The ability to be invisible
2. What do you do in "real life"?
Mom of two, cycling coach
3. What is your favorite race?
Downer's Grove
4. What was your first road bike?
a bike I bought for $200 to messenger on. Lasted until I got hit by a drunk mailman
5. What do you like best about your BH bike?
It's responsiveness
6. How long have you been racing?
Started in 2000, but took a couple years off to have babies
7. What's the coldest temperature you'll ride in?
12 degrees
8. Where's your favorite place to ride?
Altoona, PA
9. What's your favorite movie?
Bottlerocket
10. What's your favorite pre-race meal?
Peanut butter and jelly
11. Who's been the most supportive to you and your cycling?
So many people have helped me that I can't possibly name them all here but I couldn't do any of it without the help of my husband Jason
Devon Haskell, Chicago, IL
1. If you were a super-hero, what power would you have?
I would be able to fly.
2. What do you do in "real life"?
Besides ride my bike? I am a grad student.
3. What is your favorite race?
I like them all. Especially long ones, hilly ones, and cyclocross ones.
4. What was your first road bike?
a red one. not so fast.
5. What do you like best about your BH bike?
this one is fast!
6. How long have you been racing?
This is my third year.
7. What's the coldest temperature you'll ride in?
I'm wimpy and cry about the cold, but i'll go out if the "feels like" is above zero.
8. Where's your favorite place to ride?
Anywhere but the LFP.
9. What's your favorite movie?
It's hard to pick favorites - i really like a good romantic comedy.
10. What's your favorite pre-race meal?
Ice Cream.
11. Who's been the most supportive to you and your cycling?
I've been lucky to have a ton of support over the years -- two people that have been especially supportive throughout my cycling career are my boyfriend Aspen and my coach Brian (BSCCoaching).
Madeleine Puissant, Milwaukee, WI
1. If you were a super-hero, what power would you have?
Time and Space Travel
2. What do you do in "real life"?
I'm a Physical Therapy student and a coach for Cycle-Smart Solutions.
3. What is your favorite race?
Nature Valley Grand Prix
4. What was your first road bike?
A 35lb steel French roadbike that my mom had first bought before I was born.
5. What do you like best about your BH bike?
They are SO light and accelerate like a shot!
6. How long have you been racing?
Four years.
7. What's the coldest temperature you'll ride in?
I probably can be found on a trainer anytime it's below 28.
8. Where's your favorite place to ride?
I have to say California or Asheville, NC
9. What's your favorite movie?
The Constant Gardener, but to be honest, I enjoy books more than movies.
10. What's your favorite pre-race meal?
Oatmeal with cinnamon, peanut butter, and vanilla soymilk, delicious!
11. Who's been the most supportive to you and your cycling?
CarrieAnn Kopernik who mentored me when I was a brand-new Cat 4, my family, and my boyfriend Kyle.