Nationals

"Also, when I arrived home in New York City, I asked a United representative where my oversized bag would emerge. "What's your idea of an oversized bag?," she replied. Until then I had no idea that it was up to me to determine whether my bag was oversized, nor did I have the wherewithal after a long flight to enter into a philosophical discussion about relativity. I explained that, according to United, my bag was oversized, but she still didn't believe me. Finally, I said, "It's a bicycle," and she finally said, "Ohhh," like I had just told her I was traveling with the corpse of a deceased relative, and she basically explained that it could emerge from pretty much anywhere." -bikesnobnc

Thank you delta for giving me an irrelevant amount of "skymiles" in trade for destroying my bike box and equipment, although I only flew with you because good ol' southwest wasn't going to work out.

But anyways, Nationals. It seems so long ago already. Where did summer go?!

The TT was 35k- 20k up a climb out and back, and then 15k of a flat loop. It was just three days after NVGP and my legs were feeling the effort! With time trials, you can only ride as hard as you can ride. The strongest person wins and if you "could have gone harder," then that's your own fault. With that in mind, I rode as hard as I could and I guess I should be happy with that effort, although I think I should've paced out that long 35k differently. My time put me in for 5th U23.

The next day brought an evening crit in downtown Bend. Not much to say about the crit. U23 and Elite women raced together which made for a much more exciting, and quicker race. I got caught behind both crashes, which is my fault for being all over the back of the field. After the first crash I got pushed back in at the wheel pit just as a few girls in the field threw bottles. The mechanic pushing me in laughed as I got pelleted. I laughed too, until I realized the field had passed and I was OTB. It was sweet chasing on with 6 to go! Another crash comming into 2 to go took out alot of the sprinters and split up the field again. I rolled in for 24th/70ish starters

We had a day off before the 116k RR. Jackie and I found teepees!!

The road course was beautiful- pine trees, rivers, snow capped mountains in the background. I love Bend!

Two big climbs. One less steep but long up through the feed zone, and then another soon after that had a steep section into a seemingly endless uphill. Looking back, it was really, really hard! We had about 80 women start. It was a quick race and into the last lap, our front group had about 30. Four went up the last climb and stayed away the last few miles into the finish. I ended up 15th, 3rd U23.

And so ended nationals and a long block of racing. We made it home safely, and all's well that ends well I guess. despite the headache, nationals was alot of fun. It was great to see alot of old and new friends and to explore the sunnier version of Bend we didn't see during CX Nationals. I learned alot too, like ringing the one to go bell is alot less exclusive than one might suspect.

Till next time!