I’d Write More, But That Might Keep Me From Resting More Aggressively

Posted on by lindsay
I started a new job a few weeks ago at a small IT company in Reston. [No, the teaser photo was not me signing the offer letter.] I like the gig well enough and the people seem to be my kind of people. Sharp-witted, irreverent, firmly against early morning meetings. They already make comments about how I’m a dictator and, when a subcontractor said in a meeting today, “people in [Lindsay’s] role can’t be too nice,” my coworker immediately replied, “oh that’s not a problem for her.” So things are going well, if not a bit busy while I juggle managing two proposals simultaneously. It’s fine; better now in my off month than when I’m trying to ride six days a week, lift weights, and sleep more than six hours a night. As usual, rest month is not smooth sailing. On one hand, there is something sinfully delicious about having ...continue reading.

It’s the end of the year as we know it, and I feel FABULOUS

Posted on by lindsay
Part 1, Saturday Morning: Before The Race All of this year's travel, training, hard work, and highs are coming to a close at the end of today. Wow. What a year! I didn't know what to expect coming into this season - while I longed for a great year with results that would launch me into a pro contract, I tried to temper my expectations and see this season as a chance to learn and improve. My one goal was to podium at a national-level race. Things didn't go as expected. First was qualifying for the Nature Valley Pro Chase - I was so excited to have that opportunity and a big event to focus on for the season. Then I won Walterboro at Speed Week and was thrilled; I can still remember every moment of that experience and how incredulous and excited I felt. Seeing those podium flowers and ...continue reading.

These hands were made for cowbells

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: Tacchino Cyclocross The Course: 45 minutes of JOY JOY JOY The Field: 1/2/3 women The Finish: Somewhere around 1.5 laps to go, to the right of the course After finishing my 'last race of the season' at Thater with a burning desire for more, I quickly registered for the TD Bank Mayor's Cup NCC Crit in Boston at the end of September. A month seemed like a long time to wait to race, but with no road events easily accessible earlier in the month, I decided to register for a single cross race. What fun! I thought, imagining a breezy autumn day spent zipping merrily around a delightfully fast, grassy course followed by sipping craft beer and nibbling frites. Things I did not take into consideration: it's been over a year since I've ridden anything unpaved, my cross bike was missing key elements like the drivetrain, I was never particularly gifted ...continue reading.

And I wept for humanity

Posted on by lindsay
So I'm a few hours into today's ride, a ride that embodied the whole "the days where you feel terrible, the weather sucks, and you hate your bike are the ones that make you win races" philosophy, and I realize my front wheel is being unusually noisy. I pull over to the side of the W&OD bike path and, sure enough, my bearings are shot. That blows. As I'm standing there processing this new level of suck, a middle-aged man on a hybrid bike comes to a skidding halt next to me with what appears to be a flat tire. He squishes the tire with his hand and then starts throwing a fit. After a moment of drama, he asks if I have a pump. "No," I reply, "I only have a CO2 cartridge. But first you'll need to fix the flat." "I just need to put air in the ...continue reading.

Share The Road

Posted on by lindsay
There are two kinds of drivers that scare me when I'm on a bike. First is the aggressive driver, the one who sees my presence on the road as a personal insult and a waste of his time. This person might pass too close and too fast, may yell or honk, or might even throw things as she drives by. The aggressive driver is frightening, but I take comfort in assuming that she doesn't actually want my blood on her car, so she's probably going to toe the line of harassing me and then drive off and disappear. She may intimidate me, but she at least she clearly sees that I'm there and probably won't try to actually harm me. The worst case scenario is that in a moment of rage, this driver might miscalculate how close she can get to me without making contact. Hit-and-Run Leaves Cyclist Reluctant to Ride, See ...continue reading.

Thater: Bike racing doles out some tough love

Posted on by lindsay
The Race: NCC Chris Thater Crit The Course: 35 miles, 40 laps, 5 corners The Field: 1/2 women The Finish: 4th When I planned to go to Thater, I knew it wasn't going to be the best set-up for a race. Flying back from Aspen on Thursday, working on Friday, driving six hours to NY on Saturday, and racing Saturday evening were a recipe for less than stellar recovery. But I committed to the plans and figured I could handle one last big effort for the end of the season. Then came a few days of stupid. I stayed out too late the last night in Aspen and slept for four hours before catching my flight. My layover in Denver was short (like no Wolfgang Puck airport pizza kind of short, which should really say something) and I had to make it from one end of the terminal to the other by running. ...continue reading.