Orange is the New Black: Gateway Cup Edition

Posted on by Lindsay
Four weekends ago, I raced the four Gateway Cup crits in St. Louis, MO. Three weekends ago, I raced the Criterium National Championships in High Point, SC. Last weekend, I raced the Thompson Doylestown Criterium in Doylestown, PA. This weekend, I'm in Boston for the TD Bank Mayor's Cup Criterium. It's been a lot of time in the car (because why fly when you can drive and hit every Wendy's along the way) but I have used approximately none of that time to catch up on race reports. And so now here we are, four weeks past Gateway Cup and I'm just getting caught up. And really, even that's a lie, because I'm only posting a bunch of photos. If you want to read about the actual races, allow me to suggest a visit to CyclingNews.com, your #1 source for extremely light and intermittently factual coverage of women's cycling. So, brief backstory: After racing unattached at ...continue reading.

Tour of Utah Bicycle Awesome Fun Time

Posted on by Lindsay
When it was time to fly to Utah last Saturday, I didn't want to go. Traveling this year hasn't been the joyfest it was in the past. I sat with my bike bag and backpack in front of the check-in counter for nearly thirty minutes, stifling tears and unable to find the motivation to get up and go. "Check in," came the blunt text from the friend I asked for advice. So I did. He was right. Check in. Move forward. Give things a chance to happen. I am so glad I did. This trip was wonderful. Team Colavita had a small squad for the Utah races consisting of Olivia Dillon, Whitney Schultz, myself, and a guest rider, Anna Grace Christensen. Everything about the trip was perfect - our group dynamic was great, we stayed with incredibly cool people, the racing was hard and fun, the scenery was beautiful, and we had so many ...continue reading.

In Which My Father Parades

Posted on by Lindsay
[caption id="attachment_5213" align="alignnone" width="600"] My father was in a 4th of July parade as part of his senior role in the Knights of Columbus. Somewhere around fifteen THOUSAND people came out to the event. Things I never thought I'd say: "I'm here because my dad is in the parade."[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5217" align="alignnone" width="600"] Just because he had to be serious and sword-wielding (he's the one behind my extremely white exposed shoulder) didn't mean I couldn't photo-bomb the moment.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5216" align="alignnone" width="600"] Fun for the whole family! We're really proud of my father for his accomplishments with the Knights and also for not passing out after standing in the sun for hours in a tux, hat, and heavy cape.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_5215" align="alignnone" width="600"] I told my mother I'd give her $100 to run off with one of these star floats. She was thwarted by the fact that they were firmly tied ...continue reading.

A Happy Anniversary

Posted on by Lindsay
My cycling career began seven years ago today. It was the second race of the Wednesdays at Wakefield mountain bike race series, but my first race ever after only owning a mountain bike for a few weeks. Clipless pedals still freaked me out. I distinctly remember the race not being very fun; it felt like taking an activity I enjoyed and adding urgency to it. Why would I want to do that? Life is urgent enough; why do I have to ride fast too? [caption id="attachment_5190" align="alignnone" width="600"] Wakefield Park, circa 2007. This outfit and my posture are amazing.[/caption] But then the results were posted and it turned out that I'd finished 3rd in the beginner women field. WHOA. I placed, which meant I was actually decent (!), but also that two women had ridden faster than me. I collected my bronze medal and free water bottle and then went on to let ...continue reading.

Never Gonna Give You Up

Posted on by Lindsay
There have been a lot of things that have gone wrong this season. I've struggled, cried, freaked out, and lost my head a few times, but in the end, I have come to this: I love to race my bike. It is easy to love racing when it is fun, when things are going well, when your results and your physical health are glowing. It is another thing entirely to come to the brink of quitting, to fail repeatedly and be totally broken down, and then claw your way back and decide you still love racing. I still love racing. Love training. Love riding. I am still here. Some people will probably remember me as the fragile person that imploded for several months this year. The rider with the eating issues who cried at race starts and backed away from challenges. I can't change everybody's minds. You can't win 'em all. But ...continue reading.

I can go for miles if you know what I mean

Posted on by Lindsay
I like bike racing again! It didn't happen overnight; rather it was a progression from the Parx Casino Philly Cycling Classic through the Air Force Cycling Classic to the end of the North Star Grand Prix. But that's a story for another post (which is code for "unmotivated to write about feelings at the moment"), so instead here are some photos from the weekend. I would put them on Instagram, except that I am making a point to never have an Instagram account since it seems to really bother a lot of people that I don't. Sorry. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Vimeo, and Gmail will have to suffice. Oh, and it is not true that "bitches love Pinterest" because frankly I am ambivalent. Foodgawker, however, is another story entirely. Anyway. Photos from Philly: [caption id="attachment_5171" align="alignnone" width="600"] Scoots and I camping at the start line watching bemusedly as a dozen people frantically ...continue reading.