tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259813022024-03-19T01:05:01.466-07:00The World of VanderkittenVanderkitten, Clothing for Women Who Kick Ass, is a clothing company out of Berkeley, CA that makes casual urban flavored apparel and technical cycling apparel.
This Blog shares events, happenings and news from Vanderkitten! Subscribe to us and find out the latest word on Vanderkitten, the brand that is sweeping the nation.Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.comBlogger89125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-64882298584973231142009-12-18T12:32:00.000-08:002009-12-18T12:36:05.410-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com//2009/12/12/2/_dsc4273_600.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 896px;" src="http://cdn.media.cyclingnews.com//2009/12/12/2/_dsc4273_600.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Barb Howe was once Queen of the Galaxy and a top US cross racer. Then illness and injury took Barbarella out of the game. After representing the USA at the CX World Championships 2 consecutive years in a row she new she still had what it takes.<br /><br />Barb worked hard to recover from a snapped Achilles, get back on the bike and race again! For Cross 2009, we teamed up with Barb to set a new course for Vanderkitten and get our brand back to the roots where it all began.<br /><br />VK's Amy Wiliams recently caught up with Barb after her commanding win in Bend, Oregon to take the 30-34 Master's National Title!<br /><br />Interview with Barb Howe<br />Winner, 30-34<br />USA Cycling National Cyclo-cross Championships<br />Dec 10-13, Bend Oregon<br /><br /><br />VK: Firstly congratulations on your win. A tough well deserved win.<br /><br />BH: Thanks, I’m super stoked about the win. My head is still spinning. It was tough yes, they always are.<br /><br /><br />VK: So Barb, How did you get into 'cross and long have you been competing at the pro level?<br /><br />BH: I got into cross when I sold my VW van and used the proceeds to buy a cross bike. I've been racing as a pro crosser since I started cross, I had been racing as a pro mtb so it didn't seem right to race as a B. My first cx race was in 2003 and I didn't finish the race.<br /> <br /><br />VK: Your season this year has been pretty impressive, with a number of top 5 finishes. How did you feel going into this year’s Nationals? <br /><br />BH: I felt like I had a chance but was up against some very fast women. As the season progressed I felt stronger and stronger. <br /> <br /><br />VK: How were you feeling the morning of? Do you have any pre race rituals you go through?<br /><br />BH: I had a headache the morning of; I think it was from being chronically dehydrated from the dry air in Bend. I always eat pasta and eggs with lots of salt before a race.<br /> <br /><br />VK: You mentioned you ride well in the colder temps, what was the temperature on the day? <br /><br />BH: It was in the low 30's and felt warmer in the sun. Balmy! We stood in staging for a long time and were lucky that the sun was out and it wasn't windy. I like the cold weather because I tend to overheat when it's hot. The heat is another story; I can get heat stroke in less than 20 minutes. You might not believe it but it's happened.<br /> <br /><br />VK: What was going through your mind towards the end, when you realized you were leading and would win? Did you realize at all?<br /><br />BH: Towards the end of the race I was smiling and heard lots of people yelling my name. You can't ever count on a win you never know what might go wrong. I had a good crash right before the steps on the last lap and plenty of lapped riders to sort through. I was worried from the start that a lapped rider might go down in front of me so I was playing it very carefully around them. <br /><br /> <br />VK: Did you have a race plan? I guess you won, but did your race go to plan?<br /><br />BH: My plan was to mark Andrea Smith because she's been riding really strong, I also had to keep an eye on Kari Studley and Dede Winfield, both of them are super fast and have beat me this season. Once it was down to Kari and me we started hitting lapped riders and I got in front to make sure I didn't get held up. From there on I just tried to take good lines in corners and not crash. There was some confusion at the end of the race, with one to go the announcers missed me and I never got a bell lap. They also missed me when I actually finished. I was confused and ready to do another lap but stopped when all the photographers and people standing on the course. There's a picture of me coming through the finish with the lap counter reading one to go and a guy ringing a bell. All of my winning photos show me looking very confused. <br /> <br /><br />VK: How did it feel to get up there on that podium in 1st place?<br /><br />BH: Really really good. It's been a long time since I've won a big race. It took several years to get over illness and injury and feel fast again. Ibis, my bike sponsor, was there and I was happy to show that the Hakkalugi is a worthy race bike. Dave was there as well and if it wasn't for Vanderkitten I wouldn't have been able to travel to races this season.<br /><br /><br />VK: What's next for a National Champ? (Race wise, fame, fortune, Christmas...?)<br /><br />BH: Working and off season. I didn't work very much for the last few months so I have to make up for it now. It's also time to start contacting potential sponsors for next cross season and make plans for the upcoming summer. Also the Sierra's have been getting lots of snow so it might be time to go skiing!<br /><br /><br />VK: You see the same women at almost every race, are you friends or friendly with the girls you compete against? <br /><br />BH: Yes, racing is a social event as much as a sporting event. It's kind of sad after nationals because I won't see most of the women again until next cross season. Many of us have been racing together for several years and keep in touch in the off season.<br /> <br /><br />VK: Does it ever get nasty out there? Any trash talk?<br /><br />BH: Generally it isn't too bad here in the US. The occasional bad word slips out and sometimes people get yelled at but it's usually followed by an apology afterwards. <br /> <br /><br />VK: Have you ever given someone an elbow or knee or something? Or vise versa? <br /><br />BH: Bumping happens now and again, usually it's accidental. Sometimes you get cut off in corners but that's racing. Euro women are much more aggressive and meaner. I've been yanked backwards on a run up over there hard enough to almost fall down. If someone did that to me here I'd file a protest. <br /><br /><br />VK: How did your Ibis handle?<br /><br />BH: The Hakkalugi was phenomenal, it's light and easy to carry, and it felt solid in the corners and stiff enough to accelerate out of corners.<br /> <br /><br />VK: Any scary moments in the race where you thought you might come off or go over the barrier?<br /><br />BH: There were a few slick spots and my rear tire cut loose a few times in corners but I managed to stay upright. I fell on the steps on the first lap, they were very slippery and you approached them from an angle. After that I made sure to take the steps at a right angle. <br /><br /><br />VK: Did you have a big glass of wine or something to celebrate? <br /><br />BH: I’ve been eating cheese and beer, kind of like wine only different.<br /><br /><br />VK: Congratulations again Barb. <br /><br />BH: Thanks!Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-86807570968061011312009-04-22T11:08:00.001-07:002009-04-22T11:08:30.111-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuvxq7R1-TY8W7XyDTP7kwgapwa8HImyG878v8PEBXv7pKIK3-WLe-f1iNx_BViQYCIvdLSFPzokSsw0ONd67aREKcehg8AXh4ugpjN9LE6J7PzlRUBkMNWfEd-H4uSlcwgF2/s1600-h/HUB-Party.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 309px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuvxq7R1-TY8W7XyDTP7kwgapwa8HImyG878v8PEBXv7pKIK3-WLe-f1iNx_BViQYCIvdLSFPzokSsw0ONd67aREKcehg8AXh4ugpjN9LE6J7PzlRUBkMNWfEd-H4uSlcwgF2/s400/HUB-Party.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327579234525763954" border="0" /></a>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-12847512556282252252009-04-21T09:32:00.000-07:002009-04-21T13:11:26.660-07:00photo credit: ken conley (kwc.org)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GDiOqyIa_Zp1T3fGhoIlPnj1M-R6iASQrnMX5c_9ywsxehpShsRbDxW9iGShAWr9KRyAVioXStXgLmB0dQ8_FL4ZobtqkNBQudZoHHg7FZzln_cTnVVZkhsaM-SrRmx9Rq89/s1600-h/seaotter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4GDiOqyIa_Zp1T3fGhoIlPnj1M-R6iASQrnMX5c_9ywsxehpShsRbDxW9iGShAWr9KRyAVioXStXgLmB0dQ8_FL4ZobtqkNBQudZoHHg7FZzln_cTnVVZkhsaM-SrRmx9Rq89/s400/seaotter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327183600132269858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">SEA OTTER CLASSIC - APRIL 18, 2009</span><br /><br /><div>The Sea Slaughter 2009 Report: by Melodie Metzger<br /><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Every year this race invokes a strong love-hate response in me and this year proved to be no different. Love it because it brings together cycling enthusiasts from all disciplines and all parts of the world. Hate it because the promoters charge too much darn money. Love it because it was my first non-collegiate race back in 2001 as a mountain biker. Hate it because it is such a hard and relentless course that gets me every time.</div> <div> </div> <div>This year the trip to Sea Otter was a quick one-day stop to represent Vanderkitten in Saturday's circuit race. The non-NRC status attracted a smaller-than-usual, but still powerful and talented field. Tibco and Colavita were the two heavy hitters, but Easton-Sugar CRM proved to be the most active early in the race using their numbers to hit the field with attacks on every part of the course. My thoughts were to try and get Vanderkitten in a break, but nothing was sticking. I was in one promising break for a few laps, but it was early and my break-partner didn't have the juice to keep up the pace necessary to stay away. I blew a few too many matches with this and a few other attempts and ended up running out of steam in the crucial last 5 laps of the race. A large group of 15 broke from the field and I failed to make it over the top with them. I finished 20th and Lizzer, Mary, and Virginia were not far behind.</div> <div> </div> <div>I had a great time at the race, seeing old friends, hanging out with the team, checking in with our amazingly generous sponsors, and taking pictures with fans. All-in-all I walked away feeling happy that I went this year. </div> <div> </div> <div>I look forward to cheering on the team from across the pond while they kick ass at speed week next week! </div> <div> </div> <div>Thanks for reading,</div> <div>M^2, P0, The Butcher</div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-65943544411239826722009-03-16T21:37:00.000-07:002009-03-16T22:10:30.550-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">VK's Melodie Metzger Takes 2nd at Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix!!</span></span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold;font-size:48px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; font-size:16px;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2iuhDVT1HnkRTaiIr8AFoo507_bcTKaRLY__QThPw1DMIIZAEuHolSKo-np1eTHvNEG02z94XvSgKN0w3SxwvhZrAIUgX3H-fakWWSMRPi3MwTbgCDoMPs-Nwd38jUWdkQQO/s1600-h/n575867572_2093052_6423966.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS2iuhDVT1HnkRTaiIr8AFoo507_bcTKaRLY__QThPw1DMIIZAEuHolSKo-np1eTHvNEG02z94XvSgKN0w3SxwvhZrAIUgX3H-fakWWSMRPi3MwTbgCDoMPs-Nwd38jUWdkQQO/s400/n575867572_2093052_6423966.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314012154759625810" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px; " /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: Kurt Harvey</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">VK's Melodie Metzger, Charlotte Hart, and Mary Maroon came out in force for the Tri-Flow Menlo Park Grand Prix on March 8th! With the help of her super awesome kitten teammates, Melodie took second to Tibco's Brooke Miller. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below is race recap from VK's Charlotte Hart:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Considering I'm coming back from pulling my groin (long ski story) Menlo was a much better race for me than Merco. The pace was fast -- Sugar CRM was really aggressive launching attacks and of course Tibco was countering and covering everything. I tried to stay up front and go with moves, and at one point with Mel on the front I jumped to chase two girls off the front. A few laps later on the backside of the course I did the same for her and got in a nice block allowing her to open a big gap before the pack woke up. All in all, for only a three person team we were doing a good job of being defensive!</span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With three to go I moved up and passed Mel -- who I think grabbed my wheel and followed. But tunnel vision during racing always surprises me. Anyhow I was able to take Brooke Miller's wheel with 3 to go. I was ultra surprised! Then the elbows for her wheel in the corners started flying and I remember thinking, why are girls jabbing me? Oh, duh I'm on the WHEEL to have. Initially I knew Brooke would be plan B (insider's knowledge ha) and that they would try to get one of their riders in a break. However, since it was going to be a bunch sprint, plan A was to lead Brooke out. So I was in great position as the laps wound down. With one to go, Sugar CRM attacked forcing Brooke to chase. I followed in pursuit but the gap she opened was as big as the Atlantic Ocean. I bridged and then burned. The effort gassed me. But considering I've been training lightly it was no surprise. What was good is that the rest of the riders came across with me and I'm sure that helped Mel stay in perfect position to light the sprint up.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below is a pic of Vk's Mary Maroon working the field!</span></span></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXELUTG5FCwDjlo8_1LosXz7ZiYxZmZBO6exgXJZrdYYNoYxvSqzbiB784rLxGX6BF5ka0fqJjpQYHxSCj3xCR6CbJrz__rOaNZZIRNDUM582b2h6rJrg2wToj4DUNlxYm0Wm/s1600-h/n575867572_2093036_843564.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkXELUTG5FCwDjlo8_1LosXz7ZiYxZmZBO6exgXJZrdYYNoYxvSqzbiB784rLxGX6BF5ka0fqJjpQYHxSCj3xCR6CbJrz__rOaNZZIRNDUM582b2h6rJrg2wToj4DUNlxYm0Wm/s400/n575867572_2093036_843564.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314015006315127394" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px; " /></a></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: Kurt Harvey</span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CoP0LHH2jLX3RB1Adr2lmRWcUK-D2fPekpSOfm786IrBOvAFkixT-V6IYovqMqbgFvQ4BFfDTp7DbzrsWas1FXrvR6Qwxw3bJ0__pxdglhXYltb4wubS_fug46AdRowD18oO/s1600-h/3340420790_4969750e1a.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CoP0LHH2jLX3RB1Adr2lmRWcUK-D2fPekpSOfm786IrBOvAFkixT-V6IYovqMqbgFvQ4BFfDTp7DbzrsWas1FXrvR6Qwxw3bJ0__pxdglhXYltb4wubS_fug46AdRowD18oO/s400/3340420790_4969750e1a.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314016649494837986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 358px; height: 400px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: Kurt Harvey</span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next up for Vanderkitten Racing? Redlands Classic! Come out and support the super fast ladies of Vanderkitten Racing!!</span></span></span></p></div></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-63081170699980765692009-03-03T20:43:00.000-08:002009-03-03T21:48:18.737-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Vanderkitten Racing Kicks Off 2009 Season!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLTaVgTw0IGZWVXVW2LQaTvn3MkZqI39URPj2AnVC4mYs7DTbaY8fw8KCD4K9ghQB3tqRSbTlkcicHGpKLWcQ8NHnx93QGd_gGTBJz60f168N4ujtZyugJ2FTbTIQODbQKKbD/s1600-h/JenReither.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 265px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOLTaVgTw0IGZWVXVW2LQaTvn3MkZqI39URPj2AnVC4mYs7DTbaY8fw8KCD4K9ghQB3tqRSbTlkcicHGpKLWcQ8NHnx93QGd_gGTBJz60f168N4ujtZyugJ2FTbTIQODbQKKbD/s400/JenReither.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309195773118985602" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: Kurt Harvey</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vanderkitten Racing kicked off their 2009 season on February 15th, during the Tour of California Women's Criterium! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00GbQAp9VDt1KF9B0NOHyAJXtOlMsRIRzxoSyrnbNvBesEG20RYggF0IZSSGu2cC-N4l_6CL7KY3P1xGBFql9fmWHfCw3KUs5ETGw-03Rt8rM8gIV5kGCa6-G66RKdOrg9ipi/s1600-h/n575867572_1998145_8551.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi00GbQAp9VDt1KF9B0NOHyAJXtOlMsRIRzxoSyrnbNvBesEG20RYggF0IZSSGu2cC-N4l_6CL7KY3P1xGBFql9fmWHfCw3KUs5ETGw-03Rt8rM8gIV5kGCa6-G66RKdOrg9ipi/s400/n575867572_1998145_8551.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309195676030100050" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px; " /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo: Kurt Harvey</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below is race recap from VK's super fast Jenn Wilson:</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOG1g6PDIg6bjwaNamB-t8rwFRAt1YZqMHhpl5nWkwj26TjklesGVXtpvx3p-61qMPMdE4k1uiMA_m_nw8S1S3gi5srSQ5XCVDrESvPqi1Meu-lKeafKPTNrMQHstoYUc-dBd/s1600-h/3280606612_a1eaf15491.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The season has started! Though I thought I would be more prepared here it is and I am excited. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Like last year, our first NRC race of the season was the Women’s Criterium at the Tour of California in </span></span></span><st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Santa Rosa</span></span></span></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">, </span></span></span><st1:state st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">CA</span></span></span></st1:state></st1:place><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lucky for me, my good friend and partner in crime, Jenn X is guest riding with Vanderkitten for this race so we drove up to </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Berkeley</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> together on Friday morning. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We left at 7am and made the customary stop at Starbucks in </span></span></span><st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Valencia</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:country-region><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> and off we went. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The grapevine was open and the mountains looked beautiful with the snow on them. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The iPod was hooked up and we were rockin’. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We arrived in </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Berkeley</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> at 1pm and promptly got dressed and went on a ride with some of the other VKs, Liz and Leigh. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was great to see them as I had not seen them since Vegas in September. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We attempted to get an easy ride in to loosen the legs but the rain came and we jetted back to our hotel. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We were treated in the evening to a team dinner at Dave and Jennie’s house which was magnificent.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thanks again for a great evening! </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdt7air-WMmSYLbeuhc5b7Sy-djV-0_70OzwtwUknLOYQemBdJc4QhYQdbZj1a93I_2XqLlsAD3Mx66cd7OuMcexBVOO-LGyOHXOTbicFsUy48Me-cGtSOEKjfQ7RhiluBx07hg/s1600-h/IMG_0014.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHdt7air-WMmSYLbeuhc5b7Sy-djV-0_70OzwtwUknLOYQemBdJc4QhYQdbZj1a93I_2XqLlsAD3Mx66cd7OuMcexBVOO-LGyOHXOTbicFsUy48Me-cGtSOEKjfQ7RhiluBx07hg/s320/IMG_0014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304745059353816482" border="0" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " /></span></span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 20px; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The next day we all drove to </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">San Jose</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> to do a local criterium to get the legs open for the BIG race the next day. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even though it was a local race, most all of the big teams were there doing the same as us. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was a course with quite a few turns and the wind was picking up. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">VK did a great job of making sure we were in nearly every move off the front and we were working well together. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was great to be back in the mix. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our “guest” rider Jenn X got a prime during the race. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I got myself in 3 moves off the front but nothing stuck. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even though the sun was out we did experience a bit of rain which caused a crash; only a prelude to what we would endure on Sunday. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was feeling pretty good for my first race back with the “big” girls. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With 2 laps to go I made a bad choice and took the wheel of some girls cookin’ up the inside to a turn which I had taken the inside of nearly every time during the race and found it to be the fast. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, this time was different and we got pinched and I had to ebrake. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I spent the last lap fighting for position. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ugh!</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I bungled the sprint! </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The important thing was that I rode at the front and was able to position myself into moves.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The VK gang went out to dinner that night at the Pyramid Brewery where I enjoyed a yummy </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Kobe</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> beef burger. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was great to be hanging with the gang again.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After dinner it was back to the hotel to rest up and gear up for what was going to be a very rainy day if the weather channel was correct.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3GONDQsuvg_2WZxfNze6ru6Gp9BVMgoUFuG5VTFmKS2BDENt_fY9gElCzkq_whBPgmC8QPmLLnUh7QsnmDDhSDX2nDYedJXpsJjupPR6mbUZy-rtKr5i5byi7giPqCqLPRI6iw/s1600-h/IMG_0019.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht3GONDQsuvg_2WZxfNze6ru6Gp9BVMgoUFuG5VTFmKS2BDENt_fY9gElCzkq_whBPgmC8QPmLLnUh7QsnmDDhSDX2nDYedJXpsJjupPR6mbUZy-rtKr5i5byi7giPqCqLPRI6iw/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304747713498745058" border="0" style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " /></span></span></span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Typical Jenn X</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Guess what?</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We awoke to gray skies and rain. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We packed up the van and headed north for </span></span></span><st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Santa Rosa</span></span></span></st1:place></st1:city><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After a quick stroll through the vendors it was down to business.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had wonderful help from Emma and other Vanderkitten’s and it was great to be surrounded by so many well wishers. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I got a good warm up in and somehow found myself rushing at the end trying to figure out where the time went. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It turns out they were starting the race 10 minutes early, strange. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And, of course as our race start came so did the rain in a torrential down pour.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because the race started early and we were unaware of this, we all started the race at the back of the pack.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Not the best place to be when you have heavy hitters like Ina Teutenberg and National Champion Brooke Miller in the peloton.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHrqjkCZ3tEP07O5huIuPGH-C0uIEZS-pCl4k4wFXe-K9ID4qzV40JMt4zUBGNUkszRK8LTzY24cjGa350mqRaNtqwdr0EszeUGNziSxzQKsvwhNeleUDJxyTz0zVlzHfcuPTWA/s1600-h/Santa+Rosa+TOC+2009+larry+Rosa.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpHrqjkCZ3tEP07O5huIuPGH-C0uIEZS-pCl4k4wFXe-K9ID4qzV40JMt4zUBGNUkszRK8LTzY24cjGa350mqRaNtqwdr0EszeUGNziSxzQKsvwhNeleUDJxyTz0zVlzHfcuPTWA/s320/Santa+Rosa+TOC+2009+larry+Rosa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304748682130425682" border="0" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " /></span></span></span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Myself and Jenn X "racin" TOC 2009 photo courtesy Larry Rosa</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The pace was pretty fast from the start though we were careful through the turns due to the rain. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To add to the “fun” there were tons of bot dots on the course which you had to navigate even while turning. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It took a little bit of time to get to the front of the race since I started way in the back. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The only good news about starting at the back was that when Versus showed the seconds of coverage there was my butt. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Hot! </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Within 12minutes there was a break from the pack. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was sitting on the opposite side of the peloton pretty boxed in when it happened. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Twelve riders went free and I did a quick check, all the heads of state were still in the peloton: Ina, Gina, Tina, Brooke and LVG. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There was a lot more time in the race and I thought for sure they would be brought back. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jenn X decided not to wait around for that and launched herself off the front. I was on her wheel and made the decision to sit up and let her go. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In hindsight, it would have been nice to have 2 VKs in the</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">break to help each other. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After killing herself she eventually bridged to the break, now they were 13. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I stayed up at the front to monitor and block as best I could should anyone decide to take the leap. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">There were mini attacks and LVG was anxious to try and break free. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was on them all figuring if anyone was going to bridge they were taking me with them. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The race organization started to give pack primes and after I realized that the break was going to stay away I decided to go for one. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lucky or unlucky for me the one I went for also appeared to be on Ina’s check list and I got second behind her. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Bummer, but not bad considering she is such an animal. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Next on the list was to prepare for the finish. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Even though we were not sprinting for the win I knew it would be an all out sprint for the finish considering who I was with. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The rain continued to come down heavy and it seemed to be getting colder.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hyphenhyphen-igg5KG5cf5qHJuqC80vUD9P__KkEBVwTDWyBL-kiVuedj292KbQ7mQTI8wN4cPWC9Y6ocL_9QS95Umv5u6KYP9qsBBKwhzx-75rhdyIfnvnTbCkjRhZXSV92Gs3hFg9dBDA/s1600-h/dirty+chin+2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7hyphenhyphen-igg5KG5cf5qHJuqC80vUD9P__KkEBVwTDWyBL-kiVuedj292KbQ7mQTI8wN4cPWC9Y6ocL_9QS95Umv5u6KYP9qsBBKwhzx-75rhdyIfnvnTbCkjRhZXSV92Gs3hFg9dBDA/s320/dirty+chin+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304798122313558610" border="0" style="cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " /></span></span></span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">How do I get so dirty? photo courtesy Dave Verrecchia</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span></span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I really took to heart Jeff “Hoppy” Hopkins words of advice and was able to stay on Tina’s wheel through the last couple of laps and only started to lose it when Ina who was in front of her lit it up entering turn 4 and exploded away from all of us. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was pretty gassed at this point having done so much work to stay at the front and suffered during the sprint. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was so cold outside and I could not feel my fingers having no clue what lever I was hitting to select my gear. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jenn X did a great job in the break and finished 11</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I held </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my own in the sprint and got 10</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">th</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> in the field for a 23</span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">rd</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> finish overall. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At least now I have more confidence in being able to hang with the top sprinters to the line.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD1qdxJnk_7VEemIEiu4bEh1dLjSyE9VFnUKqzQwsu4hRX-KaBvkSlUbIsXFJQyyVL-8brAOpLZjOOBSmOl-G0SC-7eff6UAK7kPQMS-LshzP4A4UerQb2D0hE0RSzv_7M1G5JA/s1600-h/Santa+Rosa+TOC+2009.jpg" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlD1qdxJnk_7VEemIEiu4bEh1dLjSyE9VFnUKqzQwsu4hRX-KaBvkSlUbIsXFJQyyVL-8brAOpLZjOOBSmOl-G0SC-7eff6UAK7kPQMS-LshzP4A4UerQb2D0hE0RSzv_7M1G5JA/s320/Santa+Rosa+TOC+2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304749463210175794" border="0" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 242px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " /></span></span></span></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are we having fun yet? photo courtesy Kurt Harvey</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jenn and I went to the Russian River Brewery after the race to try and finish my gift card that I won last year in a prime.</span></span></span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We did not do much damage because we were driving home. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After a coffee at Peet’s (my favorite) it was back to the van for the long drive home. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The iPod was roaring and the caffeine flowin’.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; "><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3qt4Ia5CtOuDjk2aWUblGG0PMcZU4-gdez-g4ypHNx0VzmttKibCd_h8uOCjcwCS7DfSdpHR1VwFPCe7D97U4_ukGE9my6JlfhcMSQ_9zqnF06ajmQ_aQZ_q4VNwJbNSnFB-Hg/s1600-h/IMG_0022.JPG" style="text-decoration: none; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3qt4Ia5CtOuDjk2aWUblGG0PMcZU4-gdez-g4ypHNx0VzmttKibCd_h8uOCjcwCS7DfSdpHR1VwFPCe7D97U4_ukGE9my6JlfhcMSQ_9zqnF06ajmQ_aQZ_q4VNwJbNSnFB-Hg/s320/IMG_0022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304750018748727938" border="0" style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; padding-top: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; border-top-width: 1px; border-right-width: 1px; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-width: 1px; border-top-style: solid; border-right-style: solid; border-bottom-style: solid; border-left-style: solid; border-top-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-right-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-bottom-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); border-left-color: rgb(51, 51, 51); " /></span></span></span></span></a></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At least we didn't super size!<br /></span></span></div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Vanderkitten Racing's next big NRC race will be the </span></span><a href="http://www.redlandsclassic.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Redland's Bicycle Classic</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> March 26th-29th. Come out and support the hottest team in women's cycling!</span></span></span><br /></div></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-1290408800659181282009-02-12T14:23:00.000-08:002009-02-12T15:25:55.499-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Texas State Crit Junior Champ Madeleine McDuff Destroys Competition!</span></span></span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuONltSQFN_TCATsdICoTFPP50xMXPB2cglF6yNVP8Iv6rSjF8nlPjRWv9ZrTNkV1kiIdTPVNrc53Tx0tUR_mTh1kFcA0j_FaJRt1eH2-eRsubug_a6zdRlzZNkiWLWtNZhls/s1600-h/VK1.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMuONltSQFN_TCATsdICoTFPP50xMXPB2cglF6yNVP8Iv6rSjF8nlPjRWv9ZrTNkV1kiIdTPVNrc53Tx0tUR_mTh1kFcA0j_FaJRt1eH2-eRsubug_a6zdRlzZNkiWLWtNZhls/s400/VK1.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302043156509331570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Madeleine McDuff, the reigning Texas State Junior Champion in Criterium, won both the Time Trial and Criterium during the Alsatian Country Omnium on Saturday, February 7th! </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pbwkjtRLqQdxnPDa6EpzeCL7e2z1fq39RhMiggeoZ4MgWkgH2zqtEwocTNsaUWTylgnUaYMQ0Bqh4J7oa59rptXpSrUFS64R_X1NJXNCevOCVnKEVtXtW4bVUqVNtT7CfF8Y/s1600-h/VK2.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4pbwkjtRLqQdxnPDa6EpzeCL7e2z1fq39RhMiggeoZ4MgWkgH2zqtEwocTNsaUWTylgnUaYMQ0Bqh4J7oa59rptXpSrUFS64R_X1NJXNCevOCVnKEVtXtW4bVUqVNtT7CfF8Y/s400/VK2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302046174717930834" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Madeleine not only took first place in the Time Trial Junior girls category, but also stood her ground against the fastest Junior boys in Texas with an overall top ten Time Trial finish!</span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5IXw-iPFCYjE596-HQ8j96iX-vWbEfNMuIDdQPEyJg4j2PtvYzCYDGMRhpccqXdtJ4bO2e2sfACFZYUCnQrQrV8VrzV2bO5wg9cBHeAmM6S3DoOdnHSQfC2-zaAHOgVg0UzS/s1600-h/VKmiddle.JPG"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5IXw-iPFCYjE596-HQ8j96iX-vWbEfNMuIDdQPEyJg4j2PtvYzCYDGMRhpccqXdtJ4bO2e2sfACFZYUCnQrQrV8VrzV2bO5wg9cBHeAmM6S3DoOdnHSQfC2-zaAHOgVg0UzS/s400/VKmiddle.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302046938952532770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">During the criterium Madeleine raced against the top two Texas Junior male teams. She again showed the boys what she was made of, and ultimately ended up winning the Junior girls category!</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHUHrGzGDCHqVd6GNQreVa7mUU1dJtjJ8UqSVSDF-PJu-zrulQex0I2ry7scX7v23Sn8Ub_cZiym2_CZnGz-ExywxIXaUmoo0sHJlJAnyIyGAlp7u85XfC5AIsPCsc8aYtudk/s1600-h/VKlast.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHUHrGzGDCHqVd6GNQreVa7mUU1dJtjJ8UqSVSDF-PJu-zrulQex0I2ry7scX7v23Sn8Ub_cZiym2_CZnGz-ExywxIXaUmoo0sHJlJAnyIyGAlp7u85XfC5AIsPCsc8aYtudk/s400/VKlast.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302048414712292034" style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 400px; " /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Madeleine is a 13 year old Junior Track and Road Cyclist. She is a cycling leader in her community as she founded the Beckendorff Junior High School Cycling Club. With her season now underway, she is excited to promote both junior and women's cycling in her Vanderkitten kit. </span></span></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-60686566632706468922009-01-18T16:56:00.000-08:002009-02-11T13:12:10.149-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ_Z7v2zGcEZszeXAItWFxy2WIY4bXK4PZMjdYPtM6S_RC-mCR9xa0MOom8vyxq9qiY4OKFt7ZsngFVd6UAbyF1d2MAzgTcRuJmgcZRJX79paeECBWkxNZzgupr6i_md3_4kT/s1600-h/tanner.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ_Z7v2zGcEZszeXAItWFxy2WIY4bXK4PZMjdYPtM6S_RC-mCR9xa0MOom8vyxq9qiY4OKFt7ZsngFVd6UAbyF1d2MAzgTcRuJmgcZRJX79paeECBWkxNZzgupr6i_md3_4kT/s400/tanner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301650578783854546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">Introducing Millie "Milliegoat" Tanner</span> </span></span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:13;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13;">Vanderkitten is pleased to announce that SoCal's Millie "Milliegoat" Tanner will be rockin' the VK kit for the 2009 season! Millie is the current State Champion for both California and Nevada in Road Race and Time Trial in the 10-12 division. Millie is also featured in the Jan/Feb issue of Sports Illustrated KIDS special 20th Birthday Edition. At 11 years old, this impressive young rider is already a leader in the cycling community! She likes to go fast, enjoys suffering, and wants to inspire young riders to start cycling. She will, without a doubt, dominate the 2009 season! To visit Millie's official website please click </span></span><a href="http://www.milliegoat.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13;">. To follow Millie's blog, please click </span></span><a href="http://milliegoat.wordpress.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:13;">.</span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">We look forward to seeing Millie kit up with Vanderkitten in 2009!<br /><br /></span></span></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-89344716287320261712009-01-18T16:30:00.001-08:002009-01-18T16:30:39.593-08:00<span style="font-weight:bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<br /><br />Berkeley , Calif. – January 18, 2009<br /><br />On Saturday Jan 17th, Vanderkitten Racing Elite team member Liz Hatch was involved in a solo-rider accident whilst participating in the Benefit for Women’s ATOC Criterium and All –Sport Team Swift ride outside Santa Rosa, CA. Following a comprehensive examination at the hospital, she was released and is now recovering at home. We wish Liz a quick and healthy recovery.<br /><br /><br />The Vanderkitten Racing team/club rules state that all members MUST wear an approved helmet at all times. Liz’s helmet in this instance absorbed a majority of the force of her crash, and was destroyed. As always, safety remains our highest priority and hopefully all of us can walk away with a reminder that helmets do reduce injury and save lives.<br /><br /><br />Please direct any questions or concerns of Liz's recovery or Vanderkitten Racing to the Managing Director: Mark Zefeldt mark@vanderkitten.com </span>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-58103277193036313792008-12-15T12:16:00.000-08:002008-12-15T20:36:41.924-08:00<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">CALLING ALL LADIES!!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEqJjkgQj6BYVnnxpXfWhAC8rZ3uAz2h2x3dkdJbKsajauADU-y27yOuBGPsKbIY6MG8NXBWdFbb3Zo7TvRji-hQVVEayQv-sidhVJ3bj_gZOFcjKBXIeceEJQAXv2QSP15SQ/s1600-h/VKEmma.JPG" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 224px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEqJjkgQj6BYVnnxpXfWhAC8rZ3uAz2h2x3dkdJbKsajauADU-y27yOuBGPsKbIY6MG8NXBWdFbb3Zo7TvRji-hQVVEayQv-sidhVJ3bj_gZOFcjKBXIeceEJQAXv2QSP15SQ/s400/VKEmma.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280198094686601538" /></a><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Vanderkitten is pleased to announce that we are starting a nationwide Vanderkitten Club Team to cater to both amateur racers and avid recreational cyclists for the 2009 season! </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We are now recruiting women with all levels of experience to join the club team. This includes Category 2, 3, and 4 women amateur racers, century riders, riders who ride for a cause (cancer, chronic illness fundraising events), spin class warriors, and women who are new to the sport and simply enjoy riding!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 13px; ">Why join Vanderkitten instead of your local club team? Because Vanderkitten represents so much more than your run of the mill team! The Vanderkitten club team specifically caters to women while providing the tools needed to help riders grow and excel in every aspect of cycling! Joining the club will help women cyclists meet and ride with other women on both a local and national level. By becoming part of the Vanderkitten club team you will directly impact the future of women's amateur cycling! By doing this, you will help the Vanderkitten professional team continue to change the face of women's cycling around the world! You will, of course, also receive amazing discounts and will be riding and racing in the most highly sought after women's team kit that is worn by the very high profile, hot ladies of the Vanderkitten professional team! Remember, it only takes one person to make a statement!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Vanderkitten is looking for strong, passionate women to represent us. If you are interested in joining the hottest club team in the nation or if you have prior experience and are interested in becoming a Vanderkitten Club area leader please contact emma@vanderkitten.com</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Become a cycling leader in your community, ride for Vanderkitten!</span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-85301107119563539842008-10-19T19:35:00.000-07:002008-10-19T19:50:10.102-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">VK WINS USA CRIT SERIES TEAM TITLE CHAMPIONSHIP!!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YUtWcj6lBz0WbloSosw61qITBGvNe2hlaN2N5NUtkqcR8AjI2m6dRBsQq-JfiqUMo1iC2BaEufz5za2p7ke9V2DE4yfpkDqcdAttaIPRIDYEFkK7Z0rcIIh9bp17kgbFWi6c/s1600-h/VK+Vegas+credit+Ken+Connley.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YUtWcj6lBz0WbloSosw61qITBGvNe2hlaN2N5NUtkqcR8AjI2m6dRBsQq-JfiqUMo1iC2BaEufz5za2p7ke9V2DE4yfpkDqcdAttaIPRIDYEFkK7Z0rcIIh9bp17kgbFWi6c/s400/VK+Vegas+credit+Ken+Connley.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259061325126731682" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Photo: Ken Conley</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: normal; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Vanderkitten won the USA Crit Series Team Title Championship on September 25</span></span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">th</span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> in Las Vegas, NV!</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Below is race recap from VK’s Jen Wilson.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">V</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">egas baby!</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The final race in the USA Crit Series and what a ride it has been.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">After racking up the airline mileage, suffering a concussion and getting a second row of stitches on my chin it is finally culminating.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I have to admit that parking lot crits are not my favorite but off we went to defend our team lead in the crit series and my second place overall.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">After nearly taking out my eye running into a wire that I did not see in the in field, we all arrived at the starting line.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Luckily since most of the VKs were sitting in the top ten, most of us got called up before the race which on this course was pretty important since the areas available to move up were slim with the barriers being on either side.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">As it has been all season, the pace was fast from the start and did not let up.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The big teams were in force, especially Colavita/Sutter Home and Cheerwine.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">As is typical of this course there were crashes in the first couple of laps and throughout the entire race.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Luckily none of us were directly involved.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The VK girls did a great job of staying up in the front and monitoring and dictating the race pace.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">It was great to see them doing their stuff and I felt that for a first year team we were given the respect of a more developed squad.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I had to keep on eye on Kelly Benjamin (Cheerwine) and hope that something magical might happen for me today to overcome her 65 point lead over me in the series.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">It has been a season long battle with us trading off the top spot.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The heat exhaustion I experienced in Charlotte, SC was where the tides switched and Kelly took the lead.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">It has been an uphill battle trying to gain points back on her.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">She is such a strong rider with a very strong team and I have learned a lot “battling” with them.</span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">As we were getting into some type of rhythm on the course I saw an opportunity to attack through the chicane area.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">However, no one wanted to let me go.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Jen McRae took off soon after that and was in a two rider break.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">She is so strong that she eventually dropped the other rider and soloed her way to the win.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Colavitta/Sutter Home and Cheerwine chased hard but on this course a single rider has much more of an advantage than the pack.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The team put in a good effort with about 4 laps to go and I was able to maintain my position in the top.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We came into the sprint and I came in 8</span></span></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">th</span></span></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">It was over!</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">We had done it and maintained our team overall lead!</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">For my first season on the national circuit it was great.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Vanderkitten accomplished a lot in one year and it was exciting being a part of it and surrounded by such wonderful people; both the riders and management.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">In addition, it has also been great to have our sponsors believe in us especially since it was our first year and we had no track record.</span></span></span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I am already looking forward to next season!</span></span></span></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> </div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-8500320293877502852008-10-07T18:04:00.000-07:002008-10-13T11:35:06.752-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;"> VK Still Leads USA Crit Series After San Francisco Twilight Crit!!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHao3Xwg63fViUWPK8xYwvUX0EMmRmEMmrFuAtQMQT1S_4oVEP_3Co6V24KebzYATI3pEfPKw9tTqIdzOWFy3_jTDlN_xxZrdb-qkeThKJnR-O3xu_fbvP58-B4A_VRQ_TJuGX/s1600-h/SF+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHao3Xwg63fViUWPK8xYwvUX0EMmRmEMmrFuAtQMQT1S_4oVEP_3Co6V24KebzYATI3pEfPKw9tTqIdzOWFy3_jTDlN_xxZrdb-qkeThKJnR-O3xu_fbvP58-B4A_VRQ_TJuGX/s400/SF+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254585420408445314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photos: Ken Conley</span></span><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Vanderkitten raced a tough race at San Francisco's Twilight Criterium on August 13th. Below is pre race and race recap from VK's Liz Hatch:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >After a year of traveling to every major race cross-country by plane or long distance drive I was really looking forward to the San Francisco Twilight as it's basically in my backyard. We rented a really cool apt in The Castro and had 6 of us share the space for the weekend. I've grown to love racing this year not just for the actual competition but for the time I get to spend with my teammates. For the majority of the past 5 months it's been the 4 core members, which include Leigh, Jen W., Melissa and myself, so it was especially nice to have Jenny Trew back with us along with a special guest, Jen Reither. Yes, half our team had some variance of the name Jennifer! </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >The night before the race we went to the Galaxy Club to pick up our race packets and number and have a beer, after which we went to a team dinner with Mark and Robin Zellner who has been guest directing for us to share a meal and some pre-race plans. Jen Wilson has been battling it out with Kelly Benjamin all year for the overall in the USA Crit Series and we as a team have had a narrow lead over Cheerwine for the top team in the standings so we were all feeling the pressure of the race </span><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1223671167_4" >on Saturday</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >. Kelly has had a banner year and for that reason we knew it would be a tough road but not unthinkable. Jen is one of the toughest women I've ever met on a bike and if anyone could win the overall for our small team it would be her.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >Race day came and proved to be quite chilly and windy as we woke early to put on a free clinic for women in the Bay Area looking to improve their bike skills and even a bit of mechanical training. A nice group showed up and we got to spend a couple of hours with them talking about A to Z bike stuff. A big thanks to Dan Horndasch for coming out and running the show as far as the bike maintenance went, he answered everyone's questions with patience and precise direction.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >After a few hours of lounging around our condo we packed up and headed down to Union St. to the Pro Village. I have to stop here and give a huge round of applause to Ryan Dawkins and Webcore as well as the city of San Fran for allowing pro cycling to come back to the streets of San Fran. It's a huge shame that the SF Grand Prix is no more but this is a step back in the right direction. The whole affair was a joy to be present at and to race made it all the better. Thanks guys!!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >We warmed up and got our pre race instructions followed by our callups. I think every member of Vanderkitten received a call up as we are all ranked in the USA Crits top 10 except for myself but since I'm a local I guess that was their excuse. I always feel a little awkward going wheel to wheel with girls like Kelly Benjamin, Laura Van Gilder, Kat Carroll or Christine Thorburn. I'm such a newbie but I hope to emulate their success on the bike at some point.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >The race started out fast with me leading the first lap semi on accident. I've grown used to starting in the back out of personal preference but as I was at the line I decided to go out and dictate the pace for the first lap or two. From the gun it was fast and furious with a strong break getting away after about 5 or 6 laps which included all the heavies except on of us! NO GOOD!! Robin was sounding pretty stressed in our earpieces, of course. We worked hard the whole race to put things right and pull it back but for some reason we just weren't firing the way we normally do. It's been along year and the 4 of us have race so hard and perhaps we were a bit tired however there was no option to call time out of give up which none of us ever do anyway. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >Kat Carroll put in an amazing solo attack hoping to repeat her win at Charlotte earlier this year but was pulled back with 5 or so to go and eventually the whole field, drastically reduced from the start, came back together. Next Meredith Miller made one last MONSTER attack which just shredded the field and made the final selection from which Shelly Olds would go on to win and Laura Van Gilder would take 2nd and Kelly Benjamin 3rd. Jen ended up 10th and the rest of somewhere behind. Personally the race was not my best, I could not seem to get the legs going until about 45 mins which was way too late. A shame too as the course had a nice rise on the back side which normally would suit me well. You win some you lose some, eh??</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >In the end Jen is in a solid second place overall behind Kelly and we sit as a team on the top over Cheerwine. Not bad for a ragtag first year team! And I say ragtag in the most loving and prideful way possible. We've bonded through good and bad this year and have really fought for our place in the top teams without having all the benefits of a bigger team. I'm really grateful to Mark and Dave for understanding what we are trying to accomplish here and supporting us. Next year will only be bigger and better!</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" >Now it's time for Vegas and our last race so see you there! Lizzer</span><br /><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;" ><!--EndFragment--> </span></span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuODNUkKX8s21EVJ0cFF35d5DzFa2nIRxuvmtq0QcB-5eQQyM41P9BB7o_Z4PZiFn4cDiFpIKy6RcEvJZ5w8gUgetO27IS8UYp60WNg6iyRwl_HueeDEdDrMuwvqbsKw0hysbt/s1600-h/SF+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuODNUkKX8s21EVJ0cFF35d5DzFa2nIRxuvmtq0QcB-5eQQyM41P9BB7o_Z4PZiFn4cDiFpIKy6RcEvJZ5w8gUgetO27IS8UYp60WNg6iyRwl_HueeDEdDrMuwvqbsKw0hysbt/s400/SF+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254583180147715410" border="0" /></a>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-36748230894577417362008-10-06T20:12:00.000-07:002008-10-10T13:43:50.541-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">VK's Jenny Trew Takes 6th At Women's Tour of Missouri Crit!</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_pPHGUkq6ePYWKF7GgK8MDE1rDw90d1CIwxA5zpagrD4IYrm4xTo-O00bHZnPFi6PrgsC96821ug1pwoGts3KmknkWLz8NpIAU7e8uTqkyxcKGJBuVDOrprSvwgkTQgkjRRG/s1600-h/Tour+of+Missouri+-+VK.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG_pPHGUkq6ePYWKF7GgK8MDE1rDw90d1CIwxA5zpagrD4IYrm4xTo-O00bHZnPFi6PrgsC96821ug1pwoGts3KmknkWLz8NpIAU7e8uTqkyxcKGJBuVDOrprSvwgkTQgkjRRG/s400/Tour+of+Missouri+-+VK.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254245897160340082" border="0" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><div style="text-align: left; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;font-size:85%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">For the first time in history, a Women's Pro-Am Criterium took place in Kansas City September 8th during the men's international elite Tour of Missouri. Vanderkitten was represented by Jenny Trew, Liz Hatch, and Melissa Sanborn. Below is VK's Jenny Trew's recap of events leading up to the women's criterium:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 204, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I arrived in Kansas City, Missouri (after figuring out myself and then explaining to numerous parties that Kansas City is not in Kansas - at least not this one!) <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1223671362_3">on Sunday afternoon</span> to be greeted by Holly and Jeff - the friendly neighbourhood picker uppers. I felt particularly important as they stood outside the gate with a sign that read "Jenny Trew - Vanderkitten Racing" and that set the tone for the weekend. I have NEVER been treated so wonderfully at a race. The Tour of Missouri Women's Crit organizers thought of everything and managed to put on quite a show! Special props to Kelly Benjamin of Cheerwine Cycling who managed to do an incredibly job helping out with the organization AND race - it was pretty great to see one of the best riders in the country contribute back to the sport like that!</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"><span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1223671362_4">Sunday evening</span> we had a rider's get-together where we were given food (the fastest way to my heart!) as well as goodie bags and a six-pack of Boulevard beer each (earmarked for the next evening!). Liz, Mel and myself were taken away with the hospitality and looking forward to the next day of racing.</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">I was woken up early <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; cursor: pointer; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1223671362_5">on Monday morning</span> to the crash of lightening and I briefly wondered if we were going to have a repeat of the storm and subsequent power loss in Tulsa. However by noon the weather had "cleared" to overcast but no rain - which was lucky as the final corner would have been really sketchy under less ideal conditions. Mel's client Rob took super care of us and gave my bike a brief tune up in the hotel parking lot the morning of the race - it must have been the extra care that helped me feel the love in the race!</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">Personally I was a little nervous about how I was going to feel once on the course as since our Track Nationals a week ago I had been taking it easy as I am fairly done from the season! However out on the six corner crit I was good to go. It was a fairly aggressive race and although there were only 40 or 50 girls present - it was the who's who of women's crit cycling in North America - so we knew going into it that it was bound to be a good day. Highlights of the afternoon included a magnificent attempt at the $1000 prime with 5 laps to go. Mel and Liz were perfectly positioned as they called the prime and Mel put in a spectacular sprint - taking it from the last corner about 350m out - only to get pipped at the line by Tibco's Amber Rais...definately painful. That having been said, we still had a decent payday as I crossed the line the final time in 6th behind double National Champion Brooke Miller of Tibco in first, Erica Allar of Aarons in second and Jen McRae in third. Liz added to the cash in twentieth while Mel rounded out the Vanderkitten crew in the pack - exhausted by her fantastic effort.</span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span></div> <div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;">It's been awesome to be reunited with the VK crew and I know that we're going to lay it down in San Fran next weekend!!! Until next time! Jen :)</span></div> <div> </div><span id="lw_beacon_1223671383639"></span><!-- kill -->Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-37923151192410134432008-10-06T17:09:00.000-07:002008-10-13T11:34:07.365-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:large;">VK Holds Strong At USA Cycling National Championships in Downers Grove, IL</span></span></span><br /></div><div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:48;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;font-size:16;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA5EfYJFy7u0rFqOg3m5JtiDDxrQMaKmuhtW1LFvLhFaX3D5vABhIDtA9JARMlBo9fs9lgwRG9JfU0_Pjc6vOSbeki7PYBll9VV2J3a3D-MnaBE_JUaqR5XdWaXSGXp4q-COO/s1600-h/downers+grove+2.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfA5EfYJFy7u0rFqOg3m5JtiDDxrQMaKmuhtW1LFvLhFaX3D5vABhIDtA9JARMlBo9fs9lgwRG9JfU0_Pjc6vOSbeki7PYBll9VV2J3a3D-MnaBE_JUaqR5XdWaXSGXp4q-COO/s400/downers+grove+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254226649611648930" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;">Below is race recap as told by Vanderkitten's Melissa Sanborn:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"> <p style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-family:arial;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;">This past weekend in <st1:place><st1:city>Downers Grove</st1:city>, <st1:state>IL</st1:state></st1:place> brought one of the fastest criteriums of the year. The US Criterium National Championship title was on the line and it was a big day for many teams as <a href="http://vanderkitten.blogspot.com/" title="http://vanderkitten.blogspot.com/">Vanderkitten</a> fielded the strong core group of riders <a href="http://www.jenwheels.blogspot.com/" title="http://www.jenwheels.blogspot.com/">Jennifer Wilson</a>, <a href="http://www.lizhatch.missingsaddle.com/" title="http://www.lizhatch.missingsaddle.com/">Liz Hatch</a>, <a href="http://www.leighvalletti.blogspot.com/" title="http://www.leighvalletti.blogspot.com/">Leigh Valletti</a>, and <a href="http://www.melissasanborn.com/" title="http://www.melissasanborn.com/">Melissa Sanborn</a>. The VKats were primed to place at least one of their riders in the top 10 since they knew it was going to be a very tough race with the winners of the last five national crit championships present with full supporting teams along with recently crowned National Road Champion Brooke Miller in attendance as well.<br /><br />The pace set off furiously with immediate attacks on the famed figure-8 course, which has been used for many years to decide the champion. As if the course’s technical and undulating terrain wasn’t challenge enough, the wind was also a factor. Several breakaway attempts were made and the VKats awaited the right combination knowing that, unlike the previous day’s warmup race, nothing was likely to get away with so many top sprinters in the race gunning for the championship. The 31 laps took their toll on the field, and the VKats were not immune. Melissa crashed with 6 laps to go but was able to get back into the race and take Jen as far as she could on the last lap. Liz unbelievably blew out both tires around 7 laps to go but was able to get back into the race to help lead the chase to bring back a late break. Leigh also had an unfortunate mishap, getting taken out on the last turn and crashing hard but got back up and finished the race. Jen was left to fight it out solo through the last 5 turns, a hard task to tackle while the strongest teams of the race charged to drop off their sprinters into the final turns to victory. Still, she hung on for a strong 11<sup>th</sup> place. <o:p></o:p></span> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><o:p></o:p>The Vanderkittens still lead the USA Crit Series overall team competition and sprinter kitten Jen Wilson is just 16 points from the top spot in 2<sup>nd</sup>. Come watch the team defend at the final two races of the series in </span><st1:city style="font-family: arial;">San Francisco</st1:city><span style="font-family:arial;"> on September 13<sup>th</sup> and </span><st1:city style="font-family: arial;"><st1:place>Las Vegas</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style=""><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"> on September 25</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family:arial;">!</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:13;" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:16;" ><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ao7HVSzjvrHNRZWn8OapcPgqTspHcRl4mWKv4Qji_eZC8gRRrbTO1bzjoWYHKOie4x8yyq2mLqIWzIYxM_h53ktBvD4F9lpKNnw5mPG5Blv0Ox0q1owWi2kawXjxxDib6CYm/s1600-h/downers+grove+1.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Ao7HVSzjvrHNRZWn8OapcPgqTspHcRl4mWKv4Qji_eZC8gRRrbTO1bzjoWYHKOie4x8yyq2mLqIWzIYxM_h53ktBvD4F9lpKNnw5mPG5Blv0Ox0q1owWi2kawXjxxDib6CYm/s400/downers+grove+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254236891585020610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-decoration: underline; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photo: </span></span></span></span><span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Leonard Basobas, TripleCrankset.com</span></span><br /></span></div> <!--EndFragment--> </div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-50460892750423231052008-08-28T21:14:00.000-07:002008-08-28T21:35:06.786-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">VK'S Jenny Trew Makes Canadian History At Track Nationals!</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqmZ1p1p5z2OeWFn-eERmQ3J8BDUeSyfJ4bLOyHL30_CysyegkENAgAlx-psqItcmqfbg3qID_Xru0iH7bLCQesMECVRdyoDHJ-np10fuA2s5YHACC0Mf5atQFB7lTLmH49De/s1600-h/JennyTrew.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><img style="text-decoration: underline;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUqmZ1p1p5z2OeWFn-eERmQ3J8BDUeSyfJ4bLOyHL30_CysyegkENAgAlx-psqItcmqfbg3qID_Xru0iH7bLCQesMECVRdyoDHJ-np10fuA2s5YHACC0Mf5atQFB7lTLmH49De/s400/JennyTrew.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5239788424521483058" /></a><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Vanderkitten's Jenny Trew, teamed with Giant's Steph Roorda, and Laura Brown made history on August 27th by winning Canada's FIRST EVER Women's Team Pursuit. They are, by all accounts, the Canadian National Record holders! They beat out four teams for the Canadian National Record!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Below is Jenny's account of the event:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">"Day one of Nationals started out with the men's individual pursuits and all the team pursuits. For the women, 2008 marked the very first time this event has been held in Canada, so it awarded the winners the National Record. For my teammates and I, this was a very enviable title. That having been said, our National governing body isn't exactly what you would call progressive, so it was not given the National Championship title but rather a "National Challenge Event." In all honesty, it's best that I don't get into that particular rant, especially since there were five women's teams in the competition and only four senior men's teams!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">I rode the event with my two former teammates Steph Roorda and Laura Brown. We were hungry off the start. As the first team up, we were going to set the time to beat. We laid down a rather respectable 3:49.3 over 3km! After the next four heats our new Canadian Record held up as we beat the closest team by 15 seconds!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Next up was the gold medal final where we would be 2-up on the 200m track. We knew that we had room to improve as two team errors were made in qualifying by going too fast on my first lap (the second team lap) and by pulling up too late through my last pull which gapped me a little and slowed down the team.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">Regardless, we headed into the final confident, but a little nervous and eager to best our ride from the morning. Right off the bat we were on form. The exchanges were smoother, the pulls stronger, and we were riding much faster that we had in the morning. Jeremy, our Coach, was calling out the splits and we knew that we were killing it! Halfway through we saw that we were catching our opponents (in a pursuit final, if you catch the other team/rider on the track you win the round). By this point we were really pushing it to catch them! Our pulls were strong and we were riding away from our schedule. With 1.5 laps to go we overtook the other team to take the gold!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">All and all it was an exciting evening and a great way to kick off the National Championships! Today I get to lie low, but tomorrow evening will be my showcase event, the Points Race! I'm excited, but Nationals are always an exciting and weird event, so we'll see."</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">The 2008 Tim Horton's National Track Championships are being held August 27-31, in Burnaby, BC. To find out more about Canadian Track Nationals, check racing schedules, or view results please click </span></span><a href="http://www.burnabytracknationals.com/general_info.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;">!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-300410578901666842008-08-22T21:33:00.000-07:002008-08-22T21:57:29.934-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" >Maroon Throws Down In Suisun! (Suh-Soon)<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2778844169_b2a572a19b.jpg?v=0"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/2778844169_b2a572a19b.jpg?v=0" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:78%;">photo: Paul Doran</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mary Maroon is a Regional VK racer and represent the team and brand here in Northern California. She won the Suisun (Suh-Soon) crit on July, 17th 2008, putting Vanderkitten once again on the podium!<br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div><span style="font-size:100%;">"Suisun crit was awesome. There were select riders from local teams, a kinda large-ish Touchstone showing, a small handful of a few other teams and a Code3 showed. There were a lot of team tactics by Touchstone, Metromint, and DolceVita. I made sure to keep the Vanderkitten logo very visible. I chased down most attacks, I got in all but 1 or 2 breaks (even though they didn't last long), I TT'd (time trialed) off the front for a little while, got us a prime and a first place.<br /><br />I know Suisun isn't that big a deal except for it's a Calcup race. I know that If there wasn't a big fat NRC race right now it'd have been a little more challenging. But I also know that a win is a win, that this was pretty cool considering the heavy handed team tactics, and totally fun attacking the field with more than half a lap to go, into the wind, with some of our former teammates desperately trying to hang on. :) Someone asked me for an interview and I probably should have said no. I just hope I did an ok job! </span></div> <div><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div><span style="font-size:100%;">I'm getting excited about the rest of the season."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">-Mary Maroon</span></span><br /></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-70635106983229767842008-08-20T13:12:00.000-07:002008-09-08T13:45:41.871-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" ><span class="Apple-style-span">VK ATHLETE KYM PERFETTO WINS S.B.C. RACE IN NYC!!</span></span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuItz8etmCRbTrMoBhFrH4OGK-FqYb3BJgocMu54X4eXUu4-R8VSKMATu9rb9JRk4CyZ49_NXomMlsI75kqT05OoyIuFKXY2Ip0pYg4bzWtI08VsiHbpuIXXc0FguKsk6KcQP-/s1600-h/sbc1.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1MMU7BpVJPP9iSxBBvwTBAZY4QDcJawUrvkkBrI0Pe6S8t_ORL0S4f_vZPcXrsAyYxRr4Q1S_DKZ8b4U8xlQZk-UjyeWdCLcxbcrhQng0lI36Qb7nNteSCmcHUShA_CMgIFh/s1600-h/sbc2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu1MMU7BpVJPP9iSxBBvwTBAZY4QDcJawUrvkkBrI0Pe6S8t_ORL0S4f_vZPcXrsAyYxRr4Q1S_DKZ8b4U8xlQZk-UjyeWdCLcxbcrhQng0lI36Qb7nNteSCmcHUShA_CMgIFh/s400/sbc2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236699065953173122" border="0" /></a><div>The second annual Susan B. Cruisin' race brought out women from all over the city. Beginning in <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1220906481_0">Chinatown</span> the race included two long fast sprints up to 118th and ended at Lakeside Lounge in the Lower East Side. Racers had to complete 6 checkpoints throughout the city, each planning out their own route based on speed/distance. Kym finished 1st after taking a spill on the pavement early in the race, with Britlee a close second and Grace in third.</div> <div><br />It was the second all women's alleycat in NY this summer, following the HellCat.<br /><br /></div> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeYEfmsBszP9BjAR7qYOYWojs4cVvx7UgqqCJfANnLzLVubsjnGMkyNfZpibx9SY04bWvAQo3NyrmrTyybuOcKXLdwFfVLOCKB4UANbattq65uwFoMKX8b9SLhzBDUcoiIZbu/s1600-h/sbc5.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEeYEfmsBszP9BjAR7qYOYWojs4cVvx7UgqqCJfANnLzLVubsjnGMkyNfZpibx9SY04bWvAQo3NyrmrTyybuOcKXLdwFfVLOCKB4UANbattq65uwFoMKX8b9SLhzBDUcoiIZbu/s400/sbc5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236702051447613778" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><em>"<span style="font-size:100%;">I decided not to psych myself out. I prepped well, rocked my </span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><a href="http://store.vanderkitten.com/PhotoGallery.asp?ProductCode=VK+ROAD+KIT"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Vanderkitten Jersey</span></span></a>,</span></i></span></span><span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;"><span style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><em><span style="font-size:100%;"> stayed concentrated and raced well. And it worked!"</span></em></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238);font-family:Georgia;" ><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuItz8etmCRbTrMoBhFrH4OGK-FqYb3BJgocMu54X4eXUu4-R8VSKMATu9rb9JRk4CyZ49_NXomMlsI75kqT05OoyIuFKXY2Ip0pYg4bzWtI08VsiHbpuIXXc0FguKsk6KcQP-/s400/sbc1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236699406996704946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">Kym was also featured in the September issue of Bicycling Magazine. You can check the article out </span></span><a href="http://www.bicycling.com/article/0,6610,s1-3-12-17729-1,00.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">here</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">! Kym is not only a talented cyclist but also a personal trainer and spinning instructor. Keep kicking ass Kym! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnpkEyOkK2Flt1bZhCc38J7-KcbbFiwlVVxqFv4k4H4yWtg4_seP_XBwhJdKzllCMATTIRiU6HSWZJu2DWer1_iLllRaPDXujKgFXj9Qmea1KOJqxgRsnTn8_yguRVWzaeUfT/s1600-h/sbc4.jpg"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnpkEyOkK2Flt1bZhCc38J7-KcbbFiwlVVxqFv4k4H4yWtg4_seP_XBwhJdKzllCMATTIRiU6HSWZJu2DWer1_iLllRaPDXujKgFXj9Qmea1KOJqxgRsnTn8_yguRVWzaeUfT/s400/sbc4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236712003104881874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" border="0" /></a></span></p></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="">Photos: Fred Askew</p></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:verdana;"> <!--EndFragment--> </span>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-70418751438286312362008-08-19T15:28:00.000-07:002008-08-19T15:37:26.476-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Road Racing Diva Caves to Temptation<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Believe it or not we get a few requests for sponsorship. We read every one, consider the resume and what the needs are , get stupid busy and forget to follow-up. Christie Cooley knows us all too well... Christie is a local Road Racer here in the Bay Area, is HOT, has a great sense of humor and FAST. She approached VK for sponsorship (or maybe we offered), and we never followed up.<br /><br />Christie, on the other hand, was insistent upon making good on her end of the deal, and out of temptation put the super-hot VK stickers on her race bike and said, "See, I'm doing my job!". Of course, had she received the VK gear we had promised, she would have a super-hot VK shirt on in the photo!<br /><br /></span></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=270771&d=1219018030"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=270771&d=1219018030" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">So, Christie, thanks for representing Vanderkitten to the fastest 2-wheeled crowd in the world! You can check out Christie's racing at the next AFM event in Northern California in the 650 Twins class racing her Suzuki SV650!</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-953.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v251/192/66/13303953/n13303953_32424593_4232.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://photos-953.ll.facebook.com/photos-ll-sf2p/v251/192/66/13303953/n13303953_32424593_4232.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ></span></span></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-82649735908427436292008-07-25T10:33:00.000-07:002008-07-25T11:31:30.619-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63HPMVwoJQNrmBvc7CPPNYPCUm735cXl3aSORSvc7FsyyZ5c8s3WcYqpkoFzYPvdid1xQv7buf9ZEtwTFIDGN769SkngMSs4phzPSW4qDGUydNhMBJpfF0qIHLaEc_uaUcwrj/s1600-h/DSC00630.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj63HPMVwoJQNrmBvc7CPPNYPCUm735cXl3aSORSvc7FsyyZ5c8s3WcYqpkoFzYPvdid1xQv7buf9ZEtwTFIDGN769SkngMSs4phzPSW4qDGUydNhMBJpfF0qIHLaEc_uaUcwrj/s400/DSC00630.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227008248726465954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family:verdana;">Flying Kittens!!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Up, up and away! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Vanderkitten</span> athlete and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Velo</span> Bella Pro <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">MTB</span> rider <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Rebecca</span> Gross decided to add "Pilot" to her impressive resume! Here is an email she sent us with pics from her long-range solo flight.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Dear <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">VK</span>- Here are some pics from my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">uber</span> solo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">xc</span> flight today out to <span style="border-bottom: 1px dashed rgb(0, 102, 204); cursor: pointer;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1217007288_0">Burns, Oregon</span>, John Day, Oregon and back to Boise. I almost got the flight service people out searching for me when I was two hours late to close out my flight plan. How can I help it if there are NO landmarks in east Oregon to keep me from getting lost?? And I don't know who decided in John Day, Oregon to put the runway on the top of a cliff but <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">yeesh</span>, that was an interesting approach. I did made it down on the second attempt ;-)</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkivrTeH7L5qwMf69jOGh9WR3NNymc2lFe4IEyVhEnXh1bo_WbVdJ8qv-wVq6Uh2rAio0zvGOhALNcOFbDWqH2TxGeY2j6BfRc45lbSajYXOSSutiepjteY4h3rXQlmcVsXlqu/s1600-h/DSC00633.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkivrTeH7L5qwMf69jOGh9WR3NNymc2lFe4IEyVhEnXh1bo_WbVdJ8qv-wVq6Uh2rAio0zvGOhALNcOFbDWqH2TxGeY2j6BfRc45lbSajYXOSSutiepjteY4h3rXQlmcVsXlqu/s400/DSC00633.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227008861762453506" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">I should be a certified pilot by next week!!! Then I can FINALLY ride my bike again.<br />- <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Rebecca</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Rebecca</span> is wear the Leo T in pink. This design represents courage and strength and is one of our most popular T's. Check out the new for 2009 update in 2 colors on super-fine, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">peruvian</span> cotton T's with a longer torso length!</span><br /><br /><br /><br /></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-54334468871555989252008-06-29T13:04:00.000-07:002008-08-22T21:58:54.203-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">THIS JUST IN... MANHATTAN BEACH GRAND PRIX- VK's Sanborn 4th!</span><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">When you start out with the statement "changing the face of women's cycling" many are quick to judge your every move. Being a Vanderkitten is not easy, and from the beginning of the season we offered that it would be a hard road on this team because we were very serious about putting together the foundation for the next super-team. We've had some riders come and go, and we've picked up hot new talent, but all the while we have stayed true to our mission, true to ourselves and our sponsors.<br /><br />I was writing an email to a very strong candidate for next year's team and the thing I told her, above all else, that was needed for success in this program is SACRIFICE. There is no way for a team to be a champion or a brand to sell millions of units without everyone willing to sacrifice, even a little, for the good of the overall goal. Those who can't make the sacrifice quickly find themselves struggling to catch-up. In a first year team, where nothing is perfect, sacrifice is a wonderful companion to patience.<br /><br />On that note, here is a race report from Jennifer Wilson who perfected the art of sacrifice. Jennifer has given blood and flesh for this team enduring horrific crashes and amazing triumphs. Remember, it is rare that a first-year team, with no director, can achieve anything more than an "also-ran".... but today Melissa, Liz and Jen got it done, out numbered, out financed but not out classed!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR SACRIFICES!!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);" id="filecontent"> <div id="yiv547058449"> <p>Manhattan Beach Grand Prix 2008</p><p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/vanderkitten.html" title="Jennifer Wilson"><img src="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/media/Manhattan_Beach_Grand_Prix_08__Women/500w/manhattanbeachgrandprix20080628_0365.jpg" alt="Jennifer Wilson - (c) Ken Conley" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="right">Photo by <a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/vanderkitten.html">Ken Conley</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p> <p>Thank goodness for the ocean. The weather today was hot for the beach but much cooler than the valley where I live. The Vanderkitten contingency today was Liz, Melissa and myself. We felt very confident going into the race and knew that most likely it would come down to entering the last 180 degree turn first. For being an NRC race so far from the others at this time of year there was a good turnout of about 74 riders with Tibco and Cheerwine having 4 riders each and ValueAct bringing 5 riders. The New Zealand team Jazz Apple was in attendance with quite a few riders as well with the rest of the pack being represented with local riders.</p><p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/liz-hatch.html" title="Liz Hatch"><img src="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/media/Manhattan_Beach_Grand_Prix_08__Women/500w/manhattanbeachgrandprix20080628_0377.jpg" alt="Liz Hatch - (c) Ken Conley" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="right">Photo by <a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/liz-hatch.html">Ken Conley</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p> <p>It was a typical Manhattan Beach with riders attacking off the front and eventually being caught. VK rode a very smart race and was attentive to moves off the front and made smart choices depending on who was in the break. Each of us at one point found ourselves in some move or another which was excellent. Liz and I did a great job near the end of the race patrolling the front. There was one move we missed and everyone was represented and Liz did a stellar move bringing it back. There were other attacks from Cheerwine and Jazz Apple and I went with Amber Rais to bridge to them. We were down to just 6 laps to go and we did not want anything to get away without a VK in it.</p><p><table border="0"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/liz-hatch-1.html" title="Liz Hatch"><img src="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/media/Manhattan_Beach_Grand_Prix_08__Women/500w/manhattanbeachgrandprix20080629_0666.jpg" alt="Liz Hatch - (c) Ken Conley" /></a></td></tr><tr><td align="right">Photo by <a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/liz-hatch-1.html">Ken Conley</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p> <p>Melissa and I had planned to attack and go all out on the hill on the backside. Rough to do today considering the heavy headwind but you have to take chances. I was on Melissa’s wheel on the last lap and she was doing an excellent job keeping us to the front. A surge came up on the right and I went with it. Eventually this would be a bad move. As I put my head in the wind to stay near the front waiting to launch my attack a surge of riders came up the right side and blocked us in. Then like lightening, Melissa was attacking on the right and flying. She was first into the turn and ended up 4<sup>th</sup> overall. Great job! There was great VK team work during the entire race. As always Manhattan Beach is like gambling with trying to enter into the last turn first and it was great to have such wonderful teammates so that if something happened to one there was another who could accomplish the goal. Great job ladies!</p> <p>1<sup>st</sup> – Brooke Miller (Tibco)</p> <p>2<sup>nd</sup> – Laura Van Gilder (Cheerwine)</p> <p>3<sup>rd</sup> – Jen McRae (Advil/Chapstick)</p> <p>4<sup>th</sup> – Melissa Sanborn (Vanderkitten Racing)</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/media/Manhattan_Beach_Grand_Prix_08__Women/1024w/manhattanbeachgrandprix20080628_0419.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 577px; height: 407px;" src="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/media/Manhattan_Beach_Grand_Prix_08__Women/1024w/manhattanbeachgrandprix20080628_0419.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Photo by </a><a href="http://kwc.org/cycling/photos/2008/06/vanderkitten.html">Ken Conley</a></p> </div> </div><br /></div></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-62423467298942694892008-06-19T13:57:00.000-07:002008-06-19T14:02:47.072-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">ONE MORE WEEKEND FOR GOOVALOO!</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The REVOLUTIONARY dance performance from the streets has been extended ONE MORE WEEKEND!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">GROOVALOO- A story of coming to be, expressing oneself... POWERFUL, energetic, groundbreaking!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Samueli Theater, Running through June 22nd! </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.groovaloos.om">www.groovaloos.com</a><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yIoQLnPH624&rel=0&hl=en"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yIoQLnPH624&rel=0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Check out Vanderkitten ViP "Lady Jules", Julie Urich!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/C8Z40n686gw&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/C8Z40n686gw&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="display: block; font-family: verdana;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="on" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"></span></span>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-32693334393757386842008-06-15T21:30:00.001-07:002008-06-15T21:30:42.246-07:00Break Dancing is BLOWING UP!<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'><p><object height='350' width='425'><param value='http://youtube.com/v/NECNIKmMgS8' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/NECNIKmMgS8'/></object></p><p>Break Dancing has never stopped growing even though it faded from the public eye in the late 80's, it made the transition to Europe and the inner-city asian cultures and continued to thrive. <br /><br />In the late 90's it returned in full force, and in the new millenium we've seen dozens of movies highlighting men and women of all ethnicities, cultures from all over the world with powerful music and fantastic coreography. <br /><br />We had the opportunity to get to know, and are continuing to get to know, Lady Jules, who purchased a VK cycling jersey from one of our retailers and invited us into the world of Hip Hop! </p></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-86376125900506711342008-06-14T12:36:00.000-07:002008-06-14T12:53:12.834-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" >Track Racing is So Hot Right Now!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Maybe it's because it's an Olympic year, or the simplicity of the fixed-gear track bicycles, or maybe because the race offer NASCAR-like action, but Track Racing is the new CycloCross. I just said it, and for those of you who have NO idea what I am talking about, it's only a few Google searches away!<br /><br /><embed src="http://player.stickam.com/flashVarMediaPlayer/179353770" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" scale="noscale" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed><br /><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">One thing that may Vanderfans don't know about is Vanderkitten's presence in regional track racing. Many of our riders race, and win, at their regional track events, and Tela Crane is former 2-event Jr. National Champion. The thing I'd like to say about track racing is there are a ton of events from Sprints, to Kierins, to Miss 'N Out's, etc. It sounds like a roller rink from 1982, but it's damn fun.<br /><br />This is a Video from the end of May with Michael Hernandez promoting the Friday night races at Hellyer Velodrome in San Jose, Ca. I can't imagine any other racing event having announcing that is this animated! Check out Vanderkitten Mary Maroon and Unattached race Beth Newell in racing action down in San Jose!<br /><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bethbike.blogspot.com"><img alt="The image “http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2539862773_edff172fdb.jpg?v=0” cannot be displayed, because it contains errors." src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2539862773_edff172fdb.jpg?v=0" /><br /></a></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ><br /><br /></span></span></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-19922205866991347592008-06-12T11:50:00.000-07:002008-06-12T11:55:45.114-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-family: verdana;">MORE COMING SOON!!</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Coverage of Philly Week and Photos coming SOON! To get your FIXXX, check out <a href="http://www.norcalcyclingnews.com"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NorCalCyclingNews.com</span></a> for some awesome photography and GREAT coverage from Hernando and Sabine!!<br /><br /></span><img style="width: 560px; height: 420px;" alt="http://norcalcyclingnews.com/words/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/vanderteamwork.jpg" src="http://norcalcyclingnews.com/words/wp-content/uploads/2008/06/vanderteamwork.jpg" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Last minute adjustments before the gun! -S. Dukes</span><br /></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-47543862620164800032008-06-12T11:33:00.000-07:002008-06-12T11:50:14.667-07:00<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="http://www.legendsofamerica.com/postcards-pictures-of/ok-pc446-TulsaSkyline.jpg" src="http://www.legendsofamerica.com/postcards-pictures-of/ok-pc446-TulsaSkyline.jpg" /><br /></div>The last week in May the team took off for the heart of the Mid West to Tulsa Oklahoma for 3 days of Racing and 3 days of brand promoting!<br /><br />Valletti, Sanborn, Oliveira, Trew, Hatch and Wilson rolled into town to contest a great series of crits, with excellent prize money in a very cool city the is going through a major rebirth! Melissa Sanborn was the only VKitten who had been to Tulsa and it was on her recommendation that we took the trip across the country... which turned out to be awesome!<br /><br />We recruited Nor Cal legend in cycling, promoting and fabulousness Michael Hernandez to bring the team together and work towards our end goal- Philadelphia's Commerce Bank Liberty Cycling Classic- The largest and best race in the USA.<br /><br />The girls gelled with Michael awesome coaching and guidance and worked on race tactics and other top-secret warrior drills. The goal was to represent, race together and win some money. Cheerwine had a few excellent riders, stand-out Jen McRae was in the house, and our beloved VK's from Metro VW Cycling Jen Wilhite and Shannon Koch were there with a couple of teammates, plus wonder-woman Shelly Olds of ProMan, another NorCal team with some amazing talent.<br /><br />The races were great, and I encourage you to check out the rider's blogs for more. It was hot, jungle hot, with rain, sun, thunder, sun, rain, sun... steamy!! Our awesome host Brent Baker gave us the full run of his house and garage, stocked with bike tools and stand! It was ultra generous and we gave him his and her matching Team Kits!<br /><br />The thing I like about hitting the road is the chance to meet VK supports, customers and friends. We had Sushi with Tulsa local and VK friend Misty... yes, Sushi in Tulsa! It was good, but I think the octopus salad didn't quite sit well with me, although delicious the night before. =)<br /><br />Here are some shots from TaosActionPhotos.com that were awesome!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuemsbbfKCP4Iu3eAphIzbw25G1pa0PHdke3xUDpIdiNHAHPo2uHGeJQM3VYCzod2BAG-BfhdoYgYudL57EcYUZCX6vfbXB1PqWWszU58DNm5LiMUZqhGSmUpbglis3u2lqxf/s1600-h/_MG_8134copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuemsbbfKCP4Iu3eAphIzbw25G1pa0PHdke3xUDpIdiNHAHPo2uHGeJQM3VYCzod2BAG-BfhdoYgYudL57EcYUZCX6vfbXB1PqWWszU58DNm5LiMUZqhGSmUpbglis3u2lqxf/s400/_MG_8134copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211064325466544866" border="0" /></a>Leigh Valletti off the front giving a handling clinic.<br /><br />Check out more photos on<a href="http://taosactionphotos.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewGallery=1246&vp=1"> TaosActionPhotos.com</a>!<br /></div>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25981302.post-53590855453433198672008-06-12T11:20:00.000-07:002008-06-12T11:33:31.649-07:00<span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" ><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family: trebuchet ms;font-size:180%;" >Vanderkitten Team Jersey Pre-Order</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBqaLY7P9P1GYVonI6dTcP-5OPYiTapXx-v47V8DdukyBybZpk_j9aRBRj314ZjCa3mCd0Dhe7G33C_oNQORUHOAx1phuklSpgiyMOMrDV_mk2M8tAegTglPBOApS1RZMxNd_/s1600-h/Untitled-17.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBqaLY7P9P1GYVonI6dTcP-5OPYiTapXx-v47V8DdukyBybZpk_j9aRBRj314ZjCa3mCd0Dhe7G33C_oNQORUHOAx1phuklSpgiyMOMrDV_mk2M8tAegTglPBOApS1RZMxNd_/s400/Untitled-17.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211063401717565938" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >*ACTUAL JERSEY GRAPHICS WILL VARY SLIGHTY</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">In case you missed the subtle addition to the Vanderkitten webstore, we are now accepting pre-orders for our 2008 Team jersey. The jersey will be very similar to the current team jersey, but feature a hidden zipper, removal of sponsor logos and tag lines, and have a 3/4 length zipper.<br /><br />These jerseys will retail for $89.99, but <span style="font-weight: bold;">the pre-order special saves you 25% </span>for a total of $69.99 plus tax and shipping! The estimated delivery of the jerseys is early July, just when you've gotten sick and tired of all of the new kits you bought in May.<br /><br />Everyone who pre-orders a jersey will have access to another, super-hot, jersey design at and even more reduced price that will arrive at the same time. We are keeping that under wraps until it's here, and it will also retail for $89.99.<br /><br />Check it out here: <a href="http://store.vanderkitten.com">http://store.vanderkitten.com</a><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:verdana;" ></span><br /></span>Vanderkitten ViP Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13179466453769313460noreply@blogger.com1