It's Official!

This bitch is registered to race!

My heart rate is soaring and I feel like I am going to barf. 

WHAT DID I GET MYSELF INTO?

“He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” - Benjamin Franklin

Possibly. I'd like to think that I am good at a lot of things, yet I have been making more excuses lately than normal. I am good, but sometimes I wonder if I there is anything I am really, truly great at. Maybe that's where the excuses come to play.

I'm guilty. Guilty as charged. I was finally called on it today and it was something I knew I was doing but I found a way within myself to justify it, and eventually believed it was the truth. But it's not.

What's weighing me down? Racing. I want to race my bike, I do, but I know I am nowhere near where I need to be (by my standards) in order to compete successfully. I've heard it takes 3 solid years to develop yourself as a cyclist. I've been going at it hard for 2 months. That's it! I've been riding for a year but after a crash and long work hours, I wasn't able to give it my all. I want to be fast, I want to have the endurance and the ability to push through the pain. 

What's stopping me? 

Probably my pride and my ego. I've never thrown myself into something without the assurance that I was going to be good or great. I don't have that here. I know I will be dead last, not even fair, just straight poor. I know at some point I will throw up at the start line, during the race, or both. I know I will get lapped, and lapped, and lapped, and eventually pulled, if I haven't already given up on myself before the ref comes around. Why can't I accept that?

I have an amazing team of women, all new to the competitive aspect of the sport. Some have been riding hard for a year and are making amazing strides. I am so proud of these women! I wish I could fast forward and be right there with them. 

What's stopping me? 

I was raised that an A in school was good but an A+ would have been better. Why didn't I get an A+? 

How do I accept the truth, and dive in with both feet, knowing I will most likely walk away with a F, maybe a D if I am lucky? 

How do I accept the fact that I am not going to do as well as I want to until I put in the hours, days, weeks and months of training needed to earn that better time, to not get lapped 5 times, and to be able to stick with at least the chase pack?

How do I suck up my pride and throw myself to the wolves knowing that what I want won't happen, but that is okay, I have to start somewhere?

I know the answer is easy. Just get in there and do it. That's what I tell all the ladies who are interested in racing. I need to take my own advice.

The best way to learn is to do. Quit the excuses, make yourself vulnerable, embrace a last place finish or a DNF. Wear it proud and know that if you put in the work, the only place to go is up. 

So.... that's exactly what I am going to do.

I know these ladies will always have my back. Or in this case... my ass.

The Infamous "Race Face"

The best part about taking pictures at the crit races is seeing what I end up with. Half the time the pictures are blurry or I've cut of the head of the rider I was trying to shoot. Every so often I manage to take an AMAZING picture, but my favorite ones are the infamous "Race Face" pictures. I get it, it's hard out there, you're giving it all you've got and that is clearly read across your face. 

Here's a few of my favorite Race Faces so far. If you're in any of these pictures, I mean no disrespect! Race Face is a badge of honor. Wear it proud! I can only imagine what I am going to look like when I start racing, but I am sure I will fall into one of the categories below.

POOP FACE.
He's either got to poop or Rob's let one loose. Either way, I feel for the guy.

AHHHH!!!! FACE.
Now there's a distraction technique.

CHEESE FACE.
This is my favorite. Whoever you are, keep it coming! 

WANANBE-A-WINNER FACE.
Eau de Final Sprint. These never disappoint. 

GRUMPY PANTS FACE.
Someone's realized he isn't winning.

BLOWFISH FACE.
Breathing not required.

50+ FACE
This just looks like it hurts!

LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD FACE.
I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

A Not So Sunny Sunday

It's been quite an eventful week to say the least.

As I sit and type, the boyfriend is currently under the knife, getting a steal rod placed in his right collarbone (to match the titanium in his back of course). Before we know it, he really will be RoboRob. I wonder if the rods come in carbon fiber... 

The past 3 days have gone on forever. What a trooper he's been. There is no way I would have had the strength to handle the injury as well as he did. After getting patched up, I drove him to the hospital. All was good until we got into the ER. As soon as the nurse came in to check him, I turned the palest of whites and broke into a sweat I started to faint and so the nurse made Rob get up off the gurney and put him in the visitor chair while she laid me down in the bed with my head below my feet. Rob desperately searched for the phone to take a picture (thankfully he couldn't find it). How dare I steal his thunder!

Sunday, at the 3rd Annual NOW Energy Bar Criterium in Carson, CA, Rob was in the final sprint. He held his position as planned and everything was coming together. He was right where he needed to be to get a Top Ten finish. Of course, a 1st place was most ideal, but at this point we were shooting to bank the one more Top Ten finish that Rob needed to upgrade to Cat 3.

That didn't happen. In that final sprint, Rob got tangled with a junior rider and hit the deck like a sack of bricks. I don't know how everyone else in the pack managed to avoid him, but I am so thankful they did.

In case you missed it, here's the video (fast forward to 1:30).

The past 3 days have been spent in and out of the hospital. It's amazing how quickly your life gets turned upside down and nothing else matters anymore. Getting Rob fixed is all that matters now. With his great spirits it's evident that he will pull through quicker than anyone else who's gone through this and will be back on his bike before we know what hit us (well, maybe not as fast as that guy from the Tour de France, but pretty damn close).

Despite all this, I managed to pick myself up a USA Cycling license. Why not? Seems like the practical thing to do. It was actually more of a "in the heat of the moment" purchase so that I could discuss Rob's situation with the Technical Director at USA Cycling (can you believe they wouldn't talk to me because I wasn't a licensed member - OH NO YOU DIDN'T). But in all fairness, after we weeded through the initial banter, they ended up being pretty helpful. Kudos for restoring my faith USA Cycling.

So what did I learn? Bicycle racing is an EXPENSIVE hobby (doesn't mean I will quit before I start), and USA Cycling has an insurance plan if you get injured during a race. Just be sure to get it reported by the officials otherwise it will be another level of hell added to your life. No bueno. 

So now I have a license. I guess that means I better get on my bike and start training so I can catch up to the lovely ladies of H&S Bicycles!

- Keep on pedaling. I'll be out there with you all soon!

I Wanna Race My Bicycle!

This past Sunday, H&S Ladies debuted in their first race of the season at the Roger Millikan Crit. I was very sad (and jealous) that I couldn't be a part of it, but SO SO SO proud of the ladies. I've been on the bike twice in the past month and am recovering from a nasty cold. Didn't want to risk an injury so I sat it out (insert pouty face here).

Warming up. Damn! It was cold!

Anyways, so proud of my ladies! Everyone Needs a Jenny (one day after riding a century no less) and the amazing Tammy both raced, as well as two ladies new to the group. They all pushed hard and finished with smiles on their faces.  It was a great race with a pack of about 21 ladies (2 of whom I question...?). Although there were no "wins" for H&S, all the ladies raced well, and most important, FINISHED!

All smiles all the time.

I have always been a little skeptical about racing. I am a competitive person and I want to win! Knowing I am not physically prepared to take on a race at this time, I probably would have been the one throwing my bike in the grass out of frustration after coming in dead last. I know, I know... lame, childish, call it what you will but how do you deal with that emotion? I want to be better than I am. As a single parent working full time in television, it can be hard to find the time to get on the bike. I'm motivated but I don't have the skill. I struggle to find the time to ride, and to ride without having to be heavily hopped up on caffeine. I made it a goal this year to make riding a priority but so far I have failed. That ends today!

Who's with me? Stopping with the excuses here and buying a Costco size pack of Sugar Free Rebull. Let's keep on pedaling and do this!

Power baby!

Powerhouse Jen making a comeback.

Clearly she needs a little Jenny in her life.

Comfy Cozy is Worth Every Penny

When is this cold weather going to leave us? I know, I know... I'm Canadian, this is like summer to me.  BUT IT ISN'T. Living the past 13 years in Los Angeles has thinned my blood and I am the first person to complain when the weather gets cold.  I have this fabulous little heater than sits on the counter next to my desk. I named him Sherlock and he is my lifeline. Perhaps I am mildly dependent on him but he is always there for me, keeping me warm, happy and with a smile on my face!

I wrote my name on it and made him my own.

I can't always be sitting in front of my computer with Sherlock blasting heat onto me. Even though it is a happy place, I would much rather be on my bike. BUT IT'S COLD OUTSIDE! Time to layer up. I'm such a wimp!!

I rode with the boyfriend a week ago and I took every piece of clothing I could find and slapped it on in an effort to stay warm. Needless to say about half way through the ride my temperature was rising and I was wondering, if just maybe, I might have put on one too many. You're probably thinking, she looks fine. Well... you tell me!

At this point I really didn't care. Nothing could ruin my day more than by having cold fingers and toes. I'll take you all through my awesome outfit. The more I look at it, I'm quite proud!

Bare with me.. some of this I have mentioned before but there's no harm in sharing again (in a little more detail)!

1. LAS Victory helmet (retails for around $150). Great helmet. Love the little spike design at the back. I crashed in a LAS Victory helmet and it kept my noggin safe and sound. Expensive, but aren't you worth protecting to the fullest? Only downside I found (and I didn't learn this until I chopped my hair off and needed a pony tail at the base of my head), is that it's become a pain to get it on in the right spot, with the right fitting because of the ponytail. Before my hair was always in a long braid so this was never a problem. It's still a great helmet and I recommend it to everyone. It's light weight, has plenty of ventilation and comes with swappable liners.

2. Oakley Jawbone custom sunglasses (retails for around $200-$250). I had to get a pair to match my bike. I just had to! But then I went and swapped out my bike. At least the new bike (a Giant TCR Advanced) is black and white and goes with EVERYTHING! Color matters. These shades are great for cycling. You can swap out the lenses whenever you want. They've got vented lenses (in 6 different colors no less), polarized and photochromatic. The choice is yours. I won't ride without them, eye protection is crucial, and since I suffered an eye injury back in 2009, I won't ever leave mine unprotected again. You never know what a rock is going to kick up and smack you in the face!

3. Base layer and jersey. The jersey is a no brainer but when you start riding the wind just cuts right through the damn shirt. I get why, but on a cold winter day, it's not going to cut it. I don't have an officially legit base layer, so if Rob doesn't have a clean one for me to borrow, I reach for one of my thick dryfit workout tanks.

4. Pearl Izumi Women's Elite Softshell 180 jacket (retails around $175). BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER (boyfriend Rob scored beaucoup points with this one)! I needed a jacket and so this was the perfect gift for me, and it came in the perfect color ever. It's a great jacket, comfy and fits well. I'm a "smedium" so I got a medium in this. Fits great in the length of the jacket, sleeves and bust, but I wish it was a little more fitted in the mid section. Since I won't be racing in it, I'm not too concerned. It's fabulous, pretty and I love it!

5.  Pearl Izumi's Women's Cyclone Gel Glove (retails around $40). These gloves are perfect for the cold weather. A little thicker than my usual gloves, they provide excellent wind protection and moderate water protection. And... they just so happen to match the jacket. SCORE!

6. Pearl Izumi's Women's Elite Cycling Bib (retails around $145). Super comfy, love the clasp at the front that brings the straps together atop my boosum. Much more comfortable than having the straps on the outside of the girls, rubbing up and chaffing on my side boob and arms. NOT FUN!

7. Pearl Izumi's Elite Thermal Knee Warmers (retails around $35). Now, you probably already know how I feel about this if you read my other post about Cold Weather Riding Blues. They aren't female-with-thighs friendly. They cut, they irritate and jack up my blood flow. Not cool! But, they kept me warm and since I didn't have another option (I really need to invest in cycling pants), the do just fine.

8. Electra Women's Koi Stripe Knee Socks. (Retails for around $20). CUUUUTE! Not cycling socks, but they worked for me. They covered me from where the knee warmers ended, all down to my tootsie toes. If they were black and blue striped versus the brown, they would've matched perfect. However, on the bike, moving at the speed of light (I dream), you could hardly tell.

9. Sidi Sock Shoe covers. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE shoe covers. Makes a night and day difference and worth the $30 bucks or so. If you are on a super tight budget, try getting a large man's sock and cut a whole in the bottom for the cleat. Get creative!

So all in all, it took a little digging and lots of creativity but I managed to make it work, keep myself warm, and stay on the bike in some sort of fashionable manner. At least I think so...


Pedal on, Lady Pedalers!

What Are You Riding For?

This past September I rode my first charity ride, JDRF's Ride To Cure Type 1 Diabetes in beautiful Lake Tahoe. After the ride I was asked to write a post about my experience, and I thought it would be great to share it here as well. If you haven't thought about riding for a charity or cause, I highly recommend looking into it and seeing if there is a ride near and dear to your heart, or simply one that inspires you.

I first learned about JDRF and Type 1 Diabetes when I started working on ABC’s show “Wipeout” in 2010. Honestly, I didn’t know much at all about diabetes and I didn’t know anyone who was T1D. That changed when I met my new boss, Executive Producer, Kevin Wehrenberg. Kevin’s son Charlie has T1D. His dedication to his son and JDRF has inspired me to be passionate and proactive for a good reason.

In early 2012 I started to feel as though I was neglecting my personal wellbeing and so I took the initiative to reignite an old passion for mountain biking. I knew I couldn’t just ride my bike. I needed a goal to motivate me. I searched online for a biking event and sorted through page after page until I found a link to “JDRF’s Ride To Cure” TID in Lake Tahoe. That’s it! That was was the event I was going to train for. So what if I have never rode a road bike, let alone own one. How different could it be? I was drawn to the ride from the moment I saw it, and I knew come September I would be joining many others as they peddle around the lake. I signed up for the ride and went to the bike shop that night and bought a road bike.

Training proved to be harder than expected. I jumped on my bike, expecting to be incredible, strong, and fast. I had all the tools (fast bike, fancy bike shoes and lycra, lots of lycra), how hard could it be? It turned out I would have to earn those skills, and eventually (more like hundreds of miles later) everything would come together. And it did.

4 months, 700 miles and 55 hours later, ride weekend had arrived.  The night before the event, all JDRF riders gathered in the ballroom at the hotel to discuss the following day’s schedule of events. It was here that I realized the magnitude of what I came here to accomplish. I knew I was here to raise some money and ride my bike, I never thought about what I would be taking away from the experience. There were 2 people that came into my life that night that changed me forever. Ironically, they don’t even know that they did.  The first, a young college student who had a pancreatic transplant to rid her of T1D. The transplant was a success, and she was no longer T1D. However, she suffered a major setback. The transplant caused her to go legally blind. But she wasn’t there as support to a rider. She was there to ride a tandem bike behind her father. The second person was an older woman named Rose, a woman with T1D who had been diagnosed with a tumor earlier in the year (after posting this article to JDRF's website I was sad to learn that Rose's illness took her from us. She will continue to be an inspiration for years to come).  Rose had signed up to ride and was determined to participate, but the effects of the tumor paralyzed one side of her body. Knowing how important this ride was to her, a dear friend of hers made it a personal mission to find a solution. And she did, locating a trailer-type bike that could be hitched to the back of her own. It even had hand pedals so her friend could participate too.

It was these incredible strong women that helped me truly realize how important JDRF is to someone with T1D. I’m not just riding my bike and raising money for research, I am helping to change lives and give everyone with T1D the opportunity to have the best quality of life, getting one step closer to a cure.  I could have sat back and done nothing, that’s easy. To be honest I don’t know why I waited so long to get involved, but at least I was here now. The surprising part for me was that the more I reached out, the more connections to T1D I discovered I had. My journey on this ride grew and continued to take on more meaning.

With emotions running high, I woke up early the morning of ride day excited and yet anxious.  I couldn’t eat my breakfast. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t know if I was prepared. I am stubborn and I am not a quitter and I knew I had to give it my all to make sure I crossed that finish line. Ten miles into the ride we started our first climb. I was feeling pretty good going into it, my rhythm was smooth and it was as if I was dancing on my pedals. Then it hit me. With one deep breath, everything changed. I wasn’t used to riding at such a high altitude and quickly learned that the deep breaths I relied on in training to control my heart rate and breathing were out of reach. I was taking in what felt like half the amount of oxygen than normal. I need my deep breaths! Three miles into the climb we hit our first rest stop in Emerald Bay. I pulled in and threw my bike down. I paced back and forth. I felt defeated and I couldn’t find my focus. I didn’t even want to look at my bike. Why are you failing me? Every worry I had going into this event came rushing through my mind and words were swirling around my head, crashing into one another with no clear direction. How was I going to finish the ride if I couldn’t gain control of myself?  I played with these thoughts and then it all came to front. Focus. Why are you here? What are you trying to accomplish? Who am I doing this for? Charlie (and everyone who lives with T1D).  Charlie made me a poster and the JDRF staff affixed it to my hotel room door upon my arrival. It said, “Thank you for all your hard work… be strong.” That’s all I have to do. Be strong.

I didn’t want to let Charlie down. Those with T1D have to manage and live with it every day. Some days are great, some not so much, but they persevere. I am blessed with good health and I live a healthy lifestyle. I can do this. So I kept peddling, and kept repeating to myself over and over, “This is just one tough day. At the finish line I get to move on. Charlie doesn’t. He wakes up every day as a T1D. This is just one tough day.”

Around the 35-mile mark a JDRF Ride Coach from the Greater Michigan Chapter rode up next to me to check in. I told him about my struggles and he assured me I would be okay. It was, simply put, a struggle with my mind. He rode 7 miles with me until the lunch stop. He kept me distracted and before I knew it, I was more than halfway to the finish line.  I was grateful for his distraction and realized after the ride I didn’t catch his name. I tried to find him the next day, which proved to be a tough feat because everyone looks completely different when they aren’t decked out in lycra and full riding gear. So if you read this, thank you for helping me keep my faith in myself strong.

Lunch came as a much-needed break for me. I refueled and redirected my focus on the real reasons why I was riding. The remaining 30 miles were amazing and emotional. I took in the picturesque views that Lake Tahoe has to offer, admiring her beauty in all her glory. I tackled the last major climb without fear and embraced the descent back into South Lake Tahoe head on. My legs felt powerful, but more importantly, my mind was clear and my confidence was strong. Nothing was going to stop me. With the last two miles in sight, emotion began to build and I even got a little teary-eyed. If you asked me a year ago if I would raise a few thousand dollars to ride a bike 72-miles for charity, I would have told you that you were crazy. Yet here I was, about to finish, not only for Charlie but for myself as well. I stood up in my saddle and sprinted as hard as I could. Crossing that finish line was a dream becoming reality. I never thought I would be strong enough, or dedicated enough to follow through, both physically and emotionally. It is amazing what you can accomplish when you set your heart to it, when it matters most.

Tour De Christmas Lights, A Quick Thought

One of the lovely ladies of the Tuesday Night ride had a great idea of doing a Christmas Lights Bike Tour. BRILLIANT! I L-O-V-E Christmas!! Normally this time of year I get in the car, drive aimlessly around town, looking for the best spots to see the lights.  What a great way to get up off the couch and do something I was going to do anyways?!?! So off we went from the bike shop, zig zagging our way through the residential streets of Burbank. We stopped to enjoy, appreciate and snap a few pictures of the sights that we encountered along the way. Now if it weren't for my encounter with a dose of lactic acid (stay tuned for tomorrow's post), perhaps we would have stopped for hot cocoa at the end of the ride. Damn you lactic acid. Damn you.

A common theme was the giant Santa and hot air balloons. What do hot air balloons have to do with Christmas? I tried to figure this one out and have come up with nothing. If there's something that you know that I don't about it, let me know. I have to make sense of this madness! Am I missing something?

One of our first stops. I love this time of year!

Shane, getting in the spirit.

If you missed our ride, or are too far away to join us, you know what I' thinking, right? Do your own Tour De Christmas Lights and share your pictures with us!

A View From 2 Wheels

It's not often that Rob and I get to ride together. He trains almost daily and is averaging almost 250 miles a week. I'm lucky if I get 50. So, when we do ride together, it's always an adventure. We seem to have a reoccurring theme with our rides. Whenever we ride together, we have some sort of animal encounter. It's like he's Cinderella. The animals hear his bike coming and start appearing out of the woodwork.

4th of July. Baby duckies stuck in a drain.

I really wanted to keep them! Super Jenny was awesome and
made sure these cuties got to where they needed to be.

Up in Sacramento for a wedding, we took our bikes (of course)
and rode along the river and some trails. Found this guy stuck in
the middle of the path.

While on our "lover-cation" in Catalina over Thanksgiving (again,
we brought our bikes), this guy made a run for Rob as we rode up.
He took a sniff and then laid down and let Rob pet him. 

So maybe he's not really Cinderella of the cycling world, but we do owe the bike come credit. If it weren't for my bicycle I would probably be at the gym or hanging out at home, missing all the beautiful things you see when you get on your bike and ride. It's amazing the things you will see, the places you never knew existed because driving by at 40/50 miles per hour they are just a blur. I encourage you to get out there and find something new, ride your bike and explore. Stop and smell the roses! You might just be surprised at what you will find.

Cold Weather Riding Blues

It's getting cold out and it's time for me to start layering up. I am not a fan of cold weather (it's one of the reasons I moved from my hometown in Beautiful British Columbia, Canada to Sunny (and warm almost all the time) Los Angeles. By my hometown's standards, Fall/Winter in LA is like Summer/Spring in Canada. But I've been here 13 years now and I've adapted all too well. So what on earth do I need to keep myself warm? Honestly at first I didn't know, so I borrowed Rob's base layer shirt, knee warmers and windbreaker, mixed with my usual jersey and bib, and threw on a pair of Pearl Izumi arm warmers that I bought for when I did my September ride around Lake Tahoe. It worked, but I realized I need my own things, designed for my body.

For instance, I used his Pearl Izumi knee/leg warmers. They did a great job at keeping me warm but the bad at the top cut into my thigh and not only created a hideous indent in my leg but the pressure it put around my thigh at the band was distracting and messing with my pedal stroke. I get why the band is there, to hold them up, but they are not lady friendly! I don't have big thighs either. Pearl Izumi, what gives???

A had a similar situation with the Pearl Izumi arm warmers, but it wasn't nearly annoying and didn't affect my comfort level on the bike. The only time they became a problem was when I got a flat tire. It took over 30 minutes to get that tire changed (something I need to learn to do - but I did learn a bike tire makes a horrible hula-hoop) and in that time, as my arms got colder, the arm warmers slowly began to slide down. I don't see this being a big problem in the future, assuming I learn how to change a flat in 5 minutes...regardless, I'll still wear them. They do what I need them to do.

So what options do we have to stay warm? Long sleeve base layers, windbreakers, jackets, long pants, tall compression socks,  shoe covers and caps! Oh My! Wait. Assuming I bought one of each, I am looking at $600, plus another $50 or so in tax. Hmm... yeah that isn't going to happen. Oh Rob...?

So maybe I don't need ALL these things. Breaking down how I felt during my ride the other night, I am definitely thinking the first items on my MUST HAVE List are:

1. Shoe or toe covers ($35-$50). Who knew my cycling shoes had little air vents in them? My poor piggies are FREEZING!
2. Headbands to cover your ears or a cap ($17-$40).
3. Windbreaker or Jacket, something light to break the wind, maybe with a little liner to keep in the warmth ($70-$200)

After the essentials, my WISH LIST OF WANTS would be:

1. Short and long sleeve fancy base layer (for now I will use whatever is in the t-shirt drawer)
2. Long cycling pants with chamois (for now I use my favorite Pearl Izumi Elite Women's bib with a pair of Target Dry Fit workout pants over top)
3. Long sleeve jersey. Why not? I'm a girl. I like options!

Items I ALWAYS ride with and will NEVER be caught without (100 degrees or 40)

Mile 55 and I was feeling it. I look so serious!
But I'm wearing my LAS helmet, Pearl Izumi Elite bib and
arm warmers, my gloves and my Oakley's. I'm ready to roll!

1. Gloves. Originally I started with fingerless gloves so everyone could see my pretty nails but after I crashed I opted for the full finger gloves. Safe hands are pretty hands! Check out my nails off the bike.
2. Cycling bottoms with a chamois (my bib of choice is Pearl Izumi's Women's Elite. Remember, Love Your Lady Parts!
3. Oakley sunglasses (or comparable). I have cut my eye open once before (in a non-biking related accident) and ever since then I love to keep them protected. No glasses, no riding.
4. Most important - MY LAS HELMET! Got to keep the head safe. I don't care how much it costs, I want the safest because, damn it! My noggin is worth it.

Tell me about the items you can't ride without, and Pedal on, Lady Pedalers!

Every Woman Needs A Jenny In Their Life

Jenny, Jenny, Jenny. If it weren't for her I would probably still be riding alone. I got into the world of the road bike only knowing two other people who road: My Dad (apparently he does it all) and My Boss, Matt. Notice a theme here? Not that I didn't enjoy riding with them but I wanted to ride with someone I can gossip with and with someone who knows what it's like to have a female form (ie. boobs, thighs, and a voluptuous booty) that gets in the way. Anyone experience saddle bag chub rub yet? I get a pair of fancy new shorts maybe 2 months ago and they are wearing out on the inner right thigh because that damn chub is rubbing against my saddle bag! Grrr.... I promise you all, I WILL find a solution to this... but in the meantime. JENNY.

                                                                           Jubilant

                                                                           Expressive

                                                                           Nifty

                                                                           Noble

                                                                           Youthful

Jenny knows a lot about bikes. Way more than me, maybe even more than most guys (like they'd ever admit to that). She's taught me a few things about the bike and is always patient (or at least pretends to be and I thank her for that too). I'm slow, she waits, I'm tired, she gives me advice to get me through the climb.

We were on a weekend morning ladies ride over the summer and about 5 minutes after I finished blabbing about how I'd NEVER had a flat tire on my road bike, BOOM. Flat. Jenny to the rescue! If I was alone, let's face it, I probably would have played the Damsel In Distress card. That didn't happen on this day. Jenny jumped into action! We fought with the tire, I learned how to use CO2, we laughed hard, cursed little, and even made time for an impromptu photo shoot. We're kind of awesome like that.

Flat Master. We make it look good, despite my lack of photography skills.

Anyways, everyone needs a Jenny. She's motivated me to learn more, keep riding, challenge myself, kick ass and never quit! Who doesn't need that? When I ride with her, and the other ladies of the H&S Ladies group, I find myself pushing harder to do better, be fast, ride smarter. Without this motivation, what am I doing? Probably just spinning along, whistling away without a care. But let's be honest (speaking for myself here - I won't push if I don't have to because ME = LAZY), I won't get better any time soon riding the way I do when I am alone. I need healthy, female, competitive edge!

(FUN FACT-O, Jenny is super rad and amazing at other things too. Check out her website: graphikdeziner.com).