“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.

Lycra is For Lovers

Who knew lycra could be so amazingly comfortable, sexy and fun? When I first started riding, the one part of cycling that was holding me back was the lycra. I have never found it to be flattering, even on the fittest female form. Maybe I was wrong. It can't all be that bad, right? It's a men's sport and that is clear in many of the kit designs I have seen out there.

In my mind, this is how I would look in lycra.

Well, I admit that maybe I was wrong about it all along. It's not that bad, and if you are willing to make the splurge, it can be amazing. Especially when you have someone like Jenny, the Graphik Deziner (check her out peoples of the cycling world) designing the kit. She just finished H&S Bicycles 2013 men's and ladies Giordana kits and they are AMAZING. H&S opted for the pricer Giordana brand this year and so far, nothing but rave reviews. They're comfy and the SEX APPEAL?!?! Apparently there are some guys in their H&S kits now breaking PR's on Strava.... Hey... we can dream but I would have to say there is a correlation between feeling sexy and riding faster. I know a lot of ladies in the group have purchased the new kit. It's time to try this theory out!

When I first was getting used to the idea of lycra, I started out simple with the Pearl Izumi Sugar shorts, as I know I have mentioned many times. They are a great short, however, originally designed for spinning. What I love about them is the short cut, so when I ride in the summer I don't get that funky cyclist tan. Eventually I upgraded to Pearl Izumi's Elite Cycling Bib. I felt like an idiot. These shorts are comfortable and designed with a female form in mind. Can it get any better than this?  Apparently so!

Giordana... If you could talk, I am sure it would be in a soft, romantic tone that would cause me to melt. The name itself sounds so regal. GIORDANA. It gives me chills...

So, here's the new 2013 H&S Bicycles ladies kit. I have to brag, lycra has done wonders for my backend!

2013 H&S Giordana Ladies Kit

2013 H&S Bicycles Ladies Kit

I'm picky and, thank his lucky stars, I love the boyfriend's new kit. Colors are simple and well placed. The design isn't over the top, and the new logo has a hit of softness that, as a lady, I can appreciate.

If you have a favorite big, kit, jersey or short, tell me about it and show me some pics! In the meantime, here are some to make you laugh, courtesy of Tubulocity.com.

Word can't explain... I thought a true cyclist doesn't show?

Not a fan of the diaper-esk design.

He borrowed it from Heidi Klum. I still think she pulled it off better HERE.

So which one has to ride backwards? 

Introducing the Flaming Mangina!

Why? Why, why, why?!?!?!

Grr baby. Not sure what is more impressive. The tiger or the stash.