Mellow Johnny's Classic MTB Race at Juan Pelota Ranch

Lance Armstrong and Mellow Johnny's hosted the first ever mountain bike race at Lance's Juan Pelota Ranch near Dripping Springs, Texas (just outside of Austin).

I wasn't able to do the XC race because the 700 spots were filled before I knew about it. So instead I volunteered to help out and got to pre-ride the course. Doing the pre-ride was probably best since I didn't get my race bike to Texas in time. I ended up riding my new AR bike that had a different shifting system than I'm used to and I had to borrow platform pedals and wear tennis shoes!

The shifting and the platforms ended up being a pretty big deal since the abundance of rain caused the course to be pretty slick and tricky. The course itself was quite different from what I'm used to in California. It was a 9 mile trail that was 95% singletrack with I'm guessing about 800 feet of elevation gain. It was technical in that there were many boulders and rocks to manuever over and through but there were no significant downhills or ups.

I thought it was a very fun ride and I would love to do that course as a 24 hour race! What do you think Lance?

SoCal Fat Tire Epic 50 Mile Mountain Bike Race

I signed up for this race a couple of months earlier because I wanted a goal to reach for. Lately my life seems to be changing week by week so it was quite a challenge to find the time and energy to train. In between working in commercial real estate, working in custom suits, massaging with the DMS, making novelty cupcakes and taking care of Sofia, I was able to get in some road rides during the week and some mountain bike laps around the Fullerton Loop on the weekends.

My friend and adventure race "mentor" Karen Lundgren won the Pro Women's category and I finished in second place. It took me almost 7 hours to complete the super tough course which is the longest event I've done since the 24 hr Worlds in September 2007!

Amazing 1 year old climber training to scale the North West Face of Half Dome!

My little Lady Sofia is quite persistent!

Over the Hump MTB Series - Irvine Lake

Some guys decided to start a weekday race series here in Orange County and it was about time!!! I can't believe no one has done that before!

It was a huge success! The first race was at the end of August and the second was a few weeks later. Over 300 mountain bikers participated in each race and did laps around a 3.4 mile loop at Irvine Lake.

It was great to see all the different levels of riders. There were some TRUE BEGINNERS who lined up just behind some TRUE PROS! Beginners did 1 lap; Sport- 2 laps; Expert- 3 laps; & Pros- 4 laps.

Even Hans "NO WAY" Rey showed up to give his support. You may know him from this photo....


Although I haven't returned to my former fitness level, I wouldn't have felt comfortable racing anything other than the Pro category. There were 5 of us ladies in the Pro category for both races and both times I ended up in 5th place. I must say that I was very satisfied with my performances. Not only was I able to somewhat compete with these super fast ladies, but I was also able to improve my time during the second race.

Next I will be competing in a race that is more my style. It is a 50 mile sufferfest at Vail Lake. The SoCal Fat Tire Epic is on October 3 and it will be a tough one for me. I haven't had a whole lot of training time but I'm getting in rides whenever I can. I just hope to finish within the 8 hour time limit!

My Dearest Specialized,

Although it has been 8 years, I remember our first encounter like it was yesterday. Joe hooked us up together at Jax in Huntington and we took a lovely stroll down Main Street. I wasn't quite used to your stride yet and I tripped and fell to the ground. Joe rushed us back inside where I began to pass out from the pain in my hand. But I came to and was so embarrassed that I could think of nothing else but to take you home immediately. And that's how our love affair began, me & you...my beloved Specialized.


Just like any relationship, we've had our ups and downs. We've been through some very rocky paths and I've cursed in front of you more than a lady should. And you haven't always been an angel yourself. I can't begin to count the times that you have caused me much pain.



But no matter how dirty our relationship has gotten, we've always remained together.


Sure I have eyes and I've taken a peek at others here and there. But none compares to you and I can guarantee that I would never stray.


I often think of our trip to Greenland where the sun shone for 22 hours a day. We soaked up every minute of the sun riding amongst the glacier fed streams.


You've taken me to so many new places and I've especially enjoyed seeing the race podiums at Sea Otter, Old Pueblo, & Nationals.


I've been happy to carry you across exotic beaches in Brazil and "no riding zones" in Patagonia.




And no matter how many different styles or colors you take, I will always be there to love and care for you.


I would even go so far as to pad your landing with my body if you fell.



And now, that the baby is born. I need you more than ever.


I need you to support me on my way back to fitness. I need you to push me hard. I need you to perform like you're rolling with a fit athlete instead of a post-partum Mommy.


And I know you will. You and I will be together forever, my beloved Specialized.

I Bike to Work

After 11.5 months of taking care of Sofia and "working" from home, I've returned to working in an office. I have to admit that working from home can be really great but the next best thing is being able to BIKE COMMUTE to work! I've always wanted to ride my bike to work but with my old job, I needed a car during the day to run errands. But now that I'm in a different business, I'm able to ride to the office.

I was a bit nervous because I really don't like riding on the roads with all the traffic and reckless drivers. But I was able to search the internet and map out a route that took me along bike paths for 90% of the way.

The first day, Greg dropped me and my bike off at work in the morning. I wanted to ride home first because I wasn't sure about the route and I wasn't sure how long it would take me to ride it. I had to check the map quite a few times. Transferring from path to path can be tricky because you have to cross some streets and search for the bike path entrances. So I took a couple of wrong turns and had to back track. That first ride was 18 miles and it took me 1 hour and 26 minutes.

Since then I've ridden a few more times and I've been able to find a couple of short cuts. The route is now 15 miles and takes me about 1 hour and 5 minutes.

I was also lucky enough to find a place to shower right across the street from my office. The building across the way has a bike rack so I can lock up my bike. They also have a shower and lockers in the ladies room on the first floor. Of course the signs read that the lockers and shower are for the tenants in that office building only. But come on,,,,I haven't seen any other ladies showering in there before work. Anyhow, I just hope no one notices that I don't "belong" to that building.

However, there can be a couple of drawbacks to riding. For instance: Don't forget anything! I forgot my lunch one day and I remembered when I was 10 minutes into my ride. Had to make the decision whether or not to ride bike home and get it. Forgot my brush one day, forgot my music today. I anticipate forgetting my bra or my shoes one day,,,or worse...my deoderant! Hope not! :)

Anyhow, the ride is great for now but I'm not quite sure what I will do when the time changes. Ride in the dark? Leave work earlier? Hmmm? Stay tuned...

Before & After

Bernice Before Sofia...

& After...