Team Revolutions Clinic

I got the day off on February the 20th so I could do a Team Revs Race Team Clinic put on by John, Reese, and Matt. I drove to the wrong spot, which is one of the few times I definitely enjoyed having a Smartphone because I was able to check my e-mail and the Google map. Sweet. (If I would have just looked right at the stop light, the whole team was there. How I missed them? I don't know. Quit judging me!).

We warmed up for a few minutes, then Matt gave us a skills lesson on clipping in during at the start of a race. After doing that a few times and no bad incidents, Reese took over and gave us a lesson on racing, tactics, and what goes on/what can happen during a race. We asked questions and then we headed to the start.

We got into teams (team captains were John, William, Reese, and Matt). We then had a 4-rider breakaway, the peloton (which I was in), and the chase (which I believe consisted of William, John, and Matt). Everything was fine and dandy, the speed was fine, I was okay with people being close to me, and then the U-turns came. God. Damn. U-turns.

We did a 25-mile course on the canal. The canal is 5 miles one way, so basically we went over the course 5 times, 2-1/2 times if you count the out and back. I got in the back of the group so I didn't feel like I'd mess up and kill someone on the second to last U-turn that by the time I completed the actual turn, the group was pretty far. Tried to catch them but damn... could not do it.

Yeah. It fucking sucked.

Last turn and last "lap," I got together with Terry, Karen M., Reese, and I believe James (a newer member), so we worked together. Reese totally used my stupid ass on the sprint, which I basically led him out to it. Lesson learned.

So, since the speed didn't bother me, I know it was the U-turns. People touching, bumping, whatever didn't bother me, though it was a little uncomfortable, I think that if I simply learn to turn, I'd be okay. Same thing happened to me on the Folsom Cyclebration Circuit race... those turns just get to me.

At the end of the race, we all got together and I asked Matt if they would be willing to make a skills clinic on turning, bike handling, etc., for dumbasses like me. He said that they would be. Also, he explained that out bikes are made to turn, and it would be hard to lay down the bike on one of those turns simply because of how our bikes are made (if that sentence made sense, congrats to you!). Basically, I'm sure that what that meant was, "Dude, Kasea. Man up. Turn the fucking bike." I gotta put my big girl bibs on.

So, it didn't turn out the way I would have liked it to. I was pretty bummed that because of a turn, I got dropped. So, confidence level went down, though my cycling confidence has been in a ditch right now. No idea when it wants to come back out of that stupid ditch and actually join me on some rides. I'm sure that practice will make me better and more confident. I'm pretty lucky to be in a team that actually offers such clinics. I know most recreational teams don't, so I'm super thankful. Thanks John, Reese, and Matt. You guys are awesome!