Tradewinds blew into Reston!!

The long drive from VB was worth it today. This is my favorite race of the year. It has been a goal of mine to win this race since I first raced it in 08 and I am excited to have accomplished that goal. It has everything, a great course with hills, turns, speed, big crowds, announcer, nice prize list, smooth pavement and always really good competition. And oh yeah, a Ben and Jerry's right by the finish line along with a kids race for Bruce. And yes, I went straight to the ice cream shop with Bruce after my victory lap. It was really hot out ok.

It seems like there are a ton of variables in this race so anything can happen. The first half of the race was just attack after attack from various riders. About half way through the race I saw a break combination I thought would stick and briged up to it. The break was comprised of 6 of us. Our small gap was steady for a few laps until it started increasing. With ten to go it was clear we would stay away.
There were a couple of small attacks within our group but nothing was getting away at that point. With 2 laps left the 2 Kenda riders moved to the front and pushed the pace hard to control the front. Jen for Kenda pushed the pace on the bell lap with her teamate right behind and me 3rd wheel. Right before the 2nd to last corner I saw LJ out of the corner of my eye behind me start to jump so on impulse I jumped in front of her and got in front going into the 2nd to last corner, got a gap and held it through the last corner and up the finishing stretch across the line.

Emily J

First place "family" at TTT; happy anniversary!

I'm pleased to report a first place victory in the family division and second place co-ed division for "Team Russell" aka Tiffany (Tradewinds Racing) and my husband Derek (racing for brother team VB Velo)at this weekend's TTT in Smithfield. VB Wheelmen offered a fantastic course for Derek and I to celebrate our 4 yr. wedding anniversary - challenging short hills, fast straightaways, false flats, wind, heat and distance.

Cyclists play to their strengths during competition. In this case, Derek was the "strength" and my job was to (1) hang on for dear life and (2) climb like a billy goat. We all know drafting saves you 23-25% energy... except when your partner is hammering incredibly faster than you could ever sustain by yourself- you simply don't take pulls. Derek told me at mile 16 I could keep the prize money if I could just hang on. VERY effective motivation.

Congratulations to Laura and Gene for winning the co-ed division. Finishing second to the top woman time trialer in Virginia gives me hope that my fitness is improving.

Now to spend that prize money on a new bike I have on layaway...stay tuned for details!

(Photo courtesy of Kevin Horvath)

Crystal City and Clerendon

I think I learn a little and gain confidence at every big race I go to, and this weekend was no exception. I just wish I was a faster learner or that there were more big races in the region, so I could have a few more chances this season!

Clerendon was fun while it lasted, all the big teams were represented (Tibco, Colavita, Mellow Mushroom, Vera Bradley, Peanut Butter & Co) as well as many strong elite regional teams. I found myself in the back at the start, but to my relief a few really experienced riders were back there too and I was able to follow wheels to the front in a lap and a half with little effort. This was the highlight of my day, to experience first hand how gracefully someone can move though the pack. Sadly, I was not able to keep my self exactly where I wanted and it became an up and back effort. It was somewhere around the halfway point when I was in the back of the pack and a rider wrecked. I had to slow down to get between her and her bike, I jumped to try and get back on but was unable to. I rode with a few other riders until we were pulled. The rest of the race was enjoyed from the sideline, the sprint was awesome, with Miller and Cliff-Ryan elbow to elbow (until Cliff-Ryan hit a bump and slid head first for 10 feet on pavement). Miller won.

Crystal City is a more open course with more room to move up on the outside, and it is twice as long at 2k. The corners were fast and most of the same riders were racing, but Tibco and Mellow Mushroom were not there. Again I started in the back, but my goal in this race was to keep working on placement and efficiently moving around in the peleton. My efforts paid off, and when the primes started coming, and the attacks started going, I was able to stay with the group because I was not so far back. I even got a prime. When it came time to get ready for the sprint the pace got slow because a break of three was up the road (Farina, Cheatley, and Silliman). I got to the front with 2 laps to go getting ready for the pace to pick up. I was not aggressive enough, though and lost the position by the time the pace got fast and started the sprint from the back. Sarah Caravella took the sprint for 4th.

Photo from Kevin

Field Day gets a taste of bike racing!

TWR recently volunteered to help out with a local elementary school field day. We brought bikes, thanks to the support of BikeBeat, and set up a race for the kids as a part of many events the kids were able to try out during the day. When they came outside it was a mad dash for the bike race, the kids were clearly very excited. We were able to teach kids about bike safety and the importance of helmets through conversations about why helmets were required for the race. The students raced their friends and the clock, and at the end of the day the fastest time was awarded a new helmet and a horn. We hope to go back next year and get more kids excited about bike racing!

Amphib and Langley, women's races

It was a good weekend for TWR. Two local races, and two local wins. Plus a killer performance in the Langley women's category 4 race by Ava with 2nd place (looking forward to her full report). Thanks to BJ Samuel (and family) for some nice pictures.

Amphibious Assault Crit Saturday, our race was a combined women's field at 8 AM and it was already super hot. The first attack early on was from local legend BJ Samuel (VBVK), who put her camera down for long enough to show the young riders how it is done. She raced aggressively and got herself in a break that stayed away. Also in the break was Leslie Winters, an experienced cat 1 racer who we hope to see more regularly at races! Bridging up, with a little extra motivation from a prime, was VBVK Ali Ingram and me (Emily). In the end I jumped first for the sprint and was able to stay in front to the line. Ali was 2nd, Leslie 3rd, and BJ 4th.

Langley Criterium
A low turnout in the 1,2,3 race and a hot day led to a pretty uneventful race. BJ (VBVK), Jen Pope (FF) and I got away and lapped the other riders. Then, after all my water was gone, Jen and I got away and lapped the other riders. Unfortunently the big excitement was the timing, because we lapped the riders on the bell lap it was a confusing finish for the rest of the field because they expected another lap but they were on their bell lap at that point, too. I won the sprint.

Looking forward to continuing the winning streak at Clarendon/Crystal next weekend... um, positive thinking, right?