Snelling Road Race

I am still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that when you show up to “local races” in California, you are racing alongside some of the top women cyclists in the US and World. Snelling RR proved to be no different. Right from the gun I realized that it was going to be essential to keep myself protected from the wind, once the pace started to pick up with Giana and High Road setting a fast tempo, the entire field strung out single file while everyone jostled for a wheel making futile attempts to stay out of the wind. After the quick tempo was set on the first lap, attacks began on the second lap. I saw Giana counter an attack on a rolling section right before the course took a turn back into the wind. A gap was quickly established by the attackers, and Giana was up the road with about 5 other women: 2 of the women were High Road. I knew that we need more PROMAN representation in the break, so I reacted and bridged up to the break. Once I was on, Giana dropped off because she knew if she was in a break High Road wouldn't let it go, but she said it was a good "gamble" to leave me in the break with Kim Anderson (High Road) and Anke Wichmann (High Road), Rushlee Buchannan (Tibco) and Olivia Dillon. So it was 5 of us for the rest of the race....kind of.

At the end of the 4th lap, my derailleur went into my spokes. Kim Anderson got behind me and started pushing me thinking it was a simple chain drop but unfortunately I had to get off my bike to get it out. With a big effort, I chased back onto the break. Shortly after I got back on, we went through the finish and then High Road and Tibco attacked. I should have been ready for the attack, but I reacted too late, and the three women had a gap that they held until the finish. Dillon also missed the attack but was a bit ahead of me. The lead break held us off, and Dillon and I did separate “individual time trials” for the entire last lap.

The last lap was very nerve-racking as the pace “car” (motorcycle) came up alongside me with about 6 miles to go and said there was a chase group coming in hard. He graciously added “I wouldn’t be surprised if they catch you.” Hahaha. Thanks. With many fields racing at the same time, I couldn’t tell if the cyclists behind me were the chase group or men from other fields. I barely held the chase group off (consisting of 4 High Road women, Giana, and a Vanderkitten woman). I crossed the finish line, and threw my chain into the easiest gearing which also threw my derailleur into the spokes, breaking it off (very sad). I am glad I waited to do this at the end of the race. I have decided from now on I am going to only use my 53-12, then I never have to worry about the derailleur and spokes having an encounter.

Sto andando a Europa!

I was always told "Cycling in Europe is like football in America". The enormous crowds that lined the roads and the fervor of the Tour's spectators confirmed the validity of this statement. I quickly learned that Europe was indeed the hot-bed of cycling, where people understood, appreciated and loved the sport of cycling. Being able to compete in cycling in Europe became my dream; I wanted to experience the challengeand atmosphere of European racing and there by see the world while doing something I love.

The day has finally arrived for me to be able to realize this dream. Following my first spring races, I was invited by JimMiller, of the US National Team, to compete in Italy in March and April,complete with a side trip of racing in France. Thanks to the support of my family, friends, my new team PROMAN, USA Cycling, and Jim Miller, I will finally be able to take advantage of an incredible opportunity and a personal life long goal. I am very fortunate to be a cyclist in this period of growth and development in Women's cycling in the US.

Thanks to the hard work ofpeople like Jim Miller (US Women's Director of Endurance), Nicola Cranmer (manager of PROMAN) and Giana Roberge (director of PROMAN), huge strides have been made in women's cycling; and each day the opportunities for women cyclist increase due to the activism and support of people like those mentioned above. As I enter the next phase of my cycling career, Iwould like to thank Jim Miller for seeing the potential in women's cycling, and in me, as well as for the opportunity to begin to realize my dreams as a cyclist.

Santa Rosa Crits

I am bad about blogging. Race reports:
Norlund Construction Corporate Criterium (Santa Rosa) (Feb 17) Nice smooth course (except for the "bot dots"): clean pavement, smooth corners. The wind was a bit of a factor on the second half of the course. I was in a bunch of breaks that looked good, but in the end Aaron's wanted it to come down to a sprint finish (and with 6-8 of them there, thats what happened). With 1 lap to go, I was sitting 3rd wheel, before the last corner I was swarmed by the leadout trains, and then finished 8th (I believe). I got a prime. Thats about it.

Santa Rosa Grand Prix (part of Amgen) (Feb 18): It was fun, fast with a really long finishing stretch. It was essential to stay focused for the entire race, or else you in the back. The "bot dots" which were on the entire course added an element of sketchiness, as did the metal barricades. The first prime I went waaaay too early, and then had someone come off my wheel to take the prime. The second I started to go for the prime and came off the front of the field I knew I had gone to early. Whoops. The rest of the race I saved my energy for the finish. I helped Shelley and Virgina, the final 2.5ish laps, they had a great sprint in the end. Emily and Helene took primes. PROMAN had a great showing for our first NRC race.

Happy New Year!

I know its a bit overdue, but I believe a "Happy New Year!" is in order here. I went on a blogging hiatus, and no promises that it will not happen again, but I figured its time for an update as I begin my new year.

So a brief overview: I am in California and it has been an adventure to say the least. Starting with the drive out here. As an East Coaster, I thought I would come to the Left Coast and meet a bunch of laid-back surfers. I was sorrowfully mistaken - I have yet to meet one of these, besides my cousin-in-law, and I knew him before I came out here, so that doesn't count.

The weather out here is amazing, despite a few weeks of cold and rain, the weather is on the up and up and I think I am in for an extended "Spring" (my favorite season). Spring has always been my favorite season, I don't know why; skiing is particularly horrible, and the roads are tough to ride, so it doesn't really make sense why I have always like Spring so much, but now I have the Perfect Spring ahead of me - 60-70 degrees and Sunny. Nice.

Moving on. The terrain is amazing and variable. The group rides are out of hand; 50+ people showing up to one group ride. What?! This is a far cry from entire summers where I could count the number of times I rode with others training on one hand.

PROMAN is my new team, and the women are a lot of fun. Check out the blog: http://www.proman-paradigm.blogspot.com/. I am surrounded by superstars!

The Nor Cal racing is is outrageous; you go to a "regional race" and there are national champions and other top US women's pro's.

Yes, my life has changed dramatically, consisting mostly of working as an Engineer intern and training. Engineering isn't really my thing, but it has solidified for me that I want to return to school and stay within the Neuroscience field. Neuroscience is so cool. Fact. I have learned that I might be the worst cook in the world, which is sad considering my love for food. I can bake, but not cook. Unfortunately the cooking gene skipped me (and for that matter, the beauty gene if you ask my brother).

You might find it hard to believe, but racing started last weekend. My first race, the Cherry Pie criterium was a nice course and the field was suprisingly "smooth" for being mostly everyone's first race. Thats what you get when you are able to ride outside all year around, and pretty much everyone does the group rides, so the sketch factor was extremely reduced. I was awarded "Most Uninhibited Rider" award, and I won a bottle of win. Pretty sweet, I know. I won a couple primes, and was on a solo break very late in the race. I just went out there and raced, opened up the legs for the first time this season - it was fun. In the final sprint I got fourth after too much hesitation. I had fun and I enjoyed racing with my new teammates. You can check out some pictures/more of a race report on the PROMAN blog. Some guy that I have yet to meet who is a big fan of women's cycling and writes up race reports and the like. He had to say about me:

"Megan G of PROMAN looks young and fiery … a great addition to that squad. I hear she’s a transplant from a norEaster College of the SOmething’or Others … but, can’t be sure. At Cherry Pie, she showed she was absolutely fearless when it comes to attacking a big, powerful field. She has the look of a brawler on the bike … you know, just a low, powerful package … damn good type of rider to have on your squad in the US."

Haha, I guess chubby is the equivalent of "brawler". What is one to do?

I believe my mechanic responded to this post with "megan kicked some serious butt. and the weekend before she got run over by a car. not hit…not knocked down…RUN OVER (both legs) by a frickin’ honda civic. whoa… "

And thats a whole 'nother story. Yes, I was run over by a car. For those of you who are hearing/reading this for the first time, I seem to be okay. Did I mention the people out here are absolutely crazy! I wasn't even on my bike.

Congrats if you have made it this far - notice I saved the punchlines for the end. I have two races coming up here shortly. Yay for a long season ahead!