Ross Dillon's Epic Hill CLimb

Congratultions ANNY on your WIN today! You are a climbing machine! And thank you SHANNON for your hard work organizing so many volunteers!

All photos on this page were provided by Veronika Lenzi: Through My Eyes Photography

As a first time Pine Flat rider, I would have to say that I did not know what to expect. There were many conflicting theories about how steep Pine Flat really is. Some said, "Oh, you'll be fine", some claimed that barfing and/or tears were involved the last time they rode it. I had to see for myself - mistake number 1.

Starting out at the high school was pretty fantastic - did you catch all of those chicks in blue and orange? Rachel, Heather, Shannon, Cathy, Jen (and her recent addition smoothy-smooth), Chandra, Cindy, Anny, Tracy, and Sarah. It was definite motivation. I hung tight with the group until about a mile or so up Pine Flat. I proceeded to chase Shannon for the rest of the race. Every time I came around a corner, I would see Shannon's orange rear-end (the only way I can find our team in a race), just a little out of reach - she was motoring up the hill! Riding alone gave me some time to enjoy the scenery because that's part of how I get duped into doing rides like this and Kings Ridge - "the views are amazing". I've learned that, "the views are amazing" = "you'll be going so slow because it will be so hard that you'll have to look around to keep your sanity but don't look for too long or you'll ride yourself off a cliff".

I also got a chance to say hi to some other friends up the road - Denise, June, Rita, and Katrina as they cheered us all on. I also got a few cheers from the cute boys who were flying back down. I'm sure they appreciated the gu/drool/snot look that I was rockin'. How completely embarrassing. I continued to go solo until I saw it - the steepest hill I have ever seen. After questioning my sanity a few times, cursing the world and more specifically the people who said, "it's not that bad", I was there, welcomed by a throng of teammates. I hung out and waited for Rachel, then we all cruised on back. Right now, on my couch, with my feet up, eating watermelon, I'm still feeling a little salty about doing this race. However, I can guarantee that I'll use some revisionist history and tell some sorry sap that "it's not that bad" next year when I'm registering.

Peace in your hood and happy riding!!

- Alexis
***
What a great NorCal turnout and what a an awesome race! Bike Monkey and SCBC put on a great event for a good cause. I am really impressed with the heart displayed of Carlos and Bike Monkey. This was my first race on my new Specialized Expert (Smooth-Smoothy). I LOVE my new bike and I am so grateful to Mariko and Jim Keene for making it possible. I bought my first road bike from NorCal when it was Dave's Bike Sport in 1995. It was a used robins egg blue Cannondale with top tube shifters and metal toe cages. They've always taken care of me and I feel a certain loyalty to that shop. I could write an essay full of all of the reasons why my new bike is better than the last frame, but I won't.

The race is a bit of a blur at the moment. We all started together chatting down 128. I was with the main group until maybe mm 3.5 and then I knew that I wouldn't be able to maintain that pace to the top so I just sat back and rode my own ride and watched Cathy and Cindy slip away from me. I tried to recover when I could and push the threshold knowing that I had better save something in the tank for the last 2 miles. It went pretty fast and I really enjoyed having June, Kim, Katrina, Rita and Denise on the course cheering us on. The top hurt but it always does, smiling faces made it easier to bare. I was really proud to see Shannon "I'm not a climber" come across the line with a huge smile on her face. STRONGER! My bike floated with ease and grace down the descent. Its the first time in a while where I've felt more like myself on the bike. I came back to the school and learned that Cathy had been in a crash on the way back from the climb and I really wanted to see her to make sure she was okay. I was comforted to see her standing surrounded by other teammates. :)

Everything can change so suddenly in life. We are so lucky to be able to do the things that we can do. Its always a journey and struggle. Ross' struggle over the last few years is inspiring and magnifies the drive for the spirit to live. I am really proud of our little  team and I am really appreciative of some of the friendships I've made over the years through cycling. It's a trip how time changes things as you get older. Its pretty amazing to find a group of women who share this passion and encourage each other. I know I say that every time. I guess you would have to move away to a small town where only 2 women share a love of cycling to appreciate where I'm coming from. What did I come away with today? Some introspective philosophy, gratitude and peace. We fear our vulnerability and yet when we are vulnerable and honest within those moments, we are never more courageous and beautiful.  I am grateful to share it.

Jen :)

Oh, and I was third in the 3's. Good Day!

***
My favorite moments:

-Rolling out from the start with so many teammates!  Orange and blue everywhere!


-Passing June, who was course marshalling on the climb: ringing her cowbell, jumping, waving, taking pictures with her phone. Too funny!


-Finishing, and rolling up to a big ol’ crowd of cheering teammates!


-Shannon

****
Ross Dillon Hill Climb
Weather: windy with a slight chill to the morning
Teammates: All the wonderful gals at Norcal
 
At the line up, all you mostly saw was Blue and Orange. What great colors.  There were about 30 women or so it seemed with some juniors thrown in there to start with us.  Cindy gets up to the front and pulls us for awhile with a mission.  My thoughts were "hope I'm not the last up this darn hill", cuz I realized that I had never gone all the way to the top.  That unknown last part of the hill hung in my thoughts. So there was the Norcal team charging to the bottom of the climb.  I got in the front and thought I'd help pull, then in the mix Annie pulled. I looked back and realized we were the only ones off the front.   We took turns pulling then I saw another rider coming up to us.  As we approached the climb, Annie and I tried to get her in front to do some of the work, but she would not. 

With about 4 mi to go I had been fighting this damn side stitch and had to let up.  I couldn't get it to go away.  There they go, Annie and Lisa Penzel.  I could still see them around the blinds.  Then the legs are hurting and here comes a gal.  I thought maybe I could hold her off, but nope, legs are hurting! Then we get to a flat section at the top and thanks to Gabe (Heather's guy) I was able to draft behind him a bit, then thought I had a second wind, but nope. I see "the wall" and Lisa Penzel turning around !!!

And a brutal wall it was.  Soooo many times, I thought, "I'm getting off here...nope, ok,  I can make it...no I'm getting off here."

Then I see  Fritz (Cathy's guy) in front of me traversing! Hey that really does work well!  Ahh, the finish line.. I actually had a little left in me to kick it to the end with Claire cheering. Thanks Claire!  So Annie kicked some boota.  Congrats to all!

-Tracy
***
Event: Ross’ Epic Hill Climb 2008
By: Anny Henry
Category: Women’s Pro 1-2
Field size: ~25
Team mates: Cathy, Shannon, Jen, Tracy, Rachel, Heather, Chandra, Cindy, Sarah, Alexis
Placing: 1st
 
This one is for you Claire.  Why?  Well I knew whether I was first or last you would be at the top cheering for me.  Of course as I’m approaching the finish I hear “SSSPPPRRRIIINNNTT”…and I’m thinking “this girl is nuts, sprint? The grade here is 18%, I have nothing left in my stomach to puke and my quads are trying to become the perfect cramp…and you want me to do what?”... :)
 
I’d not done this 18 mile climb before and the statistics are deceiving with 3000 feet of elevation gain.  Mt Hamilton is 19 miles and 4500 feet so you could get fooled into thinking it was going to be gradual like Mt. Hamilton.  The reality is the grades vary a lot with some downhill sections that could let people catch on or recover and some very steep sections.  This would make a great road race finish.
 
The flyer warned us to anticipate up to a 30 minute earlier start and that’s just what happened as all the women were combined into an open field with some juniors.  So, with a 20 minute warm up we roll out with half the group from Norcal Velo and a few others I didn’t know and I wasn’t sure how I was feeling.  Before I know it Tracy goes to the front and drills it with that super strong pace of hers and I’m thinking, “this feels a little early” but decide to go with it.  Pretty soon another strong looking girl I didn’t know bridges up and I give her a second to settle in and then pull next to her and ask her if she wants to run pace line with the 3 of us?  Her response was “why would I want to do that.”  Wrong answer.  This immediately classified her as either someone who is going to sit on or someone who thinks they can ride away from us whenever she wanted.  In either case she showed her cards awfully early.  I chatted with Tracy to make sure she didn’t do too much work and then rotated on to this new girl’s wheel.  We are now 6 miles into the race and cannot see the following group and as we continued to move through the climb I was vigilant that our companion did her fair share with her coming close to a stop a few times not wanting me on her wheel.  Of course every time we go through a marshalled turn we’re getting cheers which made things a little easier.  I was watching the mileage closely and between 4 and 5 miles to go I went to the front and surged a little and held that pace for about a mile and realized I was all by myself so I held that pace for another mile or so and didn’t look back.  I get to a little downhill section and panic a little and really put down the power since I don’t want to get caught.  I had sensed it but didn’t dare look back until now.  I’m feeling ok but the grades are getting really, really hard and my quads are starting to hurt.  The last mile is really brutal and I’m fading a little, traversing the road knowing if I get out of the saddle I’d fall over…of course I thought if I do fall over then I can pick up my bike and run/walk to the finish which would have been faster at that point…about now I hear
 
…SSSPPPPRRIIINNNNTTT…
 
and you know the rest.  It was a fun day hanging out after the race.
 
See you next weekend,
 
-Anny
***


What a beautiful race it was~ sunny, cool breeze, amazing views, and wonderful people out to climb a really big hill for a good cause!! Not being all that nervous for this race, I decided to race my own race and enjoy the opportunity to ride up Pine Flat with fresh legs for once. It was great to have such a Norcal Velo presence at the race, both riding up the hill and cheering loudly for those of us in the race. Thank you Denise, June and Katrina for supporting us along the way, you inspired me to keep hammering (or at least just keep going)! It was also good to receive encouragement from riders who were descending and riding back down the hill. What great energy! I had a blast, and I’m stoked that I never once cramped up or walked! Can’t wait to try and beat my time next year…


-Heather
***





Today was my first road race of the year (not counting the epic Grasshoppers).  It was a great feeling starting with so many of my Norcal teammates. I felt a bit stale at the start and unfortunately did not hang with the peloton. This is my downfall and since my focus has been mtn biking this year, my performance reflected that. The cat 5 guys caught me and I found myself climbing with the same two riders I always end up riding the Grasshoppers with. 

Determined to have fun as I pretty much lost any contention from my poor start, I climbed steadily, catching a few fellow teammates, riding with Shannon to the second climb after the guardrail. I was able to catch 2 other I think cat 4 women. It was a tough push to the top but thinking of Ross and why we were all there immediately nipped away any pain I was experiencing. 

So I thought I was in the top 3, then found out Chandra was a cat 4 rider and then really did not know where I placed as she was ahead of me. I think I placed 4th? Not sure but I am sure that it was a positive experience and I hope to learn from the stellar Norcal racers on our team that I am so proud to have been a part of today.

-Sarah P.
***

Top Five Reason's to finish DFL -

5.Get to observe proper riding/racing technique up close and personal...until you get dropped.

4.Aid station volunteers cheering just for you!

3.Your own support vehicle following you up the hill

2.setting realistic goals while riding..."just make it to the next telephone poll" and getting a reward for reaching it-yay water!

1.Being a part of the Nor Cal Women's Cycling Team!!!

-Rachel

2008

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