VanderKitten-ness
The VanderKitten clothing line has a women’s racing team that … well, it kicks ass. I’ve been guest DS’ing for them this week … we started at the Tulsa Tough and are working through the Philly Triple Crown.
it’s pretty sweet.
The riders are phenomenal. Currently Melissa Sanborn is sitting 13th, with LizzerHatch in 16th. We’ll see if we can improve their standings tomorrow. And then … it’s Philly.
Philly. what a race. what drama. what beauty.
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Racing across the country is always so difficult. What these athletes endure, what they make happen, what support they receive from friends, loved ones, fans … it’s what makes bike racing the most beautiful sport in the world.
and the most daunting.
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there will be poetry coming soon about it all. i’ve been mono-blogging all week long and can’t wait to have time and interweb connections to paint it all up, spill it all out … sing the tales of how much these women suffer, how much they strive, how much they overcome.
and how much fun they have doing it.
bike racing rocks, ya’ll.
see you all soon … and dammit, if somebody would toss a few race reports in the comments to keep me updated on the newz of the cool … well, i’d really appreciate it.
back at ya,
~m
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this is … the Sanbo.
Melissa Sanborn might be the classiest, coolest bike rider i’ve come across. She’s a professional, through and through.
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the VKs out and about in the beautific Pennsylvania countrysides.
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this is FlavaFlav taking a pic of JenWilson in mid-agility training.
JW was a professional dancer for most her life. total frickin’ showoff.
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Today we had a super-secret training session where i made the VKs do all kinds of silly things and act goofy.
you know, winner stuff.
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this is the Lizzer.
Liz Hatch may well be the funniest woman this side of the rio grande. i mean, laugh your ass off, snort milk through your nose kind of funny.
check it, this woman has more to it than meets the eye. And sorry fellas, she’s got some super-hunk euro pro bestboy that she text messages about 500 times a day.
but … ya’ll can still appreciate the eye candy, yo.
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June 4th, 2008 at
So it wasn’t a race, but you missed T’s first ride at Campus last weekend. He cleaned stuff that Sabine and I didn’t and defied simple rules of physics time and time again and didn’t crash.
June 4th, 2008 at
Virginia Perky perkins first track race, launched a solo attack on the first lap and stayed away, 2 dudes bridged and she led them to the line - another convert, see you for cheesesteak
June 4th, 2008 at
Ver’ nice. Flav needs just a little more extension and turn-out, and she’s got it.
Yes, I took ballet. And yes, it can be quite macho.
June 4th, 2008 at
We love you. Don’t leave us!
June 4th, 2008 at
Perkins def had a great opening night. She was upgraded between heats as is the way of Nolan. Niki is building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. It will be interesting to see how many of the strong she brings to the mass starts at AVC this month.
FresnOakland came this close [holds up hand with thumb and fore finger very close together] in the second Bs race of the night.
The best heat of the night was the second Womens race. It was slow rolling at the gun so Tash took an early flyer. Tactics played out well behind with Sabine neutralizing the chase and then launching the perfect counter when it was finally reeled. Between the two of them they were up the road for near the entirety of the race. It was almost tactical perfection but Tash was encouraged to try and bridge with around 5 to go and that brought the cream to the top for the finale with Dlyan pipping both VBs for the final.
Write more. Come back soon. Bring your new friends.
June 4th, 2008 at
They love you. Don’t leave them.
Perkins def had a great opening night. She was upgraded between heats as is the way of Nolan. Niki is building a fighting force of extraordinary magnitude. It will be interesting to see how many of the strong she brings to the mass starts at AVC this month.
FresnOakland came this close [holds up hand with thumb and fore finger very close together] in the second Bs race of the night.
The best heat of the night was the second Womens race. It was slow rolling at the gun so Tash took an early flyer. Tactics played out well behind with Sabine neutralizing the chase and then launching the perfect counter when it was finally reeled. Between the two of them they were up the road for near the entirety of the race. It was almost tactical perfection but Tash was encouraged to try and bridge with around 5 to go and that brought the cream to the top for the finale with Dlyan pipping both VBs for the final.
Write more. Come back soon. Bring your new friends.
June 4th, 2008 at
Yeah, Perkins can race the B’s, or whatever field I am in. She is tall enough to give a little guy like me a good draft. Actually quite a few of us bridged up to her in the first C, but then the Nolanator told us we weren’t to race, but a couple did not get the memo. And the Tash-Sabine combo in the 2nd C race was awesome, just needed to seal the deal. Aaron took the first B race. And I was left behind to console Beth who was distraught that you told everyone she was out of the dating pool due to her arm warmers
And that is as far back as memory goes; Dash for Cash was a ‘Friday hangover’ haze.
June 4th, 2008 at
My wife loves you. Don’t leave her.
Wait, that came out wrong…
Hey, you’ve already got the rad skinsuit. A little turnout and ye’ll be Pas de Deuxin’ in no time.
Good shtuff with the DS’n!
June 4th, 2008 at
What happened to their regular DS?
June 4th, 2008 at
Why is the attrition rate so very high with the female racers compared to the men? It doesn’t seem like most want to stick it out and suffer and they’d rather give up. I was looking at your races on the East Coast. thanks, T
June 4th, 2008 at
Hi hon
Crazy kitties!
Both here and there.
See you Friday….
June 5th, 2008 at
heyo, hon.
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T - i’ve been in more men’s NRC races then i care to remember where we had 30% finishing ratios. and … i haven’t always been in that 30%, yo.
it’s bike racing and there’s more complexities to the actual races then finishes/results could ever describe.
… and women are way tougher than men. have kids? you’ll know why.
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anony - they don’t have a fulltime DS right now. smaller team building for future, n’stuff.
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ddt - ballet is so hot.
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mwalker - yeah baby.
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niki - Perkins has now entered … the thunderdrome.
the track was all Vp needed, now she will dominate the world.
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teamWellie - it must have been the bike
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iRik - awesome.
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thanks VKs and friends.
we’re off to Reading to try and stay dry while increasing fastness.
~right on.
June 5th, 2008 at
Cool report from the front lines Michael! Howdy to the VK gals!
Good luck today in Reading!
kurt
June 5th, 2008 at
I need to get me some arms like Melissa. Nice!
June 5th, 2008 at
friday track
saturday dash for cash
sunday ITT
tuesday larry track
wednesday rick track
RACING RULES!
And Virginia rocked it Tuesday night. Lots of fun.
clm
June 5th, 2008 at
Not to be out done in the second race of the Women/Juniors on Tuesday night was Dylan Drummond. This little junior was spinning small gears like a buzzsaw (A/J might have been running a 50×13 but I think Dylan was on a 13×50).
While VB were off the front he was taking pulls in the bunch, attacking, doing his best to help the others bring back the attacks. Then he hung in there and unleashed his sprint in the closing meters to take the win.
And don’t forget Beth hitting out with a nice sprint in the second B’s race, only to get passed on the line.
A/J rolled his big gear to a 3 lap solo victory in the first A’s race.
And the new comers in the A’s, like Ben, Derek, and Shawn putting the hurt on everyone. Shawn, Derek and Matt Talbot took a lap in the second A’s race.
June 5th, 2008 at
Oh yeah, Tim B. put in a first lap attack in the first B’s race that had him come *so* close to lapping the field. Everyone associated with PROMAN has a serious attacking mindset. Awesome!
June 5th, 2008 at
Very cool Mikey, keep the reportage flowing. What’s all the green stuff on the side of the road? Looks familiar…
June 5th, 2008 at
DS = da job you was made fer. Enjoy every minute.
June 5th, 2008 at
uh….that doesn’t look like VK’s???
http://procyclingtour.smugmug.com/gallery/5101359_kwcQp#307866301_iiJZL
tell the girls to kick ass on Sunday…
June 5th, 2008 at
slut!
I saw the Elgarts too!
And weenies with processed cheese oozing out of them.
June 6th, 2008 at
Go Hernanderkittens!!! MH, you rock! Melissa, Liz, Flavia, all of the kitties!!! Sweet work out there!
June 7th, 2008 at
Hey give us more on the day-to-day stuff. What have you guys been doing between races? Like how many miles, what’d ya see in the countrysides, etc. Ya know, more behind the scenes stuff with the girl cyclists like Cyclto promised to do but dropped the ball. Thanks Michael and keep up the good work!!
June 7th, 2008 at
He would have to post it at about 2:00 in the morning….
Yesterday the team did a media appearance in Love Park, rode a recon of the course, visted a sponsor shop, and ate dinner at relatives of the team owner.
And we got lost only about 23 times today.
I’m pooped and all I do is tag along and take pictures.