Midwest Women's Cycling Made Real

Check out our new site!

2007-04-20T11:18:00.000-07:00

Our site has moved to MWCMR.com. Check it out for the lastest info!

Women's Beginning Racing Clinic

2007-03-12T16:23:00.000-07:00

This year's clinic will be on Saturday April 7th.

Our 2nd annual spring skill-building clinic sponsored by Midwest Women's Cycling Made Real gives women cyclists the opportunity to become better riders in a friendly, supportive environment. In a combination of lecture and on-the-bike drills you’ll learn from some of the top female riders and coaches in the Midwest. The clinic will cover everything you need to know, from how to train, to what to bring on race day, to what to expect in your first race. You'll also meet representatives from clubs around the Twin Cities that are welcoming to women.

Come learn about road racing in a supportive, fun environment! All level and age riders are encouraged to come.

WHEN: 9:00 am-1:00pm (refreshments and registration starting at 8:45 am)

WHERE: Midtown YWCA in Minneapolis

COST: $10

WHAT TO BRING: Your bike, helmet and cycling clothing. You’ll be able to change at the YWCA. Minnesota in April can bring all sorts of weather, so bring layers and be prepared.

See the flyer for more details: http://www.mcf.net/misc/MWCMR_April_Clinic_2007%5b1%5d.jpg

For questions and more information email alexandrakerl(at)yahoo.com

Riding Home in the Blizzard

2007-03-04T08:11:00.000-08:00

by Alix Kerl

I drove into work on Thursday just as the weather turned from freezing rain to ice.
I was definitely in the top 10 worst driving I have ever done. My little car could barely make it up the icy hills, and the snow had yet to hit. All day, I watched the snow fall outside the window and by the time I was done with work at 5pm, close to a foot of snow had fallen. I decided that it would be better to leave my car at work and ride a bike home rather than potentially die trying to drive home in the blizzard. Let’s just say right now that it was a really bad idea.

Luckily, I had borrowed a Surly Pugsley for the weekend, which (with 4 in. wide tires) is made specifically for riding in the snow and sand. It also weighed about 30 lbs. I work just less than 15 miles south of my duplex in South Minneapolis and it usually takes right around an hour, depending on how fast I’m riding. I expected that the ride home would take up to two hours because of the foot of snow that had fallen, but I wasn’t prepared for the wind. I hadn’t even thought to look and see which direction the wind was coming from, which turned out directly from the north at 20 mph. As I left work, it was still snowing, but rather than light, fluffy flakes, the snow was falling as pointy ice chunks, or “hurty snow”. It was the type of snow that would have been mesmerizing had it been at my back, but flying directly into my face was not so charming.

The roads were, of course, horrible. There were one or two inches of ice on the roads from the freezing rain that morning, with the addition of the snow that had fallen throughout the day. The main roads had been plowed and were easier to ride on, but there were also cars on those roads and with the real potential of me sliding underneath one, I tried to stay to the side streets. The snow plows had left huge mountains of snow in the intersections and I found the best way to get through these was to ride as them full speed and pedal through. About half the time I wiped out and had to do a running cyclocross mount to get back on the bike as the Pugsley is great at floating on the snow, but not as good getting traction in slush.

I didn’t have a balaclava and my cheeks got so numb that I was afraid I’d get frostbite, so I alternated warming patches on my face with the backs of my gloves. The headwind also meant a visibility of about one city block, which didn’t matter too much as about halfway home (after an hour of riding), I started riding with my head down so my cheeks wouldn’t hurt so bad.

So at a speed of about 5-7 MPH, I arrived home at 7:30pm, two and a half hours after I left. I prayed for a snow day from work the next morning, but without any more snow falling, there was no hope of a day off (plus I had to go back and get my car). Consequently, Friday morning I had to hop back on the bike and ride back into work.

Women’s Beginning Road Racing Clinic

2007-03-04T07:26:00.000-08:00

This year's clinic will be on Saturday April 7th.

Our 2nd annual spring skill-building clinic gives women cyclists the opportunity to become better riders in a friendly, supportive environment. In a combination of lecture and on-the-bike drills you’ll learn from some of the top female riders and coaches in the Midwest. The clinic will cover everything you need to know, from how to train, to what to bring on race day, to what to expect in your first race. You'll also meet representatives from clubs around the Twin Cities that are welcoming to women.

WHEN: 9:00 am-1:00pm

WHERE: Midtown YWCA in Minneapolis

COST: $10

WHAT TO BRING: Your bike, helmet and cycling clothing. You’ll be able to change at the YWCA.

Look for more details in the next few weeks. For questions, email alexandrakerl(at)yahoo.com

no ride this morning

2007-03-03T05:54:00.000-08:00

Doesn't seem like anyone is planning to go on the ride this morning, so we'll just call it off. Too much snow on the roads, I guess.

Instead of riding, perhaps you should check out the Bike Expo, which is all day (9-7) today and 9-5 tomorrow in the Minneapolis Convention Center. MWCMR will have a booth there, so stop by and see us!

No ride Feb 24th, 2007

2007-02-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

With the forecast for tonight and tomorrow for sleet, snow and gusting winds, it probably comes as a surprise to no one that the ride will not officially happen.

Tonight: Periods of snow possibly mixed with sleet, mainly after midnight. Low around 24. Breezy, with a east southeast wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow and sleet accumulation of 2 to 4 inches possible.

Saturday: Periods of snow. High near 30. Breezy, with a east southeast wind around 22 mph, with gusts as high as 31 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New snow accumulation of 4 to 6 inches possible.

RACE SCHEDULE

2007-02-19T16:04:00.000-08:00

It's the moment you've all been waiting for! The MWCMR series schedule is finally complete. These are the 7 races that will make up the 2007 series. This year, only your five best results will count for the final standings, so if you have a bad day or can't make it to one of the races, it won't matter. (But you should still do all 7... just because racing is fun!)

Without further ado, here they are. Get 'em on your calendar.

Confirmed races in the 2007 MWCMR Race Series:

April 28: Ken Woods Memorial Road Race

May 5 : Gluek Road Race

May 12: Bike Club TT Challenge (20k)*

July 8: Hopkins Raspberry Festival Criterium

July 15: Hamel TT

August 5: Grumpy's Campus Criterium

August 11: Birchwood Road Race

*Doubles as a ROY event.

BIKE SWAP!

2007-02-08T18:29:00.000-08:00

This Sunday everyone should check out the annual Twin Cities Bike Swap, taking place in the gym at the St. Paul Academy. This thing is huge. Tons of stuff to buy, from brand spankin' new carbon forks to "vintage" stuff from somebody's garage to clothing samples to delicious brownies and Peace Coffee. Even if you don't want to buy anything, everyone you know will be there... we promise. It's a great place to catch up with people you haven't seen in months.

Plus, MWCMR will have its own table! This is your chance to meet some of the people who are heading this effort up and to ask any questions you may have. Please stop by and say hello if you're around!

No Ride 2/10/07

2007-02-08T18:25:00.000-08:00

We're calling it early again. The forecast is just too nasty.

NO RIDE 2/3/07

2007-02-01T16:03:00.000-08:00

I know, it's early to call it, but have you SEEN the forecast? The high on Saturday is supposed to be -2. Yes, that's MINUS two. No ride.

Saturday's windy ride

2007-01-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

Five women braved the wind and cold and showed up for yesterday's ride. Paula, Alix, Amy, Gwen and I fought a nasty headwind for almost two hours on our way out to Excelsior. Alix mentioned at one point that we were riding at about 11 mph...sweet. We stuck to the bike trails which were a little more sheltered than some of the open roads. We stopped at 318 in Excelsior to thaw out our bodies and our water bottles, and enjoyed some coffee, sugar, and chit-chat in front of the fireplace. We decided to take the straight-shot (Excelsior Blvd) home, and with the strong tailwind, I was back home in an hour. It was a great ride even though the weather was far from ideal.

It's a little early to put any merit into next weekend's forecast, but it's not looking good - highs in the single digits. Let's hope that changes (for the better) as the week progresses!

Sarah

No Ride 1/20/07

2007-01-20T06:53:00.000-08:00

Given the fact these are supposed to be the coldest weeks of the year, it's not surprising that the ride is again cancelled for today due to the cold (it's 9 degrees in Minnetonka).

We'll see how it goes next week...

NO RIDE 1/13/07

2007-01-12T15:50:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow morning's ride is officially cancelled. The National Weather Service's hourly weather graph predicts that at 9:00 AM it will be exactly one degree Fahrenheit with a windchill of -7. That is just plain too cold. Sleep in, go to the gym. Hopefully next week will be better!

Brrrrr!

2007-01-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Well, ladies, the weather forecast is not looking good for this weekend. Remember, the ride will be cancelled if the temperature is still below 15 degrees at 9:00 AM. Check the weather before you leave. And knock on wood -- maybe the forecast is wrong...

Ridin' in the rain... we're just ridin' in the rain...

2006-12-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

So far, tomorrow's 10am women's ride is still on. The forecast doesn't look too hot, so for clarification, the cancellation policy has been updated: if it is actually raining or snowing at 9am, the ride is off. Now, there is some gray area here too -- if it's just sort of misty out (like a lot of today was), we'll probably still ride unless it's cold enough to be forming ice on the roads. Real, honest-to-goodness rain will cancel the ride for sure.

So keep your fingers crossed for decent weather! Hope to see you there!

December 23rd ride is ON!

2006-12-21T19:43:00.000-08:00

The weekly open women's ride is still happening this Saturday, the 23rd. As usual, it meets at the Lake Harriet bandshell at 10:00 AM. Hope to see you there!

Ride Report: December 2nd

2006-12-02T16:58:00.000-08:00

Despite a temperature of just 13 degrees with a windchill below zero, 11 real Minnesotans showed up this morning for the first women's winter ride of the season. We did around 30 miles through St. Paul, where it is slightly less windy than Wayzata. We're all hoping for warmer weather next week, but hey, it's Minnesota.

One key detail missing from yesterday's post was the cancellation policy. There are two basic conditions that will cancel the ride:

- Temp is below 15 degrees at 9am. If it's borderline, we'll ride.
- Sidestreets aren't plowed by 9am after a heavy snowfall.

Today, the temperature was below 15, but not by much, so we called it "borderline" and went. But those days where it's 20 below? Stay inside!

See you next week!

Real women ride all winter!

2006-12-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

It's true! Real women do ride all winter. Yes, it's cold, but it's not too bad if you dress for it. We will be running a couple posts in the very near future on how to dress for winter riding, but the basics are pretty simple:

1. Wear lots of clothes.
2. Lobster claw gloves.
3. Those disposable toe-warmers. You can buy these in grocery stores -- they're called Heat Treat (or maybe "heet treet," I'm not sure), and you just unwrap them and stick them to the outside of your (wool) socks before putting on your shoes. Follow with shoe covers or booties, and you're good to go.

The next couple posts will be on building a winter cycling wardrobe, first with technical gear, and second with regular ol' stuff for those who aren't committed enough (yet) to drop several hundred dollars on winter riding gear.

Why should you bother? Well, there's a very good reason. Starting tomorrow morning (December 2nd), there are weekly women's rides that are open to any and all women cyclists, regardless of team affiliation. These rides generally go west toward Wayzata, include a stop at Caribou Coffee, and then split into two groups: the first group heads home, for a total of about two hours (30 miles), and the second group continues on around Lake Minnetonka for a longer ride. These are social rides at an easy, base-building pace of around 15-18 mph. EVERYONE is welcome!

When: Every Saturday morning at 10:00 AM.
Where: The Lake Harriet bandshell, next to the Port-A-Potties.
What bike: Right now, any bike - the best winter bike is a cyclocross bike (more on this in a future post as well), but people also show up to this ride on old road bikes and right now even their good race bikes since the roads haven't been salted yet this year.

Note: Tomorrow, December 2nd, there is a 5k run starting at the bandshell as well. There will be a lot of people. We're meeting in the same place - just watch for the port-a-potties.

Hope to see you there!

'Cross Rocks!

2006-09-12T11:44:00.000-07:00

Top Ten Reasons that Cyclocross Rocks!"
by Karla Kingsley

So, 'cross might be my favorite thing about cycling. 'Cross (officially cyclocross, or CX) is pretty much everything that's good about bikes, all in the same discipline. In a nutshell, there's an off-road circuit, usually around 1-2 miles, that probably has some or all of the following: dirt and grass, barriers (about 16" high), steep uphills (run-ups), mud, trails, and fast downhills. You go around the circuit, riding your bike when you can, and then getting off and running over the barriers and up the steep inclines (carrying your bike). To keep it simple, I'm going to lay out "the top ten reasons that cyclocross rocks."

1. It's super laid-back. Seriously. You don't need to feel intimidated about showing up to a cross race. There are always people laughing, drinking a beer, and eating chili.

2. It's still pretty new -- ask some of the long-time racers of Minnesota. They can tell you about the beginnings of cross around here. Which means it's still evolving and growing and you can be a part of it!

3. The male and current female CX-ers are welcoming and supportive to newcomers, especially new women!

4. You get TOTALLY fit! Running, riding, uphill, downhill, lifting your bike, jumping on and off your bike, etc., means you will get more of a full body workout than you can in most other cycling activities.

5. It's speedy (the best part of criterium racing) and technical (the best part of MTB racing), but not too speedy or too technical.

6. In addition to riding your bike, you get to run and leap! (It's kind of like recess in elementary school.)

7. You get to get dirty! With a fall season, cross is often done in the mud and rain, so things can get sloppy. (However, in MN last year, we had beautiful sunny weather for just about every race.)

8. The races are only 30-45 minutes (depending on your level).

9. There's a clinic and mock race series on Boom Island all set up by the Alan team to help CX-ers of all levels. Check out mcf.net for details.

10. It's just plain fun stuff.

You can find the race schedule on mcf.net as well. I'll be going to most of the races on the calendar!

Karla

Karla Kingsley is a Cat 3 racer for Velo Bella. Last year was her first full season of 'cross and she loves it! Karla would like to share her love of 'cross by answering your questions and even carpooling to races with you. Email her at karlajane(at)gmail.com.

Don't go away!

2006-09-11T09:20:00.000-07:00

The 2006 road season is now over, but please keep checking in with this blog.

First and foremost, when road season ends, it's time for cyclocross! Stay tuned for a post by seasoned crossniac Karla Kingsley. Cross results will also be posted once the races start.

Second, we will be posting a series of features covering such topics as winter training and category upgrades.

Third, there will be a new Q&A feature to the blog, where any and all readers may submit their burning questions to mwcmr.blog(at)gmail.com and answers will be posted. Please indicate in your email whether you want your name attached to your question -- all questions will be posted anonymously unless you specifically give permission to post your name. This feature will begin as soon as you ladies start submitting questions, so git crackin'!

Fourth and last, we would like to begin posting first-hand accounts of the 2006 racing season! Got a story? Your first race, perhaps. Or your first crash. Or maybe the first time it really clicked for you and you felt like a real bike racer. Whatever you want -- it's your story. Write 'em up and email them.

And anything else you can think of. If there's anything else you'd like to see on this blog, please drop us a note (mwcmr.blog(at)gmail.com, of course)! And hey, while you're at it, the comments section of this blog is open! Feel free to comment on posts and to start discussions. Let's keep the communication lines open here. After all, we're all just one big happy family, right? One big happy family of women who dig bike racing.

Henderson Time Trial Results

2006-09-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

Seven cat 4 women turned out to compete in a very cold, rainy time trial on Saturday. Everyone who showed up is a superstar just for being there!

Clearly, though, the real superstar of the day was Shannon Johnson. Shannon won the time trial easily, nearly three minutes faster than her closest competitor.

Complete results:

1	Shannon Johnson	Silver Cycling	37:17.0
2	Maria Benson	Birchwood	40:11.0
3	Alexandra Kerl	Birchwood	41:39.0
4	Maleaha Laski	U/A	43:55.0
5	Gabriella Tsurutani	Birchwood	44:56.0
6	Jennifer Toavs	UA	47:13.0
7	Kristy Lavigne	UA	52:03.0

If anyone has pictures from the race that you'd be willing to share, please send them to mwcmr.blog(at)gmail.com!

Henderson Time Trial

2006-09-05T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Minnesota road season will come to an end this Saturday with the Henderson Time Trial. This race is also the last race of the Rider of the Year competition.

The course is a 15 mile out-and-back on slightly rolling roads in Henderson, MN. Fancy time trial bikes are not necessary, but there will be plenty of them there for eye candy! And if there are any of you out there who have yet to try a bike race, a time trial is a great place to start.

Let's make the last race of the year a festive occasion. Hope to see you all there!

Gluek Road Race results

2006-08-27T20:26:00.000-07:00

Camilla Schmitz of Birchwood continued her unstoppable winning streak to take the Gluek Road Race on Saturday. Cam now has the cat 4 ROY points pretty much locked up with only one race left in the ROY series: the Henderson Time Trial on September 9.

The Gluek Road Race had gorgeous weather and a great course. The cat 4 women had three laps of a rolling 12-mile loop with one significant hill on the back side. As is often the case, that hill was "the decider" and by the time the first riders crested it, the pack had shattered. A group of seven women escaped. Despite a valiant effort by Julee Taylor and Annie Bakken to bridge, those seven stayed away for the whole race.

Away, but not together. By the end of the race that pack had shattered as well. Cam Schmitz outsprinted Melinda Silbernick (LSC) and Shannon Johnson (Hollywood) to take the win; the next group to finish consisted of Alix Kerl and Maria Benson in a Birchwood vs Birchwood death-match. Paula Bohte of Velo Bella rolled in solo for 6th place. A minute later a five-woman group arrived, led by Jessica Wittwer and Annie Bakken (another Birchwood vs Birchwood battle!) with Jennifer Greiber (Velo Bella), Julee Taylor (Gopher Wheelmen), and Julie Mairs (u/a) right behind them.

Final results:
1. Camilla Schmitz (Birchwood)
2. Melinda Silbernick (Loon State)
3. Shannon Johnson (Hollywood)
4. Alexandra Kerl (Birchwood)
5. Maria Benson (Birchwood)
6. Paula Bohte (Velo Bella)
7. Jessica Wittwer (Birchwood)
8. Annie Bakken (Birchwood)
9. Jennifer Greiber (Velo Bella)
10. Julee Taylor (Gopher Wheelmen)
11. Julie Mairs (u/a)
12. June Sayers (u/a)
13. Carol Ruda (u/a)
14. Amy Xu (Loon State)
15. ?
16. Ashley Pletcher (u/a)
DNF Michelle Hanson (u/a)
DNF Sarah Stratton (Velo Bella)
DNF Gabriella Tsurutani (Birchwood)

Photos by Nate Swanberg.

Trek Bikes Fit for Women Tour & the Gluek Road Race

2006-08-19T14:27:00.000-07:00

How's everyone doing these days? Winding down for the season? There's one more road race left on the calendar, so before you put away the road bike for cyclocross, we hope you'll participate in the Gluek Road Race, presented by the Grandstay Cycling Team and the Loon State Cyclists.

We've heard good things about the course (many short rollers and one long steep-ish climb), and it sounds like a great event for new racers to check out. The promoters are offering a separate field for the women's Category 4 with an ideal start time shortly after 10:00 a.m., and the distance is 3 laps for a total of 36 miles.

As part of our commitment to promote women's cycling throughout the Metro, we're also happy to mention two upcoming events sponsored by Bokoo Bikes taking place Aug. 23rd & 24th: the Fit for Women Bike Tour is coming to town to offer a Trek demo at Lebanon Hills, and a bike fit and positioning clinic.

Check out the links and RSVP to the folks at Bokoo if you'd like to attend.

Final Series Points

2006-07-12T19:17:00.000-07:00

The Top 10 Overall Prize Winners:

1st place - Gwen Steel (437 pts)
2nd place - Maria Benson (417 pts)
3rd place - Alix Kerl (390 pts)
4th place - Camilla Schmitz (355 pts)
5th place - Paula Bohte (319 pts)
6th place - Annie Bakken (300 pts)
7th place - Sarah Stratton (279 pts)
8th place - Missy Erickson (200 pts)
9th place - Karla Kingsley (195 pts)
10th place - Liz Tredinnick (190 pts)

(Attn Missy & Liz - we still have your prizes!)

Full results are listed below.

GW Group Ride Thursday, July 13

2006-07-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

6 PM SHARP Minnehaha Park Traffic Circle Departure
Social endurance paced ride to Rosemont.

We will be finishing the ride around sunset, so rear Blinky lights
are recommended.

Questions sara_brokaw@lycos.com.

The MWCMR Series Winner is Gwen Steel!

2006-07-09T16:13:00.000-07:00

(photo courtesy of www.skinnyski.com)

Hopkins Crit & Overall Series Prizes!!

2006-07-07T09:09:00.000-07:00

This Sunday is the Hopkins Raspberry Festival Criterium - our last race of the MWCMR series. The Hopkins course is a flat, fast, 4-corner crit that goes through the downtown area. You don't even need to use your brakes on this course! The Women's Cat 4 MWCMR race is at 11:10 am, and the Cat 4 women can also do the Women's Open race at 12:30. After the Cat 4 race, we'll tally the final MWCMR series points, and we'll have an awards presentation in the small park near registration at 1:30 pm (after the Women's Open race).

The top 6 overall points leaders will receive cash prizes - $100 to 1st place, $75 to 2nd, $50 to 3rd, $40 to 4th, $30 to 5th, and $20 to 6th. In addition, the top 10 overall points leaders will receive some sweet prizes....we have $700 worth of schwag to give away to our top 10!!! The women in the leader's jersey at the end of day will walk away with almost $300 in cash and prizes!

(In case of a tie in points, the tie-breaker will go to the person who's done the most MWCMR races. If both racers have done the same number of races, the tie-breaker will go to the person with the highest average finish for all MWCMR races. Riders who have upgraded during the MWCMR series are still eligible for prizes if their points fall within the top ten).

We hope to see you at the races in Hopkins, and be sure to stick around for the awards presentation at 1:30. And remember, the first 30 women to register for the Cat 4 race will also receive a FREE BOX of LUNA bars (15 bars to a box)! We'll give those boxes of LUNA bars away at the awards presentation too (so you don't have to worry about hauling them around after registering for the Cat 4race).

Northfield Crit & Overall Series Results

2006-07-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

Here are the results from the Northfield Women's Cat 4 Crit:

1 - Missy Erickson
2 - Camilla Schmitz
3 - Maria Benson
4 - Alix Kerl
5 - Paula Bohte
6 - Sarah Stratton
7 - Gwen Steel
8 - Ellen Anderson
9 - Ridge Benedum
10 - June Sayers
11 - Jessica Wittwer
12 - Dano Barrett
13 - Lindsey Hillesheim
14 - Kelci Roberts

(photos by Andy Kruse)

And going into our last race of the series this weekend, Gwen Steel is still wearing the yellow leader's jersey! Here are the overall series points:

A few quick MWCMR updates

2006-07-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

Congrats to everyone who did the Northfield Crit today! (Results will be posted Wednesday night sometime.)
This Sunday is the fifth and final race of the 2006 MWCMR series - the Hopkins Raspberry Fest Criterium.
Please note: the first 30 Cat 4 women to register at the Hopkins Crit will receive a FREE box of Luna bars (there are 15 Luna bars in a box...a $20+ value).
After the Hopkins Crit, we'll tally the MWCMR series points as quickly as possible, then we'll have an informal awards ceremony in the park near registration at approximately 1:30 pm. Prizes for the series will be awarded to the top 10 points holders for the overall series.

Keep checking the blog this week for more details!

Another "Intro to Women's Racing" seminar

2006-06-29T12:50:00.000-07:00

As part of the Hub Bike Co-op's Tour de France kick-off event, there will be a number of road biking seminars at the West Bank Hub. Alix (Birchwood bike team) will be leading the workshop, "Intro to Women's Racing" covering the basics of racing and how to get involved. It will be on July 1st from 2-3pm.

301 Cedar Ave S.
www.thehubbikecoop.org

MWCMR Race #4: The State Crit in Northfield

2006-06-29T07:14:00.000-07:00

The 4th race of our series, the State Crit, will be held next Tuesday, July 4th, in Northfield. This race has been around for a while, and this course is a favorite to many racers - the course goes through the cute downtown area of Northfield.

The MCF website has been having some problems with the State Crit flyer, so click here for another version. The Women's Cat 4 race is at 12:40 pm, and the Cat 4's have a second opportunity to race in the Women's Open race at 3:20 pm.

This criterium is part of the City of Northfield's 4th of July downtown celebration, so in addition to great bike racing, stick around for the food and live music! I believe they also have fireworks later in the evening. Oh, and I highly recommend the tacos from the little Guatamalan place near the coffee shop on Division street (I can't remember the name)...I've made trips to Northfield just for those tacos!!

We hope to see you all there!

State Road Race and Overall Series Results

2006-06-25T20:18:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Camilla Schmitz (Birchwood) for winning the Cat 4 State Road Race, and to her teammate Gwen Steel for keeping the leader's jersey! Here are the results for the State Road Race:

1. Camilla Schmitz
2. Paula Bohte
3. Gwen Steel
4. Annie Bakken
5. Molly McAvoy
6. Alix Kerl
7. Maria Benson
8. Sarah Stratton
9. Kate Ceronsky
10. Jessica Wittwer
11. Liz Tredinnick
12. Justine DiFiore
13. Nicole Moen
14. Krista Straight

(I know Julee Taylor was in there too, but she's missing from the official results).

Here are the overall series results after the third race of five (please let me know if you find any inaccuracies):

There are only two races left in the series, and they're coming up quick - the State Crit in Northfield on July 4th, and the Hopkins Crit on July 9th. We hope to increase our numbers for the next few races, so encourage your friends and teammates to race!!

Women's Solstice Ride, Wed June 21, 6 pm

2006-06-20T07:03:00.000-07:00

Join the GopherWheelwomen in our 2nd annual women's solstice ride on Wed, June 21. Plan to take off from Minnehaha Circle at 6:00 PM SHARP. We will ride to Rosemount. The weather is forecast to be perfect. Expect a no drop, social ride.

Location: Minnehaha Park, Located at the intersection of Minnehaha and Hiawatha. We will be in the front of the recreation building. If you have questions, send me (Sherry) an email at hieberde@aol.com

MWCMR Race #3: The State Road Race

2006-06-19T12:04:00.000-07:00

It feels like it's been months since the last race in the MWCMR series...but the wait is finally over! This coming Saturday, June 24th, is the State Road Race - race #3 in the MWCMR series. Please join us for 40 miles of hills and fun near Plainview, MN.

And the Cat 4 women will be duking it out for leader's jersey honors since our current leader, Karla Kingsley, has upgraded to a Cat 3 and will no longer be in contention for the overall series win.

The leader's jersey will now go to Gwen Steel - Gwen's now the woman to beat after her impressive TT time during the last MWCMR race! So keep your eye on Gwen in that yellow jersey during this Saturday' road race!

Registration is from 8 am to 9 am, and the race starts at 9:30 am. See the race flyer for directions and details.

We hope to have another great turnout like we did for the Ken Woods road race...so we hope to see you there!!

Cycling Summit - June 13th

2006-06-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

Here's something you don't want to miss: The Yoplait Nouriche Women's Cycling Summit.

It's not a race, but it's an excellent chance to hear pros - including a female NASCAR driver - speak out on their favorite topic, as well as to hear more about grassroots women's cycling programs.

Please spread the word and plan to attend. It should be excellent!

Another New Rider/Racer Group Training Ride: June 8th

2006-06-05T10:25:00.000-07:00

Please note: There are actually two great learning opportunities via group rides this week!

The Gopher Wheelmen have hosted a very successful open women's group ride on the 2nd Thursday of the month, and June 8th is the next date for this ride.

See posting by Sherry on the MCF message board. I'll also copy the note below:

This is a reminder that there is an all women's/no drop training ride on Thursday, June 8th. We will ride the short GW route- 30 miles. We will work on pace line technique, bridging, and jumping.

Plan to take off from County Cycles at 6:05 PM.
2700 Lexinton Ave. N.
Roseville, MN 55113
651-482-9609

Sherry Berde

Open Ride next Tuesday (June 6th)

2006-06-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

The first Tuesday of each month the Birchwood Bike Team hosts an open ride for women. This Tuesday June 6th, in connection with Midwest Women’s Cycling Made Real and for women interested in racing, we will offer a training ride along with our regular no-drop ride. The ride will leave from the Birchwood Café at 6 pm. For directions see:

http://www.birchwoodcafe.com/location/location.htm

The training ride will focus on racing tactics and strategy and there will be a chance to practice pacelines and other aspects of racing. You’ll also have a chance to talk with experienced racers. After the ride, we will eat and socialize at the Birchwood Café.

This is especially for women who are new to racing or those who are thinking about racing. There are some great races coming up in the Cat. 4 (beginner) women’s series sponsored by Midwest Women’s Cycling Made Real:

· June 24 State Championship Road Race, Plainview, MN

· July 4 State Championship Criterium, Northfield, MN

· July 9 Hopkins Criterium, Hopkins, MN

If you have any questions, contact Alix at alexandrakerl(at)yahoo.com

Another Opus Update

2006-05-26T22:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Skibby and the Loon Staters, the last night of Opus will be presented by The Fix...which means massage primes!! That's right, everyone will be sprinting for massages!

As Paula mentioned in the last post, we'd like to get together after the race on Tuesday to chat about the race(s). And to encourage you to show up for our little chat session, MWCMR is going to provide a pizza dinner...delivered to Opus around 7 pm. You won't want to miss this unique opportunity to have free pizza delivered to you minutes after a bike race!!

On a side note, if you're interested in buying a MWCMR t-shirt for only $15, let me know and I can deliver it to you at Opus. All proceeds will go towards our sweet end-of-series awards. They're white t-shirts with the MWCMR logo:

See you Tuesday night!
Sarah

Opus on May 30th

2006-05-23T20:37:00.000-07:00

A brief Opus update from tonight before I get to the fun one next week: 16 racers started. Most primes were shared among Flanders' Teresa and Shana, Velo Bellas Margot and Laurel, Linda from Hollywood, and I may have snagged one somewhere. Final results? I have no idea.

Next up: May 30th Opus. This one's special because the Cat 1/2/3's have informally agreed to stay out of it. So it's essentially the first Cat 4 crit of the season! There's also rumor of bonus primes (small prizes in addition to the normal points system). It'll be 12 laps as usual. Tell your friends; don't miss this one!

Here's an idea: what would you guys think of having an after-race informal discussion on May 30th? I'd call it a clinic but I don't want it to be formal, particularly since I have no coaches lined up yet. We didn't get a chance to do that after Opus #1 so this would be one way to make up for that.

More things are in the works as well, including a pending all-team group ride schedule of 2-3 rides before the next road race. This will give you a chance to work on pacelines and group riding skills. Stay tuned!

Paula

Up next in the series...the State Road Race

2006-05-17T14:41:00.000-07:00

Just as a reminder, here is a list of the remaining races in the MWCMR series:

June 24 State Championship Road Race, Plainview, MN
July 4 State Championship Criterium, Northfield, MN
July 9 Hopkins Criterium, Hopkins, MN

Since we have a little bit of a break in the MWCMR series, be sure to check out the MCF Race Calendar for all of the other races you can do before the State Road Race.

And don't forget about the amateur races that are part of the Great River Energy Bike Festival/Nature Valley Grand Prix. There are two amateur races that Cat 4 Women can do: the St. Paul Time Trial and the Mankato Criterium. Click here for more details. And click here to register for those events.

Still need something else to do? Go check out the Thursday night race series at the velodrome and watch some of the MWCMR participants duke it out on fixed gears! You can even place bets on who's going to win (and win prizes!), kind of like horse racing...minus the horses, jockeys, and roses for the winners....but you get my point. And if you want to heckle, instead of yelling "work together", I highly recommend yelling "turn left".

TT Results & Series Results

2006-05-13T14:18:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Gwen Steel on her win at the TT today...she looks like a total pro in this photo (more photos at www.skinnyski.com). Here are the results from today's TT in the wonderful weather:

1. Gwen Steel 40:43
2. Karla Kingsley 40:46
3. Heidi Hittner 41.53
4. Annie Bakken 42:17
5. Alexandra Kerl 42:56
6. Maria Benson 43:10
7. Maleaha Laski 44:14
8. Krista Straight 45:54
9. Jodi Billy DNF

Rumor has it there was some drama for the Series Leader when she got a flat tire during the TT, but her teammate Jodi came to the rescue by giving up her bike, so Karla remains in the yellow jersey!

Here are the series standings after 2 races:

Bike Club TT: More Notes & Clarification

2006-05-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that at tomorrow's Bike Club TT Challenge the MWCMR event is designated as the 20k distance. Any Cat 4 racer wishing to go the 40k distance is welcome to do so; however, please note that those results will not be included in the overall MWCMR Series.

We know there will be Category 4 riders choosing the 40k distance, and in order to minimize any confusion at registration please be sure to either find the line designated, "Cat 4 Women - 20k - MWCMR," and/or tell the folks at registration that you are indeed a Cat 4 racing the 20k.

Other notes about the course: some gently rolling hills but overall it's fairly flat. It is common to see riders doing their warm-up on a trainer since it is more controlled and very important to get in a good warm-up. If you have a trainer, it's a good idea to bring it.

Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., there is a mandatory meeting at 8:45, and the first rider will go off at 9:00.

We'll have results posted here as soon as we possibly can.

Good Luck!

Last night's track event

2006-05-11T08:39:00.000-07:00

I wanted to thank all of you who came out and participated in the Women's Track Night event last night...we had a great group of riders, and I was very impressed with your track riding skills (and no fear!). I also want to thank track director Bob Williams for his time and help (especially since he's feeling under the weather) and Miranda Gohn for helping out last night too. We hope to see some of you at the track again this summer!!

Women's Track Night

2006-05-09T09:17:00.000-07:00

The Women's Track Night event at the Velodrome is scheduled for tomorrow night...however the weather isn't looking good. Rain will cancel the event. But let's hope for the best!

Directions to the velodrome can be found here. Park in the parking lot on the north side of the velodrome and enter through the gate that will be open on the N-NW side of the velodrome. Walk to the south side of the velodrome and enter through the stairs that go under the velodrome...we'll meet in the center of the velodrome. Bring warm clothes!! For more info, check out the flyer.

Be sure to call the track hotline if it looks like rain: (763) 785-5651. Bob updates the hotline around 5 pm. If we do end up cancelling due to rain, we'll try to re-schedule the event for sometime in June.

We hope to see you tomorrow night at the velodrome!

Bike Club Time Trial Challenge - second race in the series!

2006-05-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

We just wanted to clarify a few things about the upcoming Time Trial Challenge on May 13th in Withrow. There are two races that day - a 20k TT, and a 40k TT. The MWCMR race will be the 20k race (12.4 miles). So when you register, make sure you're signed up for the 20k race as a Cat 4. You may even want to mention that you're doing the MWCMR race just so that there isn't any confusion. You'll most likely get a start time when you register...so make sure you're at the start line BEFORE that time...if you miss your start time, the additional time will be added to your race time (e.g. if you show up 2 minutes late for your start time, you'll have 2 minutes added to your race time).

Here is a little more info from the race promoter regarding the Bike Club TT in Withrow (between Stillwater & White Bear Lake)

Registration: 7:30 - 8:45, 8:45 Mandatory Pre Race Meeting

Registration, parking and awards at Sal’s Angus Grill: 12010 Keystone Ave, Stillwater, MN 55082

Registration fee: $25, (+ $10 for 1-day USA Cycling lisc. if you don't have an annual license)

9:00am start time for the 20Km TT

10am start time for the 40Km TT

After the race, stick around for beer/pop & brats at Sal's (it is FREE with race entry)- Sal's is the restaurant where you register.

1:00pm awards at Sal's: including raffle of Scott TT frame (must be present to win and get prizes from race)

40 Km has 2 divisions, A and B. "A" pays out cash including $300 first prize. "B" pays out prizes to top 5, with prizes including HED wheels & Clip-on aero Bars, Shimano Wheels, Shimano Carbon shoes, Castelli Clothing! 20Km has just one class and pays out prizes, same as B class in 40Km. Obviously, separate mens and womens categories too.

DIRECTIONS: Hwy 36 east towards Stillwater, exit on Manning, head north to 122nd, turn left, race will be on your left after about 2 miles.

Any Questions Call Now Sports ( 651-644-2354) and talk to Bob S.

Important Info!!

2006-05-02T20:12:00.000-07:00

The Black Dog Time Trial series starts on May 3rd! These are great races for beginners...it's just you against the clock! The Women's categories at Black Dog are "Open" (any age; bike can have aerobars), "Stock" (any age; bikes are "stock" - no aero equipment & 24 spoke minimum per wheel), and Master's 35+ (your racing age must be 35 or above..bikes can be aero or stock). Just a note that since Black Dog is a series and gives overall series prizes at the end of the season, it's best to do the same category (Open, Stock, or Master's) for each Black Dog TT if you plan on doing all of them. All USCF rules apply at Black Dog - so make sure you have your helmet on at all times (even while warming up) and make sure you're wearing a jersey with sleeves.
The Avon Road Race this weekend has a women's Cat 4 only race, and it's the first Rider of the Year (ROY) event. Please note: contrary to any previous information we may have provided about ROY, there WILL be a ROY competition for Cat 4 women. MWCMR will NOT replace ROY- instead, we get two competitions for Cat 4's this year...very cool. Click here for more info about ROY. All ROY races are flagged (they're highlighted in blue and they say "ROY") on the MCF race calendar.
The Lilydale Time Trial is also this weekend (Sunday) and it's also a ROY event! So it's a great weekend to get to know our friend ROY...these are great events, and we highly encourage everyone to get out and do them.
Women's Track Night is next Wednesday, May 10th at the velodrome! There's no need to RSVP, just show up at the track. The flyer has most of the information you'll need, but if you have questions, send Sarah an e-mail or post a comment on this blog. Please note that we can't ride at the track if it's raining, so rain will cancel the event...check the track hotline for a cancellation - the hotline is usually updated by 5 pm.

Racing season is in full swing and it's so exciting to see so many women out racing this year!

Ken Woods Results (Congrats and Thanks!)

2006-04-30T10:01:00.000-07:00

We want to congratulate and thank everyone who showed up for Ken Woods yesterday! 35 women finished the race!! That's the largest Cat 4 field we've ever seen here in MN, so thank you for supporting the MWCMR series and women's cycling, and congratulations for finishing a race in less than ideal weather conditions!!

Now on to the results. Congratulations to Karla Kingsley (Velo Bella) for winning the race, and going home with the MWCMR leader's jersey. Maria Benson (Birchwood) was 2nd, and Amber Riopel (Alan) was 3rd. The picture here is of Karla (in her leader's jersey) and Maria...we couldn't find Amber. Here are the results from Ken Woods (please see the previous post for an explanation of the series points):

Place	First Name	Last Name	Points
1	Karla	Kingsley	100
2	Maria	Benson	95
3	Amber	Riopel	90
4	Camilla	Schmitz	85
5	Gwen	Steel	80
6	Ann	Lembezeder	75
7	Ann	Moyer	72
8	Molly	McAvoy	70
9	Ellen	Anderson	68
10	Annie	Bakken	66
11	Paula	Bohte	64
12	Sarah	Stratton	62
13	Alexandra	Kerl	60
14	Heidi	Douglass	58
15	Liz	Tredinnick	58
16	Julee	Taylor	25
17	Colleen	Gegen	25
18	Nicole	Moen	25
19	Ann	Stern	25
20	Amy	Wessman	25
21	Jodi	Billy	25
22	Linda	Stone	25
23	Sharon	Abel	25
24	Kelsey	Bakken	25
25	Michele	McVenes	25
26	Adeline	Byrne	25
27	Jessica	Wittwer	25
28	Tracy	Bergemann	25
29	Katie	Mix	25
30	Lindsey	Hillesheim	25
31	Mia	Jenneman	25
32	Karen	Snyder	25
33	Alissa	Vann	25
34	Allison	Kendall	25
35	Benita	Warns	25

Next up in the MWCMR Series...the Withrow Time Trial on May 13th. However, in the meantime, the nice people at Loon State are offering a Cat 4 Women's field for the Avon Road Race next weekend...so while it's not part of the MWCMR series, let's continue to support those races that have Cat 4 only fields!!

MWCMR points system explained

2006-04-30T09:55:00.000-07:00

How many points do I get for each race?

It depends on how high you finish. The top finishers of a race get the most points, and all finishers get a decreasing amount of points. We want ALL of the women to feel competitive in the Series so they will keep racing, so all participants get points just for finishing. The top 15 finishers of a race get the most points, but all finishers get at least 25 points. Here's the point breakdown:

1 - 100 pts
2 - 95
3 - 90
4 - 85
5 - 80
6 - 75
7 - 72
8 - 70
9 - 68
10 - 66
11 - 64
12 - 62
13 - 60
14 - 58
15 - 58
16+ - 25

Ken Woods - first race of the MWCMR series!

2006-04-27T07:55:00.000-07:00

Okay ladies, since the first race of the MWCMR series (Ken Woods Road Race), is almost upon us, we wanted to point out a few things:

Sogn Valley, the location of the race, is about 40 miles from the Twin Cities (depending on where you're coming from of course). Allow at least an hour of travel time.
GopherWheelmen have posted a course map, so check it out.
Bring warm clothes (and possibly rain gear)!
They'll line us up for the race just before 9 am...make sure you're at the start line. Just FYI, they'll be lining up a few other races at the same time.
Points are awarded based on your finishing position. We will try to have the MWCMR series points posted here by Sunday evening sometime. We will only be able to award points based on the results provided by the officials (for example, if the officials only provide results 5 people deep, we can only provide MWCMR results 5 people deep...we'll encourage the officials to provide as many results as possible). Remember that you only have 15 minutes AFTER the official results are posted at the race to appeal any results that you think are incorrect. After that 15-minute period, they are OFFICIAL and cannot be changed (except under the direction of the chief referee).
If you're the lucky woman who crosses the finish line first, you'll be awarded the leader's jersey after the results are official. Please go to registration to pick up the leader's jersey. The leader's jersey should be worn at the next MWCMR race which is the Withrow Time Trial on May 13th.
Have fun! And if this is your first race, send us an e-mail or post a comment and let us know how it went!

Good luck ladies!

Quick Review: Opus # 2

2006-04-26T19:39:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the diligent efforts and hard work by the Loon State Cycling Club, the Opus series continued last night with some changes in the standard operating procedure as noted on Loon State's website and the MCF message board.

This week it was 19 women that gathered for the neutral roll-out toward the starting line. The weather was nearly perfect: mid to low 50's and sunny with very low wind. Roughly half the field were Cat 4's and half were Cat 1/2/3's. Again it was the first-ever race for at least a couple Cat 4's - Congrats!

From the gun (er, the whistle..) the pace was strong, with some surges and attacks leading up to the sprint primes, but no breakaway attempts were successful. Going into the final sprint the group had dwindled to perhaps a dozen racers as Teresa Moriarty took 1st (FlandersCat 1), Paula Plant took 2nd (Birchwood Cat 2), and Ann Hansgate was 3rd(U of M Cat 3) according to the preliminary results. For the 2nd week in a row Annie Bakken (Birchwood) was the first Cat 4 to cross the finish line.

Only 3 more days until the first road race of the series, the Ken Woods Memorial Road Race. Line up your carpool, inspect your bike & gear, do some laundry, and plan for pasta tomorrow night. We're just getting started!

Intro to Women's Racing Clinic at The Hub

2006-04-26T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Hub Bike Co-op is having a Spring Bike Expo this weekend, April 28-30. At 1pm on Sunday, April 30th, Alix of the Hub and Birchwood fame will be leading an "Intro to Women's Racing" clinic. Alix will be introducing racing concepts, strategy, training tips, different types of races, and how to get ready on the day of the race. The Expo is Friday 10-9PM, Saturday 9-6pm and Sunday 11-6pm. See http://thehubbikecoop.org/ for more details.

Women Who Ride cycling clinic

2006-04-24T19:04:00.000-07:00

I've put together a cycling clinic called Women Who Ride- for beginning
recreational or fitness road riders who want to gain some confidence
and skill on their bike. We'll tackle changing flats, bike adjustments,
climbing hills, cornering, basic group riding skills, and the like.

Last year we had a small but strong turnout, this year I'd like to keep
things "rolling". Dates are May 11th (Hyland Lake Park Reserve), 16th
(Baker Park Reserve)and 23rd (Elm Creek Park Reserve), 5:30-8:30p.m. $18

If you know of anyone who may be interested PLEASE let them know. They
can call or email me at French Regional Park at (763)694-7723 or
lsundberg@... to find out more. Or check out
www.threeriversparkdistrict.org/recreation/women.cfm
for Women Who Ride, and all kinds of other cool women's programs!

Thanks,
Laurel

Durand race recap

2006-04-23T17:52:00.000-07:00

31 women lined up for yesterday's road race at Durand!! A few women were doing their first race again...and this was a tough course for even the seasoned veterans! The women had to do two laps of the 13.5 mile course that had a lot of short steep climbs, and one large climb. Due to all of the hills, the race broke up fast and a small group got off the front, while there were a lot of other small groups working together behind the leaders. The race came down to a three-women sprint between Lieselot Decroix (Velo Bella), Jenna Zander (Cannondale), and Ann Hansgate (U of M). In the end, Hansgate was the first to cross the line, with Zander second, and Decroix 3rd.

Congratulations to all of you who did your first race...that really was a tough one and was great training for the first race of the MWCMR series next weekend! We hope to see you all at Ken Woods and we look forward to seeing who ends up in the MWCMR leader's jersey!!

Sarah

Opus Race Report

2006-04-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

Twenty-two riders lined up for the start of the Opus criterium series in Minnetonka last night - an exciting new record in attendance, surpassing last year's opening by over 50%! The race started off at a reasonable pace but escalated quickly on the 3rd lap in anticipation for the sprint prime. It was Velo Bella, U of M, and Birchwood placing 1, 2, and 3 in the sprint prime. These three formed a breakaway immediately after the sprint prime and continued to increase the gap throughout the 4th and 5th laps. After the 7th lap it was clear the break would stick (but do you think they'd let up?? no, they kept hammering). About 12-15 women still remained in the main field, and since the sprint points on lap 6 were taken by the breakaway of 3, there was no need for the main field to sprint until the last lap...the sprint for 4th place and up. Final results of the night: (1st) Ann Hansgate (Cat 3, U of M) , (2nd) Lieselot DeCroix (Cat 2, Velo Bella) , and (3rd) Paula Plant (Cat 2, Birchwood). The field sprint included (4th) Maria Stewart (Cat 2, U of M/Velo Bella), (5th) Shana Sturla (Cat 2, Flanders), (6th) Kris Musser (Cat 3, GopherWheelmen), and Annie Bakken (Birchwood) was the top Cat 4 racer finishing 7th. Full results should be posted on Loon State's website soon. Congratulations to all of you who did your first race and/or crit last night...we know there were at least 4 or 5 of you! The first one's always the hardest, so just hang in there.

Unfortunately the remaining races of the night were canceled by police order. Stay tuned for status updates regarding next week's Opus Crit. At this point its future is uncertain.

All photos courtesy of www.skinnyski.com (check out all of the photos).

This just in from the Opus race promoter:

Loon State Cyclists, the Minnetonka Police Department and City of Minnetonka are currently working on a solution that fits the needs of both the cyclists and the motorists in the Opus Business Park that we use for the Tuesday Night Opus Criterium Race series. We have had contact with the Chief of Police and Captain, and they are both willing to work with us to ensure sustainability of a weekly race series at the Opus location. The next step is to speak to the head of Community Development, whom is unavailable until Monday. Thus, we will not know until then what the solution will be to continue racing at Opus. We will send out a message on the status of next Tuesday's race and the remainder of the series once we have a firm plan. I thank you all for your continued patience in this manner. I am confident we will be able to come up with a solution that keeps us racing at Opus.

Kevin Schaeffer

Clarification about Opus

2006-04-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

We've had a few questions about Opus tonight, so we thought we should post a clarification. The women's race is an "Open" race (all categories race together) and it starts at 6:25 pm tonight. Registration is from 5 pm to 6:15 pm in the Einstein Bagels parking lot. The registration line can be long, so try to be there at least a little early. And if you really want to speed things up, print out a "rider release form" and bring it along. Don't forgot your license and $10 for your entry fee! And if you haven't purchased an annual license yet, bring an extra $10 for a one-day license.

After the race, try to find some others who raced and chat about it. It can be hard sometimes because some people are cooling down, some people leave right away, and the next race starts right after the women's race. So we'll try to post some sort of a brief race report after the race.

See you at Opus!

Durand Road Race - 4/22/06

2006-04-13T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's true: the MCF site is currently down.

In the absence of the handy race calendar that's usually accessible from the MCF site, here's a couple reminders for events that are coming up soon. I'm not sure if the links will work but give 'em a shot, it's hard to find them without being linked to the mcf board:

1. Opus Criterium, hosted by Loon State Cycling Club:
The start date is next week on Tuesday, 4/18. If you get there by 6:00 to register I think you'll be good (start time is 6:25 p.m.)

2. Durand Road Race: this is not part of the MWCMR series but that doesn't mean it's not worth going to. Personally, I really like this one. It's a fun course with a lot of rolling hills on a 13-mile loop. The women's race is 2 laps. There's one somewhat-significant hill on the back stretch ~3 miles from the start/finish line from what I recall. It's Amish country so you might have to pass a horse/buggy. Ask the official how that works with the centerline rule. I have no idea but I have to assume you're OK to pass at that point (?). I received the following email regarding it (preregistration is available and I think it's $10 cheaper compared to the day of the race):

*****
There's still time to register! Come join us for the Durand Road Race 2006, scheduled for 4/22/06. If you have not yet registered for this event the online registration will close 4/20. So move fast and register today! (If you have already registered for this year's event please disregard this message).

What else? Ken Woods Memorial Road Race on 4/29. You have to have this one on your calendar.

We'll post more updates as the dates get closer. Questions? let us know!

Clinic Recaps

2006-04-09T15:08:00.000-07:00

Some notes on yesterday and today...

First - outstanding turnout. We couldn't be happier with the level of interest we're seeing. This is truly going to be a fun year in women's cycling! There were around 30 women that attended the classroom clinic on Saturday, and 20 women participated in Loon State's clinic today at Opus.

Second - we'll take whatever feedback you can offer to improve on either clinic for next year. Don't be shy; we take constructive criticism well, believe me.

One question from today was, "Instead of hugging the curve (shortly after the start, where the road makes an 'S') can I just ride it straight?" This would bring you into the righthand lane. The anwer is yes, you are certainly free to do that and often it's a good time/place to pass people. However - you need to be aware of riders on your right side that might expect you to follow the curve of the road that veers left. If you're doing this there should be no one on your right or you might take them out.

Speaking of which, safety considerations. Everyone did an excellent job today and we all stayed upright. Priority #1 accomplished: Stay safe. Ride assertively and even aggressively if you want to, but don't take unnecessary risks. Assume there is someone right on your wheel.

As suggested today, we'll have an informal post-race discussion after next Tuesday's Opus Crit. Feel free to stick around and ask questions about what happened or what you should have done in a given situation. Opus is nice because it's short and low-key, but a lot can happen and you'll be able to learn a lot in a short amount of time.

Again, feedback on the clinic(s) would be appreciated.

See you next week!

April 8th Clinic Agenda

2006-04-05T12:43:00.000-07:00

Here is an approximate agenda for Saturday's Women's Beginner Racing Clinic. And just FYI, the clinic will NOT be longer than 2.5 - 3 hrs! I know the flyer says 8 am - Noon, but we will not need that much time. A continental breakfast will be provided by the Birchwood Cafe.

Intro to MWCMR
Types of races and explanations (TT's, crits, road races, circuit races, stage races, track races)
Group-riding/racing basics described
Basic racing/team tactics/rules
What to expect at registration
Miscellaneous: Primes, prizes, upgrades, how to contact a team and/or find other women to ride/race with, officials, race results and appealing results, etc.
Q & A
Velodrome tour for those who are interested

Please RSVP for the April 8th clinic!!

2006-03-27T14:36:00.000-08:00

Please RSVP for the April 8th MWCMR clinic using the poll on the MCF message board:

Click here to go directly to the MCF board to RSVP

You will have to log in to the MCF board to vote (don't want random people voting!). If this will be your first time logging-in, you will need to create a new account. Sorry for the inconvenience, but we want to know how many people plan on showing up so that the room is big enough and we have enough food!

We're looking forward to the clinic!
Sarah & Paula

April 8th and 9th Beginner Racer Clinics

2006-03-21T19:06:00.000-08:00

Saturday, April 8th, classroom session at the National Sports Center in Blaine
8 am - Noon in the classroom next to the main office (directions to NSC)

Sunday, April 9th, at the Opus Industrial Complex in Minnetonka
1 pm, registration at Einstein Bagels parking lot (Hwy 62 & Shady Oak Rd)
Classroom session and outdoor riding session

Welcome to MWCMR!

2006-02-02T20:06:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Midwest Women's Cycling Made Real!

Attention: Women Cyclists!

Do you enjoy riding fast?

Have you ever thought about racing?

If the answer is yes, this is the year to give racing a try!

2006 marks the beginning of the Midwest Women's Cycling Made Real (MWCMR) Initiative, a grassroots program designed to introduce more women to the fun of road racing. If you enjoy riding and are looking for a little competition in a fun, supportive environment, then MWCMR is for you. We’ll teach you what you need to know to get started!

FREE Preseason Clinics – April 8^th & 9^th

Saturday, April 8^th – Enjoy a free continental breakfast while you listen to some of the top coaches in the Midwest explain the sport. These folks have coached hundreds of beginning racers and will tell you everything that you need to know, from how to train to what to bring on race day to what to expect in your first race. You’ll also meet representatives from clubs around the Twin Cities that are welcoming to women. More info soon!

When: 8 am – Noon, Saturday, April 8^th

Where: National Sports Center in Blaine (Directions)

Sunday, April 9^th – Time to ride! We’ll be participating in the Loon State Cycling Club’s riding clinic. We’ll learn the basics like how to register, then try some low-key practice racing on a very easy circuit course. You’ll be part of a women’s only group, no one will be left behind, and we’ll have plenty of coaching.

When/Where/Directions: Check the MCF Race Calendar

Also join us for Women's Track Night on Wednesday, May 10^th, at the Velodrome (NationalSports Center in Blaine) for an introduction to track riding and racing.

The Season!

We've organized a series just for Category 4 racers! Category 4 is the level at which every woman racer starts. These races are held separately from the races for elite amateurs in Categories 1/2/3. You'll race ONLY with other Category 4 women. These will be low-key races with plenty of socializing before and after the race.

April 29 Ken Woods Memorial Road Race, Cannon Falls, MN

May 13 Bike Club Time Trial Challenge, Withrow, MN

June 24 State Championship Road Race, Plainview, MN

July 9 Hopkins Criterium, Hopkins, MN

State Championship Criterium (date & location TBD)

Cycling Made Real is a nationally recognized program new to the Metro area this year, with proven success in many other regions throughout the country. The momentum and support from local women’s cycling clubs and racing teams has never been greater than now, which is a great reason to make 2006 the year you check out racing!

For more information visit: www.mcf.net

Questions? Wish to be added to the email list? Please contact:

Sarah Stratton at sarah.stratton@gmail.com

or Paula Plant at pjplant89x@yahoo.com