my june in bike racing

(Fletch and I)

Instead of bore you all with the day by day weekly details of every bike race that I do (which there are a lot) I thought I'd just rather share some images and highlights from each one. A monthly condensed review ya know? Because well, unless you are my mom or "sig o" you probably really don't want to know the minor details of every event (honestly, my "sig o" probably doesn't want to hear them all either... but I tell her anyways and my mom mostly probably wished I told her more -ps mom, I promise I'll call you sometime soon! I swear!).

6/7 - Monday PIR

I always say that I won't start racing PIR (Portland International Raceway) Monday Nights till June each year because let's face it, the summer racing season is long and sometimes boring and it's hard to not get burned out way too early. Racing on Monday nights actually starts in April, but the weather is usually crap till June. So, needless to say I took Monday nights off April-June to do things like teach spin class and travel to europe. You know, little things like that. Anyways, by the time I finally got around to making it out to PIR, amazingly, the rain had subsided and warm spring like conditions had come round. On Monday June 7th a record crowd of twenty six women came out to race. And, while I worked really hard to chase down attacks and pull my fair share, it didn't pan out in the end. Going into the final sprint the only thing that happened for me was everyone in the whole wide word passing me. Afterwards, a rider on another team thanked me for the leadout I gave her. Depressed at my sub-par performance, I went home and vowed that my motto for the year should be "race smarter, not harder".

(here I am doing waaay too much work)

6/11 - Fast Twitch Fridays

That week I also went out to the velodrome on Friday to participate in Fast Twitch Fridays. Happily, this time unlike all of last year there were actually more than two other people in the novice category to race against! And granted, there may be some debate to if two of those girls were actually novice, but I was happy to just get to try my hand at several other types of races as last year all I ever raced were match sprints. Anyways, I put up the points when I needed to and as a result won the novice category for the night. Sadly, I love the track... but sometimes my social calendar doesn't exactly permit me to race out there on most Friday nights. I know there are other nights to race at Alpenrose, but I'm a busy girl and some nights are soccer nights, spin nights, and softball nights. Call me a jock, it's okay... as long as you don't call me a dumb jock.

(another Friday night at the bar)

6/14 - Monday PIR

Anyways, after the disappointing show at PIR the week prior I sent my team an email urging for some more BTV representation. And well, I guess if you ask for it, they won't let you down. Pretty much, most of our women who are racing and not injured came out... even Amy and Michelle who haven't raced since giving birth last year came out! I was such a happy camper, never before had I raced with so many of my teammates... we had eight women out there and the sight of a mass orange crush kinda sent some shivers down the spine of others. And, we didn't just look sharp, we acted sharp too! Anne and I had a nice break with some other ladies that stayed for a while. However, in due time the pack caught up. We had some awesome sprint points too. Going into the final sprint, it was a BTV sweep of the podium with Fletch edging out 1st, me in 2nd, and Anne taking 3rd. Oregon Cycling Action got such a great photo of that happening, that it even managed to make it to the OBRA.org website main page and stay up there even to this day (three weeks later). Afterwards, we had some team building things to work on... but overall it was a great experience and I loved seeing all my teammates out racing together.

(the front page of the obra site)

(btv women in full effect)

6/21 Monday PIR

On this Monday PIR, only Fletch and I made it out but we worked together pretty well. Most of the race was pretty uneventful but Fletch took one of the sprints and I rounded up with 2nd and 3rd in the other two. Fletch even had a really nice break for awhile. I was really tempted to chase her down since that's what I'm conditioned to do, but then I remembered she's on my own team and well, I let her go. When everyone had finally all caught up again and going into the final sprint, Fletch and I got into a really nice position and she gave me a stellar lead-out behind some Sorella girls that I took all the way to the line for the win. As Fletch sent me off, she even had some encouraging words, like "get in your DROPS!!!!" because I do usually tend to forget. Anyways, it was a great day for racing, I felt really strong and turbo charged and think I raced pretty smart too. Overall, I was pretty pleased. ;)

(all the sprints were about this close)

6/26 - Swan Island Crit

Small secret, after placing third in the Cherry Blossom Crit for the Cat4's I actually upgraded; however, everyone kinda missed that. I mean, granted... I hadn't raced in a categorized road race since and it's not like it was a huge deal or announcement, but the funniest thing about showing up at the Swan Island Crit while the Cat 4's were racing, is the amount of comments I got from people (even random strangers) about why I wasn't out there racing. The easiest answer was the truth, that I had upgraded... but it was still quite amusing at the confused people. Deep honest jennlevo truth here: this was the most nervous I think I've ever been before a race. Even though it was very comforting not really caring how I placed or having anything on the line in regards to results... it was the unknown factor. This race would be my first race as a Cat 3 and the first race I'd ever raced with "the big girls", you know, the Pro Cat 1 & 2's... all scored together with us Cat 3's. Granted, several of them I face and see quite frequently out at PIR... but a crit, esp a 45 min crit (I've never raced a cirt that long).. I was shitting my pants a little prior. No joke. Going into lining up at the start, I got a nice little pat on the back from having my name announced on the loudspeaker prior to the race (that's never happened) so that actually calmed me down a little and gave me a little boost of confidence.

Going into the race, my main concern was about conservation... I didn't want to get too far back from the front... but at the same time I didn't really want to go out for any of the sprints and wear myself out. So, I just kinda tucked in and played it cool... watching everyone else and figuring out who would be the best wheels to follow going into the final bit. So, going into that final lap... I found myself in a place I did not want to be. For fear of getting boxed in and not being able to sprint, I made a quick maneuver and got to a happy place. Going into the final turn I was about five people off the back and sprinting for the line. All of the sudden, I saw a rush of yellow zoom past me in a mad dash to the finish. When I realized it track champion Heather Van Valkenburg I felt a little bit better about getting beat out of 6th place. Anyways, as it was a points based race I actually got bumped back to 8th for the final placing, but out of 21 strong riders... I'm not complaining at all.

(one of the best parts about the Swan Island Crit was the Ironclad cheering section)

6/28 - Monday PIR

Going into this race, I had a slightly unsettling and uneasy feeling that I may be in the lead (or at least tied for the lead) in monthly points. It's not that I didn't want to be in the lead (no, hell... I WANT the green Castelli jersey that goes to the monthly winners), but up to that point I really hadn't been paying attention. I had just been racing my bike, doing well and having fun. However, now I found myself a marked woman. I didn't want to be a marked woman and I especially didn't want to be a marked woman without a posse to support me. I mean yes, most of the races I've ever done it's been a solo effort on my part... but it's not like anyone ever really payed attention to me. Here, on the converse though, I had a whole team of Sorella's who had had rallied and marked me for demise ;) and at the same time I had a handful of other riders I was watching out for and wanted to beat. And despite everyone's efforts in the race, thanks to a crappy group of mens' riders obscuring and mucking with our final sprint, I didn't do what I wanted to do. I didn't move to where I wanted to be - so, I got 8th place, 4 points, and lost the jersey. On that note, I don't think Sorella did want they wanted to either. I think the underdog and solo rider Daphne won and I'm really happy for her as she's really strong and has placed well in all of the sprints.

I think when it comes down to it, my head got the best of me in this race. I spent too much time worrying and thinking about what other people were doing and as a result, I didn't race the race I wanted to race. I got psyched out. I tried to play it too safe and lost out on the points I needed to keep my lead in the end. As well, I am always a fan of the underdog, the coming from behind victory. Give me the lead for once and I don't know what to do with it. It's like those big elephants who give birth and are so anxious and afraid to break their babies, they sit on them and crush them to death (granted, that may be a weird analogy, but shut up - it works). Anyways, I'll have to work on that. I still have the months of July and August ahead. I just need to relax, not worry, and not count points. I mean, I'm out here for fun right? Life is too short to get wrapped up in the PIR World Championships or anything like that, but then again why in the hell do I spend $15 every week to race if I'm not going to try to give it my all?

Honestly, I don't race my bike for fitness and fun. If I wanted to stay fit and have fun I'd watch Ellen on the treadmill at the gym. I mean, don't get me wrong... I'm not out for blood or anything, bike racing isn't everything and most of the time I'll choose sleeping-in and brunch over riding my bike, and it's not like I'm going pro or earning any money from this, but having said all of that, I race because I like to "race" and I love the "competition"... and I unabashedly don't think there is anything wrong with that. July, here I come.

(many a photo credit to Pat Malach of Oregon Cycling Action)

worst case scenario

I was thinking not too terribly long ago about how when we were children, our parents and our schools would put emergency action plans into place. Growing up in Ohio, the biggest threat were tornados, so if one happened to hit while we were at school or at the house, the Levo’s had a plan for action. When I worked at summer camp... in case of fire, every counselor had a task and a responsibility to make sure that our campers would be safe and accounted for. However, now I am in my 30’s and I find myself living as a pretty much single girl in the earthquake friendly zone of the Pacific Northwest, aside from my dog ... there is no one in 2000 plus miles that I have a direct responsibility to take care of. No kids, no parents, no spouses... nobody. Okay, I do have a sig other; but basically, there is no mom or dad waiting for me at home, expecting a phone call to tell them I’m okay.

Overtime, I’ve come to realize that my friends who live in town with me, especially the ones who live closest to me, are my family, and many of us are in the same boat. Aside from sig others, we have no legitimate spouses, no kids, and no one to really make sure that we are accounted for in an emergency. True, this is rather depressing and we could choose to sit around and be depressed about our impeding doom or we could decide to put an emergency action plan into place.

In light of recent earthquakes in China, Haiti and in South America... all the reports and readings say that the Pacific Northwest is ripe for the next biggest earthquake. This is something that is very real and very likely to happen, more so than Mt. Hood or St. Helen’s erupting again. And the thing is, unlike midwest tornados... you never really know when an earthquake could happen. True, the ground may shake a little prior... but you don’t get a watch or a warning. And more often than not, you don’t have time to move to a safe place. You could spend all your time and money building an earthquake proof office or home, but just watch the ground start shaking as you’re sitting on the double decker Marquam Bridge, during rush hour. Basically, there is so much we can’t plan for when it comes to earthquakes... but if we survive the initial quake, the steps we can take afterwards can help us survive everything else that also follows.

So, I suggest that if you are like me and your friends are your family and you live in an urban area prone to any kind of natural disaster.. or unnatural disaster... get together with those people closest to you and play the “what if game”. Here are some steps to help you and your loved ones come up with your own emergency action plan.

PLAN FOR THE WORST:
In Portland’s scenario... the earthquake would most likely hit while I was downtown at work. Ideally, I’d want to get home, however I live on the other side of the river from where I work, so this may prove more difficult than I can really imagine at this time. I figure the chances of the bridges still being up and stable are very slim. So, depending on what the water conditions are like with debris, I’d try to swim it. This may not be the best idea, but it’s one that I’m going to play by ear when the time comes.

HAVE A PRE-PLANNED MEETING SPOT:

Keep in mind that most of the local phone lines would most likely be jammed so using your cell to call your friends and loved ones would be out of the question. This is why you and your friends (who live closest to you ideally), should decide on a neutral meeting location. Ideally, this place should be a park or lot that would be free from unsafe structures, light poles, big trees, or anything that could possibly come down during the earthquake or aftershocks. Also, note that during total and mass destruction, familiar landmarks and signs may not be around anymore. Make sure that it’s a place thats easy to find regardless of familiar surroundings. (If one of your friends works near you, also having a meeting place close-by work would be a good PLAN A).

HAVE A FLEXIBLE TIME TABLE:

Be aware that you and your friends may work in different parts of the city, so keep in mind that not everyone will get there at about the same time. So allow for a wide time gap for everyone to meet up (I’d say something like five hours would be safe for mostly everyone to be able to make it).

HOUSE HUNTING:

After everyone meets up, this would be a good time to swing by everyone’s residences to check things out, especially if you have pets. I’d suggest if it’s not too much trouble, that people go to do this as a group, for teamwork you know. However, keep in mind that after an earthquake is a very dangerous time to go crawling around in buildings as they may be structurally unsafe; so, even if you have a group of four or five, I’d suggest that only go in one person at a time. This way, in case the building falls, only one person is trapped and the rest can help. If the building seems to be sound, don’t spend a lot of time in it, but quickly go in and try to round up your earthquake kit.

WHAT? AN EARTHQUAKE KIT?
You don’t have an earthquake kit? Well... this might be a good time to put one together. Basically, this is the kind of survival stuff you’re gonna need when the shit hits the fan. Remember that in times of emergency, you’ve got to plan for things like running water to not be working, for there to not be food to buy, no gas or electricity for several days afterwards. Experts recommend that you make at least three identical emergency kits. Store one at home, one at your workplace, and one in your car. That way... regardless of where you are during the quake, there are the chances one is nearby. Things like rubbermaid containers and backpacks are good places to store this such kit. (Personally, I have a tupperware container which also doubles as my camping kit as many of the things that I use for camping, are also the things that I’d use for an emergency. On that note, it’s a good idea that if you have a big camping kit in your house, to throw in a few more emergency items and store it some place easily accessible.)

Ideas of what to place in your kit:

• Water and food to last at least three days (your car trunk is a handy place for these bulky items).

• Water purification tablets or backpacking filters

• Heavy-duty gloves

• A first-aid kit

• Cash (automated teller machines and banks may be shut down following a quake)

• Family photos and descriptions (to aid emergency personnel in finding missing people) as well as copies of any important documents.

• A flashlight and portable (or solar-powered) radio

• Extra batteries

• Goggles and dust mask

• A personal commode with sanitary bags

Nearby your main emergency kit in your house is where you should also keep any tents, sleeping bags, camping tableware, camping stove type items as well. Other items to have on hand would be any axes or shovels, matches, rope, warm clothing, rain gear, bandanas, disposable camera, duct tape, plastic sheeting or tarps, heavy duty plastic bags.

For food, it’s a good idea to also have on hand dry goods, like crackers and cereals, instant soups, coffee, evaporated milk and “just add water” dishes that can be sealed up tightly in ziploc or other plastic containers. Even if you don’t use much canned food, it’s excellent to have on hand for these occasions. Just make sure you’ve got a manual can opener and to include items that can be eaten cold. Another item to always make sure you have plenty of is water. Remember that if you don’t have a shut-off valve on your tap water, it will be contaminated within 12 hours. The best thing to do is buy a bunch in bulk and keep it in a hall closet or garage... someplace that it will be easy to access when you need it. Remember that if you have pets, you’ll need to be able to provide for them too.

If the earthquake hits while at home, the most important thing is stay clam, but to get out of the house quickly. From there... proceed with the other steps of gathering your stuff and your friends. I'd grab a few basic items and then go meet your friends. From here, you can go back to your house later and hopefully if you need to move into a tent city, you’ll have the proper tools to ensure your comfort and make sure you and your friends are safe till you can get further assistance. As well, when you get a chance you should probably call your parents in Ohio to let them you're okay. I'm sure they'll be worried when they hear about it on the news.

Also, for more earthquake tips... check out this cool site out of earthquake usa capitol, San Francisco.

color me bright

Part two of a photo blog regarding my recent trip to Scandinavia. Part one can be seen here.

One thing that has always amazed me about our Nordic neighbors, is how brightly all their buildings seem to be painted. I don't know if it's a reprieve from those dark long winter nights or a uniform housing code... but regardless if you're in the country or in the city, if it's an old barn or a new house... so many structures are wearing a beautiful bright coat of color.

In Sweden especially, most of the buildings are painted a deep red with stark white trim. I learned that this color of red is called Falu red, and it came as a by product from the abundance of local copper. Not only was falu red cheap and accessible, but it was great at preserving wood. If a building was not painted red, then it usually was a creamy golden or white hue. Back in the day, people painted their buildings those colors because that was what they had... but even these days, when pretty much everyone has access to every color of paint in the rainbow (and beyond), people still chose to paint their buildings in the classic historical colors. I personally love that. I love that when driving through the countryside there is just this uniform look to things. I mean, granted it might be a little hard to give directions if you say "my house is the cute red one on the left"... but I'm sure even if you find the wrong house, you'll find some wonderful people inside.

Really, from the three times I've been to Scandinavia (and Sweden especially), it really does feel as if you walked into a giant IKEA. Everything is well designed, there is no trash, the kids are all rosy cheeked, beautiful healthy people are eating meatballs, and no matter how hard you try - you just can't figure out how to take it all home with you.

at the farm, Sweden

at the farm, Sweden

the new guest house at the farm

Uppsala, Sweden

summer cottage in Norrtälje, Sweden

Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen, Denmark

Reykjavik, Iceland

Five for Summer

It's funny because off the top of my head I can't tell you what music I'm really looking forward to for the summer. My summer soundtrack is one that is more often than not... played in reverse. It's a song that comes across my speakers deep in the winter and takes me back to some bright summer day, or some hot summer night ;) It's a song and a moment that is only realized months after it happens. Nevertheless, these are five songs that I would say at some point or another, have been songs of the summer for me as well as being generally good songs to drive out to the beach with. So, feel free to add these to your summer playlist... and while you're at it... turn off the AC, roll down the windows, and stick your arms out the window like airplane wings... and soar along with the landscape quickly passing by you in the summer breeze.

No Woman No Cry - Bob Marley

Closer to Fine - Indigo Girls

Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel

Sloop John B - Beach Boys

Rolling Sea - Vetiver

BONUS: Something Like That - Tim McGraw

bike menagerie

Hello friends!

Guess what, as you can probably tell by this post I am back from my travels abroad and as much as I love traveling and adventure, I do love coming home. Especially when there are friendly faces and warm greetings to welcome you. Anyways, the highlight of every trip for me is always taking photos. In fact, I think I had well over a 1,000 images from this 12 day trip (probably even more if my camera wouldn't have died 3/4th of the way through)... but anyways. Instead of one massive blog about my trip, I think I'll just share a few select themes here and there and post related photos.

So, this post is about the bikes I saw on some of my travels.

Outside of Portland Oregon (and Minneapolis perhaps) almost in no other place will you see more bikes for everyday use than you'll find in Scandinavia. I thought it was interesting to look at the bikes people seemed to use for everyday use and compare them what we have here. So... this is a little photo blog about bikes. Enjoy!

SWEDEN:

All over Sweden, the type of bike I saw the most were the typical "city bike" style. Heavy, clunky, slow but an upright riding style which makes it easy to go everywhere in your everyday work clothes. I only saw two people riding anything different. Those two people were also the only people I saw on "road bikes" and they were also the only two other people I found wearing spandex (and team kits).

very green: it's got an interesting tube out to the side under the back cargo rack - which I'm not sure what you'd use that for.

a bicycle built for two...

Paul Frank single speed cruiser

This was the first fixed gear bike I saw on my travels. Fixies (or track bikes) are very popular here in the states, are very popular in urban areas... but surprisingly enough... I hardly saw any in Europe. As well... any fixie I did happen to see, had flat handlebars as opposed to the ones with drops that'd we see here. I thought that was interesting.

Stockholm's bike sharing program.

DENMARK:

The Danes are crazy about their bikes. CRAZY! So crazy in fact that they completely shun calling themselves cyclists. It's similar in the fact that many of us walk... but yet, we don't identify as "walkers" or "pedestrians". We don't subscribe to "walking magazine" or start buying tickets to all events where people can be found walking... just because we happen to walk as well. Basically, walking isn't an activity, it's just how we get from point A to point B. Riding bikes in Copenhagen is much like that. It's every day. It's nothing special. It's nothing new. But, to the outside eye... Copenhagen's bike culture (or lack of) is pretty friggin amazing. Personally, I loved seeing an encyclopedia's worth of various bike styles pass me on the street. There were trikes, bakefits, bullitts, city bikes, christiania bikes, fixed gears, road bikes, cruisers, mountain bikes, hybrids, commuters, etc. And... on top of that, all the people are stylishly dressed. Wearing their finest attire, pressed suits and ties and high heels. I loved it! Not once did I see someone wearing a neon vest or have a little hemet mirror dangling off the side of their head. Bikes are as much of a part of someone's outfit as their coat. In fact, some people I saw even took their accessorizing of their bikes and outfits a little too far.

Bullitt bike

christiania bike

The rental bikes even had handy permanent maps on them.

The only folks I saw on "road bikes" or wearing spandex

fashionable lads with matching coats and bikes and skinny jeans

cargo bike (notice the smaller front wheel)

interesting seat and frame design

this bike had a smart elastic band system installed to protect clothes fro getting caught in the spokes.

heavy duty kid and cargo carrying (i love the face paint job on the kid)

Nice blue accents

white bike

Who says you can't bike in wing-tips and a scarf?

now, that's what I call accessorizing!

Aside from the racers dressed in their team kits, bike messengers in Denmark were the only other people I saw wearing spandex. Which I found all sorts of amusing.

ICELAND:

Sadly, my camera broke right before I went to Iceland, so I have minimal bike photos from there. However, when it came to the style of bikes... most of the bikes seemed to be wal-mart huffy style commuter/mt. bikes. I'm not quite sure if it's due to the general isolation of the country or the cost to get bikes there or the fact that so few people live there, but... there was defiantly a shortage of bike diversity. However, everywhere you went in the urban areas you saw people, young and old on their bikes. Going to and from work and school etc. My hotel even had bikes for rent. So, they like bikes there... they just don't have all the types of bikes that we have here in the states or they have in Denmark. However, given the landscape of the country, not only is "by bike" one of the best ways to travel and see the sights in Iceland, but I'm pretty sure they could host some amazing mountain bike races.

I took more photos of hot dogs in Iceland than I did bikes.