TOUGH GIRL Cycling Team

Winter Park Crankworx Race

2011-08-12T07:37:00.000-07:00

My first race on my SCOTT Scale 29er Elite.....LOVE it!!
Tough Girl Sheri

Whistler/Crankworx Recap

2011-08-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

Finally back in Colorado from my Whistler trip and I already can't wait to go back! I had such a blast meeting and riding with tons of new people, hanging out with old friends, waiting for bears to clear the course during practice, racing some of the fastest women in the world, hitting some really big jumps, and watching in person Anthony Messere boost higher than anyone I have ever seen on a bike! Again big thanks to the guys at SRAM, and Kelly and the guys from Scott for helping me keep my bike running!

Tough Girl Cathy

2nd at State Crit Champs

2011-08-01T13:58:00.001-07:00

I love my Scott CR1 with DT Swiss wheels - helped my spring to 2nd Place in SW 1/2 Colorado State Criterium Championships on 7/17/11 - Go Tough Girl!

Anne Lannan

Love the PowerBar!

2011-08-01T13:58:00.000-07:00

THANKS POWER BAR for the nutrition and endurance! Can't do it alone.
Tough Girl Coreen

Notes from a sidelined Tough Girl...

2011-08-01T13:57:00.000-07:00

A broken clavicle requiring surgery in April has meant no riding for me for the last three months plus... What to do with all of my time?!? Once I got over the "oh my gosh, I should be riding!!!" angst (which took a while, longer than I wanted) I settled into my new exercise routine which started with walking and then progressed to swimming and running. Sorry folks, I refuse to ride the trainer!
The walking helped me fall in love with my neighborhood again. The slow pace of walking allowed me to see all kinds of things I never saw while on a bike.

When I was cleared to run, I was again reminded of the lovely simplicity of this kind of exercise. No need to have pockets full of food and tools or a huge block of time to spare. Just good shoes and a ponytail holder.

I made new friends at the swimming pool who asked me every week how my shoulder was healing. The quiet meditative calm of the pool provided me with a new challenge as I struggled to swim efficiently and gracefully, and this I never mastered but did get to the point of enjoying it.

I also got reacquainted with weeding my garden, which is something that gets put off when riding and racing my bike. I am determined to have more vegetables than weeds this year. I also became one with my sewing machine which helped me reconnect to my creative side, another part of myself that I don't seem to have a lot of time for when racing. I've been to California, Alaska, Oregon and Michigan since this happened and got to take in these wonderful places slowly on foot rather than quickly on two wheels.

So, all in all, I have found some silver linings in this ordeal. I don't recommend breaking a collar bone as a way to rediscover parts of yourself that get pushed aside while training and racing intensely, but if it does happen, know you will survive it and both your clavicle and your spirit will be stronger in the end.

Tough Girl Kimberly

Mountain Bike Nationals!

2011-08-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

Tough Girls Melanie, Coreen and Sheri at the finish line after racing the 2011 National XC Championships in Sun Valley Idaho. It was an amazing weekend of racing and hanging out with fellow teammates and friends.

Crankworx- Air DH

2011-07-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

I finally got to race down my favorite trail of all time, A-line!!! It's super fast and flowy with plenty of big jumps and huge berms. The race was tough, its hard to go as fast as you can down that course, pedaling everywhere possible, and make sure not to completely over clear all the jumps. But I put together a solid run, and by the end felt like my legs could barely crank out one more pedal stroke. I ended up 13th against the fastest women in the world, so I am pretty happy with how everything went. Also want to send out a big thanks to Brian and the guys at SRAM for helping me get the Scott Voltage all dialed in before the race. Now time to rest for a bit and then back to racing Giant Slalom tomorrow!

Tough Girl Cathy

XC Nationals

2011-07-21T13:28:00.000-07:00

I just got back from Sun Valley, Idaho where they held the XC nationals. What great fun!

We got to see all the pro's race and saw their interviews afterward. Sam Shultz is from Montana...so he's my fav.

I took home a 3rd place for 45-49 and was proud to represent TOUGH GIRL/SCOTT/SRAM/DT SWISS/RUDY PROJECT/PEARL IZUMI/MT BORAH AND COLORADO!

Tough Girl Coreen

Whistler

2011-07-18T09:01:00.000-07:00

Finally on my annual Whistler trip! I've been here for about a week now, and as usual Whistler stands out as my favorite place in the world! Not only do I get to ride my favorite trails all day, but I get to see great friends, eat great food, and sample the best balsamic reduction at the farmers market. There is always so much fun outdoor stuff to do here that by the time I even get back to the condo for dinner it's about 10pm. I'm also putting the new Scott Voltage FR bike to the test, and it is proving to be quite the fun little bike in the park. I have it set up as a full on DH bike with a Rock Shox Boxxer but it almost feels like my little 4 inch bike. It's nice and light, super smooth, and so much fun to jump. I've been hitting the bike park almost every day gearing up for Crankworx and getting my favorite trails dialed in again. Gonna hit the Air DH race down A-line and Giant slalom later this week. Ill keep you all posted on how it goes!

Tough Girl Cathy

The Bailey Hundo!

2011-07-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

Just finished the Bailey Hundo. Had a great ride!

My Scott Scale RC took me to a 3rd place finish.

Tough Girl Coreen

Ride The Rockies

2011-06-25T20:39:00.001-07:00

I had an AWESOME time at Ride The Rockies.....I was fueled by PowerBar Green Apple Energy gel (my favorite) and I rolled with Schwalbe tires and DT Swiss wheels. The Schwalbe Ultremo DD tires were equally at home on the dirt and rough pavement as they were flying down the high speed mountain passes. The DT Swiss wheels, RRC Clincher 32 (Carbon) and the RR1450, were both light for climbing and stiff and responsive for accelerations and descending.....Honestly.....I am in LOVE with the RRC Clincher 32 (carbon) wheels!!

Tough Girl Sheri

A little R&R for my SCOTT Scale

2011-06-07T08:33:00.000-07:00

Just want everyone to know how much I love my SCOTT BIKE.
A little R&R before the Hundo.
Coreen

my new Scott Scale 29er Elite

2011-05-22T18:00:00.001-07:00

I took my newest SCOTT bike out for it's maiden voyage today. I love
it! I went with the hard tail aluminum version since they haven't yet
come out with a size small in their carbon 29ers (I'm 5'1") and I was
surprised at how well it rode- climbing, downhilling, around corners,
up and down technical stuff, what a great, economical addition to my
SCOTT bike fleet. Now where's that ice for my bum? ;-) I can't wait
to race on it!
--
Tough Girl Talitha

Mesa Verde

2011-05-09T19:33:00.000-07:00

Mesa Verde and Phil's World trail reeled in Mother's Day with a killer
fun race. We had a blast racing 3-4 person team with Coreen Wright,
Sheri Boltz and Michelle Slingsby from BRC racing placing 3rd out of 15
teams.

Lake Pueblo

2011-04-19T15:41:00.000-07:00

Great race at Lake Pueblo today. Sunny, warm and HIGH WIND! You definitely had to hang on to your bike on this one. Placed 2nd in cat 1 women.

Toughgirl Coreen

Early Season Buffalo Creek TG Ride!

2011-04-08T15:53:00.000-07:00

A few of the Tough Girls headed out last Saturday for an Early Season 4 hour EPIC ride at Buffalo Creek... Couldn't have asked for better weather and company!

Tough Girl Lynn

Boulder CX Race #5 Was A Success!... and the Tough Girls Helped Out!

2010-12-30T14:28:00.000-08:00

Thanks PowerBar! Our event was a blast!!!

Tough Girls Handing out Podium Medals to the Junior racers!

Racing 4X and downhill...

2010-12-01T14:41:00.000-08:00

As a pro gravity racer, race weekends tend to get a little hectic. At Mountain Bike National Championships in Sol Vista I felt like I was running from 4X practice to downhill practice, then to 4X qualifying, then more DH practice, and on and on. Most of the days I barely had time to get a quick snack. This summer I started using the Power Bar Gels to give myself an energy boost so I could keep riding strong. It was great to have a product that delivered the electrolytes and basic sugars my body needed for intense activity. As a medical student I now know exactly how the ingredients in Power Bar Gels work, and they do, but I won’t bore you with all that. I also like the added caffeine. Even though my 4X runs at nationals were less than a minute, and DH was under four minutes I needed to stay completely focused the entire time. The little boost I got from the Power Bar Gels was just enough to help me concentrate on the races and finish 3^rd in DH and 4^th in 4X. Plus they taste great. Thank you Power Bar!

Racing 4X and downhill it’s important for me to be completely comfortable so that I can focus 100% on my race. The products I wear from Pearl Izumi do just that. The women’s Veer Glove fits so well that I don’t have to take them off for anything, I actually got quite the glove tan this summer I wore them so much. And the leather palm gives the perfect amount of grip while remaining quite thin and flexible. I also love the women’s Elite MTB II shoe. All the straps let me get the shoe to fit to my foot perfectly. They are incredibly sturdy, and comfortable enough to wear all day. I’m also a big fan of Rudy Projects sunglasses. I pretty much never go outside without a pair of sunglasses and Rudy Project has something that will fit every aspect of my day, from the sporty Noyz sunglasses I wear while out riding XC to my stylish Suby’s that I wear out on the town!

In racing it’s also important for me to be able to trust my equipment. 4X and downhill races can be won by tenths of a second, so I cannot afford equipment failures. When I need extra power from my bike I have to have a derailleur that is going to shift precisely and quickly. My new Sram XO derailleur does just that so that I don’t have to worry about missing out on a single pedal stroke. Schwalbe’s Mudy Mary tires are great for wet conditions. They hold up and grip in the mud and on slippery rocks so that I don’t have to worry about sliding out in a corner. My new Crank Brothers 5050 flat pedals are great to ride with at the dirt jumps and pump track. They have great grip, I never worry about slipping a pedal, and I love that the pins are so easy to change and you have the ability to basically custom place your pins, its awesome!

I also have to add, aside from comfort and good equipment, I am a huge fan of energy drinks, and I must say that Go Fast has converted me from a die-hard Red Bull fan. The Go Fast energy drinks are delicious; I especially like the GFTea. And aside from getting an energy kick, it’s great that Go Fast also contains B-vitamins and other natural products for sustained energy.

Tough Girl Cathy

Racing the Leadvile Trail 100...

2010-12-01T14:38:00.000-08:00

After a successful track racing season last year that ended with three masters national championship titles, I decided I needed to push my limits in a different way and find a new challenge. Racing 100 miles of 14000 ft of vertical climbing proved to be just what I needed. Leading up to the Leadville Trail 100, I put in more time in the saddle than I ever have and suffered through miles of climbing. When race day came around in mid August, my Scott Scale 29 with SRAM XX was dialed in and ready to go. I knew one of the big challenges of these endurance races was to stay properly fueled and hydrated. I cut up my favorite Powerbar Fruit Smoothie bars into bite size pieces and had various PowerGels (vanilla, double latte, and tangerine) stashed in my pockets. Luckily the weather gods cooperated that day and we had perfect weather. When the gun went off at 5:30am I began what I knew would be a long day full of mental and physical challenges. I remember thinking about mile 70 that this race was definitely harder than birthing my two kids. Thankfully I didn't have any mechanicals on the bike nor did I crash. I rode various parts of the course with people from all over the country and the camaraderie proved to be a needed boost at times. I finished well before the 12 hour cut off and got the coveted belt buckle, but it was the feeling of accomplishment that I will keep with me forever. I could not have done this without the support of my family and friends and great sponsors like Powerbar, Scott, and Sram!

Tough Girl Kimmy

I love Angel Fire, NM...

2010-11-29T14:01:00.000-08:00

I had a great race this year at the Chile Challenge Cat 1 Women's XC race in Angel Fire, NM on June 5, 2010. The temperatures were hotter than average for the time of year, which was just another added aspect to an already infamous course. I was glad that I had my Rudy Project helmet, because the large vents let the sweat evaporate quickly and kept me cool. This being the first “climbing” race of the season, I was surprised to learn how well my SRAM XX drivetrain worked with my SCOTT Spark frame. The power transfer was so efficient I seemed to reach the summit at almost an effortless pace. The real key to doing well that day was my PowerBar Endurance. It has such a light taste that I was able to drink as much as I needed even though it was oppressively hot.

I can't wait to go back next year!
-Tough Girl Talitha

My most fun MTB race in 2010...

2010-11-24T10:58:00.000-08:00

NOVEMBER 8, 2010

My most fun MTB race in 2010: 12 Hours of Mesa Verde: I ate a record 14 Power Bar Gels with absolutely no stomach upset, never bonked, and felt well-fueled. Finished 3rd overall solo female. Thanks Power Bar!!!!

Tough Girl Amy

Gel Blasts are so Yummy!

2010-11-24T10:56:00.001-08:00

NOVEMBER 5, 2010

After years of racing, I've gotten burned out on eating bars and gels while riding. I am so happy with the Powerbar Energy Gel Blasts! They are super tasty and easy to eat when going hard!

Tough Girl Nicole

Lynn Sea Otter Super-D

2010-11-24T10:55:00.000-08:00

APRIL 19, 2010

Sea Otter Classic Super-D was a blast! After winning the 2009 US National Champion title for Super-D... I decided it was time to step it up and race with the big gals. And it turns out... I was right at home. I had some tough competition against some fast ladies... I hung on to Kelly Emett and Rebecca Rusch until we hit the climbs. Quickly I found I didn't have quite enough fitness to hang with them on the climb... but I managed to hold on to third. Not bad for my first Pro Super-D race.... and now I know where I need work.