I'm better!

All right! My knee is functional once again. I get my stitches out Wed and it feels ship shape today! Looks like I can do the Iron Horse road race afterall...I'm not going to push it and do the mountain bike race because with my luck, I'll wreck on it and be in a world of hurt. It was actually kind of cool having a weekend to do something different. I actually went shopping-- I am DIRE need of regular clothes, especially nice clothes. I also played my flute which I have played maybe 3 times in the last 5 years. It was really nice...it's amazing how quickly it all comes back.

Anyhoo....going on the cruise NEXT WEEK. Can't wait!!! I wasn't excited until Friday last week. YES! Ok...just wanted to give you a quick entry. I don't really have anything fun to say. Oh yeah... I do! What is UP with men remembering me from Defined??? All of these freaking men always come up to me and say, "did you used to work out at defined? I recognize you." I have no idea who these old men are and why they are even asking...they could think to themself, "there's that girl from defined." Why do they feel the need to let me know that they recognize me? It is highly alarming.

Boo hoo

WAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't ride, I can't race, I can't run, I can't swim, I can't hike, I can't drive, I can't WALK. Booo hoo. Yes, yes. I have split my left knee open and can't bend it or else I'll pop the stitches. That's right, stitches. How did I do that, you ask? Did I fall off my bike? I wish that were the reason.... no, friends. I have fallen down chasing someone in a drunken stupor. I graduated Saturday! Yay for me! With graduation usually comes a graduation party... a party that includes classmates, some good, some bad, and some that like to slap you on the ass. And if you know me well, you would know how I react to that. I want to kick their ASS! So yes, I attempted to... started running in sandals that I normally trip just walking in, and went down on asphalt. I grabbed my knee and as I retreated toward the house, Adam and Erik said, "Are you okay?" "Sure, I'm fine!" I said until I looked down at the bloody mess of a knee. "You have to get stitches" they told me. Adam was driving me to the ER when I broke down in tears, "I won't be able to ride my bike!! I won't be able to race! Wah!!" :( :( We got to Lovelace and had to wait a couple hours. I FINALLY got in. "You've mangled your knee pretty bad" the doctor tells me. Grrreattt. The worst part of the experience was the numbing of the area. Poor Adam, I was squeezing the life out of him due to the pain. They stitched it up- only 4...and I say only because I ripped all the skin out of the center of the abrasion so there was no sewing it back together. dammit! So yes, I will be stagnate until Wed. of next week. I did take a picture of my open knee, but I think I will spare you because it is pretty nasty. They took xrays and there is no bone or cartilage damage which is good news. It is pretty miserable, I will admit. Not being able to drive, having a really hard time getting on the toilet, limping around. Not fun. AND my arm hurts really bad b/c of tetanus shot so it's hard to push myself up. At least I'll be done with my antibiotics in 2 days. AHHH. I'm such an idiot. I may still try to do the IronHorse road race a week from Sat. We will see what doc says. I'll let you know.

Maybe you likes pics more than text...so here is a funny one! GIT IT. This is at a tues night crit last year. 

A RANT-- this is too funny not to share!

I got this website and I HAVE to put it on here. It is freaking HILARIOUS, maybe one of the funniest things I've ever seen because it is SOOOO true. You can see the frustrations us cyclists deal with and a daily basis:

RANT: Minuteman Trail: People Who Suck

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Reply to: anon-70245362@craigslist.org
Date: Tue Apr 26 05:26:05 2005


I know this is a rant but whatever, I put it in the rant section also. Every once in a while I take an easy ride on the Minuteman bike path. By the time I am done I swear never again. A month later I don’t want to go to the fells and repeat the same mistake again. I know the bike path is for everyone but HOLY SHIT there are some really annoying people on it.

1) Two-A-Breasters: There is a reason the bike path has a yellow line. You ass wipes ride (or walk) side by side and hog the whole thing. Get with the program! The only good thing about you are your screams of fright as I blow by you without warning.

2) Queer-Eye-For-The-Biker-Guy: I realize that it is possible to buy an entire suit made from Spandex. It is also possible to beat off with a cheese grater, that doesn’t necessarily make it a good idea. If you were you going fast enough to make wind resistance an issue I might be more understanding but you are usually granny-gearing it as you swerve around trying to adjust your $200 sunglasses. Spend less time buying expensive crap and more time riding.

3) Slow-And-Lowers: Do you know that you can adjust your bike seat so that you don’t look like a bear riding a mini-bike at the circus? Take the 30 goddamn seconds to raise the freakin’ seat. Your back will thank you and you’ll be able to break 12 miles per hour with out blowing out a knee cap.

4) Sky-Bar-Enders: Bar ends ARE NOT for getting your hand six inches above the handle bars. They should not be pointing straight up in the goddamn air! If you don’t know exactly why you would want bar ends then YOU DON’T NEED THEM. They are not a convenient resting place for your chubby hands. They are for getting your weight forward during a STEEP TECHNICAL CLIMB. I hope impale yourself on them after you hit a tree because you couldn’t reach the brake lever in time.

5) Richie-Dick: Yah you, the guy with the $3000 full suspension big hit bike poking along the bike trail. The biggest hit you have ever taken was when you got butt raped by the guy who sold you that bike. YOU SUCK! You are the same dumbass who buys a Hummer so you can gun it when you roll over some construction on Mass Ave. You buy a sweet bike and then ride it on freakin’ pavement. I know you have never hit the trail cause’ there is NO DIRT on the thing. Not a spek. Plus you look like a pussy. Either take it off pavement or give it to someone who will.

6) On-Your-Late: Ok there is absolutely nothing wrong with a well timed “On your left” but here is the thing. The whole point of saying it is to warn the rider in front of you that you will soon pass them. Not that you are already next to them on their left side! If your bike is next to mine, IT’S TOO FREAKIN LATE. If we were going to collide we would have. You screaming “On your left” in my ear at that point will only increase the chances of me making an error and crashing into you. Just pass you re-tred.

7) The HFS (Huge Fucking Stroller): HOLY SHIT! Are you running a cloning lab? If your stroller needs a brake it’s too damn big. Take your kids to the playground and play some tag or something. Jesus, there are bikes flying by at 30 miles per hour. If one hits you your kid will fucking die. I know you think the world will stop for you and your precious little angels but get a clue. Three words “Severe Head Trauma”.

8) Woof-Woof-Splat: Keep your dog on a leash you ass. First of all it’s the FUCKING LAW. Second of all your dog is dumb. So dumb in fact, that it will run in front of my bike to eat some piece of shit left by another jackass dog walker. I WILL hit your dog. I will not get killed or hurt somebody else trying to swerve around Fido. I almost died last year trying to avoid an unleashed dog and will not repeat the mistake. I love dogs but I like my unbroken bones better. Take responsibility for your pet.

9) Roller Bladers: You all suck ass, flailing your arms wildly as you coast along on you roller skates. YES they are roller skates and thus, quite lame. I don’t care if the wheels are “inline”. You jackasses suck so hard I have to break you down into sub-categories of suck.

9.A) Newbi-Tard: You people are ridiculous. You are all decked out in helmets and pads. You mostly look terrified as your (usually fat) ass careens down the very slight grade of the trail. Here is a hint. If you don’t know how to STOP then it probably isn’t safe for you or anyone else for you to be on the path. I swear one of you is gonna fall in front of me and get an imprint of my front sprocket on your fat thighs.

9.B) Pack Of Newbi-Tards: See above but clustered together, literally hanging onto each other for protection. You are worse than the individuals. You take up the WHOLE TRAIL so nobody can pass. Heed the dirty looks you get and go find a freaking parking lot. I hope to kick one of you as I ride by and watch as you all fall over in a flabby whimpering heap.

9.C) Hot Chicks With Skimpy Outfits: The only reason you suck is because you are fully clothed and make me slow down to check you out. Other than that you rock.

9.D) Super Sweet Doooods: You guys are sooo fucking gay it’s not even funny. You think you are awesome as you take up the whole trail gliding back and forth in super sweet slow motion. I dream of you flying off the trail and getting wrapped around a tree.

People Of Mention:
Having been on the path more than a few times I have come to recognize a select few people who require special attention.

The kid who shot me with a plastic BB gun: I saw you hiding behind the bush well before you shot me. You were lucky I was going fast when the yellow BB hit my chest and thus had to slow down a little before leaping off my bike and chasing you as far as your back yard. You were scared shitless which is good because you could kill someone doing that shit. If I ever see you again you won’t be so lucky.

The 35 people who rode by me pretending I didn’t exist as I asked for a spare tube or a patch kit after blowing both of my spare tubes: You all suck ass. A very nice lady eventually stopped and gave me a patch. I know I was covered in mud but come on people. I always stop and ask people if they need help, common freaking courtesy.

The Decked Out Intense Midget Woman: OK you are not actually a midget but you do look very small. Or perhaps you look small in comparison to the mounds of crap attached to your mountain bike which is too big for you and I am sure has never left the pavement. Not only do you fall into categories 2, 4, 5 and 6. You were also one of the 35 jerks who didn’t help me. In fact you looked me in the eye and didn’t even slow down. I KNOW you have every sort of tool and tube imaginable packed away in your various slings and packs yet you rode by as if I were invisible. You look like a goddamn scuba diver with your neoprene outfit and mirrors sticking off of every available part of your bike. I see you on Mass Ave. from time to time in the morning on my way to work. You look retarded. And why do you hang a huge plastic bag from your bar ends?!?!?! It looks like your gear makes you waterproof to the depth of at least 15 meters. What are the bags doing? Worst of all YOU ARE SLOW!!!!! God you are slow. Jettison some of your useless shit and maybe I won’t blow by you 4 times in one ride.

Tubby Guy On The Tiny Road Bike: I’ve only seen you a few times. Once I passed you through an intersection not knowing that this would enrage you so much that you would be forced to almost hit me as you sprinted past me sneering. I must say I was impressed, you hauled ass dude. I’m guessing you didn’t keep it up very long tho. If I hadn’t been on the tail end of a five hour ride I would have raced.

Gay Guys On The Tandem Bike: I am assuming that you are gay simply because I don’t know any straight guys who would go in 50/50 on a bright yellow tandem Cannondale and then ride it regularly in spandex forgive me if I am wrong. I haven’t seen you guys in a year or so. You were my arch rivals. Holy crap you were fast. One time I kept up with you (on the downhill) for a few minutes and almost died. I swear you would slow down until I got close and then take off again. I salute you, you bright yellow bastards. Oh and good call making the one eyed guy ride in back.

People Who Rock: Yes there are some people who rock! I’m not a total asshole.

Hard core road bikers: Holy crap you guys (and gals) are fast as hell, keep it up.
Mountain Unicyclers: I’ve seen you in the fells and there is only one word for you BADASS!!!!!!!!
Messengers/Anyone on a fixed gear with no brakes: You know it but I’ll say it anyway. Elite.
Trials Riders: I wish I had skills like that.
Little Kids with Big Helmets: You rock, two thumbs up!

See you on the Minuteman!!!!

BRIAN BOITANO!!!!!!!!! 

This is the pic I put on thefacebook.com. AHHHH, I'm a PRINCESS! 

Adam and Sonya on the Moab/White Rim trip 

BLAH

G-ya. What up? Well, I am trying to pass time because I have nothing to do at work today. AHHHH. Such is the life as a Sandia intern. Anyway, Sierra told me about this website called thefacebook.com. You register and make a profile and you can see people from different schools including your high school. I saw several people's names I know on there. Dang, I hated some people. haha However, there were some cool ones that I contacted. They will probably be highly alarmed at my photo. All these girls had these glamour pics-- all dressed up, make up, hair done up smiling pretty. I put a pic of me after a muddy, rainy mountain bike race where I am flexing my muscles, I'm muddy, and my leg is super bloody from a wreck. Yeah! Git it! >:oD

I did the Tues night crit last night. I ended up getting third, but it was fun anyway. It was super windy out!! I decided to make an attack and Carolyn Donnelly went with me. For those of you who don't know, Donnelly is this ex euro pro woman and is very strong and very tactically smart. I was a big idiot and pulled her around for an entire lap and hopelessly tried to get on her wheel as she rode away from me. Go figure. I rode alone for awhile until Nina the Baum caught me and we rode together for the remainder of the race and she outsprinted me in the end. Sweeeeet... I was like, "oh yeah! I need to shift when I'm sprinting!"

This morning I rode into work...of course there was a chode man trying to go fast. He went a different way and missed a light so then he was behind me. I KNEW the guy was sitting on my wheel. I HATE it. It makes the hairs on my neck stand up and I get the ANGST. So I decided I wasn't going to take his shit so I turned around and said, "Do you mind not sitting on my wheel?" He got defensive and said, "I wasn't, I was like 3 ft back." Whatever chode, I saw you behind me you loser. So I said, "I don't really care, I just don't like people just sitting on my wheel so go ahead." The dude, who was already chode-style in his drops started hammering it, butt bouncing up and down, head cocked to the side. What is wrong with these people? At least acknowledge the fact that you are back there. Next time, I'm gonig to start blowing snot rockets back...after all, since they didn't say anything, how can I know they are back there?!?! GOSH!

Graduation!

I graduate on Saturday! woo hoo!! :) I was officially done with classes last Thursday and had NO finals. Lucky me. I don't really have much new news which will be a huge relief to most of you since my past two entries were LONG!! I don't remember is I said, but I am going Europe for 3 weeks next month! It should be really fun-- going to France, Hungary, and Italy. Hopefully I'll get to catch a mountain stage of the Tour de France and maybe rent a bike and ride to the beach or something. My parents are also taking my bro and I on a cruise the first week of June. June will be a busy and FUN month!

I haven't done much racing since the Gila. I decided last weekend to NOT do Galisteo- a flat, windy road race..instead I rode to the crest. My legs are still pretty tired from Gila... Damian gave me a hard training week last week b/c I'm trying to peak for the Iron Horse over memorial day. I'm doing the road race(ride from Durango to Silverton) and then the mtn bike race. FUN! So this weekend is graduation and next weekend is a race in Gallup- a crit and a mtn bike race. Hopefully I can win some money!

I did a little bit of partying last week... downtown Friday night, I saw some people I knew. They would say, "Sonya? Is that you?? You never come down here! Wow!" I must say, riding after a night of drinking is complete misery! Now I remember why I don't party too much. Hence, I will be in misery for my rides this weekend as well, but after that I'll go back to not going out. Gotta get fast!

I went to Los Lonely Boys and Ozomatli last night with Adam. It was really fun! There was a very eclectic crowd-- lots of hoochie mamas, homies, normal people(what is normal anyway?), white trash, old women in tight clothes, sleezballs.. it makes it interesting b/c you can laugh at all the funny quirks people have.

See ya next time!

Stage 2 and 3 of the Gila

Alrighty! I think I gave you enough time to digest my previous long entry. So here I go talking about the crit and the other road race. So the night before the crit, I took an ice bath for recovery. It was funny, Adam Zimmerman's family(who we stayed with) were looking at us like we were from another planet and kept saying, "You are going to take an ice bath? Really???" My race was at 8 AM the next morning... far too early. I woke up feeling not too rested. I didn't sleep well the night before because I was nervous about someone wrecking me in the crit. I didn't really enjoy the crit although I normally think crits are pretty fun! It seemed the whole race I was getting bumped off peoples' wheel and would get pushed to the back of the pack, have to work hard to get back up near the front only to get pushed back again. I guess that's where road racing experience comes into play. I was taking the inside lines on all the corners for the first half of the race until someone in the pack made a sketchy move and made the person next to me almost wreck me and I almost hit the curb. After that, I was a chicken and was taking the far outside line. I almost got dropped a couple of times because I was working so hard and riding in the wind a lot just because I hate riding in a pack!! On the last lap, I got out in front with a couple people and took the final turn WAY too wide b/c I was nervous and then thought the finish line was much closer than it was and started sprinting about 15 seconds too early. If ONLY I had waited, I could have come in like 2nd! Instead, I just finished with the pack. The whole day I kept thinking, "GOSH! I'm such an IDIOT!" in a Napoleon Dynamite fashion. Brian Boitano would not be proud of my race performance. haha I didn't mind so much and didn't lose my GC position. However, the girl in 3rd for the GC won the crit gaining 30 seconds on me to tally it up to being a full 3 minutes ahead. The girl who was in 5th in the GC got 3rd in the crit receiving a 5 second time bonus putting me only 1 second ahead of her. I knew the next day would definitely have to be a good day. I spent the rest of the day trying to rest the legs and watched the pro women and men's crit. By the evening, my legs were feeling pretty sore. Nina and I put a HUGE bag of ice in the tub that night, and the water was so cold that the ice wasn't even melting in the water. That was the longest 7 and a half minutes of my life, but it sure did help!!!!

Stage 3 began Sunday morning at 8:45 AM. This course had by far the most climbing compared to the road race on Friday. Nina kept saying it is a good course for mountain bikers, so I just hoped she was right and tried to save my energy until the climb. The pack rode together the entire way until the climb(which I think from start to finish is about 18-20 miles). The pack was going soooo slow through for the whole race(except the climb). Nobody wanted to take a pull. At one point, I was in the front of the pack, pulling, and I slowed way way way down because it was someone elses turn and no one would go in front. I moved over to the side of the road until someone moved up. There was this CRAZY girl in our group. She didn't want to pull anymore, had a confrontation with someone, and tried to WRECK her! She lined her back wheel up next to the girl's front wheel and tried to swerve over and actually hit the wheel. Fortunately, the poor girl did not go down. That was VERY uncalled for, especially since this girl was in last place overall. She probably just started racing and this crazy girl was trying to wreck her. The crazy one also elbowed this girl earlier too. Yikes! The crazy one also purposely slammed on her brakes when there were people behind her. She could have hurt the entire group and was really being quite ridiculous, especially since it was only the 3,4 race!!! STUPID ROADIE! There were a few attacks, but all were shut down except for one in the beginning of the race where 2 people got away. I knew we would probably catch them on the climb anyway. At one point, Jane Gagne signaled for me to go with her on an attack. I was a little unsure if I should go since we were getting close to the climb and her teammate was in 2nd for the GC. I thought maybe she was trying to tire me out before the climb so they could attack. I went with her and over a cattleguard. My heart stopped. I heard a loud hissing sound, but kept sprinting forward. Fortunately, it was not a flat...I don't know what it was. Another girl(the crazy girl who was 3rd at the moment in the GC) went with us, but the pack shut us down. Soon after, the climb started and split up immediately. There were the 2 who broke away early in the race somewhere up there, and four other girls. Three of them were ahead of me in the GC. I tried to go slow and steady since I knew that 20 miles of climbing is a LOOOONG way. I eventually picked everyone off except for the race leader and one of the girls who had attacked before. I passed a sign that said 15 miles to go and was cursing to myself. My legs were starting to feel tired. I kept going, but at about 8 miles to go, a girl passed me. She was not a threat to the GC, but I still didn't want her to beat me. She passed me on her ZIPP wheels(they are pretty much the lightest wheels you can find and are $1500 a set! Imagine that!!! I wish I had some! ha). I passed her on a descent, but at 2 miles to go, she caught me again on the climb and we were battling it out. At 1 km to go, I couldn't pedal anymore. I totally detonated and she went ahead. At 500 m to go, I kept looking back and only hoping that no one would come up behind me because I had absolutely NOTHING left in my legs and could barely make it across the line. I missed third in the stage by 27 seconds! Oh well!! I ended up putting about 3:45 minutes into the girl who was 3rd overall in the GC and beat her to get on the podium finishing 3rd overall in the stage race. I was very happy about that!!!

Today, the only sore part of me is my back...I tweaked one side of it. I almost wish I had another race to do today. It's so fun!!!!! This weekend I may go to Nathrop for a race, but they are forcasting snow. I am not going if that forecast remains. I don't need anymore bad weather!!!!!!

On another note, Thursday is the last day of my undergrad. YEEEEAHAHHHHHHOOOOOO!!!!