Comments on: The Littlest Caribou Rides Again: A (non)Race Report

By: leon

leon — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:45:10 +0000

Heidi,
I just found your blog today and have read four stories already.

Your passions for writing and cycling blend well. I too have been left behind by the suport vehicle and your words were strong reminders of that feeling. I’m delighted you learned and have done well since then.

By: Vitamin D Therapy: Training in Tucson Day One | The Everyday Athlete

Wed, 04 Feb 2009 01:18:24 +0000

[...] Big miles early in the year. There weren’t many women signed up to go. I had visions of caribou and rescue teams. But my coach assured me I’d be ready, so I took a deep breath and one big [...]

By: The Everyday Athlete » Blog Archive » Welcome to New Readers from the Oregonian

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 14:24:47 +0000

[...] My Second Road Race (an impressive fiasco) [...]

By: Loren

Loren — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 15:12:05 +0000

Heidi, you’re awesome.

By: Aimee

Aimee — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:23:40 +0000

Feck! Your drive inspires though. My money is on you kicking serious ass once you get past this rookie stage.

By: Guy Smith

Guy Smith — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:49:53 +0000

AWESOME WORK OUT!

By: K-Man

K-Man — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:23:58 +0000

Heidi-

Happens to the best of us! Hey… were you hanging out with the PV folks by the OBRA truck waiting for the finish?

By: DavidS

DavidS — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:12:31 +0000

Super write up! One word on the caribou allegory. Wolves. Pack of wolves. Lions are like saying that Sarah Connor was being hunted by a Stormtrooper. ;o)

Here’s my pre-race checklist:
Quick releases – I check both for proper tightness as I assemble the bike after taking it off the car rack. I also make sure the wheels are seated properly in their respective dropouts during this check. Nothing like having the tire rubbing the inside of the chain stay after the first big dig (less possible with vertically oriented dropouts).
Tire pressure – This one’s obvious. I also make sure that the valve cores are shut tight. They could wiggle a little on rough roads and let air escape if left open.
Wheels – I give the wheels a quick spin just to make sure that, for some strange reason, one didn’t get whacked during transport and is now out of true. I also look at the tire surface during this check for anything weird (e.g. big gashes, bulges, shards of glass sticking out, chewing gum).
Breaks – I check to make sure that they also didn’t get bumped during transport and are off center. They need to be contacting the rim at the same time when engaged. I check to make sure the caliper quick release is shut and insure proper clearance. For me this is a very important tolerance to check as pads wear. My race wheels are a little narrower than my training wheel set. This actually helps create a bigger brake pad to wheel surface gap. This allows for less lock up potential in a panic stop and less chance of brake rub if I hit a big pot hole and knock the wheel out of true during a race.

Those are my pre-race quick checks. I’m sure other may do more or less. I do a more extensive ‘bench’ check every month or so to make sure that other things are tight and working properly.

Happy racing!

By: MtMann

MtMann — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:55:38 +0000

Ouch! Hope you’re not offended that I laughed out loud at the cancer comment, only because I know that had the same happened to me, that’s exactly what I would have been thinking – fatal illness; only possible explanation. Glad it was simple. Hope the memory gives you fury for the next race.

By: traciD

traciD — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 15:43:02 +0000

Here’s the thing – you’ll Never make that mistake again. And you’re out there while I’m still standing in a pile of chickenmess making excuses on why I’m cheering and not riding. Soon tho.. soon.

You’re incredibly strong. If that lion did show up, I know you’d have cursed it into shame and watched it run, tail between its’ legs, as you continued to drive those pedals to finish that lap.

dnf or not – you are still inspiring.