The Wild Goose Chase - April 27, 2008

Last June, I was sitting around with some friends from Gore Bike Wear™ and we were tossing out ideas for a project Terry and Gore could do together. In a serendipitous kind of way, we looked at each other and said "Blackwater!". Blackwater is a National Wildlife Refuge on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Anyone who reads this blog knows I'm down there a lot to ride, to photograph products and scenery for our catalogs and to just relax. Our Gore friends often join us there. Easy for them, since they are based in Maryland.

Ideas started tumbling out. This would be a road ride for women. We would offer a variety of lengths. All the registration proceeds would go to the Friends of Blackwater. We would ask companies we work with to sponsor a goodie bag, rest stops and raffle items. Riders could try and buy Terry and Gore products and some of the profits from those sales could also go to the Friends. On and on it went. And so the Wild Goose Chase was born.

I knew for sure we were on to something when virtually every company we approached was thrilled to be associated with our event. To the tune of $30,000 in product donations for our riders, they made a commitment to help us preserve critical habitat and educate the public about the importance of Blackwater. As much fun as we intend to have riding, shopping and munching, this ride is about the importance of habitat. If we want open spaces in which we can ride, we need to preserve them. Of course, appreciation of habitat goes far beyond our needs as cyclists. Habitat is the essence of this precious biosphere that is our home. We are but one of the many species dependent upon it, something we all too often forget.

Come and ride with us! Our website has more information and a registration form.


Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

The Gift of a Hummingbird

f you read this blog regularly, you know I skip work some mornings to go for a bike ride. The boss is setting a bad precedent....

I never come back from a bike ride without feeling it was a gift. This morning was no exception. I was enjoying a nice little tailwind as I rode up Lincoln Road. A little way up the road, I could see a bunch of people standing around. I figured it was probably a garage sale. But as I came closer, I saw they had binoculars and scopes. And since they weren't policemen, they could only be....birders!

I came to a stop, announced myself as a birder and asked what they were looking at. A rufous hummingbird, they said! This hummer is a west coast resident. Once in a while, he comes east, but usually southeast. Wow! Somehow he ended up in upstate New York and found a full hummingbird feeder.

So, I hung out with them for a while. They were nice enough to share a scope when the rufous went for the feeder, so I now have another bird to add to my life list.

Life is full of small gifts like this. And they're all the better when they happen on a bike ride!

Oh yeah -- the hummer in this drawing? It's a ruby-throated. But it's in the public domain!

Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

Mileage Charts

Around this time of year, the word "mileage" always creeps into my thoughts. As in "how's my mileage this year compared to last year?" Now, a couple of years of using Graeme's training programs have taught me that it's not the quantity of miles that matter; it's the quality.

Quantity, not quality. Oops. I slipped up again. Quality, not quantity. Sigh. Let's face it: quantity does matter. If only psychologically, it matters.

In the past several years, my mileage has hovered around 6000 miles a year. My best year was in 1988, when I rode 7754 miles. Round that off to 8000 and it sounds impressive.

So once the mileage bug bites, I inevitably haul out many years of mileage charts. Some are on sheets of graph paper, others are torn out from magazines. Lately I seem to have settled on an Excel-based format which I embellish with all kinds of memorabilia about a ride -- who I was with, whether the weather was a factor. And scribbled in the margins are records of bike maintenance. Good spreadsheet that it is, it constantly reminds me if I'm ahead of or behind my goals.

Typically, it's always the weather notes that stand out. Coldest, hottest, windiest. Here's one from a miserable spring: "rain usually one day of each weekend". How about this one: "rain, wind, tornado, t'storm". And I lived to tell about it. Amazing.

One of these days, I'm going to haul these mileage charts over to the bank and put them in my safe deposit box. They certainly qualify as irreplaceable valuable documents. Mileage rules!

Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

I'm toast...no I'm not.

Four members of our Terry racing team just arrived at my house to go on a bike ride with me and I'm feeling a little panicky. I mean, they rode the Rochester Crit last night, so I know they can make mincemeat out of me within the first half mile, leaving me groveling and gasping to catch up with them on our 30 mile jaunt. How stupid I was to accept their offer to go for a ride. Drat!

Nonetheless, I've ridden a ten mile warm up prior to their arrival and I'm loaded for bear with every piece of nutrition magic I own -- gels, drinks and bars. I have my breathing down pat - three out, two in. Graeme Street's tips to make me a better rider are rolling around in my head. You think the team looks nervous before a race -- you should see me.

We're ready to ride. Five resounding snaps and we're in the pedals and off. A right turn out of my road and up the first teeny tiny little grade. I'm toast. Wait...I'm not toast. I'm actually hanging in this little group. Probably because they're chitty chatting away and just haven't noticed that we're moving at a snail's pace. Of course, that tailwind's not hurting us at all either. Gotta love the suction at the back of this pack.

In a blur of pink and green, the miles roll by. I'm starting to feel right at home, riding shoulder to shoulder and wheel to wheel. Yeah -- I can even steal a drink from my water bottle without taking out the pack. But the coolest part is the other cyclists we're seeing on the road on this perfect riding day. They're all giving us a wave and shouting out things like, "You rode a great race last night!". I hope the team is as proud of themselves as I am of them!

All too soon, our ride is over. It was a great chance for me to spend some good one-on-one time with each of them. Four very intelligent, very motivated women who are perfect ambassadors for the sport of cycling and for Terry Precision Bicycles. And...four women who are very, very nice to let me ride with them on a beautiful Sunday morning in June!

Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

Thoughts During a Bike Race

I'm turning the blog over to Naomi Cermak, a member of Team Terry. Naomi pushes a pen about as fast as she pushes her bike. This post is about her win in the recent Bristol Mountain Road Race. Enjoy!

Ever wonder what's going through that empty space between my two ears during a bike race?

Now the mystery is revealed....

Inside my Head....The empty space between my two ears

This entry comes with a "RAYOR" rating . i.e., Read at your own risk.

***
As Naomi lined up for the 2007 Bristol Mountain Road Race a number of thoughts started racing through her head:

T-minus 5 minutes before the start:
- The whole team is bundled with arm warmers....Ann (who is notoriously overdressed) rolls to the start line minus the arm warmers. This sets off alarm bells in Naomi's head.....Rosie and Naomi convince Ann to put on her arm warmers for sake of the team's performance. Heaven forbid Ann would be less dressed than the rest of us....
T-minus 4 minutes before the start:
- Naomi has to go to the bathroom.
T-minus 3 minutes 58 seconds before the start:
- Naomi surveys the competition...."2006 Cdn National Timetrial medalist and pursuit champion, 2006 Cdn World Cyclocross Team member...."...
T-minus 3 minutes 45 seconds before the start:
- Naomi stops surveying the competition - it is freaking her out.
T-minus 3 minutes 30 seconds before the start:
- Naomi is hungry and wonders why she dumped her Clif bar in the car instead of eating it.
T-minus 3 minutes 25 seconds before the start:
- Naomi then remembers that she has to go to the bathroom....
T-minus 3 minutes 15 seconds before the start:
- Official starts talking.....Naomi listens for approximately 3 seconds before losing interest
T-minus 1 minute before the start:
- Naomi realizes that the official has stopped talking.....time to listen for the starting whistle
T-minus 30 seconds before the start:
- Naomi thinks that this last minute before the start is never going to end.
T-minus 15 seconds before the start:
- Naomi still has to go to the bathroom.
T-minus 3 seconds before the start:
- Naomi hates bike racing.

Lap 1 of 3:
- Cyclocross girl attacks....Naomi realizes that she should've done a warmup.
- Cyclocross girl attacks AGAIN...Naomi realizes that she most DEFINITELY should have warmed up.

First climb: Naomi is quickly being pushed out the back of the group.
- Naomi watches cyclocross girl and pursuit champion create a gap between the field.
- Naomi watches as SHE gets gapped from some of her teammates. Somehow Naomi fights to stay on.

Second climb: (this is the major climb of each lap) Naomi watches as cyclocross, pursuit champ and an unknown strong girl gap the group. Naomi doesn't want to close the gap.
- Naomi's legs burn too much.
- Naomi is wondering whether she looks as though she is 500lbs because her legs sure feel like it.
- Naomi starts cursing her coach because obviously this awful leg feeling must be his fault....then Naomi decides she should close the gap.
- Naomi sucks major wind (still climbing).
- Naomi starts gasping
- Cyclocross girl attacks but Naomi anticipated the attack and everyone stays together.
- Naomi hates bike racing.

End of lap 1:
- Naomi is sucking so much wind you'd think she is trying to swallow up her rivals. Naomi hopes to hell her teammates catch back on.
- During this moment Naomi realizes that she is not the only one from Team pink that is hurting like a....[insert bad word].
Naomi sees team pink join back into the group....Naomi is relieved until she realizes that there is no sign of Kerry. This upsets Naomi.

Lap 2 of 3:
- Naomi decides she should eat a gel...it's chocolate flavored - her favorite. Someone decides to be a pain in the butt and attack while Naomi is eating her "chocolate pudding"....Naomi starts chasing with chocolate pudding hanging out of her mouth. Naomi tries to dispose of the gel wrapper back in her jersey pocket - the wind whips the wrapper out of Naomi's hand. Naomi is upset. She doesn't like to litter and she hadn't finished her chocolate gel. Naomi wonders whether she should turn around and ride back to where she dropped the wrapper - Naomi decides (while watching the leader ride off into the distance) that this is not a good idea.
- The peloton gets antsy and a men's group passes the women's peloton. Things get messy. Naomi is tired and trying her best. Naomi wants to stop racing.

First climb: Naomi remembers Rosie's sisters yelling "KERRY"....Naomi is laughing to herself because she is at least 2x the size of Kerry.
- Cyclocross girl attacks again and Naomi rides someone else's wheel up to cyclocross girl.

Second climb: Naomi figures out whose wheel to ride up the major climb. - Naomi has now sucked enough wind to swallow up the whole peloton.
- As Naomi's bike starts making strange noises Naomi think that she should just roll off her bike and lie on the side of the road.

Lap 3 of 3:
- Naomi hears Kerry's voice and realizes that Kerry has caught back onto the group (Naomi rejoices). Naomi finally realizes that the group has shed 1/2 of the riders from the start line. Naomi does some mental math and wonders whether Kerry has the turbochargers this week as she must've done some crazy work to catch back onto the group. Naomi is VERY impressed. Naomi then realizes other people have caught onto the group too...Naomi starts to wonder if there is a short-cut on this course that she has not been informed about...

First climb:
- Naomi is about to have a panic attack because she thinks there will be an attack
- Naomi was wrong
- Naomi finds that she is in a front group of 4 - but again - she is the only pink. Naomi starts praying that her other teammates come back!
- Right before the second climb her teammates catch back on and Ann tells Naomi to "take a break" thus Ann starts pulling. At least this is what Naomi thinks Ann has said but it could have been a mirage by this point in the race. Whatever Ann said - Naomi is grateful.

- Naomi thinks she sees an elephant cross the road. Now Naomi knows that she is really losing it.

Second climb:
- Naomi rides the wheel of the pursuit champion.
- Naomi and her bike now sound like a broken boxspring mattress.
- Naomi really wants to just sit on the side of the road.
- Naomi hears pursuit champions coach yelling.....Naomi looks back and realizes that her and pursuit champion have created a gap.
- Naomi also realizes that her and pursuit champion are catching the race leader. Naomi tells pursuit champion that they need to step on it and Naomi pulls through...

- Naomi and pursuit champion catch the race leader...Naomi starts yelling instructions...Naomi is wondering how she is still pedaling her bicycle.

- Naomi is wondering why it is taking so long to make it to the descent.

- The threesome finally reach the descent - Going down the descent Naomi thinks "Now don't "F" this one up this time"
- Naomi checks to make sure she is in her drops
- Naomi finishes the descent and then BANG - race leader attacks, BANG - pursuit champion attacks...Naomi thinks "SH@$!!" but then Naomi quickly gets on race leader's wheel.
- Naomi starts her acceleration.........(Naomi accelerates like an 18-wheeled transport truck)....Naomi is thinking "NOW NOW NOW...Don't run out of room....".
- Naomi has inched ahead - Naomi crosses the line....Naomi thinks...

I LOVE BIKE RACING!

Naomi also realizes...

I don't have to go to the bathroom anymore!

Thanks, Naomi! And to all of you on Team Terry -- I LOVE BIKE RACING, too! Here's Kerry sharing the joy of her teammate's win.

Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

Edward "Ted" "Teddy" King

Edward "Ted" "Teddy" King stopped by our office for lunch today. He rides on the Priority Health racing team and lives here in the "Hell of the North" between racing gigs to be with his lady. It was neat to hear about the Tours of California and Georgia from the rider's point of view. What was it like to ride with Tyler? What's the latest scoop on Floyd? You really rode a compact crankset up Brasstown Bald? And it was easy? Yeah, wouldn't that be nice?

Do you remember the old Pepsi ad on television - the one with the secretaries gazing out the window to get a glimpse of the shirtless workman? That's kind of what it's like when Teddy comes to visit. I'm not sure if it's the bike or the rider, but everything is first class. From the spotless Pinarello to the track stands in the parking lot, this is a guy who was born to ride a bicycle and sure looks good doing it.

"Vicarious thrills" sums it up. Looking like that on a bike, feeling like that. Knowing that when you think back on your life, you weren't afraid to put the same old, same old on hold to be a bike racer.

So, Edward "Ted" "Teddy" King, all of us at Terry wish you the best in your cycling career. We'll be watching your blog and reading VeloNews and Road to keep up with you and your team. Feel free to stop in whenever you're in town -- and ride a few miles for all of us!

Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

The Angst of Spring

Spring is a strange time of year. Hope meets reality and angst ensues. The hope is that upstate New York will finally thaw out as the days get longer. The reality is upstate New York doesn't thaw out until it's darn well ready. The angst is if I don't get a good bike ride in soon, I will surely go crazy. 

Until that magic day when I leave this icebox to ride in warmer climes, succor comes in the form of bicycling magazines. Though I'm a fitness/sports type cyclist, I love reading about competitive cycling. Somehow, I've ended up with a subscription to every cycling magazine. They're British and American, but I've been known to dabble in French and Italian reads as well. As long as the photos are good, who cares what the words say? Some things transcend translation, like Tom Boonen.






My mags tell me cold, wet, muddy weather builds a cyclist's character. That's the mantra that will carry me through March and April. And possibly May as well. The pros will soon be taking to the cobbles of Belgium and France and relishing the Spring Classics. It's all part of the rite of passage on the way to warmer, drier days. It makes me feel better just knowing upstate New York is its own little "Hell of the North". Could it be that we're...cool?

And then there will be the tempting rehashes of last year's races. A glance at what's to come; blue skies, green fields and verdant forests - the magnificent stage on which a cyclist performs. Now that's the real thing!


So let the rain fall and greet the scudding clouds with a grin. It's all part of the natural progression of spring! And flip through a few good magazines while you're waiting.


Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com

Flying high in South America

If you can find a warm retreat in January, go! Last summer I was browsing a magazine and I came across a few lines about a roost of bobolinks that had been discovered in February in Bolivia. Eighty thousand, to be exact. Adjacent roosts totaled to over 130,000 of the birds -- about 6.5% of the global population.

Now when I see just 30 bobolinks in the field behind my house, I feel like I've uncovered the Mother Lode myself. But to see 130,000 of them...

Ever in search of worthy conservation efforts we can support, I decided to track down Roz Renfrew, the conservation biologist spearheading this research. Talk about one of those "it was just meant to be" moments -- this research is supported by the Vermont Institute of Natural Science and the biologist is, among other things, a cyclist. Vermont, bobolinks, cycling. Yeah, this felt absolutely right.

Roz's research will go a long way toward protecting bobolinks here in the States and in their winter home in South America. I firmly believe if cyclists want good places to ride, they need to preserve habitat. So, with direction from Roz and our art director, we've come up with some products whose sale will benefit VINS' bobolink studies. You'll see them in our catalog and on our website in February.

Moral of the story: a winter escape is a wonderful thing!

Tailwinds,
Georgena

talktous@terrybicycles.com
www.terrybicycles.com