: Roster :
Scroll down to learn more about our team members: Amber
Location: Arvada, CO Originally from: Billings, MT Years in Colorado: 17 years Years Riding: I can still remember my brother running along side my bike when I was 6 or so… then wiping out when I looked back and saw he had stopped and was cheering me onward. Needless to say, I’ve been riding for many years, and I still have the indentations in my shins from where the pedals on my first ten-speed bike smashed into them. My husband introduced me to mountain biking in the late 90’s and we’ve been recreational riding off and on ever since. It wasn’t until this year that I decided that if I wanted to become a better rider, I needed to immerse myself in the sport…which is how I found this team. Years Racing: Zero! This is my first year! Favorite Quotes: “You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth.” ― William W. Purkey “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” ― Mae West Most Embarrassing moment – While riding the practice loop of the Slick Rock Trail in Moab, I was attempting to demonstrate to friends how to lean off the back of your seat when going down a steep hill. I was so busy talking and demonstrating that I failed to notice and properly prepare for the pile of sand at the bottom of the hill. When my front tire hit the sand, it sunk, sending me completely over the front wheel and landing squarely on my back – with feet still clipped in and a firm grip on the handle bars. Occupation: Wife, mother, long boarder, wine lover, sunset watcher, skin care consultant, and now cyclist! Find me on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/changingskinandlives ***
Cris
Location: Littleton
Originally from Ohio, Bolivar and Columbus
Years in Colorado - 12
Years riding - 13 off and on. 12 Mountain, 11 Road, 1 CX
Racing - New to bike racing. I've done a few tri’s in the past.
Favorite Quote - This one's from the runner's world site, but applies to my rides too:
"On every run, I discover the strength that I did not know I had. Some days it is my salvation!"
Favorite pre race food - Coffee and PBJ on an English muffin.
Favorite post ride food - Pizza and beer
Most embarrassing moment - I was new to the clipless pedals (so you already know how this one ends), and decided to cheer on a friend during a marathon while following on my bike. At one of the intersections blocked by the local police, I couldn't quite get out of my pedals quick enough. I swear I fell over in slow-motion. The officer and I could only laugh when he came over to be sure I was OK. There are plenty more...
Occupation - Software Engineer
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Emily
Location: Boulder
Originally from: Boulder (yes, we do exist!)
Years riding: Pretty much since I could swing my leg over. I spent my infancy in a women's team van driving to races, so...
Racing: Just last fall's cyclocross season
Favorite Quote: "Life is too serious to take seriously" -John Lennon
Favorite pre race food: Almond butter and banana
Favorite post ride food - Hot wings and beer
Most embarrassing moment riding/racing: At the Valmont Park 'cross race I didn't hear the announcement that the race was over and did an extra lap thinking I was still racing. I sprinted my legs off up the 5280 run-up, racing against myself
Occupation: Currently a publisher on VeloNews.com and Singletrack.com
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Gary
Location: Lakewood, Colorado
Originally From: Bellows Falls, Vermont
Years in Colorado: Only 60 (but I have a sister who is a native born Coloradan).
Years Riding: Roughly 57 or 58 years. I was the last one in our neighborhood to learn to ride without training wheels. I became a serious adult cyclist at 19 when I discovered that I could save enough in gas money to buy 1 text book when I returned to school in the fall by riding a bike to work instead of driving a car. My wife (Judy) and I rode from Denver (Brown Palace Hotel) to Vermont on our honeymoon (1977) plus an extra week on Prince Edward Island just for good measure. In 2011, my son and I completed Ride the Rockies from Crested Butte to Georgetown.
Years Racing: This is my first year racing after a 24 year hiatus. I raced extensively in 1987 and 1988 as a SM 35+ and very sporadically from 1976 through 1980.
Favorite Quotes: “If it weren’t for the bad jokes, how could you tell from the good jokes?” Dick Cavett during late night TV show monologue. I think life is a lot like that. It is the tough times that help you appreciate the good times. “ Isn’t it wonderful being a rational being, that way we can justify almost anything we do.” Benjamin Franklin (with tongue planted firmly in cheek).
Favorite Pre-Race Food: French toast with sliced almonds, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, fresh blackberries, fresh raspberries, and pure maple syrup from my cousins dairy farm in Vermont.
Favorite Post-Race Food: Do I have to choose just one? As my mom use to say, some people eat to live, and some live to eat.
Most Embarrassing Moment: Oh, boy! where to begin. If I have to pick one, how about the clipless pedal thing when I fell over warming up with my new teammates in 1987 before the TTT in Castle Rock. If that’s not bad enough, it was right in front of former teammate, friend, and mentor – Karen Hornbostel herself.
Occupation: Retired bicycle mechanic, bike shop owner, adult bicycle education instructor at Denver Free University, bicycle safety instructor in elementary schools, UPS package driver, bicycle race construction worker and foreman, soccer coach (club and high school), litigation paralegal, DCPA box office ticket seller, 3rd grade teacher, golf course maintenance and turf grass manager. (Did I forget anything? Probably.)
Jacquie
Joe
Location: Jefferson County
Originally from: Minneapolis, MN Years in CO: 33Years
riding: 7 (as an adult)Years racing: 8 in motorcycle roadracing, this is my first year bicycle racing
Favorite quote: "Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will
take its place. If i quit, however, it lasts forever." Lance Armstrong
Favorite pre-race food: Greek yogurt and fruit
Favorite post-race food: anything called "Death by Chocolate"
Most embarrassing moment: Just got my first mountain bike,couldn't wait to try it out. Went to Green Mountain Trail in Lakewood. Rode out of the parking lot onto the trail, stood up to start climbing, and my right cleat came off. Went down like I hit a landmine. Only 20 feet up the trail. In front of ...a...whole...lot...of...people. Still got the scar on my shin. Pretty much concentrating on road bikes now.
Occupation: corrugator operator for PCA Denver
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Kate
Katie
location: Arvada, CO originally from: Burlington, CO years in Colorado: 34
years riding: 11ish. However, I'm not sure I can count the first two, since I was beyond horrible. I also don't really count years 2-7 because I had infants and toddlers and can't vividly anything, let alone getting on my bike, but I'm sure I did. So in all honesty, probably 5
years racing: 1
Favorite quote: "We couldn't all be the cowboys, so some of us are clowns." -Counting Crows. (I prefer the clown).
Favorite pre-race food: Whole wheat bagel thin with almond butter and sliced green apples.
Most embarassing moment (riding or racing): Coming in way too hot in a campground parking lot in Moab and totally wiping out. For no reason whatsoever. All in front of a large amount of people grilling hotdogs outside massive RV's
Occupation: Mommy (check it: http://crankymommys.blogspot.com/) and an educator for Bicycle Colorado--teaching kids bike safety and encouraging them to ride!
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Kristen
Location: Boulder
Originally from: Oklahoma City, Missouri, San Diego
Years in Colorado: 2 years
Years riding: 11 years
Years racing: One year with the Cyclist-Lawyer team.
I raced a handful of crits and a few road races in Columbia, Missouri several years ago, but I had no training and no idea what I was doing. I feel so much more skilled and confident now that I’m riding with an actual women’s race team.
Favorite quote: “Girls Rule, Boys Drool”
Favorite pre-race food: caffeinated energy gel.
Most embarassing moment (riding or racing): In one of those crits years ago, when I had no idea how to corner, I must not have held my line very well, because I jumped the sidewalk and crashed. I wasn't even going THAT fast. Fortunately, I didn't take anyone else down. As I lay there on the ground assessing the damage, one of the spectators, a guy, ran over and asked if I was ok? The first words out of my mouth were, "How's my face?". I'm pretty sure he just rolled his eyes. (My face & my bike were just fine... minor scrapes and bruised ego).
Occupation: At-home Momma to a 1 year old. Former veterinarian, former tv news reporter. On the lookout for my next career, but happy just playing & riding (and occasionally sleeping) for now.
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Meridith
Location: Boulder
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Nicole
Location: Denver, CO & Boulder, CO
Years riding: Umm, 10 off and on, including triathlon years.
Years racing: 1
Favorite quote: "There is no better than adversity. Every defeat, every heartbreak, every loss, contains its own seed, its own lesson on how to improve your performance the next time."
- Malcolm X
Favorite pre-race food: Still working on eating before races...nerves have no interest in food. Any other time, I now have an addiction to Xing Tea, thanks to Megan.
Most embarrassing moment (riding or racing): Almost everything I do on a bike is embarrassing and there always seems to be a large group of people standing close by.
Occupation: Any suggestions?
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Shelley
Location: Boulder, CO
Originally from: Laguna Beach, CA
Years in Colorado: 21
Years riding: 19
Years racing: 4 off and on, maybe one road race a year for fun – before and after years of raising our son. I competed in mountain bike races for three years back in the 90s.
Favorite quote: "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." –Eleanor Roosevelt
Favorite pre-race food: Ezekiel Cinnamon Raison toast with almond butter and apple butter.
Most embarrassing moment (riding or racing): New mom mistake of answering my cell phone – fretting it was my husband calling about our son – while squeezing in a ride, which is a complete “No-No” in my book!! I came to a stop sign in front of Mapleton Hospital during rush hour, and couldn’t balance with one hand and clip out fast enough. I’m sure many of you know the rest!! Embarrassingly enough a young guy asked if I needed help! Not to mention the caller on the other end of the phone, not my husband, heard the whole thing!
Occupation: Mommy and Personal Organizer (www.simplypersnickety.blogspot.com)
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Shelly
Location: Englewood, CO
Originally From: St. Louis, MO...Also lived in Nashville TN for about 15 years and San Diego, CA for a few years.
Years in Colorado: 6.5
Years Riding: 5 years on Mountain Bike, 3 years on Road Bike
Racing: None yet!
A couple of favorite quotes: Success is not final, failure is not fatal.
It is the courage to continue that counts. Winston Churchill
If you can dream it, you can do it. Walt Disney
Favorite pre-race food: Don't know yet, but if my nerves aren't too bad and I can eat, probably a banana or smoothie.
Favorite post ride food: Mexican
Most Embarrassing moment: Running full speed through the airport trying to catch a plane to Spain with a skirt on. I tripped and fell, sliding across the floor, my skirt goes up exposing my underwear! My friend and I did make our plane, and had something to laugh about the whole way!
Occupation: Interior Designer at OZ Architecture www.ozarch.com
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Susan
Tami
Location: Littleton, Colorado
Originally from: Born in Madison, Wisconsin; grew up in Manila, Philippines; went to university in Chicago; now in Colorado.
Years in Colorado: 6 months
Years riding: about 3
Years racing: none yet
Favorite quote: “Do one thing everyday that scares you.” -Eleanor Roosevelt
Favorite pre-race food: coffee, hard-boiled egg on toast, yogurt with fruit.
Most embarrassing moment: now why would I want to share this? Um, I fell over on a trainer in Megan’s spin class because it broke. It was not my fault. :) And not really all that embarrassing at the time. It’s more embarrassing thinking back on it and re-telling it.
Occupation: family business/project—www.pruibaprovisions.com, and looking for more part-time.
