Yesterday I was lucky enough to be invited to the Bicycle World Grand Opening Ladies night in Houston. There’s nothing I like more than a night with bikes, wine, and a fun group of ladies. I have to say that I travel a lot, and this was one of the best events that I have attended.

The women were so open and had a lot of questions. I talked a bit about my cycling career, how I got involved in cycling and what I’m doing now. It’s always fun for me to do that because I forget how many chapters there are in our lives and I love being able to understand that it is exactly the same as the women in the audience. We have all taken different paths, but for whatever twist of fate, we all ended up in that shop and got to share our of love of cycling.

Once everyone had a couple glasses of wine, the conversation really started to flow. I was surprised that one woman asked me about saddle sores while I was up on the stage. Now, I understand that this is an issue we all face, and that it is one that is normally private, so I was happy that she brought it up. The most important thing to me was that everyone could hear her question and realize that their issues were not individual or strange. Its always hard to talk to men about this stuff, and figuring out a way to bring it up with even other women is hard, but as my Mom used to tell me, if you are wondering about it, than chances are that everyone else is wondering too.

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Today I was at a bike shop called Bicycle World of Houston.. Awesome shop. Great staff… But, I heard a funny comment by an employee. He told me that he heard that elite level women didn’t really care if their bikes matched their clothes or shoes etc… I almost died…

Let me just say, I love to match. I love shopping, I love outfits, I love accessories. Not every outfit works right, but I like to play and I like to try out new ideas. My perfect group ride would be to be able to give the guys a run for their money with a bike that matches my outfit, and would never be seen in any bike raceJ Truly, if I could find a way to make rhinestones aerodynamic, my bike would blind everyone else and I would win as long as we were sprinting into the sun… So needless to say, I was mortified to hear that guys think we don’t want to match…

Right now I’m really into black, white, and a touch of red… My beautiful new Giant TCRw matches my new Shimano shoes, and Giro helmet. I just designed a couple of jerseys for my VeloBetty company and they are simple and fun. I have a day and a night version. Ok so that’s one way of saying that I have a Black and a White jersey, and I have black shorts and a white limited edition short. Trying to come up with names but that’s another story… Fallen Angel for the Black, and … . For the White? They are hot, and there will be no guys who think that girls don’t want to match after they see this show of what women want… I say lets not keep them guessing, because they are clearly wrong. You can be fast, or you can be doing coffee shop rides, but no way in the world do women not care about what they are wearing. Sometimes I wonder where guys come up with this stuff…..

It’s a cooler day today in San Diego and I’m getting ready to go on a ride with a few friends. I’ve been needing to go for a ride lately because I’ve been moving and traveling and it just seems like I have lost any semblance of a routine. My goal this week is to get it back together!

The interesting thing about being out of my workout routine is that it not only makes me feel sluggish physically, but it makes me feel less energized in my personal business and I find my sleep is not as sound. I am using the next couple weeks to get it together. My goal is to get my routine back and therefore get my life back

I’m really looking forward to this mini camp that I’m creating for myself. It always feels good to get to basics and focus on taking it one day at a time. It’s baby steps, and I can’t wait to be at the level of how I was feeling a couple weeks ago.

My point to this whole deal is that I truly believe that sometimes the answer is to step back and get back to the basics. Get in your training, focus on your food intake, get enough sleep. Get a massage, get a facial, focus on yourself. It can almost seem like a mini cleanse or vacation. But the end result will be the same. As you focus on taking care of yourself, you will be better equipped to deal with the stresses of life.

Find your heal thy routine, and get to that balance! I’m definitely taking these next two weeks to get it back! Good luck!

OK, so maybe this is a topic that is a bit uncomfortable, but I’m going throw it out there anyway. If you are going to ride a bike, you are going to have an issue at some point from sitting on the seat. I know it sounds crazy and wrong, but you will get used to it, and I promise you that you will still be able to have great sex. I know it seems counter intuitive since I’m saying that you are going to get used to something that not super comfortable, but, no matter what it seems like, you are not numbing areas that make you be able to have a great sex life.

I’ve talked a lot to my gynecologist about this, and women who ride bikes and horses both have issues because of the saddle. It’s not normal, and it causes a lot of problems. Saddle sores, ingrown hairs, swelling etc. Its not uncommon and you will get through it. The most important thing is to take care of it and make sure that you pay close attention to how you are feeling. I don’t even know how many times I have had to ice my crotch after hard time trial workouts. That was just from being sore, and not even from the occasional saddle sore.

If the soreness is from pressure, than icing works well. I would do it ASAP after getting off the bike. The bigger problem is if you get an infection. If you have a hard swelling and it is red and thick, you should see a doc tor because you might need to be on antibiotics. Sometimes this happens with ingrown hairs and glands that get blocked. There might be drainage, and you should take sitz baths and soak to help the swelling. These kinds of infections normally clear up quickly after getting antibiotics. If it doesn’t, than you might have a more serious problem and your doctor will be able to help you. Don’t let them make you feel weird. Its totally normal and if your doctor isn’t sensitive to your issues, than maybe you need to find someone else.

A lot of women get swelling on one side of the labia. Its also normal. It looks different, but it is normal and typically the swelling will go away. Hopefully you will never have this happen, but, if it does not improve because of years of overuse, you can easily have a plastic surgeon fix it when you are riding less and make everything perfect. Surprisingly this is become a more common request, so find a doctor in north LA where they do a lot of these types of surgeries.

I do have to say that the main key to keeping yourself comfortable and avoiding the really bad issues is to spend a good amount of time finding a saddle that has the right shape for you. Don’t let anyone tell you what you are supposed to be feeling. It is either comfortable or not. We are not all the same, and you need to really focus and decide what is comfortable for you. Some saddles are really expensive and won’t fit right, some are cheap and are perfect shape. Price is not the limiting factor. If the saddle is not as expensive, maybe the quality is not as high, but you can afford to replace it more often. Don’t worry, trust the feeling. Go for the right shape.

It also helps if you keep yourself very clean. Part of that is making sure that you are out of your chamois right away after riding, but it also helps to have a good waxing regimen. I am a firm believer in Brazilian waxing, because it keeps you super clean and therefore no ingrown hair issues. I’m not such a big fan of shaving as the hair can irritate you as its growing back.

Also, in regards to chamois… Thicker is not always better. It seems like having more padding would be a good idea, but in practice, it sometimes causes more issues than a thinner chamois. Too much material can bunch up and cause too much rubbing and pressure. It also will hold more sweat and heat. I suggest riding the thinnest chamois you can be comfortable with. Pay close attention to placement of the seams…

My point with this whole thing is that you will be ok. Just take care of any issues quickly. Don’t give up on cycling if you are sore at first. You will get more comfortable and then you’ll be able to enjoy one of the greatest sports in the world. All I have to say is thank god we’re not men. I still can’t figure out how they can get comfortable on a saddle, and even though its been explained over and over, I still don’t get it…

When I was growing up I was obsessed with sports and I did it all. I loved being outside and riding bikes, horses, rock climbing, running, the beach etc. I was into outward bound and Edward Abbey. I never wore any makeup. I thought it wasn’t natural, and I was all about being natural.

Now I’m a bit older, and while I think natural beauty is great, I’m all about helping nature whenever possible So instead of being a eco terrorist, I’ve decided to be mother nature’s assistant. So, I’ve been searching for the perfect combination of makeup that you can use while riding without finishing and looking like a clown.

The great thing is that a lot of makeup has sunscreen in it, so it is actually helpful to us while we are on the bike. I like to apply a normal sunscreen with 30spf all over my face before applying any makeup. Then I use a light all day foundation (I use Estee Lauder Double Wear Light) and use it in a few key spots to cover areas that might need a some blending. Normally, I put a bit on my nose, chin and under eyes…

You don’t want to get too much foundation, because when you start to sweat it tends to run a bit even though it isn’t supposed to and it tends to end up in areas like the frown lines and when mixed with dirt its not a great sight. You have to remember that you will likely sweat a lot, and that there will be dirt and salt also on your face mixing it up with your make up. Use any makeup sparingly.

I never ride with mascara. Some girls use waterproof mascara, but I don’t. I haven’t been using mascara on the bike lately. I figure my eyes are behind the glasses anyway, so its not really important. A couple years ago I did have an obsession with eyelash extensions and they were nice because you could workout and not be worried about the mascara running. But, it was a time consuming process, and I also learned that I don’t like my lashes hitting my sunglasses. I have not yet tried the new products to promote eyelash growth. Maybe that’s my next step. If you really want to do something to make your eyes stand out, than I would suggest using an eyeliner and just applying minimally.

So, now we are to my obsession. I love lip gloss. I can’t do a ride without a lipgloss in my pocket. My absolute favorite is Revlon lip gloss. Its inexpensive, has sunscreen and is a really nice consistency. Not too sticky and thick, and trust me I’ve experimented with all the expensive brands. I have a girlfriend who said it best. We were gossiping about our favorite lip gloss and she said run, don’t walk, they are 2 for 1 at the drug store. It’s the best advice and the most inexpensive thing you can do to spruce up your make up. So run, don’t walk. Stock up before the sale is over! The great thing is that Revlon goes on sale a lot, so wait for the right time and then go crazy. But, you will see, you have to be quick. The best colors are always gone almost instantly because people like me always buy in bulkJ I also think that lip stains work well. You can apply before heading out and the color will last throughout the day. I like a bit of sparkle, and that’s why lipgloss is my weapon of choice, but we all have our preferences. My word of caution about lip gloss is that if you go with a brand that is thick and sticky you will end up with all kinds of stuff sticking to your lips, and it will not be attractive. Be aware!

I have this great sunscreen that I got in Vegas one time and it was outrageously expensive, but it sparkles, and I like to use it on my legs. But, let me get this straight, I don’t start using that kind of attention getting lotion until I’m already looking pretty tan. It would not be a nice sight on these white legs right now! Give me a few more weeks…

Perfume is not really makeup, but, I keep it in my makeup bag and so I’m including it in this blog. If you have a signature scent then you should use it when you are riding too. I’m not saying that we are dressing to impress, because I really believe that you gotta do what makes you feel good, but since we’re girls, and we’re gossiping, I can say that I get more c omments on my perfume than just about anything. Its easy to stand out in a crowd when you are riding with a bunch of guys who all smell like guy (not necessarily bad, but not memorable, and if it is memorable than it’s a problem)… No explanation needed… But, to smell clean and fresh is something that will make you stand out, and I always like to know that when someone smells my perfume they think of me… Scent is a powerful tool, when used correctly.

Anyway, so maybe I want to be mother nature’s assistant. Is there anything wrong with that? I’m not saying that you need to change yourself, just use what’s out there to help you accentuate your qualities. And if it doesn’t make you feel good, than don’t do it. Being comfortable in your skin is what it’s all about. We all have different ideas of what we like, and a sexy woman has a confidence that what she is showing is a reflection of herself. It doesn’t matter what other people think. If you love it than rock it and own it. No apologies…

Today when I was out riding, I was thinking about how a lot of women wear jewelry while training and it got me to wondering about our choices.

Personally, I always wear jewelry. I love a bit of bling, and since I spend a lot of time on my bike, I want to wear it when I’m riding. It’s just another way to express yourself out there.

So, what are there any rules for wearing jewelry on the bike?

I think the first thing to consider is how would your choice affect you if you were to crash. I hate thinking about the negatives first, but we are participating in a sport that does have some issues with crashing. And its important to always be prepared. Most people like to wear their wedding bands, but if the band is made of platinum or titanium, you might want to consider whether it might be too hard to cut off should your finger swell after getting hurt. Other types of material aren’t as hard to cut and there might be a better chance that the paramedics would be able to get it off.

As far as necklaces go, I don’t think there are really any safety issues, but there issues with your hair getting caught. If you have a frail chain, then you might end up breaking it by accident. No matter how much you think that you are gentle wit h your jewelry, when you are out riding, we tend to be a bit more aggressive and you could easily pull too hard and break a chain. It would be really sad to have a favorite locket fall off in the middle of a race and you couldn’t go back to find it.

I like thick jewelry, but then that’s my personality… I normally wear a Tiffany necklace and bracelet. It is thick enough not to break, but still a bit of bling and it makes me happy. Sexy and tough… I don’t often wear rings on the bike. I don’t like the way my finger sweats too much under the ring and then I end up getting an even bigger white mark on my finger and its bad enough that I wear gloves and get tan lines on my wrists.

I tried wearing an anklet a few years ago, but I couldn’t find one that was the right material. The ones I kept buying were some kind of cheap material and after a day of riding my ankle would have a black mark on it. Not the look I was going for, but I did think that it looked cool when the days started out. If I could find a high quality anklet I would do it, and I think it would even look better with a few rhinestones that would sparkle when I was pedaling circles

I used to wear earrings all the time. My favorite are just pearl studs, classy and timeless. Its hard to have longer earrings on cause they get in the way of the helmet and radio headphones .. My second choice is a medium size hoop earring, but those are also a bit more complicated, but do look nice.

So, my rules for jewelry are that you need to really consider how it will hold up in a worst case scenario situation. Jewelry quality is also important. You don’t want to have a big black mark where your jewelry rubbed against you, combined with sweat and then made you look bad. My last bit of advice is to have fun. You can show your personality on the bike. You can accessorize and make it your own. Let me know if you have any other good tips. I’m always looking for more info.

Cycling is a sport that has a lot of mechanical issues. The bikes, the tire changing, the shifting, the braking, there is just so much to learn. Another concern in cycling is finding the correct clothing to keep you comfortable. There are several different concerns. We need to dress for the weather, and also for comfort on the bike.

The most important thing to remember in cycling is that when dressing for the weather, layering is the most important thing to keep in mind. I like to start with an undershirt that wickes away moisture. It is a guarantee that you will sweat, and the best thing you can do is to try and keep that wetness off your skin. If you have wet clothing against your skin, you will feel cold if the wind tarts to really chill you. Long sleeve jerseys are great if its definitely going to stay cool, but if is not really cold out, it might work better to have a short sleeve jersey and then use arm warmers which you can remove when the temperature comes up. That goes for leg warmers too. You might be tempted to wear tights, but this limits you and adds additional padding to your chamois area. It’s always nice to keep the same chamois thickness and so using your normal shorts and leg warmers makes a lot of sense unless it is so cold that your water bottles are freezing. Knee warmers are my normal choice since I don’t like to ride in super cold temperatures. The great thing about knee warmers, arm warmers and leg warmers are that you can jut take them off and put them in your back pocket. There is not much space taken up after they have served their purpose.

As far as jackets go, I really think that a vest is one of the most crucial pieces. It will keep the wind off your chest, and yet you can still go hard and not get too overheated. Windbreakers are great at the start, but they tend to hold in a lot of the heat and then its hard to regulate your temperature when you are going hard. I do like to have a windbreaker for times like descending long roads that are in the mountains. You could also use a rain jacket for that kind of descent.

The other issue in dressing is to find a bike short with a chamois that is comfortable. Let me just say this, I know it goes against the intuitive idea, but thicker is not always better. My suggestion is to find the thinnest chamois you can tolerate. A lot of times, the thicker chamois end up bunching up and rubbing in different spots. This friction can cause some really painful saddle sores. Also, try and be aware of where the seams are in the shorts. You can become sore if the seams aren’t positioned right for you. Also make sure the legs grippers are not too tight for you. Definitely pay attention to fit in the store because everything will be magnified out on the road.

My last tip is that once you figure out what works for you, stick with it. Your body gets accustomed to what you use, and it will help you stay comfortable out on the road.

Happy shopping!

So the topic of this blog is winter weight, and I’m not referring to weight lifting in the gym…

It’s always difficult to keep from gaining weight in the wintertime, especially around the holidays. When I was racing, I always paid very close attention to my diet, and I never drank any alcohol. It was a challenge to keep from eating too much, but I always managed to keep it under control. Now that I ride for enjoyment, and like to enjoy holiday feasts it has become much more difficult to keep my weight under control. But, I have managed, and I want to talk about how it can be done.

The most important thing is to make sure that you are still getting exercise. A couple pounds gained in the off season is not a bad thing, but if you stop exercising and put on ten pounds, then that is a completely different story. I know we hear it all the time, but everything is OK in moderation. Don’t punish yourself for eating too much at Christmas dinner, but try to get in a few extra miles the next day, and be extra careful what you eat to make up for it.

The trick is a system of checks and balances. A big part is not getting too upset by set backs, but to focus on what you can do from here on out. An all or nothing attitude is going to set you up for failure. We are not perfect. If you know that something is going to make you upset, then make a conscious decision not to do it before you do. Worrying about something that you have already done is a waste of time. Focus on what you CAN do.

Enjoy the holidays, let your hair down…. Just remember to use moderation in your decisions, and don’t forget that exercise is the key to staying trim and healthy. If you do gain too many extra pounds, don’t try to lose it all in a day. Your body needs fuel in order to be strong. Slowly take off the weight. That means focus on exercise and using a few less calories than your body needs a day to get by. The weight will come off more slowly, but it will not upset your metabolism and you will be able to keep the weight off more easily. Initially, try cutting out alcohol and desserts. You will be amazed how these empty calories can pack on the weight.

Good luck…. Get out and ride!

Last weekend I was in Tucson, Arizona for the annual El Tour de Tucson. Most people in the cycling circles call it just plain “El Tour”. It is the last big ride of the season. It is not a race per se, but, it is a big deal for all the retired cyclists and fast amateurs from all over the country. It normally draws a crowd that is close to 10,000!

Since so many recreational attend the event, Giant For Women decided to be a part of the huge registration EXPO. We had all the beautiful new bikes in the GFW 2009 line on exhibit. Needless to say we were a hit!

It was really nice for me to be in the GFW exhibit. I was excited about the general response to how great the bikes looked, but, one of the best parts was getting to meet so many women who were already riding our bikes, and to hear how much they loved them. It almost felt like a reunion!

So, back to the ride…. El Tour is 109 miles. It’s a long way to go, but the most challenging parts are the river crossings. They are dry, but can be very interesting when you combine having to try and ride through sand, and then run with your bike when you can’t ride anymore. Let me just ay that one of the reasons I love road riding so much is that I don’t like to walk or run! I especially don’t want to have to get off my bike and carry it from Point A to Point B! Call me a baby or whatever, but I am speaking the truth. Sometimes we have to know our limits

I got to the start super early, but I was shocked at how many thousands of people were already on the start line. The start is categorized by previous finish times or level of USA Cycling category. Luckily, because of my results in the past I got a coveted front line position. The biggest goal for non racers is to be in the Under 5 hour group from the previous year, and that pretty much guarantees a descent start position.

If you are planning on riding in an event like El Tour, and you are not a racer, you would be best suited to be riding a TCR or one of the new Avail road frames with endurance fit. Both of these will give you a great ride over the distance. In looking at how to approach the ride, try and find a group that you think that you can ride comfortably with, and try to all start together. Remember that your time is going to be dependent on the group that you are with, so try and match your abilities accordingly. You will always be faster if you work as a group and work towards a common goal. Also, having “teammates” will help you keep motivated during the day. It is inevitable that you will each go through a bad patch of time, and the camaraderie will definitely help to keep you going forward.

Most importantly, have a good time. The post ride chatter is always fun, and hanging out in the EXPO will be a big part of the day. Some of my favorite times are when my friends and I replay moments that happened during the day. Sometimes they were good moments, and often they were bad moments that become funny after the fact.

All in all I had a great ride, and met a lot GIANT owners… I’m already planning how to run the river crossings better next year!

I was talking to a friend of mine today who was driving home from Casper, Wyoming, which is one of the windiest places on earth. Bike riding can sometimes be miserable if you are in a nonstop headwind or crosswind. He called me to tell me that some semi trucks on the road had been blown over, and we started to reminisce about a ride that I did there a few years ago.

I was in Casper for the holiday and searched out the local group ride. They had a special ride planned for Thanksgiving. They were going to do a long ride from the reservoir back to town, and it was going to be a tailwind the whole way. I thought this sounded great. I love tailwinds…. Wind at the back, free speed…. Anyway, that’s what I thought until I did that ride. We were going so fast that I couldn’t even stay in the group because I hadn’t changed my gearing prior to the ride. It was insanely fast and very cool. I complained because of my gearing, but it was nothing compared to how sad I would have been to be going the other direction.

Wind in Casper is the worst I’ve ever experienced, but, there are tricks to make riding in the wind a bit easier. You have to practice these skills with friends, and then you will have the flow down for when you really need it.

The easiest thing to do is to ride in a paceline. That means that each person rides in the front for a short period of time, and everyone else is resting in the slipstream. It is important to be aware of where the wind is coming from. Each person in the line tries to find the best place to be out of the wind. It creates what we call an echelon in cycling. It is important to communicate. Let the person in the front know if they should move right or left. All the people in the group should be getting some kind of protection. These tactics would change in a bike race, but when riding with friends, the goal is to work as a team and get everyone to the finish, so communication is the key.

The other important thing to remember is that trying to maintain an aero position will also help. If you are comfortable, ride in the drops. You will be in a more aerodynamic position, and your center of gravity is also more stable in this position. Lean into the wind to help keep your balance, and always stay relaxed. A tense body will get moved around by the wind even more. Think of trying to get your body to cut through the air in the smallest space possible.

Wind can be miserable, but as they say “this to shall pass”, and just try to focus on the fun you will have when you get to turn a corner, or turn around to the joy of a tailwind… As long as that tail wind isn’t in Casper, Wyoming I think that you will be happy

Happy Riding…