The Di2 is amazing! The shifting is so smooth and fast. I can easily shift going uphill, and also at stoplights etc. I work with a lot of beginners and hope that I can convince more of them to go with Di2. It is so intuitive and easy to use. I also work with Paralympians who have physical limitations and the ease of the Di2 makes normal shifting possible for them.

When I first got my bike, the shifters were set up for a Women’s reach, and I felt the shifters were too close and difficult for me to shift while in the drops. But, after changing the angle of my drop bars a bit as suggested by Wayne at Shimano, the shifters were perfect. Since the shifters are more like buttons, I had the tendency at first to want to press them like I would a keyboard while in my drops, and my nails were too long and it was not comfortable. But, I adjusted fairly quickly and now the shifting is easy.

I love the technology and the bike looks amazing with no cables. The hoods are also very comfortable and look perfect. I was worried that the battery would be an issue, but, there is a light that comes on to give you enough warning to recharge. They have made it almost “Mari” proof, but I do admit I forgot my battery one day when I had to drive to meet some friends for a ride. That was a bit embarrassing but I had it in a gear I could ride, so the show went on and I will never forget my battery again!

I am completely sold on the Di2.

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.

There are many types of saddle sores, and many different causes. I think the first thing to determine when you are having pain is to figure out whether it is a friction issue, a pressure issue or an infection.

A friction issue is going to be raw. Its going to hurt and your underwear are going to stick to it in the same way a Band-Aid gets stuck on a wound. This kind of sore you can help by checking where the seams are located and seeing if they align with your sore. If they do, then you might try riding in another pair of shorts. Also, you shouldn’t ride with your underwear under your shorts. If you are, then this also might be contributing to your problem… The way to treat this is to use a bit of Neosporin and keep the area dry and clean.

Pressure issues are going to cause a lot of pain, and a bit of swelling. The swelling is usually on one side, and for whatever reason, most women have the swelling on their right side. This is normally a saddle issue. It has to do with the seat not fitting correctly. As I have said many time before, you need to find a seat that fits you best. A more expensive saddle is not necessarily one that is going to fit you better. If a saddle fits right, than it doesn’t need to be very padded. Also, its in vogue right now to have a cut out saddle, and while this is great in theory, you need to be even more careful with20fit on this type of saddle, because if the cut out is not exactly right for you than it will cause even more problems. They are able to cut out the middle because they reinforce the edges, and when you reinforce something it actually makes it stiffer around the edges. For most women, it is most comfortable to have a saddle that is a bit flatter, and a bit wider through the sit bones… If the seat is too rounded, it makes your crotch rock on it and even if its just a little, it can really add up over the miles…

The last kind of saddle sore that I’m going to talk about is an infection. This is when you need to pay the most attention. An infected saddle sore can range from an ingrown hair, to infected ducts which might require surgery. And don’t be scared, most often, a warm salt water bath, and maybe some antibiotics will clear up just about anything. I’ve been in cycling for twenty years, and I’ve only had one girlfriend who actually had to have surgery for a saddle sore. You will know if you have an infection. It will hurt badly and there will be a definite area that is affected. If it is an ingrown hair, it will be sore to the touch and will seem like there is a head. It is important to bring it to a head and drain it. You will see the hair, get it out and then try to keep the wound dry and clean. I like to use Neosporin too. If you have a thickening, like a feeling like there is a pea under you skin, and it is deep and has no head you need to contact your doctor. Just explain that you have been riding and that you have this infection. They will give you some antibiotics and you will feel much better. You won’t be able to drain this yourself, and it will get worse if left alone.

The most important thing to remember is that this is nothing out of the ordinary. You will be fine. Just take the steps to avoid saddle sores. Always stay dry and clean. If you are done with a ride, get out of your cycling shorts. There is nothing good that can come from sitting around in wet cycling clothing. If you have a problem, ice and warm baths will go a long way to help. Evaluate your equipment, and you will find the happy medium where you have infrequent saddle sores and other issues…

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…..

First of all, I really want one of the new Garmin devices. These are the coolest devices I have seen. I am especially into it because I am always looking for new rides, but I hate getting lost. With the Garmin you can go to websites like www.mapmyride.com and you can download rides in your area to your Garmin and it will lead you turn by turn. This is sooo cool.

I always have a love of new wheels. When I was at the bike show in Vegas this year I aw some super wheels made by HED. You can actually match the disc wheel to your outfit. This might seem a bit over the top, but it makes me think that I could actually do a time trial again. I think it would be so fun to match my wheels to my outfit.

I am also always looking for ways to make flat changing easier. In the old days, wee had to carry a big pump that would be mounted on the bike. Then CO2 cartridges came into vogue, but there was always the problem of what you would do if you had more than one flat. Now that problem is solved and ……. Second Wind created a pump that uses CO2 cartridges and that you could also use as a small pump if you run out of cartridges. Very smart.
I also always like new bikes, don’t we all? My new favorite is the red and carbon grey GIANT TCR W. It is an amazingly beautiful bike and comes with women specific components so the reach and touch points all feel better for women.

What I’m still looking for? I really want a basket or some kind of device to take my tiny 4lb dog with me on easy rides. I’m having a hard time finding anything other than a basket for beach cruisers. I think there has to be a way to bring him along. I just can’t figure it out.

The last thing on my wishlist is a complete overhaul of my road bike. This wish is one that’s really important. All bikes should be gone over at least once a year. I like to have a new chain put on, and everything checked to make sure it’s all in good shape. If anything needs to be replaced, then now is the time. This keeps me running smoothly until my next new bike.

Enjoy the New Year! I hope your wish list is complete!

In cycling, there are two road events. The road race and the time trial. There is also mountain bike racing, track racing, and BMX. I’m going to talk about road racing since that is what I know best.
For women, the Olympics are the pinnacle of the sport. The men have the Tour de France, but for women, the Olympics are the one time that we get to play on the world stage. The ironic part is that the Olympic Games are the one time every four years that we have to race with a very small team. There are only three spots per team, when a typical World Championships has a team of six. It’s difficult because the tactics of a road race have to change with such a limited team. It also makes the field size really small. It’s a very strange combination for the Women’s races.

This problem is not really a discrimination issue. The problem is that there have to be strict limits to the amounts of athletes allowed in the Games. The men’s teams are also smaller than normal. It’s unfortunate because it changes the nature of the race. It wasn’t as obvious in the men’s race today because there was so much attrition because of heat and humidity. This might also be the case in the women’s race tomorrow, but I believe that the women will learn from what they saw happen in the men’s race.

The other road event is the time trial, and since that is the rider against the clock, it seems like a normal style of racing. We have two amazing women from the US in this event and have a great shot at a gold medal. It could even be two on the podium. It is the best field that the US has ever fielded. We also have a great chance in the road race, but the odds are amazing in the time trial.

Giant sponsors the Team Columbia (formerly T-Mobile, then High Road). They have 15 athletes in the Olympics. Picking them out will be challenging because they will be wearing their countries jerseys and not the Team Columbia jersey. But, keep an eye out for their Team Columbia GIANT bicycles.
Enjoy the Games! Get out and Ride!

In Olympic Spirit

I raced for 20 years. When I was younger I liked having sponsors on my clothes because somehow it validated that someone else thought you had some kind of athletic talent. But, now after years of being told what to wear, I finally have the chance to go crazy, show my own style, and lo and behold, there is absolutely zero athletic clothing on the market that I think is HOT for women. I don’t think that women want to look like guys on the bike. Most of the girls I like to shop with are looking for clothes that make them feel fun and sexy. I think that there are a lot of women out there who feel the same way but can’t find anything that works. I know because I have been trying to find stuff that I would like to wear, and I am now taking some of the cute yoga and BeBe sport stuff to the tailor to get reworked into something that I will wear on the bike. Who says that you can’t show up to a group ride in something outrageous if you like it? Confidence is sexy. Athletic women should be rejoicing, not trying to look like their cycling brothers!

OK, so right now, I think the best fitting athletic pants for women are made by a company out of Miami called Couture Activewear. The material is a super comfortable lycra blend. It packs really well if you travel a lot, and really flatters all body types. The thing that makes these pants stand out from others are the details. They have the pockets perfectly placed, and they have belts etc. to really draw the eye to our typically more flattering areas. I am shocked at how often I get compliments with these pants. I own three pairs and I love each pair. They are at home in the gym and also for going out. It’s not everyday you can find great looking pants that work with heels or barefoot in a yoga class. OK, so I admit, I have a shortened pair for gym time and tennis shoes, and longer un-hemmed versions for everyday wear with heels. I like to think that they go with my personality…. A bit feminine and sexy in an athletic sort of way. I’m definitely not your average dainty girl, but I like a feminine/ athletically tough mix. I like to think of it as a contradiction. Let’s keep life interesting and keep them guessing…

As far as mainstream athletic clothing I also really like the BeBe Sport. They have many different pants and they have been written up as the most flattering pants for women. I personally think this is true to a certain extent. Their designs are flattering and sexy but the material is a step backwards from the Couture pants that I’m obsessed with right now. But, where Bebe excels is in their selection of colors, and unusual tops at a very affordable price. I love the bright colors and the designs. You have to be careful with their clothes because if you pair too much of it together it looks a little bit Vegas-ish, but if you pair a sexy top with an all black bottom it definitely gets that edgy look. The key is to find a blend of sporty and sexy without looking cheap.

I’m doing some research on cycling shorts right now and I’ll keep you all updated. I tried a pair of really short Zoot shorts the other day and while I loved the style and didn’t even mind the triathlon chamois (ie. practically non existent) I found that after an hour my thighs were getting rubbed raw from the saddle. There was also a seam in the chamois area that was not super comfy. Maybe its because I am a little bigger than the girls that these shorts were designed for (not 100lbs..), but I think that we all are sitting on a saddle, and that saddle is going to touch your thighs so it’s a little hard to figure out. But, I admit, I’ll throw on these shorts in the summer to ride for an hour or so just because I like the lack of tan lines….
So, ladies and gentlemen, let me know why you love your shorts or jerseys or any brand of athletic clothing that you are into. I can’t be the only person out there who thinks that women’s cycling clothing is terrible right now. Guys let me know your thoughts…. This could be a win/win situation. There can be no way men like what they are seeing, and we girls love to shop. So tell me your favorites and let’s improve what your seeing out there Plus if you look on Match.com or anything, you ladies know that they way to a man’s heart is through his activities, so why not up your chances and look as put together as you do when you go out. It’s infinitely better than hanging out at Home Depot or something….

I grew up in Ojai, so it was somewhat of a reunion tour for me. I took the girls on a few of my favorite rides. The first day we rode from the Inn to Santa Paula and back up to Ojai. It’s about a 50 mile loop, but there is a fair amount of climbing. I was a bit concerned because we had a big range in ability and I was concerned that it might be hard to keep us together. But, it turned out to be no problem. We had no big attitudes, and everyone was just interested in enjoying the day, and seeing the beautiful scenery. It was also cool because I could show them where the Tour of California went on the same roads.

After our ride, we went to the spa. We sat by the pool and enjoyed the sunshine. We all had massages and mani/ pedis. It was an incredibly relaxing afternoon. I have had a lot of pedicures, but this one was by far the most decadent I had ever experienced. I think it was even better than the massage! They put you in this chair that actually ends up with you lying down, and wrapped in warm blankets. It was unbelievable.

Ojai is known for the “pink moment” and we were outside watching for it before Deb’s big Birthday dinner. The sunset did not disappoint, and our evening was a perfect extension of our day. It was great to unwind and bond with girlfriends especially basing our whole weekend on the riding.
The next day we rode one of my favorite rides of all time. It is the loop from Ojai to Lake Casitas, down into Santa Barbara and back through Ventura to Ojai. Not only is this one of the most beautiful rides in the area, but it is the first ride I ever did on a road bike. I had borrowed a bike and shoes when I was 12 and went with our junior cycling team around the lake just like I did with the girls. I loved the challenge then, and I still love the ride now. I never go to Ojai and not ride the Casitas Loop.

There were a couple good climbs on the ride and I told the girl to go for it. They all pushed themselves super hard, and really surprised themselves. We worked on descending too, and everyone finished feeling like they had learned something new to help their riding.

We had to get out of our rooms by 1pm, so we hurried back and got on the road. We wanted to miss the afternoon traffic. It was a great few days, and we all came back more relaxed and happily tired from working out. It was the perfect vacation

Anyway, for all my worry, I actually had a blast driving. I have never gone through so many red lights and passed so many smiling waving policemen. It got to the point where I had to actually remind myself after the races that I needed to change my attitude so I wouldn’t be arrested or something!.

My other job was as a field reporter. I have to say that while it looks easy on TV, it is really difficult. I was lucky that they assigned a wonderful woman to help me and coach me. She eased me in and I never felt overwhelmed although sometimes it came very close. I was so glad she was there because I was very nervous, and I trusted her to make sure I didn’t look like a fool.

The most interesting thing to me was that I experienced a huge level of stress that I haven’t felt since I was racing well. The last few years of my career I didn’t ever really feel that nervous stress of having to prove something to myself. When I was riding well in the 90’s and early 2000’s, I raced a lot of times out of fear of failing. I haven’t felt that scared or fear in five or six years. But, I felt it at the Tour of California this year in a totally different context. I felt like I had a big opportunity to try some new things and I really wanted to do well. I had a self induced pressure that had me in bed by 8pm almost every night, and fighting a cold. I was terrified to fail, and ironically it made me feel alive. I have spent the last few years trying to find a life that makes me feel comfortable, and to realize that I’m at my best when I feel huge pressure was an interesting revelation. The balancing act of find a happy medium is going to have to be what I come to terms with in this new phase. I guess my attempt at advice today is that it’s important to realize what it is that drives us. What makes us passionate to move forward. Sometimes being scared is a good motivator, but the most important thing is to use whatever it is that drives you and pursue it because at the end of the day feeling alive is what makes life worth living.

So that’s my two cents for today