It’s always hard to come out of the winter and put yourself out there for the first races of the year.  Short distances and speed racing are also not my strength.  But it was good training and this is the time of year where I have to take my medicine and do some tough racing in hopes that it’ll pay off later in the season when it counts.

After Sea Otter, I went straight to Red Bull HQ in Santa Monica for more power meetings and a great Monday lunch meeting with beers and margaritas!  I love how Red Bull operates and it’s always super fun to visit them. I also spent a early early morning at Malibu with my friend Shanti, trying to learn a new sport, surfing. I must say that being in the water that early was beautiful!

The multi-faceted trip continued with an overnight stop in Salt Lake City for the grand opening of Specialized Concept Store, Bingham Cyclery.  It was a women’s event and there were around 200 people shopping and getting psyched about bikes.

I’m finally home and back in my own house.  It was a good trip, but there was no down time and very little time for myself.  There was a bit of Planes, Trains and Automobiles situation getting home, so I was fried when I finally walked in the door.  To top off the crazy travel, I arrived to a bunch of dead plants at my house.  The two cactus survived, so I guess it’s time I stop trying to grow plants other than cactus.

This past week at home has been an awesome mountain Spring week.  Temps ranging from 27 F to 65 F depending on the day.  It has been windy, clear and crisp.  The dirt trails are slowly opening up and everyone is out on the bike path and on the trails.  The shop is full of bikes getting tunes and everyone is psyched to ride, including me.  I’m still tired from the cumulative affects of the Cape Epic and the travel to CA, and the crappy bit of poison oak I got at Sea Otter, but being on my home trails and riding with friends has brought my motivation out of hibernation.

The next race is a couple weeks out, a 12 hour USA Cycling ultra endurance series race in TN.  I’m currently leading that series, so I’m hoping for a good result there.
Until then, I’m relishing in being home, riding my new bikes and maybe shopping for a new cactus for the house.

Cheers

Reba