Tour of Friendship, 2013

Industrial Park

There's been a typhoon off the coast of Vietnam.... in addition to the regular raining season.

I think this may actually be the first weekend I did not get up early to ride.  I had intervals planned after the regular morning ride, but since the NVL Highway was a mess, I didn't even bother to try....

Took off about 8:30 to the Industrial Park for 7 by 3min intervals.

Enjoy the following clip of me getting ready to cross one of the roads...

Local Style...

Saterday Boys Morning Ride Photo's from Toon Santen on Vimeo.

Thanks again to Toon for the great VIMEO of a typical Saturday ride.  This ride was on the 15th of September, but very typical for a Saturday.

Cat Lai

Great trip to Cat Lai with four Dutchmen.... Mark, Michael, Rudy, and Toon.  Below is a short video of the ride taken by Toon on his GoPro.  Thanks Toon for the time to put this together.  As cyclists, its often difficult to explain our experiences.... this makes it easier!

Nhon Trach from Toon Santen on Vimeo.

Whoa...it's been a while!

Did a LOT of riding in the us.

Though I was quite cold, I rode every day possible and climbed anything I could.

I only raced the three times at PIR, but the lessons were invaluable!  

My first sprint win, PIR 7-16 Hot Lap #3

No one more surprised than me!

Do I have a photo?
Do I have a video?
Did I even bring my Garmin?

No to all the above.  But OBRA did verify, I was the winner of the 3rd and final hot lap, and did place 4th (out of 8) for the race.  The top three, really fine, fine athletes.

If there really is a cloud 9, I suppose I am there!

Anyhow, one for the Home Boys!  Thanks so much for the support and kicking my @$$ every T/R/S/S in Vietnam... Thanks to PIR, my cornering has gone from completely horrid to just plain, bad!

Monday Night PIR - July 9

Never raced in the USA!  Funny!  Got my bike in Taiwan, raced in Taiwan... later Cambodia, Thailand, and Indonesia but never the USA.

I have always wanted to so this race at the Portland International Raceway.

www.racemondaynights.com

There is 'Novice Women', and 'Open'.  Hmmm... I am not a member of OBRA, and I am not 'Categorized'. I have a fantasy that I am a Cat 3 rider.  I have won a lot of races over the years and place well in stage races.  I am not new to racing, but we don't race every week.

I live in Vietnam and every T/R/S/S feel much like a race.

Well...

I am learning a LOT

Here's Lap 11 of last weeks.  Two got away in front and we lost a few on the back.  I was smart on this lap and kept to the front.  Sadly... not every lap.  When the Cat 2 gals dig deep, I fly off the back.  But, an area for improvement.  That's what I am here for!

Lap 1 or 2, don't know...

Lap 2 or 3, I think they rang for the "hot lap" after this....

And that is what happens to me after a HOT LAP... I am in deep trouble!  Need to work on some sprinting???  maybe some speed?

and after the next hot lap...

regular lap...

I am the 2nd girl...

This was the prior lap, and more representative of the 13 laps....

Hangin' off the back.  dyin' to survive....

The last lap, I took the lead and pulled around the last corner... I got squashed... of course, the final sprint I was wasted.  I figured since I did very little work in the race, I should work at the end... the girls thanked me for it.

I finished in the pack of 6, 2 escaped off the front and we lost a few off the back.  So... happier with this performance than the prior weeks.

Monday nights are tough for me.  I think the girls are mostly Cat 2 and 3... Don't know what I would classify myself as...3 or 4.

better luck next Monday!