Sunday, July 26, 2009

It's a SWEEP!!!



Sunny skies and wind didn’t stop 28 ladies from coming out to test their time trialing skills at the PLT #2 today in Chesapeake, VA. As we drove into the parking lot we all checked out the wind by watching the flag standing straight out letting us all know that we would suffer on the way out but enjoy a nice tailwind all the way home. We also found ourselves racing with temperatures in the 90s, something we had not encountered this year.



7 Vanderkittens were able to make it to the race so felines were seen in every category. Once again our Cheetah, Captain Cook, not only had a 35 second PR but again broke her own record with a time of 52:21. Ali Cat also had a PR with a time of 54:59 to again take the gold in CAT 4. I was able to capture first place in the 40 plus with a time of 56:01 so it was nice to have a sweep 2 weeks in a row.

Joie, Barb, Vanda and Susan were out there giving it their all and by the looks of their faces at the end of the race, had nothing left in their tanks. Way to go cats, we are all proud of each and every one of you for coming.

Laura and I have been doing a little “coaching” to our 007 kitten who was our guest rider today. Although her name remains “TOP SECRET” she did share with us one of her secret training methods which was to put a picture of Laura and I on her bike so that whenever she let her mind wander, she would have a visual of us to keep her on track. We are happy to report that 007 did just fine today.

Next stop for the Vanderkittens will be the PLT #3 next week where I expect to see more records and PRs.

Congratulations to all for a good time and good times on the clock.

BJ aka Podium Cat

Sunday, July 19, 2009

TNP Time Trial

So being from the Beach, we don't have a lot of hills to ride unless you count the Pungo Ferry Bridge. I don't know about you all, but I frickin LOVE hills! Well this past weekend four Va Beach VK's packed up and headed to Richmond to do a 14.6 mile time trial, complete with some nice rollers. It was pretty cool to see speeds ranging from a low of 17 to a high of 37 during the race. Usually on flat tt's my speed doesn't vary by more than 3 or 4 mph so this was a nice change.

The best part of the day was what I affectionately refer to as the "Vanderkitten Sweep". Not only did we win all three women's categories...Podium Cat BJ Samuel took first in the 40+, Ali Cat Ingram took first in the Cat 4, and I won the 1,2,3...but we also posted the three fastest times of the day for the women. Barbie Cat (Barb Viola) rounded out our group, doing the race old style on a road bike without aerobars. She road incredibly strong and I'm thinking there's a tt bike in her future...no pressure Albie :)

Until next time...

Captain Cook

P.S. by Ali Cat: Just call her butter cuz she's on a roll! Sorry (not really) but I had to add my two cents in here because CC humbly left out some significant info above....she once again broke the course record (her own from last year!) at this TT with a time of 36:11!! The streak is going strong!

Friday, July 10, 2009

A DOG GONE GOOD TiME ON THE EASTERN SHORE!

Our ride started in Onancock on the wharf. What a darling little town...it sits on the Onancock River and is surrounded by beautiful sailboats and fishing boats. The 9 of us kittens saddled up and headed out...BarbR, Summer, BarbV, Susan, Linda, Donna, Maggie, Wendie, and Kelly. Thanks to our Mitten Kitten, as she had planned a wonderful journey for us.


The wildlife was abundant...from deer, to bees buzzzing in Mitten Kitten's head (only to find out it was her cell phone...hee hee), to BiG dogs. Very BiG dogs with very BiG teeth that could run like hell!! The guys at the Tour weren't the only ones getting a sprint in... I've never seen Kelly ride so hard. Way to put on the sprint, Kelly Kat! Being the fast little kittens that we are, we managed to outrun those BiG Bad dogs!


We enjoyed our little breaks throughout the day : )








And the breakaways, too, with Summer leading the way (which resulted in some lost kittens). Not to mention our trip to the jail : ) Bad little
kittens!


Truly a lot of history in these little towns on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.







Our ride ended with happy, tired, hungry kittens...so, we treated ourselves to a YuMMy lunch at Mallards on the Wharf and celebrated Maggie's birthday!


A happy ending to a FuN day of adventures with the Vanderkittens! Thanks to the citizens of the Eastern Shore who harbored us from unfriendly canines and who found our lost kittens.


And Congrats to Wendie and Kelly for their 1st Tour!

Sunday, July 5, 2009

BIKE VIRGINIA

As much as I hate to miss a time trial, especially a state time trial, I made the right decision to go back to BIKE VA for a 4th time. Bob and I happen to find this adventure a ton of fun and enjoy riding in packs of 2,000 for 5 days. We were joined by Mitten Kitten and Jim, Barbie Cat and Albie, JB and Barb, Blair and Mimi and many strangers who became friends by weeks' end.

This BIKE VA had us starting our trip in Charlottesville, VA traveling to Culpeper and with lots of miles on back roads that happen to be in a great condition for cycling. We had beautiful weather the whole week. As we stayed in hotels that were packed with cyclists, we all felt we were back in college because of the party atmosphere in the towns we visited as well as the poolside parties and early cocktail hours. Our rest stops included visits to vineyards, historical sites and many fire stations all equipped with food and drink for the hordes of hungry and thirsty riders.

Some of our highlights of the trip included seeing riders who we had nicknamed from previous trips. There was Joyce, from Potomac Peddlers, who we nicknamed the “ASSOS GIRL” since she always wore Assos. This animal of a climber was dropping men and women every mile of the way. We met Pinky and her crew from Louisville who even bought a VK jersey from The Bike Stop in Culpeper. The women from The Bike Stop were excited to meet real Vanderkittens and insisted we go over to the shop to meet Stixs the mechanic, who had recently raced at the Amphib Crit in Virginia Beach. We had great meals across the state of Virginia and found everyone so friendly and welcoming. We took in the tunes of English Channel and the Rhondels. We made it to the BIKE VA talent show and if a pole had been available, I think we would have had one of our kittens on stage doing a little pole dancing.

Along with our highlights we also had some interesting happenings to some of us. Mitten Kitten got a little lost in Charlottesville and kindly took a ride with a stranger back to the hotel. She said he looked “nice” so she had no problem climbing in his unmarked van to get herself safely off a busy highway. Mitten Kitten also decided to take in some of the history in Culpeper while some of us put in some serious miles on hills. She found out that her transportation that day had her in the bus many more hours than she was out of the bus but of course she met nice people there too!

The trip was a success for all of us. We climbed around 14,000 feet and completed around 350 miles. We were all safe when it ended. Unfortunately there were 2 very nasty accidents which had riders taken to the hospital. I have heard since that they will be OK.

If you haven’t joined the growing crowd of BIKE VA followers, you need to try it sometime. Next year it will be in Harrisonburg and Waynesboro which means even more climbing. BIKE VA does fill up quickly so don’t be left out. See you next year.

Podium Cat