AP

What's up?

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:41:00 +0000

For the few people who read this blog; sorry for not updating. After I called a halt to the Cross season, I stopped riding and stopped thinking about bikes.

So, the short answer as to what I've been up to the past few weeks is....nothing. It feels good to do nothing. But the short answer does not tell the entire story.

I have been busy. I have been working on my Coaching Business- ALP Cycles coaching- recruiting new athletes and working with current athletes. I have been ski coaching 13-14 year olds for the Eldora Mtn Ski Club, and, for the third time, I had gum surgery.

It has been a much needed break and, now, I am ready to work hard to make 2010 great!

For Sale

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:32:00 +0000

Do you need a good winter training bike?
Are you 5'6"-5'10" tall?

If you answered YES to both questions, I have the perfect bike for you-
The Fuji Cross RC-
http://www.fujibikes.com/Specialty/Cyclo-Cross/Cross-RC.aspx

Retails for $2400. I have a very slightly used 56cm (55cm top tube) for sale. $1250!
WOW!

Interested? Comment on this blog entry and I'll get back to you ASAP!

Pulling the plug

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Once upon a time there was a girl who liked to ride her bike. She rode and she rode her bike and in between riding her bike she raced her bike. After 8.5 months of riding and racing her bike, the girl was slowly starting to drown. Thinking she was a good swimmer, the girl kept riding and racing her bike.

The water was getting deeper and deeper. The girl, who doesn't like water to begin with, was not swimming well and starting to drown at a rapid rate. Her breathing became labored and heavy. Her body got water logged and slow. She was slowly dying. Before full darkness took her over, the girl realized she could "pull the plug" and all the water would drain out.

So, yesterday, the girl pulled the plug and today she feels much better. She can now look forward to the 2010 bike ride and race season with excitement and not feel stuck in the water of 2009.

Ouch, the pain!

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Why is it that when you are doing it you think it sucks and hurts but when you are finished, you thought it was fun?
Such is the case with Cyclocross racing. While racing, I often wonder, "why am I doing this instead of taking a break from the bike like I usually do? This hurts so badly and I'm not even close to winning the race". Well, the short answer is, I like it and it's fun.

I like the people who come out to watch the race and cheer the racers on. I like the challenges Cross provides me and, most of all, I like the people I have met and gotten to know better because of Cross racing.
After my body stops hurting from this weekend's races, I will be excited for next weekend's race!

Guilt free

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:08:00 +0000

The good thing about racing cross only somewhat seriously, is not being ridden with guilt when I don't ride due to the weather. Today it's snowing, cold and I don't feel like riding in it. It's as easy as that.
Though I still need to practice, as I continue to lift the bike MUCH too high when going through the barriers.

Beating me up

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Ouch. I'm hurting today. This cross training/racing thing is beating me up.

My legs hurt, my feet hurt, my back hurts and I'm freaking tired (dang barriers and run up)! But, the cool thing is-I can't wait to recover and DO IT AGAIN!

That's the great thing about cycling. There are so many different types of riding your bike that it's impossible to get board. There is always something a little different to do to challenge you mentally and physically.

Check this out!

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:12:00 +0000

I like sharing my knowledge. Sometimes people want to hear what I have to say and sometimes people wish I would keep my mouth closed.

So, for anyone wanting to learn from my experiences as an athlete, coach and person check out
http://alpcyclescoaching.blogspot.com/.

I have set up this blog to share my knowledge about bicycling. In it you will find anything and everything bicycle related. I also set it up with the hopes of attracting people who are looking for a coach. Earlier this summer, I started to coach a few cyclists and I love it! I love to share my knowledge and to help others achieve their goals.

Chair Lift?

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 16:09:00 +0000

I grew up skiing. Take the chair lift up, ski down. Chair lift up, ski down. For more than 20 years, I participated in this act of taking the chair lift up and skiing down.

When I first starting hearing of people taking the ski lift up and riding their BIKES down, I thought that was the stupidest thing ever. You ride your bike to ride your bike. Not to coast downhill. You ride your bike for exercise and the ability to eat cake and not feel guilty. The best part of going down is knowing you just rode your bike up in the first place. You don't take the chair lift up. I characterized downhill mtn bikers as lazy and out of shape.

Then I tried it.
And it was FUN!
Hanging out with friends on the lift and flying (or at least trying to fly) downhill-

Then, I got tired. Yep, I was tired after a day of riding my bike downhill.

Roadie Trip

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 19:02:00 +0000

What do you get when you take two anal "roadies" and send them to Vegas to race Cross Vegas?

Answer- A mini van filled with questions, extra equipment, two of everything, and a whole bunch of uncertainties.

The roadie trip started on Monday in snow and 29 degrees.
It continued into Utah where after 24.5 bathroom stops we found pretty scenery.
Into a coffee shop in Cedar City for a stop to say hello to awesome roadie friends, Nikky and Jenna.
Finally, into Vegas where upon arrival it was 92 degrees and extremely overwhelming for us two "country bumpkins".
The trip is about to hit it's climax as Kori and I are somewhat ready to exhibit our Cross skills tonight at 8pm.

Change of season

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:39:00 +0000

As the leaves change, so does the bike riding. As a "roadie" if you don't go to Europe to race in September, your season is over. The saying goes, "the race season ends and the drinking season starts" (does the drinking season ever end?). For me, the race season ends and the time to try and do new things starts. This is where stress free mountain biking and cross racing come in.

I have a sweet new Fuji cross bike that I have been riding and will attempt to race on. So far, I have been successful at crash testing it (it has held up well).

The first test was in Breckenridge on Sunday.
-One race
-One crash
-One win!

The next test is in Vegas.
Tomorrow.

Last Race Series

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 15:25:00 +0000

The 2009 race season is coming to a close. TT1 came to St. Louis to have a fun time, celebrate the season and do a little crit racing.
The first two days have been just that. It's been fun!
Day 1 brought a morning team ride

that took us to a pretty view where we needed our picture taken.

After leaving the pretty view spot, Vero had so much power she broke her chain and needed team assistance to get to the coffee shop.

Someone (Jack) needed assistance up the hill. :)

The next day, Jack was motivated and rode the trainer the morning of the second race.

Last night was a fun team dinner that included laughing, story telling and more laughing.

This team rules!!

Official Training

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 15:44:00 +0000

Some people often ask what my training is like. How many watts can I push or how miles do I ride a week. Well, here it is-for everyone (all 3 people who read this) to see.

First, I go mountain biking with crazy people.
4 hours, one endo, 3,000 ft of descending and one BIG GIANT smile on my face. Monarch crest is THE best mtn bike ride I have ever been on.Second, to work on my skills, I do some extreme bridge riding.
This bridge is HUGE! A whole 1.5ft off the ground!

Then, after an entire season of training, racing and traveling, I get the H1TT1 virus and pass it on to everyone in contact with me. This virus has taken me away from training for 2 weeks. I am hoping antibiotics will kill it dead soon.

There you go. Training of a NRC champion.

Update...3 weeks in pictures.

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 18:31:00 +0000

Some people, The Mom mostly, have been wondering what I have been up to. Well, mostly I am still 5'10".
Week #1- Cascade and Nationals

For race day, TT1 had pig tail braids.

Week #2- Rest and recovery

Week #3- Back to "the real world". Work at Sports Garage and Crit Racing with the girls and Jack.

Bad Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 03:26:00 +0000

Hi, my name is Alison Powers and I am a bad blogger. I do not update my blog enough. I get in trouble from The Mom and from Sean Weide.

I have not posted an update in more than a week. I have been in Bend for the past 7 days and have had stuff to blog about (good stuff!). But, alas, nothing has been posted. I am sorry for my delinquency however, I can not promise to get better.

If you would like up to the minute detail as to what's going on please check out-
http://teamtype12007.blogspot.com/

The other morning, I had a great ride with pretty views. We are staying outside of Bend in Sun River.

Mountain Bike Nationals-race day

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 22:40:00 +0000

Wow, what an interesting experience! Just because someone has good road riding fitness doesn't mean they have good mtn bike fitness. I have not suffered in a road race like I did yesterday in the mtn bike race ever. That's right, I said (or wrote rather), EVER. I wanted to quit several times.

However, due to many amazing people cheering for me and wishing me on, I was pushed and challenged outside my comfort zone. I surprised myself several times and I suffered to the finish. I did not get a good result, but I had a great training day both mentally and physically, and got a new appreciation for mountain bikers. It's a dang tough sport and it almost killed me yesterday.

THE decent

With less than 5 minutes to go of the race, I face planted. I'm still cleaning dirt out of my pores.

Mountain Bike Nationals

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:31:00 +0000

Getting ready for a one day, 2 hour race, will end up being a three day affair.
Day 1 was the drive to Sol Vista to pre ride the course and to register for the race (I am #90).

The base of Sol Vista has turned from a quiet summer ski resort, into a full on mountain bike show/expo. It's pretty neat.

The course pre ride lead to some needed bike work from the nice Titus Guy. Heidi G and little Amy D (who, by the way, won the U23 race today!) watch.

Day 2, today, was a mellow day. I avoided the "dirt scene" at Sol Vista and stayed home. I got my "roadie" on and rode my time trial bike (heaven forbid I get my mtn bike dirty after cleaning it yesterday).

Then, after inspiration from newly crowned U23 champ, Amy D, I sat in the stream and iced my legs.
Day 3 is race day. TBD as to what it will bring, but I'm sure it will be filled with nerves, exercise, eating, drinking, and a FUN TIME!

Mixin' it up

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:04:00 +0000

As a bike racer, you've got to mix it up. Keep it interesting. It's easy to get board riding your road bike day in and day out.

Six months ago, the challenge had been set. July 2009, Mountain Bike Nationals in Sol Vista Colorado. 10 minutes from Fraser, where I grew up. Same place where in 1996 I had a small problem and ended up in the hospital while racing a NORBA Cross Country. It was time for revenge.

There were a few hurdles to overcome.
1- Find and start riding a decent mtn bike.
2- get good at riding said mtn bike.
3- find a way to race a mountain bike race to get my upgrade to the Pro racing category.
4-hope and pray I don't have to race Altoona. That's a nice race, but it would conflict with Nationals.
5-survive mountain bike nationals (hopefully with a decent result) and continue on to Cascade.

Thanks to MANY people's help and support, hurdles 1-4 have been overcome. Hurdle 5 is Saturday. Cross your fingers...

Russell Tower

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:18:00 +0000

Dorm life; such is the case here at Fitchburg. We brought our own pillows and blankets and have tried to make it seem less and less like a prison cell.

Jackie and I have pretty much just made a big mess to make it less cell like (actually it is mostly my mess).
Vero and Sam have done a nice job of making their cell feel feminine. They have a cleaning lady that comes twice a day to pick up after them and clean their cell. Maybe she can come next door to help out Jackie and me (well, me mostly).Our bikes like the hallway.
Aww, no matter where you are, the pre race drink is always coffee. In this case, Moka Pot by Jen.
With coffee and fun people, prison isn't that bad.

The Commute...part 3

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:23:00 +0000

In November, I attempted "The Commute". To ride from home to Winter Park where I was ski coaching. Not only did I not make it, I had to get a ride with my Dad over Berthoud Pass. Now, 7 months later, it was redemption time.

A few things I learned from the first try:
1-Take your time. It's a long way and the entire ride is above 7500ft.
2- A coffee stop is a must!

The way there had a few entertaining moments-
Stop #1- bike shop in Idaho Springs. I had attached a 436 lb. "saddle bag pannier" to my seat post and the extra weight plus the swinging motion every time I stood up out of the saddle was causing my seat post to slip down.

Interesting comment #1- Shop owner as he is checking out my bike- "Oh wow! You even have a SRM to measure your power. You spend the big bucks...oh but you have Ultegra. What's with that?"

Nice bike shop owner

Stop #2- Empire. Espresso time.

Nice surprise- Seeing friend Martin as I was starting up Berthoud Pass. Thanks for the hello!
Not nice surprise- Major thunder storm right after seeing friend Martin.

Interesting comment #2- As I continued to climb to over 11,000ft in the rain, the temperature was dropping. I pulled over to the side of the road, leaned my bike on a car that was parked there, and proceeded to dig through my bag for more clothes.
Man- "HEY! blah blah blah..."
Me- am I hearing things? "Um hold on. I am jamming to Beyonce, I can't hear you." Fumble with cold hands to turn off my ipod. "What say?"
Man- "Your bike is leaning on my car!"
Me- is he for real? "Oh! Yes it is. My bad. Sorry."

I did not get struck by lightning, I did not need a ride, and I did not freeze to death. I made it to Fraser in one piece.

Dog Bite

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:58:00 +0000

Once upon a time, a dog lover and a not-so-much dog lover went on a mountain bike ride together. Dog lover told the n-s-m dog lover to get ready to "run from dogs". N-s-m dog lover put her game face on. To her, "running from dogs" meant get ready to kick, yell and curse at said dogs. Mostly to get ready to kick dogs in the face.

Out run 3 barking, growling dogs with the owner nowhere in sight. N-s-m dog lover's heart started pounding. She unclipped her left foot (ready for kicking) and got ready to yell. Dog lover, on the other hand, took the complete opposite approach. In a reassuring, talking to babies type of voice, he says, "hey guys! Hi! What's up? OOOWWWWW! You got me. Ya, you just got me". Dog lover got bitten.

N-s-m dog lover was pissed! She was ready to yell, at the owner this time, who by now has come out of the house and is telling her dogs to "get the hell over here". She was ready to take a picture of the wound, get the name and address of the owner and call the cops. Game on.

Again, Dog lover took the opposite approach. He kindly asked if the dog has had its rabies shots and he is ready to continue riding.

A few minutes of riding later, Dog lover and n-s-m dog lover come across nice people who give the Dog lover some first aid on the leg/bite and he is good to go.

The two continue riding and have a great time.

The End

Jerseys

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:47:00 +0000

A hand full of years ago, I rode in a sports bra and mountain bike shoes (it's ok to laugh). Then I got a pair of road shoes and road pedals and my coworker gave me a jersey. I ditched the camelbak and started racing, still with only one jersey. I envied the people who complained that they only got two team jerseys. I even continued to wear that one jersey after a mouse had chewed little holes along the back of the jersey. The reason? I had a goal; to not have to buy a new jeresy. I was going to wear that jersey until I either won a new jersey or made it on to a team that would provide me with a jersey.

This past week at the Nature Valley Grand Prix, I won/wore 5 jerseys (sprinter, climber, Women's Pestiege overall x2, and WP sprinter).

It makes me proud to look at the first jersey. I've come along way since then but it still is my most favorite jersey.

PS- major kudos to Shelly Olds. She rode amazingly this past week. Way to go!!!

The Scene

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 11:17:00 +0000

Philly. The race is unlike any other race of the season. It's like walking into Amante in Boulder. It's "the scene". The place where everyone wants to go and to be seen. It's the "cool" place.

I, personally, never go into Amante- unless it's to use the bathroom. In that case I enter through the back door and try not to be seen by anyone. I don't like "the scene". I don't like to be seen, and don't like scenes (if that makes any sense). So, Philly is a little bit uncomfortable for me. BUT, we did have a good time.

We (Team Type 1) stayed at the fancy pants race hotel- The Sheridan

Sean W, Jackie, Vero, Jen, Kori, Jack

We stopped while pre riding the course for fancy pants coffee, La Colombe and goodies

And we raced the fancy pants, Liberty Classic, race (minus Monique, though she did come to cheer us on. Heal quickly! We miss you!).Kori, Vero, Monique before the start

Host HOUSE!

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:39:00 +0000

Our host house in Tulsa was nice. I mean NICE! Spacious, big, super great family, clean, and it had an AMAZING kitchen. Cooking in it was fun. Eating in it was fun. Staying at it was fun. It was great. This amazing kitchen also provided an amusing conversation regarding the giant ice maker. It went like this-

me to host Mom- I love your ice maker/chest. It's great to have all that ice available ice to fill your water bottles, cool your drinks etc. It's cool...it's like having a bar in your house.

host Mom- Ya, we even have one in the basement that we don't turn on. I couldn't imagine needing that much ice. Remember the days when you used to have to fill an ice tray and crack the cubes into the ice bin?

me- Yes I do. That's what I have to do at home.

host Mom- really? I didn't know people had to do that anymore.

Our last night in Tulsa, we were treated to a wonderful dinner and family time. It was great. Thank you.

Decisions

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:50:00 +0000

Ummmm......Face Book or blog?
I just signed up for Face Book. I am now almost caught up to 2009. However, I am now having a problem. Do I Face Book or do I blog? Can I do both? Am I able to actually find the time/energy to do both? (probably. Depends on how lazy I am feeling and how comfortable the couch is on a particular day.)

Update-One more day here at the Tulsa Tough. Three days of crit racing in a row. I've never done that before. So far, it's been pretty fun. Though yesterday's heat almost killed me (well, I may be exaggerating a bit. But it was DANG hot).

For fun

noreply@blogger.com (ALP Cycles Coaching) — Thu, 28 May 2009 13:05:00 +0000

Many people wonder what we (cyclists, TT1 riders, etc.) do for fun.

Well, here are some answers;

We sit around and look cute (Kori).

We carry each other like a baby (Morgan and Vero). Actually, there's not a lot of "we" in the carrying like a baby. Nobody has carried me like a baby.

We, TT1, go out together and eat giant plates of nachos.