Southeastern Bellas

Olga Weeks leads in NashvilleCyclist.com crit series, Fronheiser and Magli maintain rankings

2008-07-31T07:10:00.000-07:00

Tennessee Bella Olga Weeks (see photo by Marsha White) is leading the Cat 1-4 Women in the latest standings from the NashvilleCyclist.com crit series. In addition to leading this category, Olga is also ranked in the Cat 4 Men's races.

Emily Fronheiser (MedPlan/TriStar, Bella) holds a 5th place points ranking. Jennifer Magli, who is training for the How 100 century in a few weeks, maintains a 6th place points ranking.

To keep up with the TN Bellas through the race series, visit nashvillecyclist.com.

Muncie Endurathon Report, Muncie, IN

2008-07-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Tennessee Bellas Dee Davis, Abby Olson, and Missy Hulbert are Training (and we do mean training with a capital "T") for Ironman Floria 2008 on November 1 in Panama City Beach, FL. This is Abby's race report from their second half-Ironman of the Year, the Muncie Endurathon in Muncie, IN. These women are made of some tough stuff!

The pic above shows their fellow Ironman trainee Jere Pope, Missy and Abby enjoying post race brews.

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"Pope picked me and Missy up from the church where we slept... amazingly we didn't burn it down or cuss in front of the pastor. Pope warned us that the weather was going to get dicey in the middle of the day, but we all figured that it was no big deal since it would be towards the end of the event.

As everyone was setting up, the race director called a meeting to let everyone know that a weather front was moving through around 10am. He said there would be hail, damaging winds, lightening, heavy rain... fun stuff. The plan was to put the start waves in the water 3 minutes apart instead of 5 minutes in an attempt to get everyone out of the water before the storm hit. After that, we would be on our own i.e. seek your own shelter when you are on the course and sky opens on you.

I was thinking, ok... I'll go ahead and swim, no big deal. And I figured I would be far enough on the bike that it wouldn't bother me. After coming around the last buoy, about halfway in, I tried to site the shore and suddenly couldn't see anything that far away because the rain was so heavy visibility was almost zero. Then I heard the thunder. I froze up because I thought I was going to die... just waiting for the jolt to hit.

When I didn't get shocked, I swam like hell for the shore hoping to make it out before the next hit- and I did. As soon as I cleared the water, BOOM! I started wondering if this was all worth it... and I did so I got on the bike. I only went 12 miles before I realized after almost wrecking with someone, sliding through a turn and getting blown sideways, that this was not a good idea. That is the story of my DNF. Yeah!!"

Dirt, Sweat, and Gears 12-Hour race report :: Angela Brown

2008-05-06T08:52:00.000-07:00

(The Muddy Sisters on the podium, minus one member. All photos courtesy Clay, except bottom, courtesy Gary Collins )

(above: Angela talks with Sandra Tomlinson before the race start)

Wow! What a party and what a weekend! I signed up for the Dirt Sweat and Gears 12 Hour race back in December, suckering Hope Hayes of Team Wood n Wave into a two-woman amateur team. In good weather, this would have been a decent idea on the 10-mile loop. Exhausting for two people riding 12 hours, but doable. After the deluge of rain Friday night and Saturday morning, it turned into downright silly. So, after a quick conference with the other two-woman team we knew at the race, we instigated a merger. The Mud Bunnies and the Twisted Sister teams became the Muddy Sisters…..saving our sanity and our bodies.

The race began with a shotgun start and a run-up to the bikes. Since I had been giving Hope lip a few weeks earlier about how she needed to consider adding running into her training, that made me a shoe-in to do the run up. BLAM! Off we went. I had tied a pink bandana to my bike and went straight for it, and the line of racers wound around the field and into the woods….

…and then came to a screeching halt. What in the world?

(This is what the first few miles of the first lap looked like...hike a bike!)

Evidently, the soil around the course in Fayetteville, TN, has a good bit of clay in it, as I came to realize. The line stopped because people had mud-packed wheels grinding to a halt in the thick mud. This was beyond Chickasaw and Canal Loop mud, the two other XC mud races I had just completed. This was PLAY DOUGH. I mean, for crying out loud, kids were making fake turds out of the stuff later in the day and throwing them at each other. When packed, it hung together like nothing I’ve ever seen.

(me, after the first lap, on my way to a short nap)

The lap that should have been 1.5 hours or less stretched into 2 hours and 17 minutes of pep talk and mechanical discoveries. The routine became: hop on, roll until your wheels clog, get off, find a good stick, dig the mud out of your cleats, pedals fork and tires, get rolling again, repeat. I saw a few who had both wheels that wouldn’t turn, and one guy with his bike on his shoulders. My loop eventually turned into hike-a-bike, with about 4 miles of the hilly 10 being me walking my bike with the front wheel off the ground because the back wouldn’t clog as often.

Finally, I made it out and tagged the next team member, washed my bike and stuff, changed clothes and napped on a hay bale.

When my next lap came around, it was right at 1:33. That’s more like it. The first one cooked me so bad that there was no hope for another in the window we had left to complete the race. Our team completed a total of 6 laps on the course….not as high as I had hoped, but high enough to place 20 out of 25…and we were the only all-woman team at Dirt, Sweat and Gears!

After I completed my lap, I went back to talk to Paul, the Ellsworth rep who had approached me earlier because I had on my Velo Bella kit. He invited me over to hang out at Monique "Pua" Sawicki’s tent and watch her pit change. The woman is an animal! She completed 9 laps on the course to win the women’s Solo Pro division. I didn’t get a pic with her later because I was too shy. I really should have.

(Me, in shock, accepting my signed Gary Fisher frame from the man himself!)

After the race, the podium and prizes started. I walked away with one of the biggies…a Gary Fisher frame signed by the man himself! I accepted my frame and shook hands with the legend. Our team also got called up on the podium for a special box o’ goodies. We registered thinking there would be a 4 woman team division, but 20 out of 25 in the 4 person team division wasn’t bad, considering that one team member left early and our strongest one couldn’t make it because of a family emergency.

Interested in coming next year? Check out DirtSweatandGears.com.

The Dirty Girls of Tennessee

2008-04-30T15:22:00.000-07:00

The mountain bike chicks of Velo Bella-KONA Tennessee are several events into the season and gaining major momentum!

The season-opening Chickasaw Trace Classic was March 30. The already muddy course received several inches of rain right before the race, turning the entire course into a mud-covered 9-mile loop about the consistency of peanut butter. The sloppy mess didn’t deter our Bellas from starting the course and bringing home results, with many finishing the race despite spills, cuts, and (for one) stitches.

Chickasaw Trace Classic Results:
Amber Favorite: 3rd Beginner
Angela Brown: 10th Sport
Jennifer Morehead: 6th Expert

Next on the TBRA calendar was a weekend of racing in Kentucky. The White Lightning TT and XC races landed on April 19 and 20. Keeping in consistency with what seems to be a theme of this years’ races, it flooded rain the night before Saturday’s time trial. The Bellas used their mud expertise gained at Chickasaw to steer their way to wins!

White Lightning TT and XC Results:
Jennifer Morehead: 2nd TT Expert Women, 3rd XC Pro/Expert Women
(pic of Jen above, crossing the street on the race course. Photo courtesy Kim Lilley)
Angela Brown: 1st TT Sport Women 30-39, 1st XC Sport Women 30-39
(pic of Angela on the TT course in the Vanderkitten jersey, Photo courtesy Dustin Greer)

We’re looking for sponsors for our co-sponsored race with the Jackson Spokes on June 8 at Mousetail Landing in Linden, TN. If you’d like to be a sponsor, contact Angela at angela@companyzero.com. More details coming soon to mousetailchallenge.com!

2008-03-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

Race Report from Jamie France - Greenville Training Series Weekend #2

Saturday -- Fork Shoals -- 45 miles: It was sunny & windy. Our 11:20 AM start was delayed 45 minutes due to the races before us being delayed (women were set to start last). About 30 women lined up for the start, mostly all experienced racers (no squirrels). I didn't know the course at all, having never ridden or even driven it. I had no idea where any of the turns were. It was three 15 mile laps. After rolling out at the tail-end of the pack (to see whichway we were going), I was up in the front third by mile 2. Attacks started in mile 3 and they never let up. It was attack/surge, followed by regroup/recover. I stayed up in the front third, which was good thing because there is a steep hill in mile 8. I did great on that hill, and I finished the first lap with an average mph of 21.9, thinking "this is tough riding, but I think I can hang!" Yeah, well, I was being naive. I got dropped when the pack surged up a small incline in mile 17. Three of us got dropped, one of which took off before I could ask her to work with us. The other gal (Erica) and I decided to hang together for the rest of the race (33 painful miles). With the wind, we had no hope of catching the pack again, unless they got neutralized due to the Pro 1/2 Men's lapping them or a traffic problem. So we didn't give up hope, but went as fast as we could. It got really hot; we ran out of water at mile 40; I got a sunburned face, arms, & thighs. I had nothing left to give at the finish (uphill, into the wind finish). So Erica beat me over the line by a foot or so.
The Cat 4 women's results only listed results 4 deep, but they have Erica as 4th. That would make me 5th since we were together. (https://www.pre-reg.com/Users/RacerMain.aspx)
Sunday -- Donaldson Center -- 35 miles: It was cold at first, but it warmed up. I was tired from the day before. The normal huge field of women were there, including some squirrels (boo, hiss!). Even though I was tired, I was racing well. The first 4 laps went splendidly. I am definitely stronger on the hills. I went into the 5th lap in good mid-pack position, but… me and two other ladies got caught behind some squirrels and got gapped. I had to sprint once I got around them to catch the pack, which put me at the back of the pack starting up the hill at the golf course with already toasted legs & lungs. I fell off and finished the last 4 miles alone. I ended up 14th out of the 20 Cat 4's, and 29th out of all the Women. That is two better than the 16th that I got the previous weekend. I am pleased with that, given the hell-race I had done the day before.

Tennessee Bellas 'Cross It Up!

2008-01-21T21:42:00.000-08:00

Top to Bottom: Laura, Jennifer, Angela, Abby, Dina

Tennessee Bellas have been sharpening their cyclocross skills in the in the ’07-’08 season.

The fun began with the Nashville Cyclocross series. Races 1 and 2 were held in October ‘07, and races 3 and 4 were held in November ’07. Dina Pezzimenti (who has since moved back to NC….we miss you!) went on to win the Category 4 Women’s series, with Bellas Angela Brown, Laura Sweeney, and Abby Olson making appearances at the races in Category 4.

Next, the Tennessee Bellas conquered the Columbia series. The Columbia Cyclocross series consists of four races held over two weekends each January at Chickasaw Trace Park in Columbia, Tennessee. Weather was rainy with decent temperatures the first weekend, with things dipping sharply below freezing with a bone-chilling wind to boot on the second weekend. Bellas Angela Brown and Laura Sweeney raced the entire ’08 series, with Angela claiming the title of Category 4 Women’s Champion in the 30-minute races. Expert MTB racer Jennifer Morehead raced in the first race of the series in the Category 1/2/3 Women’s 45-minute long race.

Angela also raced the 2007/2008 TN State Cyclocross Championship in Nashville, TN on January 13.

Great job, ladies! The cyclocross series in Tennessee isn’t over yet. For more races and links to results, visit the TBRA race schedule.

Newly formed FL bellas Oooh la laaaa ride

2007-11-05T11:23:00.001-08:00

On October 27th at 7:30am, a few of the newly formed Florida Bellas decided to throw our very first Oh la laaa ride! On the weekends we ride with a bigger group called SBW, but inside this big group we were a little click with a super-secret plan to dress up in fishnet stockings and halloween costumes and show up for a good time 40 mile ride!

Me arriving and getting ready:

Pin the tail on the Maddy! For once I'm trying NOT to poke a fellow teammate!

Candace shows off her bunny tail:

The group! Clockwise: Maddy, Candace, Amy, Amanda!

Angel of Death! Yes yes yes! I'm finally fast!

The ride was AWESOME! Tho I have to note for future rides, we're not going to get full-length fishnets...about 20 miles into the ride OUCH! Those suckers came OFF at the first rest-stop!

Olga's 2007 Track Debut

2007-10-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a little update on what our new Ukrainian Track Racer has been up to this year! What a busy bee!

General info about my racing for bellas this season (track only)
1. Track clinic with Cathy in March, Cat 4 trackie
2. Mayor Taylor velodrome (Indianapolis)
· Indianapolis, Major Taylor Velodrome: July 6th, 2007, Friday Night racing: Time Trials: 200m: 2nd, 500m: 5th
· Indianapolis, Major Taylor Velodrome: June 15, 2007 Friday Night racing,: 5 lap scratch: 2nd place, elimination: 4th place, 15 lap points: 3rd place
· Indianapolis, Major Taylor Velodrome: June 08, 2007 Friday Night racing, 5 lap scratch race: 6th, Elimination 7th, 24 lap point 9th;
· Indianapolis, Major Taylor Velodrome, May 17th, 2007: Thursday night, intro racing: Points race
3. Atlanta, Dick Lane Velodrome, :
· June 30th, 2007: Festival of Speeds #2: 200m TT : 14.76 (5th place), Points race: 3rd place, Miss-and-Out: 3rd place, Snowball: 3rd place, Overall: 4th place (7points)
· September 22nd, 2007, Festival of Speed #3: Miss-and-Out: 3rd, Points race 4th
4. Masters Nationals in Trexlertown, PA: Points race 4th

Somewhere in between July and August I was upgraded to track Cat 3.

Besides the track racing, I’m gonna race with VeloBellas on road next season as well. We will have fun, ladies.

Olga

Lock 4 Xterra Blast Report

2007-07-22T19:35:00.000-07:00

Velo Bella had two teams at the Lock 4 Xterra Blast in Gallatin, TN. All relay teams at the event were grouped into a single category. Team 1 placed 7th out of 16 teams at the event....outstanding, considering the co-ed grouping! Team 2 DNF'd because of a flat tire on the mountain bike portion, but still had smiles all around. Just look at that post-race pic for proof!

At the awards ceremony, Dee Davis won entry to Xterra nationals by winning a Gatorade chugging contest, and Missy Hulbert took a second dip in the lake that day (fully clothed!) to win a gift certificate for gear on the Xterra website. Who says the fun has to stay within the race clock?!?

Team 1: Missy Hulbert (swim), Jennifer Morehead (mtb), Molly "BB" (run)
Team 2: Abby Olson(swim), Angela Brown (mtb), Shelly Collins (run)

We ain't afraid of no dirt!

The Natasha Cowie Files

2007-07-22T19:33:00.000-07:00

Talk about a woman on fire! Southeastern Pro Bella Natasha has been movin'!
Some of the latest results for Natasha:

3rd, U23 Women XC, Mt. Snow, VT
3rd, SERC #9
1st, SERC #8

For a complete list of Natasha's results, check here.

Chickasaw Bassackwards TT and XC Report

2007-06-23T14:07:00.000-07:00

On a couple of hot and dusty days in this dry Southern summer, the Tennessee Velo Bellas kicked bootay and took names at the Chickasaw Bassackwards time trial and cross country mountain bike race in Columbia, Tennessee on June 9 and 10, taking several podium spots.

June 9 • Time Trial
The course was 3.7 miles of some of the fastest singletrack at Chickasaw, with a challenging uphill finish. Results and times are below.

Jennifer Moorehead, 1st place Sport 19-29, with a time of 0:16:27
Angela Brown, 1st place Beginner 19+, with a time of 0:16:46

June 10 • XC
The course is laid in the opposite direction of the Classic course from the March race, with a few variations.

Jennifer Moorehead, 1st place Sport 19-29, with a time of 1:41:27 on the two-lap race
Maria Pino, 1st place Beginner 19+, with a time of 0:53:02 on the one-lap race

Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race Report

2007-06-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Tennessee Bellas Sandy Kern and Molly Graves braved the Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race, April 25-28 in Tennessee. The days were packed with challenges, surprises, and lots of fun (a Bella requirement for everything!). Molly Graves, fearless leader of the Tennessee Bellas, tells it in her own words:

Sandy (L) and Molly (R) fit in some goofing around at the Edgar Soto Memorial Stage Race.

Day 1: Friday -- Time Trial at Leiper's Fork
This was my first road time trial, and probably my favorite of all the stages.
I felt sadly out of place at the start in my regular helmet & beginner-level road bike -- with other girls decked out in full skin suits with sperm helmets, aero-bars on their bikes, disc wheels that make that "whooob-whoooob" sound when they come up behind you -- well, you get the picture...!

Somehow I did, and I actually finished. I didn't break 20 minutes (my goal), but managed a 20:20, which was not bad for me. I chalked it up to the lack of a good sperm helmet! (Do they make those in pink & blue??!) I passed 4 people and played yo-yo with a fifth who beat me on the final downhill (she had the whoob-whoob wheels). I had so much fun that Sandy said I needed to specialize in time trials and get a bella skinsuit. I am considering it, but I may have to start doing more buns of steel workouts if I am going to be wearing one of those suits in public!! ;)

Day 2: Peytonsville Circuit Race (on Missy's favorite course!)
THis was probably my second favorite stage. The circuit race reminded me of mountain biking because you do several laps of a longer course -- in this case, three 11 mile loops -- similar to an Expert mountain bike race. The course was rolling and the lead group took off fairly quickly. I managed to hang on for a while to some of the splintered groups, and eventually Sandy and I ended up riding together. We picked up a third wheel, who we later somewhat regretted saving (she wasn't very helpful...), but all was well in the end because Sandy beat her in the sprint. We saw a lot of people suffering from the heat -- one of the top women, Robin Farina, dropped out of the race (she was in second place after the time trial) due to heat exhaustion. Thank God for Enduralites !

Molly stops for a second.

Stage three: Downtown Crit
For those of you thinking about doing a crit, I will say this: It is not as bad as you think. If you have basic bike handling skills and are not afraid of riding in a large group, you will probably do fine -- just picture it as a large group ride at top speed going in circles. Okay, wait -- that does not sound fun. maybe that's why I do not think crits will ever be my specialty!

The women's group splintered pretty quickly, and Sandy hung on longer than I did. Sandy loves crits -- the girl is nuts. She did great. For me it was a game of dodging potholes, working on my cornering skills, and trying to hang on for a few moments whenever the fasties lapped me -- which happened quite a few times! I spent a lot of time by myself or in small groups. It was a loooong 40 minutes...!

Stage 4: The road race
At the start they started playing the Chariots of Fire theme, and Sandy and I found it hard to keep a straight face. We kept up with the pack for a good hour, but eventually it split as we hit the hillier sections. The first hour was eventful, however -- including a group bathroom break called by one of the lead girls who couldn't get a spot in the portajohn line before the race! Now THAT was a Kodak moment -- thirty some-odd women racers squatting & peeing together on the side of the road! Ha!Maybe we'll make the cover of Velo News!!

The last 2+ hours Sandy and I were alone or with a handful of other women. We kept each other company and I am grateful she was with me -- that would have been a LOOONG ride to do alone. At the end we hit the final climb --3+ miles of uphill switchbacks. That was hard. I am so glad that is over. We made the time cut that we didn't even know existed and finished somewhere near the back of the pack -- but FINISHED!

Cowie grabs 1st at SERC #6

2007-06-01T07:22:00.001-07:00

Natasha Cowie sprays onlookers with champagne after her win on the Dausett Trails in Jackson, GA. The race was the sixth in the SERC series and the latest in a series of successes for Natasha Cowie, Southeastern Pro Bella. For full results, visit goneriding.com.

Cowie, center, opens it up at the start. Photo by goneriding.com.

Tennessee Bellas Rock White Lightning

2007-05-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

Tennessee Bellas Angela Brown and Jennifer Moorehead left their mark on Kentucky May 20 at the White Lightning race. This is an annual race held on the Canal Loop trail at Land Between the Lakes near Grand Rivers, KY. The trail is a regional favorite of bikers.

BEG WOMEN 30-99
1st, Angela Brown, Velo Bella-Kona

SPORT WOMEN, 19-29
2nd, Jennifer Moorehead, Velo Bella-Kona

Full results to come at www.woodnwave.com

Angela Brown lines up (far left) in her snazzy new Vanderkitten kit.

Tennessee Bellas place 4th overall at Gulf Coast Triathlon

2007-05-23T11:52:00.000-07:00

Race report by Missy Hulbert

Here’s how it all went down, from my perspective... I’m sure we decided over cocktails some evening that putting together a relay team for a Half-Ironman Triathlon would be a fabulous idea. After we drew straws to see who would do what, it ended like this – Abby Olson, Swimmer Extraordinaire, Dee Davis, Cycling Queen and Missy Hulbert, Runner (sort of).

L to R: Missy, Dee, Abby

The day started with a 4:30am wake up call from the ‘Sarg’ – our swim coach, Ashley. There would be no over sleeping today. As we made our way down to the beach, we made a ‘name’ for ourselves. We were a trio of pink with tons of flare. If people didn’t know our names, they soon would. Abby was first to launch as our swimmer. After a few kidney punches and dunkings in her first competitive open water swim, she made her way to the relay transition tent in third place (of the female relays). It was then she realized that the burning sensation on her face was jelly fish stings…nothing a little vinegar won’t fix.

After a dramatic transition and pass of the chip from Abby to Dee, Dee was off like lightening in the bike leg of the race. She looked especially fancy in her new time trial helmet…not to mention, fast. As Dee came screaming into the transition area, and I do mean screaming, “MISSY, MISSY, I’M COMING…” I was getting psyched for my leg of the relay. As Dee stripped off her helmet and shoes, she ran to meet me at the relay tent. I have NEVER seen her move so fast in my life and I mean that! She was #1 in the transition and third in the bike for female relays.

Dee dropped to the ground; I grabbed the chip and took off in my pink glory. By the time I started the run, I think it was ~90 degrees, no shade, and asphalt. I’ve never been so obsessed with putting ice in my bra in my whole life. When I hit mile 11, I was in a delirious state. The ONLY thing that kept me running and not walking was the fact that I was part of a team. The team was counting on me and I couldn’t let them down, they did their part and it was time to do my part and finish it off. Abby and Dee caught me towards the end in my blurry eyed daze. We crossed the finish line together as a team, Velo Bella TN – Abby, Dee and Missy (4th on the run).

Overall, we ended up in 4th place with a 5:29 total finish time. I promise, no one had as much fun as we did, pink tiaras and boas, no extra charge. Thanks to Abby and Dee for a killer time!

Natasha Cowie snags 1st place at Tsali 6 hour race

2007-05-23T10:28:00.000-07:00

Natasha Cowie, pro southeastern Bella, took first in the 6 Hour Solo Women’s division at the 12 Hours of Tsali on May 19. She was also the only woman to complete 6 laps. See goneriding.com for full results. Photo courtesy goneriding.com.

Pro Bella Natasha Cowie places 3rd at SERC #5, Ducktown, TN

2007-05-11T19:16:00.000-07:00

Southeastern Pro Bella Natasha Cowie took 3rd at the 5th Southeastern Regional Championship race in Ducktown, Tennessee. Go Natasha! Full results can be found at www.goneriding.com.

WOMEN PRO/EXPERT RESULTS

1 Carey Lowery
2 Paula Burks
3 Natasha Cowie

Women’s Pro/Expert Start

Women’s Pro/Expert Podium

Young Life Mousetail Challenge Race Report

2007-04-27T11:48:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you put the Tennessee Bellas with a great bike club like the Jackson Spokes? You get a super mountain bike race with great schwag and an awesome post-race grill!

The inaugural Young Life Mousetail Challenge took place on April 22 at Mousetail State Park in Linden, TN, co-sponsored by the Tennessee Bellas and the Jackson Spokes. The course, according to the race flyer, is mostly single track with some doubletrack sections, and 900+ feet of climbing on a 7.5 mile course.

"Bellas were well represented in all three fields," Molly Graves, fearless leader of the Tennessee Bellas said, "with Maria Pino and Angela stealing 1st and 2nd in the beginner race, Jennifer beating her own PR on her first lap in the women's Sport race, and myself and Sandy holding it together through three laps in the Expert race!"

BELLA RESULTS (full results available soon at www.jacksonspokes.com)

EXPERT WOMEN 19+
2nd place, Molly Graves
3rd place, Sandy Kern

SPORT SENIOR 19-29 WOMEN
1st place, Jennifer Moorehead

BEGINNER MASTER 30+ WOMEN
1st place, Maria Pino
2nd place, Angela Brown

This sign at the entrance to Mousetail describes the course more than words ever could. Photo by Dustin Greer.

Molly Graves shows true Bella flair on the course

Sandy Kern on the course...

R to L:
Maria Pino, Velo Bella-Kona, Beginner Women 30+ 1st place
Angela Brown, Velo Bella-Kona, Beginner Women 30+ 2nd place
Jeanie Neumeyer, Team NMB, 1st place Beginner Women 19-19
Photo by Yvonne Horn.

Beginner women's start. Photo by Yvonne Horn.

Natasha Cowie trains with the Pro Bellas, Races NMBS #1 in Arizona

2007-04-08T20:49:00.000-07:00

Pro Southeastern Bella Natasha Cowie is one busy chick! Natasha just returned from training with the Bella Pro team and racing in the NMBS #1 in Arizona. Along with her awesomely dusty 7th place finish on March 31 in the Stage 2 race, Natasha had a blast experiencing life as a pro Bella. Below are some words from the report she posted on the Tennessee Bella Yahoo board.

“Training camp in Tucson was awesome,” Natasha beams in her report, “with TONS of wonderful food cooked by Alex's mom Judy. It's really the desert out there, with sand and cacti (we all ran into them...every single one of us was bloody at the end of every single ride). I got my bike on the first day and it is STUNNING. A Kona Kula Lisa in Velo Bella colors!!”

“I crashed pretty hard in the TT on Friday. The soil is so loose out
there, and I was coming down a washboarded hill and slid a little off
my line. I thought I'd just brush past a shrubby tree, but it was
more solid than I thought and I smacked into it and went flying
across the trail. Of COURSE my first thought was for the bike (skin
heals! bikes do not!)...but it's fine, not a scratch. I was able to
finish and it gave me a good story. My teammates and Alex took care of me and stood by taking lots of pictures while I was in the first aid tent (quote from the EMT: "WOW!! Your knee looks JUST LIKE hamburger meat!!"). Anyway, it wasn't a problem. I skipped the short track (really a fat tire crit) on Saturday night because I
didn't want to risk bashing it again, and it was fine in the race
Sunday.”

“I was thinking about the TN Bellas all week. It made me feel so good to know that I had a whole support crew back home sending me happy thoughts.”

“I had a GREAT time. I know it sounds corny, but this is a dream come true for me. The team is awesome. It felt like everyone instantly bonded.”

“I LOVE Velo Bella!! I am SO PROUD to be representing all of you on the pro team!”

And I’m sure the pro team is proud to have you, Natasha. You go girl!

Lascassas Road Race Report

2007-04-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

The Tennessee Bellas finished well in the Lascassas Road Race on March 17th. On a chilly day, the ladies proved their road mettle. Results are below. The team also earned more BAR points than any other women’s team at the race. Go Bellas!

:: SENIOR WOMEN CATEGORY 4 ::

1 Mary Beth Chawan Team Gran Fondo - Bianchi
2 Gina Tolbert Outdoor Chattanooga / SCV
3 Andrea Creasy Smith & Nephew / Memphis Velo
4 Wendy Marin Velo Bella - Kona TN
5 Angie Vinson Velo Bella - Kona TN
6 Sandra Kern Velo Bella - Kona TN
7 Bing Bunch Team Avx Bikes
8 Molly Graves Velo Bella - Kona TN
9 Karyn Wheatley Unattached
10 Joy Denney Velo Bella - Kona TN
11 Yvonne Horn Velo Bella - Kona TN

SERC #2, Chickasaw, Columbia, TN, Race Report

2007-03-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

The Tennessee Bellas were out in force for the SERC #2 race at Chickasaw Trace Park in Columbia, TN, on Sunday, March 25. Three Bellas hit the trail in three categories, and the formidable cheering section kept the faith throughout the hot race day temps.

THE BELLAS RACE!

Angela Brown started with the first wave of one-lap Beginner Women racers at 9:00 am. Despite losing her chain twice because of a bike mechanical, she turned in a 00:60:47 lap on the 9-mile loop to take 6th place (revised to 6th from 7th because of a junior participant, according to usacycling.org).

Jennifer Moorehead challenged the Sport Women with a 4th place win in two laps on the 9-mile course. Jennifer’s lap times were 00:52:70 and 00:53:99, respectively.

Sandy Kern started in the heat of the day with the Pro/Expert Women. After a strong start, a bike mechanical kept Sandy from completing the third lap of her race.

Additional results can be found at www.goneriding.com

THE COURSE AND ADDITIONAL RACE NOTES

The day was peppered with crashes off of a hill at the beginning of the course (thank goodness our Bellas made it safely through). One accident appeared to be serious. The rider was taken by air to Vanderbilt medical and is doing fine now with what appears to be no lasting damage.

Here is a crash photo from another race and some additional course notes from Dustin Greer, who is currently the #1 ranked semi-pro XC racer and a big Bella supporter.

“It was a humid 87 degrees today when the Pro/Expert wave went off at 12:30. The trail was loose and the powder was deep in some areas. A lot of riders were complaining of chainsuck during their pre-ride on Saturday as they couldn't keep enough lube on their chains to combat the dust.”

“The course was almost exactly the same course used last year. One section was rerouted...that was the downhill that overlooked the dump, which has been moved farther into the woods. Also the finish climb was moved from the pavement into the grass on the left side of the road. The loop was just over 9 miles long. It began with a long drag in the grass that lead to a dirt road and onto a long pavement stretch, which by the way, will not be used next year. At the end of the pavement comes the famous (or infamous whichever way you look at it) steep downhill to the lower field and into the singletrack. The singletrack is rocky for the first mile, including one steep climb covered with rocks. Some of the rocks were removed making the climb much easier. After this section comes the River Trail which is flat and really fast. The Ravine Loop then takes you into a slalom section through a bamboo forest before you climb up to Rick's Trail which descends back down the hill. Then its into the Trail of Tears which features all the climbing with the worst being the last climb up to the dump. The new downhill takes you into the final section called the Black Hills Trail. These last two miles are rough and fast. There is a little climb that takes you back out to the start/finish. It's an uphill in the grass for the last 400 meters to the finish line.”

Great Job Bellas!!

Velo Bella Womens Track Clinic Report

2007-03-21T21:14:00.000-07:00

From Emily Fronheiser

The track clinic March 17-18 was a huge success! Fourteen beginners were there to learn about the track life, and most of them came away certified to race on the track (with some more track time, of course). The day started out with everyone getting fit up to their bikes. Then, Cathy gave a great description of the track, history of Dick Lane Velodrome, and explained the differences between a track bike and a "regular" bike.

Once we were all informed on the etiquette of riding on the track, she set us loose to do a few laps on our own. There was a lot of screaming and pounding hearts on the first lap or two, but most of the beginners caught on quickly. Personally, I was so excited after the first lap that I had to come down off the track and get a drink and calm down. Then, I went back out and did three more laps...and came back down to get a drink. My husband got a good laugh out of this when I told him.

Cathy split us into groups, one with Amy and one with Melissa (but which one is which??). We did a few follow the leader exercises where we rode all over the track just to get comfortable with the places where you can speed up or slow down. The next drill was to demonstrate the differences in riding on the various parts of the track (sprinter's lane, stayers line, rail, turns, etc). We rode four wide across the track and did a sort of paceline where the top rider fell behind to go to the inside lane while the other three moved up the track. It's amazing the differences between the sprinter's lane and the rail. It really taught us a good lesson.

Next, it was on to 200 meter sprints. In groups of 4, we rode a neutral lap and then took off at the 200 meter line. This was my absolute favorite part of the day. It was so exhilarating! The Italian Pursuit was fun, too, but it was hard to pace ourselves for all four people to keep up.

After lunch, we did some pacelining drills and then finished up the day with a Scratch Race. The two groups got to race within themselves. The first group was pretty even until the end, when Kelly shot past the pack and I followed. I finally got past her on Turns 3 and 4, and managed to win the race! I've never had so much fun in my life!

The second group was a different story! Sarah led out in the 2nd or 3rd lap and stayed out front until the end. There was a great sprint between a couple of the others for 2nd place, though.

All in all, we had a great day, and some of the participants had enough in their legs to train on Sunday, too, to get a little more track time in. I, on the other hand, was a little sore from Saturday and had a long drive home. I can't wait for the next time I can get down there to ride again! It's amazing how much more fun riding can be when you're doing it where you're supposed to be!

Greenville, SC Training Series Race Reports

2007-03-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

From Jamie France

Saturday, 3 March – For my first-ever road race, I had Cathy Boland show me the ropes. She came and stayed at Chez France in Clemson the night before, and we went up to Greenville together on Saturday morning. The day was bright and windy. We met up with Natasha Cowie at the starting line. We were three Bella jerseys in a sea of BMW, Bianchi, Defeet, and Cheerwine. There were over 50 women, all categories, 1 thru 4 racing together. The course is 35 miles (5 laps around a 7 mile relatively flat loop). The rollout was nice & ladylike due to a Marine unit that was road marching on the course in front of us. Once we got past them, I managed to hang with the pack for the first loop plus 2 miles into the 2nd loop. I got dropped on a small hill and just couldn’t recover. So I did the rest of the race (26 miles) alone, head down, fighting the wind which had picked up and was really blowing hard. I heard later that it was gusting to 35 mph! It was brutal without the protection of the pack. But I was proud that I finished… and I wasn’t last! I really can’t report much on the race since I was only in the mix for 9 miles. Cathy and Natasha finished well. They later told me about a crash in the last lap – luckily neither of them got taken down in it. Overall it was a good experience. I decided to go back the following weekend for more.
Cathy was so supportive of my first race! When we got back to my house, she planned and cooked us dinner. Her husband, Gerard, had arrived by then. We had a nice evening and then rode my local roads the next day before Cathy & Gerard returned home to Andrews, NC. It was a fabulous weekend!
Sunday, 11 March -- I did my second road race without any teammates, but on the same course. The weather was better than the previous weekend -- relatively low winds. This time there was about 30 women, again all categories racing together. Same teams in attendance. There was nothing ladylike about the start. The gals in front were off the front attacking hard from the get-go. We were strung out in a single file sprint for about a mile before we could catch the leader and form a pack. The course marshal was cruising on his motorcycle and watching us closely. He DQ’d two women early in the race for crossing the double-yellow line. They didn’t drop out, but kept racing. That caused a lot of chitter-chatter in the pack, and some of these girls from different teams weren’t so nice to each other. I tried to tune-out all their negativity. My only goal was to do better than I had the previous race, but at this point I thought to myself “there is no way I can last more than 9 miles at this pace!” However, I dug deep and hung in there for 2 laps. That same hill I got dropped on in last weekend’s race sunk me again just after completing lap 2. Yep, I got dropped at the same place. But there was no way I was going to give up. After cresting the hill, I fought my hardest to maintain the small gap between me and the pack. Then I got rescued! The guy’s race lapped me! They came up around me, I got tucked into their cradle and they basically pulled me up to the women. So I finished lap 3 firmly enveloped again in the women’s pack. Two miles later, that same hill sunk me again and I just had no power left to close the gap on my own. I cruised to the finish line alone… but again, I wasn’t last! Other women had gotten shelled before I did. I had hung in for 23 miles this time! Woo Hoo! Where’s my next race?? I’m ready!

Jamie and Cathy still smiling after the race - must be all the Jittery Joe's coffee they were selling near the finish line.

Pro Southeastern Bella Natasha Cowie takes 6th at Reddick!

2007-03-14T09:07:00.000-07:00

Tennessee's very own Natasha Cowie placed 6th in the first race of the 2007 South Eastern Regional Championship Series in Reddick, Florida, on March 11.

Natasha, who mopped up the course with the guys and finished 1st at the Columbia Cyclocross in January (see previous blog entry for photo), came out strong on a challenging course. We look forward to seeing her results this season!

Here's a course description of Reddick from Dustin Greer:
"The course was typical Razorback style: lots of twisty singletrack, tons of roots, and many, many dips and drops to give the trail a roller coaster feel. The flier was a misprint and all classes did the same 10.5 mile loop. The loop was very similar to the course used for the 12 Hours of Razorback just three weeks ago. It began with a grassy field start. The start line allowed riders to start 15-wide, but you had to funnel down to 2-wide in 50 yards which made things interesting and forced more than a couple of riders to do some bush-whacking. There was a narrow, off-camber hill just a minute into the course, which proved to stack up several of the classes. Then came a BMX-type section, followed by a longer gradual climb that took riders to the top of a hill overlooking the whole Reddick mining area. Then came probably the nastiest descent in the park. If you survived it, you were rewarded with fast singletrack for two miles before a little bit slower, more technical section came up. It featured some really tight, rocky turns in an area I have never ridden before in my six previous trips here. The famous Triple Dipper section comes with about 3.5 or 4 miles to go. It is more like the 7-dipper now after some additions. A lot of the trail was covered with some sort of oak leaves which were as slick as ice. It is known as the "Florida Ice." Most of the corners were slippery, but they all had two or three inches of exposed dirt/sand at the top of the berm that supplied some traction if you could stay up there. There was a lot of carnage on the slick leaves during Saturday's practice. Overall, it was one of the hardest, most physically demanding courses I have ever ridden."

:: RESULTS ::

Pro/Expert Women

1. Carolyn Van Vurst

2. Kym Flynn

3. Jamie Dinkins

....

6. Natasha Cowie

7. Philicia Marion

8. Shannon Morrison

TN Bellas Columbia Cyclocross Report, Jan. 13, 14, 27, 28

2007-02-14T13:32:00.000-08:00

:: Columbia Cyclocross Report, Jan. 13 and 14 ::

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, RACE #1

1st place :: Molly Graves
2nd place :: Laura Sweeney
3rd place :: Joy Denney

SUNDAY JANUARY 14, RACE #2

1st place :: Laura Sweeney

The dollars have not been counted, but the Velo Bellas of Tennessee can call their cyclocross bake sale a success!! In addition to feeding hungry racers, we had three Bellas participate on Saturday and one on Sunday.

Our podium gals, Saturday, January 13, from left: Joy, Laura, Molly

:: Columbia Cyclocross Report, Jan. 27 and 28 ::

Saturday was a great day for women, with a turnout from some of the best females in the area. Temps were a little nippy but fine, with temps in the upper 40s at race time.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, RACE #3

1st :: Becky Walter, Nashville, TN
2nd :: Carolyn Heichel, Nashville TN
3rd :: Joanie Redman, Team MOAB, Nashville, TN
4th :: Laura Sweeney, Velo Bella KONA TN
5th :: Angela Brown, Velo Bella KONA TN
6th :: Dee Davis, Velo Bella KONA TN
7th :: Yvonne Horn, Velo Bella KONA TN

Sunday, the weather challenged even the bystanders, with a race temp of 32 degrees or so, and gusts of wind not for the faint of heart! Our women still had a good showing that day, and braved the temps with smiles on their faces.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, RACE #4

1st place :: Molly Graves, Velo Bella KONA TN
2nd place :: Laura Sweeney, Velo Bella KONA TN
3rd place :: Dee Davis, Velo Bella KONA TN

Full results are at the Columbia Cycling Club website, www.columbiacyclingclub.com

Natasha, our first pro Bella in the Southeast, swept the Seniors on Sunday!! She was the only female in the category and walked away with 1st!!

Senior (19-29)
1st :: Natasha Cowie (pictured below)

All of the pics are from Sunday's chilly race. Pics from Saturday will be posted as soon as they become available. Natasha is in the red helmet, Laura in the pink helmet, Molly was decked out in rad socks and pink "Hot Cyclocross Buns" underwear in honor of our bake sale," and Dee has the yellow helmet with the white balaclava.

GO BELLAS!!

The Tennessee Bellas kick off 2007!!

2007-02-14T12:55:00.000-08:00

The Tennessee group of Velo Bella-KONA women kicked off 2007 with a Business, Biscuits and Gravy meeting January 21 at Café Loveless in Nashville, Tennessee. There were many new Bellas, including Natasha, a SE pro Bella, and Sandy, an expert Bella. Both are students at Sewanee.

On the roster for the year are many things, including a co-sponsored MTB race at Mousetail Landing with the Jackson Spokes. Stay tuned!

Georgia Bella Information

2007-02-10T14:07:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Georgia Bellas!

The Georgia Velo Bellas started out as an Atlanta-based track squad but has now spread to most of North Georgia, Western North Carolina, South Carolina and Alabama. Our members are active in recreational group riding (such as coffee and social rides), triathlons, road racing, mountain bike riding and racing, track and cyclocross!

Tennessee Bella Information

2007-02-10T13:24:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Tennessee Bellas!

Tennessee Velo Bella-KONA is the newest state chapter addition to the "Southern Bellas." Started in December of 2005, VB Tennessee now boasts riders and racers of all ages and walks of life – from college students to grandmothers, beginner riders to Velo Bella Pro team members! (Go Natasha!)
We compete in road, mountain, cyclocross, triathlon, and even Ironman events! Our 2006 team included Tennessee Bicycle Racing Association (TBRA) State Champion jersey winners in the Sport 20-29 and 30+ age groups, as well as a 2nd place TBRA and 2nd place Southeastern Regional Championships (SERC) winner in the Expert category.
VB Tennessee hopes that the 2007 season will be bigger and better than ever. We are also planning other events to make a bigger presence in women’s cycling in Tennessee and the Southeastern region.

Still not convinced we are the most exciting thing to happen to women’s cycling in Tennessee?
Here's our Top Ten Reasons to join Velo Bella TN!
1. You can talk to other women about saddle sores (and other unknown rashes) and get REAL information without anyone laughing (because we ALL know that it's just not that funny!).
2. No one will laugh at you if you don't know how to: change a tire, inflate your tire, remove your front wheel.
3. You want another acceptable excuse to wear pink and purple - just like the 80's.
4. You want a chance to have a cocktail at a team meeting... where else can you do that?
5. Your team mates will share their shorts with you when you arrive at your first race "bottomless." (Angie V.!)
6. Your team mates will stick with you during your first race even if it does mean the very back of the pack. (Molly G.!)
7. You don't want a "hammerfest" EVERY time you ride....
8. ...because sometimes it's not how fast you ride but how good you look doing it...and THEN dusting the competition.
9. You always wanted to be in a sorority... except this one does not involve hazing... much.
10. You don't always want to ride with a bunch of guys who shave their legs better than you do.

Local ContactWant to know more about the Tennessee Chapter of Velo Bella? Send us an e-mail or join our YAHOO! message board.

Tennessee Velo Bella-KONA 2007 Events :: Watch for updates here!

Mouse Tail Challenge MTB Race :: April 22 We're co-sponsoring this race with the Jackson Spokes bike club!

:: How to Join Velo Bella Tennessee ::

(1) Visit http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/VBTennessee/ and click "join this group!"
(2) After you've been accepted, you'll find, in the files section, the Velo Bella Waiver form.
(3) Fill out the waiver, and return to Molly Graves.
(4) Purchase your jersey at http://www.teamestrogen.com/brands.asp?brandID=78
(5) RACE AT LEAST ONE RACE.