Drive like a cyclist

In lieu of everything that has been going on in the Houston cycling community (hit and runs, deaths, "Goal Zero"), I thought it'd be a good time to share my thoughts on my relationship with bikes and cars.

I love cycling. A lot more than driving. If I could bike everywhere to run my errands or meet family and friends, I would. But with the infrastructure and size of Houston, my preferred mode of transportation is not ideal. Despite all that, I bike anyways because I love it. You get to experience nature in a whole different way than in a car while still getting somewhere in a timely manner.
Wind caressing your skin, sun kissing your face, smell of freshly cut grass, wildflowers springing up to say hello, cars honking at you..

Okay, that last one is not a pleasure, and it's the exact reason why my parents and some friends abhor what I do.

I love my worry rats, but I hate that they have to worry.

My parents have been trying to convince me to quit this sport for as long as I can remember because it's hard work, doesn't pay well, and there's no secure future. Oh, and it's dangerous. But asking someone to quit something they love is like telling them to make their heart stop beating. Sorry, no can do. I know cycling can be dangerous, but it doesn't have to be! Cars and bikes can coexist safely and happily on the road.

Truth is, cycling has made me a better driver. I often find myself saying 'car back', 'bump', 'pothole' while I'm driving or even as a passenger because it has become so natural for me to call out all dangers while out on the road on my bicycle. Some people might find it annoying to consistently say or hear these cautions, but I see it as life-saving and accident-preventing for I am always on the alert. I have also noticed that my peripheral vision is even better than it was before. Although I'm mainly staring straight ahead while driving, I see more of the road and catch activities and motions that are happening beside me. I can attribute that to constantly keeping my head at a swivel while biking and honing in on my senses to detect bypassing cars, people, or danger.

My spidey senses tingle too as I can predict the sudden movements of cars and know how to react before the other driver even makes a move. These skills have all been gained through countless hours of cycling. They have become so instinctual that I don't even have to think or remind myself to pay attention. I just do it.

My wish as a cyclist, a driver, and a person is that this type of alertness becomes instinctual to everyone. I'm not saying every driver should become a cyclist (although that would be great!), I'm saying think and act like one.

Drive as if you're a cyclist - feel vulnerable and therefore be extra cautious and alert

As cyclists, we usually look ahead 10-12 seconds (or more!) to detect any dangers in the road whether it be debris, bumps, cracks, potholes or even a human being. Knowing what we need to avoid ahead of time provides and arms us with ample time to evade danger. There's no reason why drivers can't do this too. I not only watch the car in front of me but also 3-5+ cars ahead. If their taillights are indicating they're braking, I'm already slowing down before the car in front of me does.

We ride to the far right of the lane, keeping our line and trying to be as predictable as possible. We even try to be courteous and single file ride when we know cars need to pass by. This gesture sometimes puts us in even more danger as we are hovering over the edge of a road or inches away from the curb and at the mercy of the drivers. The reason we take an entire lane sometimes is to ensure our safety; we don't do it on purpose to annoy drivers! So drivers, please cut us some slack. Instead of honking at us and trying to drive us off the road, wave hello or comment on how great we look!

We follow all street rules - stopping at stop signs, yielding at intersections, etc. And to the cyclists who weave through traffic, I plead for you to stop. Not are you only making drivers hate us, it's stupid and dangerous. If you were in a vehicle, you would not be weaving in and out of cars lined up at the stop sign or light; you'd patiently wait your turn. Act like a vehicle, and drivers will treat you like a vehicle.

This brings me to my last point. Drivers, please treat us cyclists as vehicles. Just as you wouldn't pass another car within inches or a foot while speeding, please don't do that to us. Give us the 3 feet the law demands or even better yet, the entire lane. You switch lanes anyways to pass another car, don't you? Plus, what's an extra 30 seconds to your travel time? It won't ruin your day or life, but a hit and run would.

I half heartedly agree with this poster. As cyclists we are just as responsible for our own actions, but we are also at the mercy of those behind the wheel. Both parties need to up their game and be responsible drivers and cyclists.

And my fellow cyclists, act like vehicles. Keep your line and stay in your lane. Just as cars signal for turns and use headlights and taillights, you should too. Let your intentions be known and make sure you're visible. And since cars have to get routine checkups and maintenance, so should your bicycles. You don't want your brakes to fail you when you need them the most.

I don't want my friends or family to have to worry about me every time I head out to ride. So whether you're a driver or a cyclist, feel vulnerable so that you are extra cautious and alert on the road. Make it a habit until it becomes second nature. And even then, keep honing your spidey senses.

It really doesn't matter what new laws are passed or new streets are built because the rules cannot be enforced 100% of the time. It's our own responsibility to be respectful and safe drivers and cyclists.

Proof that happy cyclist and happy driver can exist!

ps. my momma and poppa will thank you too. :)

Down But Never Out, Pace Bend Road Race

[Sorry for the late update! I was recovering from a concussion and screen time was limited since it caused headaches.]

I was having a breakthrough week of training before everything came to a grinding halt. My legs were racking up the miles, but my speed and pace did not reflect the fatigue I was feeling. Instead, they were setting PRs like crazy. One defining moment during this training block was at a MS150 prep ride near Round Top. I had already done hills during the week, but I wanted to tackle more. I was going at a relatively easy but working pace and struggling up a hill when a friend of mine blew by, yelling "C'mon, Angie. Get up the hill." My competitive juices flowed, and I sprinted after him. I was working pretty hard just to draft behind him, but I didn't mind because that's what I came out here to do -- to put myself to work and see what I'm capable of as a climber.

I stayed behind him for a good while before a pack of 10 men passed us. Judging by their speed, I was hoping my friend wouldn't hop onto their train because it would've made my ride that much harder. Lucky for me, he did. Here we go. Just hang on. Only 60 miles left..

I was dying. Or so I thought I was. Then for some reason, during one of the steeper climbs, I worked my way to the front, spinning relatively easy. Seeing that they might get chicked up a climb, the guys pushed a little harder. I just increased my cadence and within a few feet, blew by all of them. With a slight smile, Mr. Aloe Blacc's words played through my head:

Go ahead and tell everybody

I'm the man, I'm the man, I'm the man

Yes I am, yes I am, yes I am

Awesome workout or pump-up song :)

I have arrived. The athlete that had been missing since the summer is back and with a vengeance. The athlete with a dream who showed up at each workout with a do or die mentality, ready to hurt. Push and hang with the big dogs or get dropped and play with the puppies. I had been playing with puppies for the last six months and was seriously doubting if I was still worth my dream. Not anymore. The engine is roaring, and I'm fit to go mentally, emotionally, and physically.

The guys caught me on the descent and kept the efforts high for a while, but by mile 20, all of them got dropped but one. :) Yeah, I'm back! And I'm ready to hurt!

My mentality carried into the Walburg Road Race as I never gave up on the pursuit of the leaders despite harsh conditions and tired legs. That road race is by far my defining moment of this year and showed me just how much I still have left in a depleted tank and what I'm capable of. I finished the race feeling as if I were three rungs higher on my dream ladder. You are capable of so much more. Don't ever think otherwise. Just keep on trucking.

Pace Bend Road Race

I toed the line of the Pace Bend Road Race the following day, ready to lay everything down on the course. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain in terms of fitness and fun. Recovery week started the next day, so I didn't need to save anything for later workouts. I started off in the front, doing way more work than I wanted to, but I did not want to lose sight of the leaders in case they made a move. My legs were definitely feeling the efforts from Walburg, but the flatter parts of the course allowed me to ride with higher cadence to help them recover. During lap one, I'd fall towards the back of the pack during the climbs because my legs were pretty toast, and I also didn't want to work up the hills too much as I needed to save them for later when the attacks come.

Someone was really excited for this race and wanted to wake up on time!

Lap two, my legs began to warm up, and I was able to hang near the front during the climbs. I was feeling more and more comfortable with the course and knew where the opportune spots for attacks and breakaways were. By lap three, I was rearing to go. I'd be in the lead during the climbs and have to partially shut it down to save every possible muscle fiber for the upcoming moves and fall back into the pack. I saw two of the leaders talking and knew that they were going to attack sometime soon. I moved a little closer to the front and kept a close eye on them. We came around a sharp right turn into a descent, and we all accelerated to speeds over 30mph. Then mayhem broke loose. One girl bumped into another, and a domino effect occurred. Five of us went down, including me. I couldn't avoid it as swerving to the right would've taken a lot more of the peleton out and going left would've taken me into another rider, off the road, and into a guard rail. Once the person in front of me went down, I knew I was going to go down too, just didn't know how hard.

The aftermath: 5 bodies strewn down the road

My right hip slammed onto the asphalt and my head quickly followed as I continued to slide a bit down the hill. After a moment of shock, I tried to get up to finish the race, but upon seeing enough stars to make a galaxy, I decided to put my head back down and wait for the medic. I said a quick prayer for me and the other racers, then proceeded to do a systems check. Everything was moving and had feeling, so I was happy about that. The headaches started getting worse, and I kept wanting to fall asleep every second. I stayed down until someone helped lift me and my bike up. I could barely unclip my right foot as my hip and knee were in so much pain. They got me to my feet but within moments I was feeling more woozy and unstable, so I immediately sat back down and held my head with my hands.

Rough day at the office: road rash on right knee, arm and hand; badly bruised hip; and concussion.

The EMT finally arrived and after hearing my symptoms, he immediately stabilized my head and neck with his hands and asked for a c-spine. He checked and examined my head, neck, and spine and cleared me after asking some random daily questions. I was allowed to move, and just at the right time too as my friend Pamela biked by heading towards the finish. I was able to give her a thumbs up and cheer her on. :) After getting transported to the medical tent and getting cleaned up, I was in better spirits. Moving around helped my hip from getting stiff, but the headaches and sleepiness never let up. I did everything in my power to stay awake the rest of the day, especially on the drive home from Austin. Pamela was kind enough to caravan with me to ensure I got home safely. :) What an awesome friend!

One of three cracks in my helmet :(

Something's not right with my front tire..

Sunday evening was one of the most painful evenings of my life! It definitely comes close to post shoulder surgery pain. But through my agony, I felt so loved by the outpouring of care and concern from my friends. My roommate helped clean and bandage my wounds, while Kat and Tao went around town trying to find Tegaderm bandages for me. Kat even spent the night, waking me up every 3 hours to make sure I could be awakened (what a trooper!). As Monday progressed, I was feeling worse with headaches, sleepiness, and nausea. I started getting really concerned as I had never felt this bad after a concussion before, so to the ER we went.

Waiting rooms suck, but it was all worth it since I got the good news that there was no bleeding in my brain and my CT head scan came back clear. It helped calm my heart and mind that the headaches weren't something more serious. I got cleared to resume training once I feel better. Yay!

Didn't think I'd have one of these ID tags on again so soon, but..
CT head scan was clear! I'm free to resume training once I feel better. :)

I am still getting headaches three weeks later, but they aren't so bad, and they force me to get more sleep, so that's good. Silver linings, right? :) Throughout this ordeal, I've learned a few things:

1. Apparently you can never count me out of a race unless I am taken out (please don't!). I will keep fighting until I cross the finish line because the race isn't over until it's over. Anything can happen before the white line.
2. I need to learn to doubt myself less and instead trust in my abilities. Fear can hinder me from performing at my highest level.
3. Learn to love and thrive through pain. Knowing that you've exhausted all reserves to finish a race is the best feeling in the world because you gave it absolutely everything.
4. I have some of the best friends in the world. You guys are all freaking awesome and your love and support continue to motivate me to keep training and inspiring. :) I cannot iterate this enough: I am nothing without you and cannot complete this journey without your constant support and encouragement. I am beyond blessed to be able to take each and every one of you along with me for this amazing ride.
5. During my down/recovery time, I got to spend more time with my new coach. We did some lactate and VO2 testing and had a lengthy discussion about the goals and plans for my future. There's LOTS to tell and share, but that's for another post! And as a spoiler to not leave you totally hanging, my dreams are not so out of this world and they may be coming true soon! :D

Walburg Road Race

This road race was my first cycling race in three years and my first non-collegiate race. I was definitely nervous at the starting line since I did not know what to expect and I also had higher expectations for myself because I know I am a stronger cyclist than I was three years ago.

The farewell sunrise Houston gave me as I headed to Walburg to race. With something this beautiful, it has to be a good day. 

I met up with Pamela before the race to say hello and to warm up. Having a friendly face at a race and someone to work with as a teammate is something new for me but also a huge welcome! :) As we talked strategies, I started to gain confidence but as I pedaled up hills and against the wind, my confidence dropped. Despite feeling strong and having a breakthrough training week, my legs were really feeling the 300 miles I put on it the last 10 days. Mind over matter, I told myself. Recovery week starts after the race on Sunday, so give it everything. 

And I did. I couldn't have given any more than I did in those 85 minutes.

The race started with a neutral roll of 1-2 miles and I sat in the back as 1) I wasn't sure how the others girls ride and wanted to stay out of trouble and 2) I wasn't confident or aggressive enough to sit in the front. Mistake number one. I ended up in a really bad position off the back after the first climb and got stuck behind riders on the descend. I had to ride my brakes and could not pass anyone without crossing the yellow line or getting pushed off-road. So I waited. Once I got up the next climb and caught a glimpse of the front, my spirit dropped. The group had completely splintered and the lead pack and Pamela were a good 200-250m ahead. 

I panicked. Then swallowed my nerves and put the pedal to the medal. I was dead last at the time but I knew I didn't belong there, and that fueled my mad push. I caught one girl after the other. I was hitting the slight inclines at 27mph and bombing the downhills like a madman on a mission. I could see Pamela's orange jersey way ahead and that was all I targeted. Nothing else mattered. As I passed groups of girls, I yelled at them to hop on. Grab my wheel. We can do this. We got this. Let's go. 

I felt like I was leading a revolution, gathering troops to rebel. I was pushing the pace so hard that I eventually dropped nearly everyone except for three other girls. I pulled for a good 3 miles as we all set our sites on the front pack of 5. I finally needed a break and drafted off the group to recover. We hit a nasty crosswind in the back section of the course and we maneuvered and rotated well in our slanted formation. Every time I pulled, we gained more ground on the front pack, but when I peeled off to recover, the distance grew again. So when it became my turn to be in the lead, I took harder and longer pulls. I knew this wasn't ideal as I had already burnt so many matches to catch up, and these hard efforts will drain me from a strong sprint finish if needed, but I knew if we didn't catch them, then the race is kind of over for us. So why not at least try?

And try we did. A marshall reported to us at mile 17 that we were 2 minutes behind. We pushed harder and soon cut it to 1 minute in the hilly headwind section. Finally, our chase pack decided to make one more huge move at the next climb to catch the leaders. I surged, pulling everyone with me. Then I died halfway up the climb. Ouch. Poor legs. Two riders dropped me and soon caught Pamela. Jealous! I wanted to ride with Pamela! I recovered after a minute of easy spinning and resurged. I dropped the last girl of our chase pack and was solo in my pursuit. 

This is where all my solo wind training and interval sessions on the trainer came in handy. And in my head, I was imagining what the chase pack car behind me must be thinking or commentating. 

- Oh no, there goes 884. She has dropped off the chase pack as they tried to make a move. She has definitely worked hard there today, leading the charge. I don't blame her for running out of gas. 

- Wait. It's not over yet. There she goes, sprinting up the incline. She's halved the gap. She's going to catch them. Ooh, so close. She's wavering in the wind. Man, she's tired.

- Look, try number two. Will this girl ever give up? She's bombing it down the hill, gaining momentum. Go 884, go! Aw, so close! It's tough to make moves this late in the race, especially a solo effort.

(At this point, I was getting ready to concede and just ride solo the rest of the way to the finish. But something inside of me didn't want to give up just yet. Try just one more time. It'll be like a one minute sprint  interval, that's all. Hurt for one minute then recover.)

- What do we have here? 884 is still not giving up! She's picking up speed. Oh my gosh, she's going to catch them. You got it! Almost there, keep going! Yes!! She caught on!

I'm framing these number bibs ;)

I was so elated but also dying at the same time. I couldn't say hello to Pamela as I could barely breathe. I sounded like a wheezing cat, hacking up a hairball. I sucked their wheel as hard as I was sucking wind. I wasn't going to let them leave me this time or ever again. And it was perfect timing when I caught them! Pamela ran out of water so I was able to share a bottle with her :) my good deed of the day!

I hung on and pushed the pace a few times to try to wear the other two girls out. Then on the final climb, I was neck and neck with Corey and upon seeing her stand up to climb and surge for the win in our group, I stood up too. And quickly had to sit back down as my legs had absolutely nothing left. Melissa passed me up just at the crest of the climb and I just used gravity the rest of the way to move me across the finish line. 

Ouch. But unbelievably proud of myself. It didn't matter what place I got because I felt like a freaking winner! :) I pushed myself beyond what I thought my body was possible of achieving and left everything on the course. That's what I call a perfect race. And I did it all with a smile (and a few grimaces) and a positive, encouraging attitude, not just to myself but to all the other riders as well. 

The final result was 8th place. Pamela got 9th! Way to go! 

Final race results. Lots of strong riders!

I learned a lot today and will test my learning curve at tomorrow's race as I will be starting in the front from here on out. Nothing but up from here!

Best part of today was making new friends. :) It almost made me forget all the suffering I endured.