I’m not quite sure how this happened, like so many things in my life it just did. In a few days I am going to be ensconced in a Women’s National Road Series tour at Salt (Tweed Heads, NSW). The Battle on the Border is an annual 4 stage road race taking place over 3 days: day 1, 7.2km time trial and 97.4km road race, day 2, 85.84km road race and day 3 Criterium.
Twelve months ago, by some sort of dumb crazy luck I smacked down a very close (30s) second place in the Women’s A category of this event, that was my very first and only multi-day road tour. This year the race is part of the Women’s National Road Series so the bar has been lifted and the women’s field is 50 deep, and what amazing depth it has!! Teams like: Jayco/Apollo, Suzuki/Trek, Pensar Hawk Racing, Holden racing, Velocisport (QAS) and Pure Tasmania Cycling just to name a few.
Sunday night on Cycling Central there were highlights of the last race in the NRS, Mersey Valley Tasmania. I watched in awe the women’s NRS and tried to comprehend the magnitude of the event I am about to embark on.
A field of fifty women, many in teams, each battling to be the leader of not only this particular race but of the series. I think this event is gong to be an amazing and somewhat parabolic learning experience. In all honesty, when it comes to riding on the road I am a bit of a flake, I tend not to ride in the rain as it makes the road look slippery, I tend to descend cautiously because hitting the road at speed hurts and I usually train alone so racing a NRS event amongst the best women’s road cyclists in Australia will definitely be an experience.
Fortunately, I am not so naive as last year.
Last year I learnt:
• Do not to carry all your spares and tools in my pockets as roadies rarely change tubes when racing (there is a car that follows with a heap of spare wheels just in case you get a flat).
• Your race number goes on your jersey (not your bars).
• When you get close to the KOM you have to sprint else the chick riding your wheel up the hill will get there first, she doesn’t care that you just dragged her up the hill.
• There are bikes and helmets designed just for the TT stage and they do make you go faster and many of the girls will be using them.
• Do not get dropped as it sucks to ride by yourself.
Road racing in Tweed Heads
So I am getting pretty psyched to be riding amongst some seriously talented women roadies.