The End

Words cannot describe what a fantastic weekend I had June 5-7 with Team Fried Green! But I'll try....relaxing...inspiring....hard-core....outdoorsey...spiritual....womyn.

Unlike most of my past Tahoe vaykays, the focus was on our race--preparing mentally, physically, and emotionally. Drinking really took a backseat, which for me was like culture shock.

We got up there a couple days early to acclimate to the climate (is that redundant?) but that turned out to be a really good idea because the mountain air was very thin! We went on a lil' nature hike to get acquainted with Tahoe and all its wildlife.

The next day, after sleeping 0 hours of sleep, we got up at 5 and hip hopped down to the ride start (actually the back parking lot of a large casino, welcome to Nevada) and took off!

I don't know about the other ladies, but when we started I felt kind of freaked out....freezing...bone chilled...not knowing if this was going to be a rain soaked ride down dangerous mountain roads. But about 1 hour into it, the clouds lifted and we were blessed with a glorious sunny day!

I can't say enough about those rest stops. Every 20-30 miles there would be a kickass stop run by volunteers where anything you could ever want was there! PBJ....Mother's Cookies....Powerbars....fruit....that amazing Cytomax powder....and GU!

Sometime early on in the race Coach sprung the idea of "a change of plans" and having us do the 100 miles instead of the 75. Well, she twisted our arms. It turned out we were WAY ready for it and had no problem with an extra 25 miles.

Unforgettable sights we saw on the way: a galloping brown bear, amazing lakes, great local Tahoe life, fabulous beaches, polite and experienced riders, Team in Training, and of course riders from every state in the country.

As we crossed the finish line, it reminded me that (cliche but true) ANYTIME YOU SET A GOAL YOU CAN GET THERE--NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

And now, some (G-rated) photos.



Acclimating Day One with a warm up hike at Emerald Bay!

Someone sure is excited for the bike race!

Tranquility.

Group shot! Everyone else looks cute. I, on the other hand, look horrible. Ah, whatev. TFG doesn't worry about how they look in photos.

Perplexed at the Summit.

You're probably wondering, "Where the hell are all the bike photos!?" Well, I didn't have my cam on the actual RACE, per se...but I have a couple before and after ones.

Race Day: The Before, with honorary TFG members Jose Luis and Darren

After! Yes, Claire is sorry she is blocking everyone in this photo. Must be oxygen deprivation.

The next day, we went to the beach. Yup.

Stinson Beach Death Ride: The Final Frontier

Hello, Folks!  Yesterday was undoubtedly the hardest, most grueling, most psychologically screwed up ride yet.  But TFG tackled it with the highest of spirits!

Coach was recovered from her ailment and was back in the game.  Notice the armbands!

Naomi had no problem getting up Sequoia Valley Road.  

Claire, on the other hand, had some technical difficulties, as per usual.  Today included a three-pronged (gear-shaped) bruise in an unmentionable area.  Here she is attempting to hitchhike a ride home.

Our ride took us up Highway One towards Stinson.  What appeared to be a leisurely stretch of highway in a car proved to be a b*tch on a bike.

When we made it to the Beach, it was a smidge anticlimactic.  I noticed there was no welcome wagon; rather, a small snack shack.  (No clam shacks in sight)

Naomi did some yoga moves at the Snack Shack

TFG carbo loads!

Back in Marin, Coach let us stop for another snack.  After alienating the table next to us with our trash talk, Coach and Naomi took a little nap.

We were a little tuckered out at this point!

I was soooo tired when the Ladies came over.  But we kept snaking and watched "Breaking Away."  Ciao, Bambinis!

Tahoe:  Bring it On!

Eating Pavement, Dirt, Grass and Sand

There is nothing quite like that feeling right before you hit the ground, of falling off of your bike while you are still clicked into your pedals.

That's right, folks. I went ahead and got The Shoes! But I must say the frequency of my falling has increased to the level where I have more bruises than when I was on the Reed College women's rugby team!

Anything can happen to throw you off your guard--be it someone asks you a question, a quick red light, or, in my situation, while biking uphill on Polk Street my chain came off.....I looked briefly up at the sky and then down at the ground and surrendered to it. There are the few split seconds where you realize that yes, you are going to fall, and you are going to fall hard.

Immediately after impact I was initially worried about who had seen me bite the dust on a crowded street. One girl asks me if I'm OK. "Yea, yea, I just ate it," I said, confidently, while trying not to cry.

The funny thing about falling off of your bike while you are clicked into pedals is that you will scrape and bruise yourself in the exact same place every time!

On another note, we have only one more weekend bike ride in the Bay Area before we go up to Tahoe for the Big Ride! I will miss Team Fried Green.....

:Idgie sits at computer, sobbing quietly:

Bringing up the Rear.....

Hi folks. Idgie here. Well, just wanted to report on yet another fabulous ride! After missing 2 + weeks due to other worthy obligations, I was back on track with TFG. In my preferred spot as "Sweeper", I was in the back of the pack, taking care of flat tires, overheated team mates, and of course attending to other injuries. Luckily, the Team held up great!

On these rides, you can definitely find your head going to another place. After 50 + miles, I started getting really cranky. There are only so many drivers giving you the finger and surly bikers mentioning that they're "on your left". I KNOW, I KNOW! Gawd, you don't have to rub it in. Fortunately, this was just ole' oxygen deprivation and nothing a little falafel and coke couldn't cure. Thanks to Naomi for the yoga lessons, Chris for the history of Riot Grrls in Olympia lesson, and Emily for more tips on biking. Maybe one day I'll have something to contribute to TFG.

Go Team!

4 TF Grrrrrls + 50 miles =

Life is a Mystery, Everyone Must Stand Alone...

I hear you call my name, and it feels like home. Thanks, Madonna.

This week definitely took me to another place. Physically, and emotionally. A grueling 50 mile ride that after about 30, you kind of just lose it. Because of a phenomenon, known by scientists as "Oxygen Deprivation," your maturity level kind of just plummets. I want to thank the Team Fried Green for tolerating some behavior by individuals who shall remain nameless, that included the following:

*Whining
*Teasing
*Dumping Water on individuals who shall remain nameless
*Making fun of said individuals, and others
*Gossiping
*Eating other people's food
Those of you who are teachers are probably used to this coming from 15 yr old boys, but perhaps you are a little less used to it coming from women who are pushing 30. Thank you again.

Going across the bridge...

Can you find Naomi?Michelle was a welcome, not to mention hardcore, addition to our ride this week!

Doin' a lil' yoga in Corte Madera.
Coach Emily always knew where we were headed next....we didn't get lost once!
Tiburon had some Baller houses.

I can bike and take pix at the same time!!!Emily, you are like a gift from God. You even look angelic in downtown Tiburon.

"MARRY YOUNG, GIRLS, MARRY YOUNG!"
What boyfriend?!!!

Your shirt looks so dry here, Naomi. Sorry again that I dumped all that water on you. (not!)

“I remember that one fateful day when Coach took me aside. I knew what was coming. "You don't have to tell me," I said. "I'm off the team, aren't I?" "Well," said Coach, "you never were really ON the team. You made that uniform you're wearing out of rags and towels, and your helmet is a toy space helmet. You show up at practice and then either steal the ball and make us chase you to get it back, or you try to tackle people at inappropriate times." It was all true what he was saying. And yet, I thought something is brewing inside the head of this Coach. He sees something in me, some kind of raw talent that he can mold. But that's when I felt the handcuffs go on.”   --Jack Handy

FEEL BETTER HEIDI!!!  DON'T FORGET TO EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES!!  WE'LL MISS YOU TODAY!!

Yet another 40 miler......

Announcement: Team Fried Green has a new member! Emily, who is also an amazing coach, is probably (maybe) joining our team!

All decked out in gear....

Explaining the finer points of cycling as well as suggestions for Claire's chafing issues.....
Letting us know that we're averaging 10 miles/hour (are you sure the odometer's not broken?)


Naomi is very good about sunscreen!

Yoga in Tiburon. It is VERY important to stretch during and after your ride!


A pair of jack-o-lanterns!

We miss you Heidi! Hopefully you'll be back for next week. Onward! How does Sunday sound for y'all?

TFG and You

Dear TFG Friends:

I am writing to thank you all for your support over the course of this epic journey.  Without your words, donations, and countless volunteer hours, TFG would not be the powerful force in women's cycling that we are today.  We cannot celebrate the fame and fortune of TFG without first raising a glass to you, all the beautiful fans who remind us why we get out of bed each morning.  Thank you to the whole TFG family from the bottom of our hearts.

Now it is time to ask you to deepen your commitment to TFG.  It is time for you to join with us so we can reach our true potential and change the world together.

TFG would like to request the following in an effort to continue our important work:

Dark chocolate bars

PBR tall boys

Beer can cozies

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches

Burritos

Pay our tab at Zeitgeist

Library and Blockbuster fines

Walkie Talkies

Volunteers to help with laundry, Swedish and/or Shiatsu massage, and cooking

Thank you so much for your continuing support.  Please take a moment to visit www.mariska.com.

Yours,

The Team at Team Fried Green

Tilden Park or Bust! Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Love the Burn

Today Naomi and I took our bikes across the Bay to the Berkeley area, where we went up and up and up. Seriously, I thought I was going to die. Or run out of water. Or both.

The hill we biked up was pretty much completely vertical. I had to get off my bike and walk it. I thought, "Have I lost it? Did that one week in Amsterdam put me completely over the edge, back to square one, or worse?" It wasn't until we got to the top that I realized that no, I haven't lost shit. It was just this damn hill. I decided that for every 1 mile we biked today, it should count as 3. So, we biked a total of between 50 and 60 miles today.

Once we were on Skyline it was smooth sailing. We beebopped on the Rim, and of course the BackSide. Finally we came to a clearing, which happened to be the Steam Train, where Naomi went as a child. There were way too many kids for my taste, but there was water!

We then zoomed down the hill to the Ashby BART station, and went right to the Zeitgeist. I realized that I got a smidge sunburned. Naomi and I got the most delicious beer and burgers. Then she filled me in on one of the great wonders of the world, Mariska Hargitay.

Here's to our new inspiration! If you can be a tough and professional yet kind hearted detective, we can bike up a silly hill. We love you, Mariska!

25 and Still Alive!

Wow. Phenomenal ride last week. I met my crazy crew at the crack of dawn, I mean 11 am, on Sunday.

I knew that these guys were not messing around. Especially Naomi. Look at that stance!

Crazy death dive through the Presidio! (Warning: do not try this at home!)





By the time we made it across the bridge, it was time for a group photo! A lovely bloke took a photo of us.

Go Team Fried Green!


Though we entered Marin in high spirits, once we got to Sausalito a dark cloud of despair descended on the group. It started drizzling!


We decided taking the ferry was for wusses, so instead we got some ice cream.


Naomi started getting sad about the weather.


But we stuck it out for a grueling (and I mean, grueling) steep hill in the icy sleet back to the City. Once we were back, we decided a little hightailing it to the Legion of Honor would be the icing on the cake. Look at those cheeks--I could just eat them up!


We were back in the Mish 4.5 hours later. Yea!