Why not? What limits are their for women in our community? I personally have the luxury of knowing Marty and say that I think it is so cool, regardless of her gender, that she so passionately changed her career goals to become a bike mechanic. Marty was a photographer and writer for the Daily Camera and now she is following her dreams.
“There’s such a huge body of knowledge and I’ve always been fascinated with the actual mechanics of a bike.”
Caivano, who is from Boulder, Colo., attended the United Bicycle Institute (UBI) in Portland, Ore., at the urging of a friend.
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“The most rewarding part of learning about the mechanics of bikes and bicycling is being able to take the sport beyond riding,” says Caivano. “It’s like unlocking the mystery of your bike.”
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Caivano says she was one of only two women to attend the UBI sessions, out of 18 total participants (about 11%), a pattern she has found to be true across the field. In fact, says USA Cycling, the percentage of women members to men is only 13%.
I swore to myself last night that I would go to sleep early. No Mountain Flyer or Dirt Rag. No Bike Magazine. But then I watched Amanda Zackem’s film about Georgena Terry and then before I knew it I was watching videos about how bikes are made and bike geometry and the goal of early to bed went out the window.
I’ve been slightly obsessed lately. Nothing new really. But my new obsession is The Feed Zone Cookbook by locals Biju Thomas and Allen Lim. I’m notorious for buying cookbooks and then using them as paperweights. But this time things are going to be different. I’m going to be a better person. I’m going to actually try out the recipes. And you’re going to help.
Remember that movie about the girl who couldn’t find a job and so she thought she would make a different recipe every day from the Julia Child cookbook? And then she thought she would be very clever and write about it? Well, I guess I’m using that idea. Except this time, it’s me and not her and it’s The Feed Zone and it’s for my family (my mini-cycling team). And oh yeah, it won’t be a recipe a day because seriously I do have a life and laundry to do and a bike to ride. I figure I’m not in the minority. In fact I’d say the majority of people I know are NOT professional cyclists but the majority of us are looking for better ways to fuel ourselves and our families.
I went out for a ride the other day with a bunch of girls. It was one of those days where you inhale the dirt and the smell of the pine and you think, “I am so lucky to be out here on my bike.” I have those days all of the time because I have certain reminders in my life to remind me of how lucky I am; a mother who had a stroke at age 49 and later died at age 58 from ovarian cancer and a father who is dying of emphysema. Not that he would have ever ridden a bike but he can’t for sure now. I guess my point is that I don’t have to look far to see the privilege I carry to ride my bike, to have a bike and to have some great trails and some great girlfriends to share my passion. And a super supportive husband I might add.
When I signed up for the Venus de Miles ride I did all the right things. I tried to talk myself out of it. I had never ridden a road bike or ridden more than 25 or 26 miles in one day. So I did what all normal people would do. I emailed FasCat Coaching for a training plan. The training plan was a benefit of signing up and so I figured I’d see what kind of training I could squeeze into eight days. It turns out not much.
Listen to Dream Team Rider, Heather Irmiger
and Leah Goldstein, talk about their role
in Venus de Miles
You’ve probably never seen me on a road bike. That’s because I’ve never ridden one. Unless you count my sweet 10-speed bike I had way back when. When I wore monogrammed sweaters and had a bi-level haircut and I thought Shaun Cassidy was cool. That’s why it might surprise you that I’ve decided to ride in the Venus de Miles. Yep. You read that right. I was thinking about riding my pink mountain bike and I know you can ride anything you want but I figure we might as well make this an experience to really remember by putting myself on a bike with very skinny tires. And so I called my buddy at the Trek store here in Boulder. And thanks to Chris and Trek, I will be straddling something with very skinny tires (compared to my mountain bike) and a gearing system I’m sure will be way over my head.
This will be the 5th year for the Venus de Miles and it seems to get bigger and quite possibly better every year. It is not a race and so if you’re thinking to yourself, “I’m not as fast as Cheri” or “I’m not in as good of shape as Cheri” then you can stop right there. Oh. You weren’t thinking that at all? Awkward! But seriously, this ride is about raising money for the Greenhouse Scholars. And the Greenhouse Scholars provides financial, practical and personal support to high achieving under resourced people. Bottom line=It helps people fulfill their educational goals. To date, over $379,000 has been raised! This is an easy way to make a difference and support people who want to get an education and have fun! Win. Win. Win.
There are four options for ride length; 100, 67, 51 and 33 miles. And my favorite part? If you wake up and you’re not feeling the 57 mile ride you signed up for you can change your mind! You can ride the 33 mile route. Lately I’ve been seeing some cyclists around town with a pacer person on a scooter. I think the scooter person carries refreshments and yells at the cyclists for encouragement. I also think I want one of these people. But the closest thing I will come to a scooter person is my Eurovan with my husband and three kids. I can see it now. My kids would be yelling out the window at me, “Are we there yet?” and “What are you making for dinner?” Somehow I think the cyclists with the people on the scooters are having a totally different experience. I knew I shouldn’t have sold my scooter.
It’s that time of year and the Rocky Mounts-Izze Women’s Team is looking to add new members. We are an active group of racers of all levels and disciplines: road, MTB, CX, track and tri. We regularly hold skills clinics and have great sponsors. If you are interested in checking out the team, please come on one of the following recruiting rides. Rides meet at Amante Coffee, 4580 Broadway in North Boulder and the Marshall Mesa Trailhead in South Boulder.
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