Guest post

Mt. Hood Cycling Classic abbreviated race report

Guest post by Matty

Stage 1 - Road race - 47 miles 5,100 feet of climbing: Going from 80+ degrees and melting in the sun up the climbs to descending in 50 degree rain driven by 30mph winds in a borderline hyperthermic state is quite the experience by itself. Then add the near 5000ft of climbing at a top tier Cat. 3 race pace and it'll blow your mind. Maybe this is why I was seeing space monkeys....


Stage 2 - time trial - 19 miles 1,974 feet of climbing: Here is a bit of advice. Never ever, ever, ever, EVER think of using a 5mm alley key skewer on a rear TT (time trial) disc wheel. There is a better than likely chance it could add 10 minutes or more to your TT. Yea! Fun.


Stage 3 - road race - 90 miles, 10,500 feet of climbing: Hardest day on a bike. Period. Never thought chasing for 40 minutes through a big climb, big descent, and (Oh goody) a 2nd steeper climb in a huge headwind to catch the lead group would pay off and it did. At mile 56 in I didn't think I would finish and at mile 82 I was feeling like I could maybe place in the top group! Not true. But it's amazing what you discover about yourself in ridiculous environments. I can only imagine how hard this race was for the those that did the race two years ago in 100+ degree weather. WOW.


Stage 4 - 35 minute criterium: Fast fast fast crit from the gun. Lining up last didn't help. After hanging on the back averaging nearly 28mph the first ten laps, I pulled my tongue out of my chainrings and started to move to the front only to get boxed out and passed with the next surge. The winner solo'd for half the crit and took all the primes. Frickin' sandbagger.... This was by far the toughest race I've done with riders stronger than Elkhorn (stage race) last year. There were Cat. 3s from LA to BC to Boise to Boulder. No one coming from that far away thought they would lose. I felt lucky to just be able to kick it with these boys and have great teammate to suffer through it with!

I'm going to take a nap.


Wake me for Tabor. (our local hilly summer crit series)

Matty

Rustygrass mama bike

As an early birthday present, my awesome husband put some new handlebars on Ramona Quimby, my touring bike. I'm hoping this allows me to continue to commute to work for at least another few weeks - I really needed a more upright position to keep little Lady from doing kartwheels in my belly while riding.

Doesn't Ramona just look like the sweetest thing?

Previewness

A little gifty for someone I know is in the mail. But I won't spoil it completely yet!

Baby Bridgetowner Quilt

My cycling teammates A & J are expecting a little baby girl Bridgetown Velo'er at the end of this month. I finally finished their baby quilt, which they plan on hanging on the nursery wall. I only agreed if they promised me they would use the quilt at some point. Usability is very big for me!

To help them hang the quilt better, I basted a fabric sleeve to the backside of the quilt so they can thread a curtain rod through it to hang. In my opinion, it will be better than folding the quilt, at least over the short term. When they're ready to use the quilt, they just pop out the basted stitches with a seam ripper and it'll be all ready to go!

The pattern is adapted from Denise Schmidt's "What a Bunch of Squares", and I made enough squares to work up a similar quilt to keep for little Lady Lichtenfels. I just love these fabrics and colors too much! Plus isn't that bicycle fabric totally awesome? Our team colors are orange and navy blue; these baby quilt colors are designed to play off that scheme with just a touch of sweetness.

Ladygrass

Dear Lady (because that's your name for now) -

I'm sorry, I wish we had a better picture of you right now. You sure take terrible ultrasound pictures. But boy, look at all those toes!

At 21 weeks, you're above average (by ~6 days) in size, which mostly means you're long and lean at this stage. Doc says you're about 15 ounces, a.k.a. you're basically a Beanie Baby in utero. Your heart and brain look all good too, so apparently I'm a successful parent so far, or at least taking the right prenatal vites. Now just work on getting fat and moving that placenta farther from my cervix and we'll be all set!

This last month, you and me only gained 2 pounds, but we look like we gained 10. I think that's what they call my belly "popping". Most people can tell I'm pregnant now, although I've caught passing strangers on the sidewalk scratch their heads wondering how someone my size can have a beer gut so big.

I'm still bike commuting, although dammit, you're starting to make it a little uncomfortable, and that worries me. Your dad is getting me a longer stem this week so I can stop folding you in half to get to work in the morning. You kind of kick around like you hate it all, but someday you'll learn to love it as much as your parents. I can't wait to sign you up for Kiddie Cross. Until then, just keep working on your pedaling cadence and also that placenta thing.

Love,
Mama

Anja's Bunnygrass

Here's my first ever, inaugural attempt at sewing a softie toy. In preparation for Easter, I made my beautiful 1 year old niece a little stuffed bunny! Complete with soft cotton suede chewable foo-foo tail, which I am particularly proud of. Not saying much given the cute/ugly bunny I made, but I'll take it.

Skylar was psyched since he thought I made him a new chew toy. Look at that concentration! Unfortunately a soft toy would probably last approximately 2 seconds under the awesome jaws of the Skyman, until he figures out there isn't a pig ear stashed under all that horrible tasting fabric.

My first toy was a sewing breakthrough though, since I clearly had some issues with the bunny's legs, and now I have a great deal more insight on how to make better toys now. Softies will definitely be entering my repetoire of baby gifts of the non-quilt variety.

Giftygrass

My dear and lovely friends Ann & Kyle got married this past February, and I finally finished up their wedding gift - two log cabin pillows! I was finally able to give them to A & K in person this past weekend and give them a home. Here they are in their natural environment in Seattle.

Unfortunately I completely forgot to take pictures of the pillow's backing fabric - a gorgeous green and orange Amy Butler upholstery weight cotton.

I'm tempted to make some log cabin pillows for myself, but I'm always giving them away to far more worthy people!

Next up: more sewing projects!

20 Weeks

Dear 20 Week Baby,

• How did you grow inches in one week? My skin hurts.
  
• We haven't taken belly pictures of you in at least 2 weeks. We feel guilty.
  
• Matt, I mean, your dad, says he thinks you're a girl. But he said he can't tell because my abs are in the way.
  
• You're making my stomach small which makes me crabby. I'm full before I'm done eating, how is that fair?
  
• 6 small meals ain't no joke anymore. Small equals like, a bowl of cereal. Max.
  
• I got my hair highlighted last week. And I drink coffee on occasion. Or a thimble of wine. I promise I won't let you grow flippers.
  
• You're making my hormones go crazy all the sudden. I almost cried at work at some dumb thing some dumb person said that was totally benign and ridiculous.
  
• Your dad won't let me shovel dirt but he'll let me paint the basement. With a respirator. Awesome. See, no flippers. We got your back.
  
• I got sick last week. You were fine, but even Skylar got a little worried. Also your dad bought us some gummi bears.
  
• You're kicking around in there. Mostly it feels like gas, or like I have to pee. Oh so magical.
  
• We find out if you're a her/him he/she boy/girl on Monday. I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry. I can't wait.l
  

Love,

Mama

Front yard - garden update

Matty and I recently spent a few hours cutting sod and planting trees in the front yard. Last weekend I wrapped things up by planting some additional plants and ground covers, moving existing plants around, and tossing a light layer of mulchy-compost over everything. We are still planning on adding a hefty dose of mulch on the bed, but are waiting until we add wood chips around the backyard’s raised beds.

Here’s a before/after-ish shot (taken from different vantage points):


Here’s a slideshow of the front yard:


We already had a lot of sedums, lavender, and chicks & hens, so I interspersed those throughout the new bed. I added a dwarf larch, heather, a couple beautiful orange rununculus’, some poppies, and 2 new varieties of sedums for some additional color and texture. I wouldn’t mind adding in some short grasses throughout, but I had to hold myself back from completely blowing the budget! Everything I’ve planted are perennials, and much of it will persist throughout the winter months. Next fall I think I’ll add some crocuses or hellebores – I absolutely love those first indicators of spring.

Lawn abatement program

It all started out so innocently. A few new trees hauled home in the back of the Subaru. Some compost.

Which turned into: We'll just outline the new front garden bed with the shovel real quick. Which turned into: Let's just dig out all the sod, we're practically done already! Which turned into, we may as well get the trees in the ground at 7pm on a Sunday night!

Trees shown here: Weeping Atlas Blue Cedar, Harry Lauder's Walking Stick (Corylus avellana 'Contorta'), also known as contorted filbert or contorted hazelnut. We also have a small Japanese maple yet to plant, some heather, and a dwarf larch (all not shown).

Work in progress

Not the most glorious progress photo in the world, but you're starting to get the idea.

Shovelin'

Area man digs hole for wife.