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The Whittiers

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    Brand Love

    skratch

     

     

    handup


    smith

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    Today's colors were delightful. 🍁🍂🍃
    Super #SundayFunday on gravel with a fun group! The Cherokee National Forest never disappoints.
    Is fall finally here?! 🏕🍂🍁🦃🚲 Perfect time to be outside, enjoying the trails. 📷 @dashingimages
    Pretty lucky to get on the women's open podium at #5Points25 mountain bike race...@roostracingllc puts on an amazing show on our hometown @lulalakelt trails! It was full gas from the start and my throat/lungs were burning until we reached the trails. I found as many steady, smooth wheels as I could to help keep my line choice in check, and was happy with tires and pressure on the super dry, sandy sections. I climbed well on the steep sections thanks to my gearing and lingering fitness from all the training earlier this year. But the best part about yesterday was racing around women who were doing their first bike race ever. I was amazed and impressed and grateful to have some solid lady competition up until the very end (hi, @maggie113091 )! I hope as time goes on, I get to be surrounded by more women during races. It's pretty neat to see and it's hard not to be inspired by the courage it takes to toe the start line. . . . . @skratchlabs @pactimo_official @industry_nine @trekstorechattanooga @handupgloves @smithoptics
    The "race" to register for @marjigesick was exciting/stressful enough...can only imagine what the actual race is going to do to me! Goal is literally to avoid the #QUITTER list for what many say is the hardest one-day race in America! 🤣 . . . . @pactimo_official @skratchlabs @industry_nine @trekstorechattanooga @handupgloves @smithoptics
    I may be racing mtn bikes this weekend, but I gotta give credit to my #cyclocross roots for getting my bike racing party started. My heart will always ache (and nearly explode 🤣) for at least a little taste of that all-in, chaotic, better-know-how-to-handle-your-bike-no-matter-what feeling you can only get during cx race. ❤ Had an awesome time at our @privateercx Old Grey Barn race a few weeks ago...that course is legend and definitely one of the best of the best! . . . . @pactimo_official @skratchlabs @industry_nine @handupgloves @smithoptics @trekchattanooga
    Can't say enough how motivated I am to get back to a normal training routine. Riding my bike keeps me balanced beyond belief and I'm excited to feel mentally and physically normal again. Nothing like a weekend on the trails with friends to get my mind right. ❤ thanks @danhenryphoto for capturing this hopeful moment! . . . . @skratchlabs @pactimo_official @trekchattanooga @industry_nine @handupgloves @smithoptics
    Today we celebrate lucky #7...and I'm amazed and in awe of the life we've built together. It's incredible to get the opportunity to grow together as two people...manage conflict...celebrate each other's accomplishments...coordinate through life's chaos and craziness...find balance between two very different, yet very similar people. I'm so grateful for this love! Happy anniversary, @spencerwhittier ...can't wait for many more to come!
    After 2 very different 100mi races in 2 weeks, I basically had to crawl my way to today's Black Bear Rampage 40mi mtn bike race. But @scottsbicyclecentre puts on a good show and I had the best friends supporting me (during a super-stressful week)...so couldn't resist lining up! Seeing so many familiar faces is something you can only get at your hometown race and there's something to be said about lining up alongside your "community"...it brings me so much joy to race and suffer with my friends on the bike. ❤ . . . . @pactimo_official @skratchlabs @industry_nine @handupgloves @smithoptics
    Happy to walk away from my 2nd #shenandoah100 with an hour+ PR! I took a much more aggressive approach at the start and it paid off in the end...while I'm a bit disappointed I missed a turn at the end of the race, which added 10 minutes to my time (and 10+ people to finish in front of me), I'm grateful to have a solid race (with no mechanicals or crashes) and so many wonderful people encouraging and cheering me on. This race reminds me of the amazing friends and community @spencerwhittier and I have found with this hobby. It was fun to share this experience with a great group of friends from Tennessee! . . Stats and specs: rode my @konabikes #HeiHei from @suckcreekcycles decked out w/ @industry_nine (raced on Maxxis Ardents 17/21 psi)...Sram Eagle w/30T chainring (b/c all the climbing!)...dressed in @pactimo_official Summit Classic jersey and Summit Strike bibs...scarfed down plenty of @skratchlabs chews and chugged all the Skratch hydration...10 bottles, I think and a bottle of Skratch Wellness before the race (plus Recovery after)...and of course had my fav @handupgloves and socks with my @smithoptics Network helmet. . . . . Only 329 finished this year and 27 of us were women. ❤ I was the 11th lady to cross the line (thanks to my mishap with the turn I let another finish in front of me...doh!).
    My thoughts have pulled me in so many directions when trying to put what happened at @sbtgrvl into words. I'm not sure I'll ever be able to truly explain the impression it had on me (it's ok to insert a "geeze it's only a bike race" eye roll and stop reading here). Surely it's not news to you that I don't race to stand on a podium. That's simply not my path right now (or maybe ever). But damn it I planned for an 8-hr finish on the 100 mi course...and I finished in just over 6hrs! I was in shock. I ugly-cried on my way back to the van after the finish (yeah and I don't cry like ever). But I knew how it happened. My mind and focus finally caught up with my fitness and I finally found that special place where experience and improvement meet. I'm still learning what it takes (for me, because it's not the same for everyone) to put my mind where it needs to be during races, and I'm thrilled (and hopeful) after seeing a big glimpse of it. But anyway...on to those stats and specs! . . . Rode my Focus Mares cx bike (1x10/42, 34T) with @industry_nine Ultralite 240c TRA wheels, @maxxistires Rambler 38mm (started at 40° temps with 30&33psi), doubled up on handlebar tape and didnt regret it during any divebombs...ate countless @skratchlabs chews and prob 4-5 bottles of Skratch hydration...throw in some maple syrup here and there....wore @pactimo_official Summit Climber's jersey and Summit Strike bibs (so light and comfy!). @handupgloves covered my feet (socks) and hands (moved to their shortie gloves from long-fingered after temps increased)...@smithoptics protected my eyes and head with Attack Max glasses and Network helmet. . . . . My 2hr PR was good enough for 124 overall of 500 finishers...25 of 136 total female finishers...13 of 40 in 30-39 female category.
    It's been a blur since @sbtgrvl but it's already time for #Shenandoah100 (mtn bike race) this weekend and I'm thinking back at how different I felt this time last year. I'm not sure what Sunday will bring but I know it will be a huge beast that I'm lucky to get to experience with @staraffolter and @ditchflower. #Repost @aliwhittier ・・・ Only 41 women started #shenandoah100...out of almost 500! I was the 14th woman to cross the line...more than 100 racers didn't finish. Check out the link in my bio for a recap. I was so grateful to have support from our friends (and @Spencerwhittier's teammmates) on @motormileracing and of course, my @teamcatfight teammates on race weekend...and I couldn't have survived without Coach Carp getting my fitness ready. I've really been blown away by everyone's kindness and encouragement. I'm by far not the fastest bike racer, but I really do love racing my bike no matter the outcome. Bike racing has helped me learn to let go of a lot of insecurities and focus on what's most important to me...and worry less about what others think about my appearance or how I *should* live my life. I'm honored and so fortunate to get to have these experiences. Cheers! 📸@jackanderson2018 . . . . @skratchlabs @pactimo_official @pactimocustom @smithoptics @handupgloves @konabikes @industry_nine

    Recent Posts

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