What is your name and location?

Kristin Apotsos, Melbourne Beach, Florida

What type of cycling do you enjoy?

Cyclocross, mountain biking, riding bikes to school with my 2 kids, I want to like road cycling

What is your first cycling memory?

I felt like a hot shot when I was given my neighbor’s robin egg blue Schwinn with a sparkly banana seat. Several years later, my Dad painted it metallic copper. I was proud of that bike. It’s a shame that my kids have not experienced the beauty and comfort of a banana seat.

Who inspires you to ride? Better yet, why?

There is nothing more motivational than been getting spanked in cyclocross. Since moving up to CAT 3, I’ve been blown away by the power and endurance of my competition. I also have huge admiration for cyclists who compete in RAAM (Race Across America) and other extreme cycling events. Two years ago I followed the progress of an amazing local competitor & part-owner of our local bike shop (INFINITY Bike Shop!). He must have superior pain management skills.

What has been your best moment on the bike so far this year?

Hands down, the best moment on a bike thus far in 2013 was taking an an orange popsicle hand up from a man wearing an orange full body suit during the Florida State Cyclocross Championships. It was my second race of the day. It was hot. It tasted awesome.

Tell us what you ride

I own four bikes and am seeking a fifth. My oldest bike is a green ’98 Specialized Stumpjumper. We have a long history together. We’ve done mountain bike races, 12-hour races, triathlons, and now cyclocross races together. I also own a full suspension Trek Fuel EX, a WSD Trek Madone 5.2, and a turquoise vintage Raleigh cruiser which is used for errands and towing surf & paddle boards. I am shopping for a carbon CX bike with a lot of character and a small price tag. As corny as this sounds, I trust destiny will bring us together. I’d love to add a single speed to the family as well.

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Motivational Monday, a Monday tradition at Bike Shop Girl, my goal to keep you motivated and to be striving on the bike even during a hard week or long hours at work. Are you a woman that bicycles? Fill out this easy form and be part of our motivational movement! 

Bike Polo, Alley Cats and Tweed Rides, Oh My!

Oaks & Spokes Raleigh’s Inaugural Bicycle Festival will be held March 1st – 10th 2013 in and around Downtown Raleigh. Join us for social rides, game nights, charity races and more! All events are free to attend and open to the public.

Friday March 1st: Bike First Friday, Raleigh Bikes Art Show

WHAT’S YOUR NAME AND LOCATION?

Louise Cheetham, Baton Rouge, LA

WHAT TYPE OF CYCLING DO YOU ENJOY?

Road, Mountain

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST CYCLING MEMORY?

I used to sit on the back of my mom’s cruiser, on the gear rack. We went to the neighborhood store like that until I got my foot caught in the back wheel. Foot in the back wheel is what I remember.

After that my parents bought me a kids size Raleigh racing bike. It was red to white fade. Man, I miss the 80s.

WHO INSPIRES YOU TO RIDE, AND BETTER YET WHY?

My mom, Janet and my coach, Stacey. These two women ride their bikes through it all. My mom is recovering from cancer and got back on her bike as soon as she could. Stacey is a very busy businesswoman and mom and still rides her bike every day.

I want to love it and be as dedicated as they are!

WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST MOMENT ON THE BIKE SO FAR THIS YEAR?

This year? Has to be leading out my teammate, Allie Hurst, for the win at the Vuelta d’Acadiana. Just a local race on our calendar. But I got my 1 min max power and took her to the line to outsprint some out of towners. Take that Texas!

TELL US ALL ABOUT YOUR BIKES

I have a hand me down mountain bike that I bomb around on and raced for the first time this year
My road bike is my dream bike, a Cannondale Supersix Hi-Mod with dura-ace. Best bike I have ever ridden.
That’s the complete stable. I have to err on the side of too few as my wonderful cyclist man has 4 and its getting cramped in here!

Motivational Monday, a Monday tradition at Bike Shop Girl, my goal to keep you motivated and to be striving on the bike even during a hard week or long hours at work. Are you a woman that bicycles? Fill out this easy form and be part of our motivational movement!

A guest post by Laura Colbert of Loose Nuts Cycles in Atlanta, GA

I’m really excited to follow Arleigh’s New Years post from yesterday. I too have spent the past couple of weeks reflecting on the past year and what I would like to see in the coming year.  In 2012, my household became a one car family so I spent a lot of time on my Civia Lindon commuting to and from work.  That’s been a super positive change.  I feel stronger, my bike gets ridden more often, and we’re saving some money.  Also, I got to do more bike camping, which is always a fun adventure.  Unfortunately, I did way less mountain biking than I would have liked in 2012.   Keeping that in mind, I set a couple goals for 2013:

1. Stop biting my nails. (This has been on my to-do list for awhile.  I got acrylic nails to try to help this effort.  I feel weird with regular length fingernails….we’ll see how this one goes.)

2.  Take better care of my teeth. (I hate flossing, but we can all do a better job of taking care of our bodies in some way, right?)

3.  Be on my mountain bike more.  Subgoal:  Ride most of the SERCS races.

Over the past month or so, I talked to my partner about my goals for the new year, and being the amazingly supportive partner that he is (not to mention a bike shop owner), he got me this beautiful Salsa Spearfish as a Christmas gift:

This full suspension 29er is a big step up from my pieced-together, 26″ hard tail mountain bike that was built on a dated Raleigh frame.  I was so excited about the new bike that I got started on my New Years goal a little early.  We tagged along with some friends on a ride on north Georgia (although we weaved in and out of North Carolina a bit).  To fit with my New Year’s resolution and my new bike, there were several firsts on this ride.  We were lucky to be far enough north to ride through some ice and snow, which was a first for me.  Also, it was a new trail for both Chris and I.

With a new bike, a new trail, and the first time riding on ice and snow, it was a perfect ride to kick off the new year even if it was a day early.  I hope that I can do more rides like this throughout the year.  I’ll keep you all updated on my rides and try to provide you with whatever thoughts they might inspire.

Happy New Year!  Happy riding!

While I have raced several cross races this year, they all have been prep work (fun) for the grand event of the North Carolina Cyclocross series. This series kicked off this past weekend, I didn’t make the Saturday race so Sunday was the official kick off to the next 3 months of cyclocross racing!

In order to give you a full scope of the race let’s begin at 5:15am when I woke up. Why? Because I had to leave by 6:15am for the 2.5-3 hour drive to Raleigh. Thank goodness for in car entertainment of Natalie Moore (friend, cheerleeder and cyclocross virgin)! In the car, rocking towards Lion’s Roar I know my body was feeling sore. There’s no reason a 2.5 hour drive should bother me, but something in my hamstring and lower back just didn’t feel right.

Get to race, teammate/friend/brother from another mother, George Berger, had set up his tent already and we had staked out a place for the team to hang out. Another tent went up near the course for race heckling and photo taking.

Sign up

Get dressed in awesome new Birdsong Brewery team skinsuit. Long sleeve jersey and Foundry parka overtop. 45 degrees and on the road warm up.

Warm up for 45 minutes on the road. Openers. My hamstring wasn’t feeling right. I couldn’t spin through it. It was tight like a fiddle.

Pre-race lap. Course was fast, felt short and super fun.

Race Time

The field of women (and single speed guys) was the biggest I had ever seen at a NC CX event. 26 women in the CX 4 race, and close to the same in the Pro, 1,2,3 race. Due to warming up and not having points from the day before for call ups – I was 2nd row. That wasn’t good. I normally have a good start and like to rail into the first lap to find my footing.

Racers – 15 seconds

Strategically I had figured out how I was going to get around the girl in front of me after the line. That was as long as she didn’t fall over in front of me.

Start was on pavement. Slight up hill with a 80 degree turn to the left. Cut to her inside and hit the corner hard. Success. Went into the first wooded section about 10 back.

Bump through the woods, through pine straw and roots. Hard left turn. Girly in 3rd place takes out about 6 girls. Utilizing my mtb skills I stay high inside and sitting pretty in 3rd after that pile up.

Short section of pavement into some taped off turns. If you rode the tape properly you could really keep your steam going. Downhill, 180 degree turn back uphill to the right, 90 degree turn to the left, gravel, miss the huge hole on the right.

Hit gravel road section. Big gear, hitting it hard. Felt good, felt like I could actually attack the wheels I was sitting on if I wanted.

Gear down, left turn into grass, uphill, gravel thrown in for fun. Around some taped turns. Barriers.

This is when I went from 3rd to 6th.

Dismount… that went pretty. Hop. run.. Hop.

Remount. Crap, hamstring and hip won’t open up enough. Stop. Lean bike over. Mount.

SPRINT. Run up huge hill. Pin it in the taped field. Oh shit moment on the steep downhill. Big ring on the pavement to start the lap all over again.

I sat in 5th for most the race. Last lap 6th caught me at that barrier again. We played cat and mouse the rest of the lap. I sat on her wheel, hitting it hard right before the pavement section. Thought I was going to have a sprint finish but had a bike or two lead at the line.

 Conclusion

Awesomely happy with myself. Having not ridden much over the past 3 weeks (hell month and a half) I am happy to say I was sitting in 3rd and finished 6th out of 26! The season is long and I should be hitting the podium soon enough. Confidence isn’t huge, but passion is fueled.

Also, it helps that my team is sponsored by a brewery – Birdsong. The IPA after was also awesome!

Did you race this weekend? How did it go?

photo credit: Natalie and George

The weather is cooler, the days are getting shorter and this means one thing. Cyclocross.

The season in the southeast normally doesn’t start until mid fall but more and more groups are getting on board and we should have a couple series in the area to attend.

‘Cross “Race” Calendar

September 4th - (Tentative) Tuesday Nights Under the Lights in Boone, NC

September 8th – Asheville CX Kick Off in Bent Creek Park

September 29-30 - Tennessee MSG in Kingsport

October 6-7 - Tennessee MSG in Unicoi

October 14th - Asheville CX at Pisgah Brewery

NC CX Race Series: 

Race #1 – Sat. October 20, 2012 – Southern Pines, NC 
Race #2 – Sun. October 21, 2012 – Raleigh, NC 
Race #3 – Sun. October 28, 2012 – Boone, NC 
Race #4 – Sun. November 4, 2012 – Salisbury, NC Not in town
Race #5 – Sun. November 11, 2012 – Wilkesboro, NC
Race #6 –  Sat. November 17, 2012 – Durham, NC

Race #7 – Sun. November 18, 2012 – Statesville, NC
Race #8 – Sun.December 2, 2012 – Charlotte, NC
Race #9 – Sun. December 9, 2012 – Winston Salem, NC 
Race #10 – Sat. December 15, 2012 -UCI NCGP  - Hendersonville, NC
Race  #11 – Sun. December 16, 2012 – UCI NCGP – Hendersonville, NC

NC CX Winter Series:

Race #12 – Sat. January 5, 2013 – Raleigh, NC 
Race #13 – Sun. January 6, 2013 – Fayetteville, NC      
Race #14 – Sat. January 19, 2013 – Winston Salem, NC
Race #15 – Sun. January 20, 2013 – Greensboro, NC

May

20 • NC, Charlotte • Catawba Riverfront Classic

27 • GA, Jackson • SERC Dauset MTB Race

June

13 • NC, Asheville • Liberty Bicycles Ladies Night

17 • GA, Columbus • GCS Flat Rock Park MTB Race

23 • NC, Asheville • Asheville CX Short Track Race

23 • SC, Fort Mill • Tree Shaker 6/8 Hour MTB Race 

24 • SC, Clemson • SERC Tiger Rag MTB Race

July

7-8 • GA, Macon • GCS Arrowhead MTB Race

15 • TN, Knoxville • SERC Dirt South MTB Race

22 • GA, Helen • GCS Unicoi MTB Race

29 • AL, Ft. Payne • SERC Desoto MTB Race

August

4 • GA, Blankets Creek • 6 Hour Race to Sunset MTB

4-5 • NC, Fontana • SERC Fontana MTB Weekend

25 • NC, Charlotte • Rivers Edge MTN Bike Marathon

September

8 • GA, Dahlonega • Fool’s Gold 100 Mile MTB Race

8 • NC, Asheville • Asheville CX Season Opener

15 • NC, Pisgah • Pisgah Monster Cross Challenge

17-22 • NC, Pisgah • Pisgah MTB Stage Race 

23 • NC, Banner Elk • Three Peaks USA Endurance CX

28-29 • GA • GA State Single Speed Championships

October

6-7 • Unicoi, TN • MSG CX

8 • TN, Chattanooga • Rocky Raccoon Revenge MTB Race

13 • Elizabthon, TN • MSG CX

12-13 • NC, Raleigh • NC Bike Summit

13 • SC, Fort Mill • 6 Hour Grind on the Greenway 

14 • NC, Asheville • Asheville CX at Pisgah Brewery

20 • NC, Asheville • Asheville CX Night Race

20 • NC,  Southern Pines • NC Cyclocross Series

21 • NC,  Raleigh • NC Cyclocross Series 

20-21 • NC, Pisgah • Double Dare MTB Adventure

28 • NC,  Boone • NC Cyclocross Series 

November

4 • NC,  Salisbury • NC Cyclocross Series 

10 • Briston, TN • King College MSG CX

11 • NC,  Wilkesboro • NC Cyclocross Series 

17 • NC,  Durham • NC Cyclocross Series 

December

2 • NC,  Charlotte • NC Cyclocross Series 

8 • Unicoi, TN • MSG CX

9 • NC,  Winston Salem • NC Cyclocross Series 

15-16 • NC,  Hendersonville • UCI NCGP NC Cyclocross Series 

January

5 • NC,  Raleigh • NC Cyclocross Series 

6 • NC,  Fayetteville • NC Cyclocross Series 

19 • NC,  Winston Salem • NC Cyclocross Series 

20 • NC,  Greensboro • NC Cyclocross Series 

For the past month I have been cruising around on the 2012 Raleigh RX 1.0 Women’s cyclocross bike. A good amount of people emailed and tweeted about the bike, so there must be an interest in women’s cyclocross! You can read the preview over yonder.

Spec’s of the Raleigh RX 1.0 You Should Know

Weight for the 56cm is 21.5 lbs
The drivetrain is mostly SRAM Apex, other than TRP brakes and FSA BB30 cranks
MSRP is $1,650
The colors are stunning and I really enjoyed the sea foam green 

Overall Feelings

The bike for the price point is solid. I’m sure you’ll be able to find it a bit cheaper out there, as it is MSRP advertised and most shops run lower than MSRP in store. The setup is proven, the brakes stopped, the tires hooked up beautiful and are some of the best tires I’ve seen on a stock cross bike under $2k.

Recommendations

After my first real ride I swapped the seat. You should know my love of Fizik Vesta saddles and that is what was put on the seatpost. I didn’t change out anything else, not the handlebars, stem, seatpost or tires. This bike (other than saddle which is personal preference) is out of the box ready to race and be ridden hard. My only other recommendation is to take some very fine grit sand paper to the braking surface of the rims. Painted rims aren’t my favorite and after a couple tacky races the paint started wearing off the braking strip and the brakes worked much better.

If you are a first time cyclocross racer, or using this bike for commuting/general purpose riding, leave the sissy brakes on the handlebars. They come in handy and I really enjoyed them there even though I have made fun of them in the past.

Fit of a Women’s Cyclocross Bike

Raleigh women’s line fits me. It always has. Out of the box I can take their 56cm and set the seat height and be done. I don’t need to change the stem length or angle. With that, I am biased on the fit of this bike. Normally for a cyclocross bike to fit me I either have to ride a size bigger with a shorter stem in order to have the head tube height I need, or I run a size that “fits me” and end up with lower back pain on long rides.

Final Thoughts

This is a great option in the women’s cyclocross bike market. The colors are very neutral and appealing to many different types of women. I hope shops stock them and once cyclocross season is over they sell them with a commuter tire. With rack and fender eyelets this is a great year around bike. The spec of the bike is solid, the wheels are stout and it should take any road or cyclocross course you throw at it. At 21.5 lbs some women may complain they need a lighter bike, but this is a price point cyclocross bike. Either a great 2nd pit bike, or a 1st bike to try the sport, or to try commuting and general purpose riding.

Go check out Raleigh and all they are doing for cyclocross in the US.

Disclaimer: Raleigh USA provided this bike for review, I wasn’t paid or bribed. 

A beautiful brown box with a huge Raleigh logo on the side showed up this past week for review. Inside, a 2012 Raleigh RX 1.0 women’s cyclocross bike in for review. I previewed the line back in August and received a good amount of tweets and comments about the line. At $1,650 this bike could be a break through road/cross/commuter/do all women’s bike. Allowing more options and ways to get women on one well spec’d bike. I have high hopes, and the bike will be abused to see if they meet the hopes.

Here for photos? Scroll all the way down.

Out of the Box Raleigh RX 1.0

Very first thing I noticed is the coloring of the bike, very white with mint green ascent color.

Next thing was the drive train and sissy brakes. Yes, I call those brakes on the handlebar sissy brakes but I do like them! SRAM Apex shifters front derailleur, Rival rear derailleur, Tektro RL721, FSA Gossamer Pro Cross BB30 Cranks and sprinkled with Avenir components. Finally, rolling on Weinmann rims with Formula hubs and Vittoria CX Cross XG Pro tires.

Features of the 2012 Raleigh RX 1.0 Women’s Cyclocross Bike

A few key details I am really digging on the bike so far.

Rear rack bosses. Allows the bike to be used for more than cross. Commuter, grocery getter, campus ride, road bike, baby puller, and well… do you get the idea?

Tektro brakes. These brakes set up well, and are rather inexpensive.

Shaped rear seat stays. It is hard to see in a flat photo, but the rear stays are flattened which in practice should smooth the rear end allowing the aluminum to give some. At the least it shouldn’t be as darn stiff vertically (to your butt/back.)

The rims are slightly deeper in depth. The jury and all of its testing is still not shown if deeper rims help get through mud and sand. Regardless, they are deeper on these wheels and show the labels off well. Also, makes the bike look faster.

 More words to come soon…

A first review will be ready in a couple weeks. Need to get this bike dirty first!

Disclaimer: Raleigh USA provided this bike for review, I wasn’t paid or bribed. 

As a resident of the Charlotte North Carolina region I can tell you that cyclocross has been slow to pick up in the area. It seems this season is going to change all of this. More practices, more area races and more folks wanting to ride their cyclocross bikes more during a year.

Clinics

September 11, 2011- High Country Cyclocross Clinics – Women’s and General Clinics in Boone, NC

Practices

Boone on Tuesday Nights – Alray Tire Boone Cross Series – Tell Stackhouse you found his races here!

Asheville on Wednesday Nights- Asheville Cycloccross

Charlotte on Wednesday/Sunday Nights- Join the Facebook group to learn more.

Lake Norman/Huntersville on Wednesday Nights- Email me for info

Winston Salem on Tuesday Nights- Located at SECCA, I hear they’re giving out beer coupons. Join FB for the details.

East Bend Wednesday Nights – Right in Ken’s backyard.

Endurance CX Races

September 25, 2011 – Three Peaks USA in Beech Mountain, NC

CX Races

September 10- Asheville CX in Bent Creek Park

September 24- Asheville CX at TBD

October 1 & 2, 2011- Va Du Mar Cyclocross in Spartanburg, SC Flyer and Registration

October 9, 2011- Asheville CX at Pisgah Brewing

October 9, 2011- Winston Salem Cross and Waffles

October 16, 2011- 2011- Cyclocross Kick Off in Cary, NC Pre-Reg here

NCCX 2011-2012 Calendar Dates (Many TBD)

Race #1 – Sat. October 22, 2011
Race #2 – Sun. October 23, 2011 – Raleigh, NC
Race #3 – Sun. October 30, 2011 – Boone, NC
Race #4 – Sun. November 6, 2011 – Salisbury, NC
Race #5 – Sun. November 13, 2011
Night Race – Wed. November 16, 2011 (non-series) -Asheville, NC
Race #6 – Sat. November 19, 2011 -UCI-NCGP  - Hendersonville, NC
Race  #7 – Sun. November 20, 2011 – UCI NCGP – Hendersonville, NC
Race #8 – Sun. December 4, 2011
Race #9 – Sun. December 11, 2011 – Wilkesboro, NC
Race #10 – Sun. December 18, 2011 – Tanglewood, NC
Race #11 – Sun. January 8, 2012
Race #12 – Sat. January 21, 2012
Race #13 – Sun. January 22, 2012