Sea Otter Classic

Sea Otter is such a special event where you truly get to see first hand how beautiful the cycling community is. It’s a place where all lovers of bikes can come and feel like they belong. From people on cruiser bikes, E-Bikes, and the tip of the spear racers on top of the line bikes - they all belong at Sea Otter and that’s what makes this event so great.

When I first entered the expo, my body embarks with chills, as I feel the passion and energy flow though me. Everyone is there because they love the same thing that I love and I think that is truly inspiring. It’s my third time coming to Sea Otter and every-time I am amazed.

This year is different though, I am coming here with Mondraker. A true supporter of me they believe in my abilities as a racer so much that they invited me to come here with them. My younger self would be amazed at where I have come. I remember my 1st year here, I knew no one and just ran around the venue talking to different vendor and trying to get my footing. Seeing the pros and feeling starstruck.

Today, I feel as though I have a community. When I walk around the venue I run into people I know and meet with the people who support me. It is amazing and I am just so greatful for the experiences this life has brought me and I can’t wait to keep this beautiful energy running though me for the rest of the season.

As for the race, I have a few different take aways. I signed up for the 90 mile elite LTGP gravel race on Thursday. First off, I want to say - I loved racing on Thursday and still getting to experience the venue the rest of the days without a huge race lingering in the back of my mind was great.

The race starts and I feel great! I have a solid start and get onto the first dirt section with the lead group - setting my best ever 1 minute power at the top of the first paved climb as my coach and I had discussed prior to the event, this was the goal.

It was going well, until I faced a flat at mile 8. I was with a solid group and we were taking turns at the front and I decided what was best for me was to continue to ride on the flat and attempt to make it back to the start/finish area and there I would attempt to fix it.

I stayed with that group till the first time up lookout ridge which I climbed up with less than 10 psi in my rear tire just hoping I would make it back and would be able to fix it. Once, I got back Sam Z and Rebecca B were there and helped me plug my tire. The first bacon strip didn’t work so we tried a 2nd. After the second, air was still coming out but less so I decided to continue the race hoping that it would seal and I would be able to catch back up to the group I was with.

I ended up catching back on to a group of 4 and we were riding really well together when all of a sudden my heart sunk to my chest again when I realized my tire had gone flat. I had no choice but to stop and try and fix it. This time I put a dynaplug in and it felt as though it was holding.

I continued to ride solo for the rest of that lap - having to stop a few times to put air in my tire as my repair was not working. Going into lap 3, I felt defeated and couldn’t help but think it was quite comical to have such a simple mechanical mess up my whole day.

I tried to keep a solid pace and not let everything I had went through distract me from the task at hand which was to FINISH THE RACE. I finally caught up with a girl after being alone for so long and she really helped me mentally. We worked together for the rest of the race and she would even stop with me every 6 miles to put air in my tire.

Looking on the bright side, although I didn’t have the race I was hoping for, I made a new friend and that friendship will last a lifetime.

Onto the next - Belgian Waffle Ride CA - hope to see you there :)