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Club Member Spotlight From a beginner Cinderella student on reaching the summit of Lemon Drop Hill at the Cinderella Classic: From a Challenge student near the conclusion of the training series: Cinderella students can become active FFBC members!
The FFBC Women Are Up To The Challenge by Joyce Tanaka This year was the first for a dedicated Cinderella Training Jersey, and the first year for a break-off group of women training for the Cinderella Challenge option. It was an experiment that started when Tina Boomershie and I rode down the Pacific Coast Highway last year and came up with the idea of offering a training series for women who were up to the Challenge. This option of the Cinderella Century was a 100-mile option (more on the distance later) and a bit more climbing then the Classic option. We came up with 10 routes that would progress in distance and climbing difficulty. The true test was the climb up to Mount Hamilton, our last ride of the series. Just looking back at the routes now, I think, geez, what were we thinking? On the other hand, any woman who saw the routes knew that it was going to be a difficult training series. Two women in our group had three months of road riding between them. There were several Cinderella Classic graduates from last year. A few triathletes, and quite a few distance runners. The point of the training series entailed group riding, group etiquette, and group support. Thirty riders registered and seventeen completed and rode the Challenge, fifteen as a group. The Challenge ride went off without a hitch, but the organizers changed the ride to 85 miles, the Challenge Training riders were disappointed. We were ready for 100 miles of distance and grueling wind. We had 85 miles of incredible weather and our legs were well prepared for the Challenge. The added bonus was Christine’s husband and Nancy’s friend offering to take our photos while we were on the ride. We looked great as a peloton of 15 riders, wearing our Cinderella Training jersey, and riding like the wind. The success of this experiment will now continue as another training series next year. We’re already planning our first meeting for the 2010 Cinderella Challenge Century.
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