Hindsight is 20/20, so they say and as true as that may be, I am glad to have the opportunity to live each day as it comes and bask in the excitement of what the next may bring.

2007 has been a year of progress in my life and I owe so much to a few people that have motivated me and allowed me to live my dream. Cycling is a huge part of that dream but certainly not the only part. For me, waking up happy and living every day with the enthusiasm of a child is the overall picture; the components that fit inside this are just pieces to the puzzle. Yes, some pieces are much larger (cycling) than others (beer) but they all fit together to bring to life a picture of a happy Liz.

If I think back to 2 years ago on this exact date my life was a whole different story. I had just ended a 5 year relationship and was in a serious rut. Leaving was necessary for survival in the truest sense of the word but those first few months were bleak. Feeling helpless and sorry for yourself only comforts you for so long however, and luckily I have an amazing pair of parents who helped “pull me up by the bootstraps” and get my ass in gear.

2 years ago- I would wake up most mornings wishing I hadn’t or praying for the moment I could get back in bed and go to sleep again.

Now- Some nights I can’t wait to go to bed so I can get up and live the next day. Other nights still I’m too excited to sleep!

Bringing me to my point.

I have been overwhelmingly blessed to meet a few special people this year who I would like to publicly thank. They are the reason I get to take this “dream life” and run with it. They are the reason I get to wake up and ride my bike on a daily basis representing and amazing company with a huge heart.

First, I want to thank Dave Verrecchia for finding me in the first place and then not laughing at me when I ask him if Vanderkitten would be interested in sponsoring me. Dave, you are a real one of a kind guy, you make me laugh when I feel like doing anything but. Thanks also to his kick ass wife and the inspiration behind Vanderkitten, Jennie Vanderlaag for being the wonderful person that she is.

Mark Zefeldt, you are the best roomie I’ve ever had, thanks for opening your home to me and Ludo. You’re been my shoulder to lean on and ear to yap in (yeah, I know there’s not a lot of talking sometimes but when I’ve needed it you’ve been there). I owe you for numerous trips to the airport to go race, watching my brat dog while at said races, sushi, 30 Rock, coffee, the fact that you now read cycling magazines even though you really don’t have an interest in cycling EXCEPT that you now own a women’s cycling team(whew!), INTERBIKE, the big framed poster of Pam Anderson that hangs in our hallway, Mother’s Iced Animal Cookies(damn you!), beer, the Christmas party on the boat where I almost threw up, letting me drive your Yaris(awesomely fun), motorpacing me(starts soon, don’t forget), INTERBIKE, and a ton of other things! THANKS FOR BEING YOU, MARK!

To my teammate, Leigh “The Machete” Valletti. I can’t believe that a year ago when we first met I kept asking you an million questions about how you got into cycling and how I should go about getting on a team… Amazing that we get to do it together! Thanks for all the hours of work you put into Vanderkitten and thanks for the hours of “chatting to me” (not with) about who knows what. You are a jewel, chickadee!

If I really sat down and wrote out a list of all the people I should thank I’d never finish this blog but I have just a few more people that deserve special mention.

Len Basobas, you have been so on board with Vanderkitten Racing and shown us a ton of support on Triple Crankset. I also deeply appreciate the attention and respect you’ve given to female athletes in cycling by presenting us as multi-dimensional people who have something to say rather than just images to look at for personal enjoyment.

Kurt Harvey- Man, I CANNOT tell you how awesome you are! I think back to Patterson Pass and you yelling encouragement to me even though I was dying due to my own sheer stupidity and impatience(yes, breaking away on the first lap of that race was idiotic, but I’ll make it up to ya). The gift you gave me in Las Vegas at InterBike is priceless to me. To have a book of photos that you personally took and created to document my first season with Vanderkitten is something I will never forget. My mom and dad are holding it safely for me. They thank you as well. We are all so glad to have you in the Vanderkitten family, Kurt!

My last person is a friend, plain and simple. Bob Cullinan, I know you doubted me a bit at first but I’m glad you did because it forced us to get to know one another. You are too much, Bobo! I get a kick out of you! (Hello, Sinatra!) Just don’t buy another Trek, ok???

Yep, A year to be thankful for. I have a feeling that my list for 2008 will be doubly as long…

Happy New Year to you all!

There’s not a whole lot of difference between Trekkies and cyclists…

According to Cyclingnews.com-

Professional Six Day style racing will make an re-appearance in the United States at the 2008 Interbike trade show in Las Vegas. Six Day racing had its heyday in the U.S. in the early 20th century, but faded from prominence after World War II. The last professional Six Day bicycle race in the United States concluded nearly 35 years ago in Detroit, Michigan on October 2, 1973.

Not coincidentally, an American who finished the 1973 Detroit Six Day event in second place, Jack Simes III (while teamed with John Vande Velde, father of CSC professional Christian Vande Velde) is an instrumental figure in the sport’s return to the United States.

Simes explained to Cyclingnews, “We haven’t seen Six Day racing in the United States since the early 1970s. The last pro international races were run in 1973 on a very, very low scale in California and Detroit. Previous to that, it was 1961 in Madison Square Garden. To make a long story short, after looking at all of the options, what I’m planning to do is bring over the whole pro show and produce that in the United States.

“We have dates now in Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas to do it during the time of Interbike. It’s going to be three-days and not six-days to start with. It’s pretty difficult to book six days of racing in an arena plus two days to move in and another day to move out. An event like this, which is relatively new in modern times to the U.S., it’s better to start with three days and it’s easier to get the arenas. It doesn’t take up so much time on the calendar, so that’s the way it’s being planned.”

Simes continued, “It’s important to produce a very successful event from the beginning. You’re not going to get a second chance. The European professional riders are very excited to come to the United States. Some of them actually know more about the history than you might think. Top guys like [Bruno] Risi and [Erik] Zabel are historians of the sports themselves. They’re all very interested, and of course they’re professionals and they have to get paid for what they do.”

Simes is looking to achieve the type of environment typical of the Gent Six Day. “That type of event goes back to the style of events that took place in the United States [in the early 20th century] where you have wall to wall people standing on the infield, the infield bar, the packed stands, the great racing,” Simes explained. “The Gent Six is on a smaller track, the type of track that we will use in the United States because that’s the only thing we can put in our arenas. That’s kind of a similar atmosphere to what you’ll see in the United States with a little more Las Vegas zip into it.”

Jack Simes III is no stranger to competition at the highest level of track cycling within both the United States and Europe. Raised in a family of elite cyclists (both Simes III’s father and grandfather raced professionally in the early 20th century during the heyday of American cycling), Simes III competed in three Olympics (1960, 1964, 1968), earned silver medals at the 1967 Pan-American Games and the 1968 World Championships, competed in eight world championships, earned multiple American national titles, and competed professionally on the track in the early 1970s.

Simes later became the executive director of USPRO, the governing body of professional cycling in the United States, as well as the first executive director of the Lehigh County Velodrome.

“So I’m looking around the bar and all I see are dogs but those two are foxes and even though a fox is a kind of dog, it’s a really good looking dog.” – Diamond Dave Verrecchia’s comments on two random women at a bar in Vegas.

BH USA to supply Vanderkitten as per Cyclingnews.com

In other sponsorship news, BH USA, the American partner of BH Bikes, has announced that it will supply the new US-based Vanderkitten National Racing Calendar squad with bikes for next year. The team had previously only sponsored a single rider, Liz Hatch, but will now expand its racing involvement to a full outfit next season.

“Vanderkitten is a great signing for BH because they go beyond the traditional race team structure of racing on the weekend and hoping for results,” said BH USA spokesman Adam Vincent. “Vanderkitten have already built a culture that is fun and funky and people are drawn to that. They are building a community around their team.”

Vanderkitten, a clothing company which caters for “women who kick ass”, announced the first of its riders for next year earlier this week.

“The women on the team understand how to promote their sponsors,” said Vincent. “They have taken the initiative to call me and say ‘we’re so excited to be working with you, what can we do to help you sell more bikes?’ I don’t know too many pro riders doing that.

“I don’t have to sit around with my fingers crossed hoping for them to win a big race and get some magazine coverage, because I know they’ll be out there everyday saying good things about BH USA,” he added.

The team will use BH’s full-carbon Connect model, which uses tube-to-tube construction and ultra-high modulus carbon to achieve a final claimed frame weight of just 890 grams. / GJ

Visit BH Bikes USA.

If this were real I’d be the first to buy it!
Mmmmmmmm, Bacon…

New kittens named- as per Cyclingnews.com and

RoadBikeReview.com

Vanderkitten Racing has announced the riders which will form its 2008 American squad, after announcing earlier this year it would expand from a single sponsored rider in Liz Hatch to a full squad. Hatch will again ride for the outfit and will be joined by eight new signings.

“It is an honor to be the Director and a part of a first year team of this caliber,” said Scott Gross, Director Sportif. “Our 2008 race season will show that the work being done by the management, coaches and team riders was with one purpose in mind and that is to be one of the best teams for the year “

The squad will be announcing additional riders in the near future, with the team to be supported by Regional riders.

“Vanderkitten Racing could not be more thrilled with the roster we have compiled,” said Vanderkitten managing director Mark Zefeldt. “The roster has a good mix of youth and experience on this team – specifically in Despas and Valletti, two riders with proven returns. We’re confident that this team will perform well, and it will only help further our preparation for many years to come.”

The outfit recently announced it would be riding BH Bikes in 2008, while other equipment and supporting sponsors will be named in the near future.

Vanderkitten Racing’s 2008 roster: Jane Despas, Leah Guloien, Liz Hatch, Moriah MacGregor, Melissa Sanborn, Jenny Trew, Leigh Ann Valletti, Flavia Oliveira and Heather Sborz.

It was just one of those beautiful San Fran days.
Good ride with a good friend and only two weeks till “The Roadie” comes home. Life is sweet!

Pop into the Vanderkitten web store and order up some Manderkitten World Tour tees! All proceeds go to support the Vanderkitten Racing team.

Manderkitten!