Building Character

A lot of people probably wonder what happens to make an entire race weeked go as poorly as this on. I don’t think there will ever be an answer for that. Just one of those things that happens in life, like losing a left sock, or finding out you have been racing all day with a giant sunglasses gap. Its one of those things that happen, no grand excuses, no horrible story about both wheels flatting, breaking my chain and then breaking my frame in half. But the great things about this weekend is that it builds character, allows you to look back on what you did personally wrong and allow you to grow from it. While my results have not been what I wished, I am still taking away valuable lessons from this race, and I can look forward to many more races this season with a positive attitude. While I wish that I could tell people that this race went exactly like I wanted and I did awesome, I can’t. But I can tell people that I have learned a lot from this race, and next time I’m racing my bike I won’t have one of “those” days, because I have left all of  “those” days behind at Valley of The Sun. 

Megan Baab Memorial Bike

To all of those who know Megan Baab,

I know that things have been really rough this past month for all of us. I have started a fund-raising project to get Megan’s dad, Chris Baab, a very special bike. The man who made my bike has agreed to build a Megan Baab Memorial Bike at cost. For those of you who have not seen my bike, it has pictures of me and my family on it. The concept would be the same for the Megan Baab Memorial Bike, except it would be pictures of Megan and important symbols and colors of her life. It will be 100% custom(carbon frame) and unique, from being built to being painted. 

I know that we have just come off the holiday season, but if if you can spare any money to help this bike become a reality it would be great. This bike will share with the world how much Megan has touched each of us. 

If you are interested in donating please visit www.jerikahutchinson.com .

Please get in contact with me if you’d like to help fundraise or questions about donating money. And thank you for your consideration in donating to this cause.

To learn more about John Slawta who will be building the bike, please visit www.landsharkbicycles.com .

Jerika Hutchinson
www.jerikahutchinson.com 

jerikaandthebike@gmail.com

530-859-2835

Collegiate Track Nationals

I was told by a very important person that if I wanted to be great at one thing then I needed to be great at everything that I do. This is a philosophy that I live by and it has brought me great opportunities from my accomplishments on and off the bike.

Through the USA Cycling Federation, bike riding has given me the opportunity to grow as a cyclist and experience new places that I never dreamed of going. Bike racing has taken me to Europe, into the heart of Mexico, and to the sweeping Cape of South Africa, and Europe. My present adventure is taking place in the Blue Ridge Mountains where I am attending and racing for Lees McRae College, Banner Elk, NC. I have moved from one coast to another; a whole, 2,659 miles away from home. I now have a new "family", so to say, with my team. Lees McRae cycling team is not only a bunch of people that all love to race their bikes, but full of people that welcome you into the team; a comradery that is not easily found.

College life is full of new experiences such as being away from home, dorms, cafeteria food, new friends, new roads to train on, and to my surprise track bikes; silly, fixed geared bikes. I had not figured that one into my college experience. But before I knew it I was signed up for the 500M TT, 3KM pursuit and the 3KM team pursuit with three weeks to prepare for Collegiate Nationals with not track bike.

I was in need of my old Croll track bike that has been collecting dust hiding out in my shed back home for the last five years. My track bike was a fashion disaster with a personality. An old yellow frame paired with a hideous blue saddle that didn’t seem too happy about being neglected. But with some work, the old bike was cleaned up ready for its first adventure in track racing. With the final touches of areo wheels and clip-on bars it was set to go. What's a better time to get out the old Croll than for Collegiate Track Nationals?

Collegiate Track Nationals was an amazing experience from the drive to Indianapolis (we broke down three times), to racing, to being with my team. My favorite event at Nationals was the Team Pursuit. We had little time to prepare for this event and yet we were pretty awesome scoring second in our fist official ride together. After that success it seemed like things started falling into place for the rest of the team. We finished fourth in the team omnium.

It is now time for the old, yellow track bike to head back home to the shed, but you can expect to see me next year at Collegiate Nationals racing my bike.

Thanks Land Shark and Louis Garneau for your support in my cycling

I am very fortunate to have the support of LandShark and Louis Garneau helping me out with equipment and clothing. LandShark is a company in Oregon, owned by John Slawta. He builds custom carbon framed bikes. They are a work of art. Check out his gallery at

www.landsharkbicycles.com

I met John at the Ashland Hill Climb in 2008. After the race he met up with me and we got to know each other. During our conversation he said he would build me a bike. All I had to do was to come up with how I wanted my bike to look. That was not an easy task. After going round and round with ideas, I settled on using photos of my childhood and cycling experiences with the bike being blue with rainbow colors.

When I picked up my new bike it came with final touch of my name across the front tube in gold.

This year Louis Garneau is sponsoring me with some of their top of the line cycling clothing. The fit is very comfortable and I really like the chamois. The best chamois yet and that is important to cyclists. Check out LG at www.louisgarneau.com

Shast Sports Consignement Store

Check out this new store from my hometown set up and ran by my brother Travis Hutchinson.

New to Shasta Cycling in Shasta Sport's Consignment Store. Taking your local consignment store to the web! Please come view what is available at www.shastacycling.com

If you live in the Mount Shasta area, we will help you sell your sports equipment or other items.

Service includes pricing, cleaning (if needed), and shipment of your product.

For information and pricing contact Shasta Cycling at shatacycling@att.net

We look forward to hearing from you!

What's Up with the Weahter

I came back from Arizona on Valentine's Day with a sunburn only to meet the snow of Mount Shasta once again. This weekend I will be racing down in Merced. On Saturday will be the famous Snelling Road Race, know to some as the Smelling Road Race (there was a misprint  on the t-shirts one year). On Sunday will be the Original Merced Criterium. I hear the weather is suppose to be cold down there too.

Until then I will be riding my trainer indoors watching movies. 2 to 3 hour rides require lots of movies. Any suggestions?

Valley of the Sun Stage Race, Arizona

I left the snow of Mount Shasta for the warmth and sunshine of Arizona. I was off to Phoenix to race in the Valley of the Sun Stage Race that would take place from 02-11-11 to 02-13-11.

VOS is a three day stage race on flat terrain that includes a 14 mile time trial , a 57 mile road race, and end with a criterium in downtown Phoenix. I went out and gave it my all in the time trial, consequently a little too much at the start. I placed 4th and learned a great deal about my body to take with me to my next race.

Molly Van Houwelling of Metronmint came in first was in position to win the VOS for the second year in a row.

With my 4th place finish I knew I had the opportunity to maintain a 4th place finish overall in the GC and that is what I set out to do. The road race was up next. The road race was fast and very aggressive from the start with breakaways throughout the race but was all was unsuccessful in the end resulting in a bunch sprint at the end.At the end of the race, I learned my carbon wheel was cracked and so I would be on my training wheels for the criterium.

Emily Kachorek of Primal, Anna Sanders of TriSports, and Alisha Welsh of Peanut Butter came in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd respectfully. Primal brought a full team and met their goal for the day. Molly remained 1st in the GC.

I was in 4th place for the GC going into the Criterium. Bonus points being given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in the criterium set the stage for some jostling in the overall GC of the race. That I chose not to concern myself with, but rather race a smart, keep myself in good position and finish with no loss of time. When the race was over I knew I had secured my 4th place in the GC.

Nicole Wangsgard and Tiffany Pezzulo of Primal came in 1st and 2nd, and Jane Despas of Yahoo Cycling finished in 3rd.

To my surprise I learned I place 3rd in the Women's !/2 GC and 1st in the Espoire GC.