SHE WOLF ATTACK TEAM
  • BLOG
  • TEAMS
  • STORE
  • ALC
  • ABOUT
  • SPONSORS
  • VIDEO
  • CONTACT
  • CAMPOUT
  • RIDES
  • ROUTESLIPS
  • TRACKLANDIA

Facing Fears & Learning to Love the Track

8/8/2017

0 Comments

 

By Susie 
Photos by John Davis, Julio Herndandez, Nik Bales, Peter Griffin, Nils Hilliard and Vihn Tran 

Picture
Racing comes easy for some people, I am not one of those people. A few years ago I broke my pelvis badly as the result of a crash on a group ride. I was on bed rest for 2 weeks and crutches for 3 months. I missed the entire CX season that year and basically had to relearn to ride a bike.
Picture
Since then riding in a pack has been more of a mental challenge for me. I used to be fearless and now I’m cautious. Gaining the courage just to get back out there and go on large group rides was a struggle. I raced track last year, but my main goal was to not die. Most races I’d hang out on a wheel I trusted and just aim to survive. I came back this season to face my fear and become stronger both physically and mentally on the track.
Picture
For the first season ever our team had sponsorship and the funding to pay for 100% of racing and training thanks to Thomas Forsyth, Wabi Cycles, and team fundraisers. The whole team went to Encino’s race school in March and attended as many weekly training sessions and clinics as we could. Having the team out there training together kept the energy up. We improved together and learned to race with each other instead of against each other. ​
Picture
Picture
Monday night sessions with Stefan taught me so much about riding and racing the track safely as well as kicking my ass on a weekly basis. I started to feel noticeably stronger every week. By the time spring racing started at Encino in April I was more confident on the track than I had ever been. I was ready to race not just sit in. I started instigating attacks not just responding to them. For the first time I was actually having fun out there racing. ​
Picture
Picture
12 omniums later I’m a much smarter, stronger, and braver racer. I even surprised myself with a few individual race wins (wtf how did I win a Keirin?! ) and my first Omnium win. I honestly never thought I’d stand on that top step ever at the track. I still have a ton to learn, but this season was a great start.
Picture
Season highlights were winning the miss n out one night with all my friends screaming in the crowd
Picture
The womxns field at Encino 
Picture
And these Skinsuits 
Picture
But my absolute favorite part about track racing, is and always will be the camaraderie. The womxn that race track are so amazing. We rip rip each others legs off, scream at each other in the race, fight each other for wheels but in-between omnium races we chill hard in the in-field sharing snacks and laughs.
Picture
Picture
My true love is still Cyclocross but track has a special place in my heart now that I never thought it would. ​
Picture


Links
Encino Velodrome
LAVRA / Carson Velodrome



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015

© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • BLOG
  • TEAMS
  • STORE
  • ALC
  • ABOUT
  • SPONSORS
  • VIDEO
  • CONTACT
  • CAMPOUT
  • RIDES
  • ROUTESLIPS
  • TRACKLANDIA