Profile: Barb Howe

Nickname: Barbarella

Age: 33
Location: Berkeley, CA
When I’m not riding my bike: I work as a sale rep for Vanderkitten, prepare elaborate meals and sometimes go rock climbing.

Velomuse: Who is your role model in cycling?

Barbarella: Two kinds of people, the first are the people you see out riding their bike year round rain or shine because it’s how they get around and you can tell they love to ride their bike. The second kind of person is the woman racer who has a full time job but is dedicated and talented enough to mix it up with the salaried pro’s. (I’m not talking about myself but people like Mo Bruno-Roy, Wendy Simms, Rachael Lloyd and Ann Knapp)

Follow Barbarella on Twitter: barbhowe
http://www.barbarahowe.com/

*Photo Courtesy: Tim Gasperak/gasperak.com*

Profile: Erika Kopanic

Nickname: Gerbil

Age: 23

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Off the bike activities: Assistant Director of Admissions

Velomuse: Who is your role model in cycling?

Gerbil: Many people have told me that I have great potential in cycling, especially in racing. This advice finally stuck when I met Jacquie Phelan, a champion in women’s cycling. She insired me to challenge myself to the limits.

*At the time of this posting, Erika has completed her first race, in 1st place.*

Profile: Dawn Lovejoy

Name: Dawn Lovejoy

Age: 48

Location: Andover, MA

When I’m not riding/racing: I enjoy thrift shops, craigslist, yoga, hiking and eating…not in any specific kind of order!

Velomuse: Who is your role model in cycling?”

DL: “My role model in cycling is the one and only Jeannie Longo.  Her continued ability to keep winning, to keep racing and keep being competitive at her level and at her age leaves me breathless”

Profile: Kathie Reid

Nickname: Dr. Reid (only because I’m a college prof!)
Age: 43
Location: Fresno, California in Fall, Winter, Spring; Bridgeport, California in Summer
What I do when not riding/working: Freelance writer, primarily covering all things road racing!

Velomuse: “Who is your role model in cycling?”

Dr. Ried: “Now that I’ve been writing about the professional women’s peloton for three years, there are too many great women cyclists to choose just one role model! But, my first cycling role model — who continues to be  an inspiration to me — is my first coach, Kristi Eastin (formerly Kristi Hill), who is a former pro in both road and mountain. Not only is she an amazingly talented hammer on the bike, but incredibly humble, gracious, and generous about sharing her knowledge with other women (and men!) to bring them into the sport.”

Link to website – http://kathiereid.blogspot.com

Profile: Michelle Johnson

Nickname: MJ

Age: 32

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

Off the bike: Yoga. Never enough time for friends & family.

Velomuse: “Who is your role model in cycling?”

MJ: “My cycling girlfriends and competitors are the best role models I could ever have.  It is hard for any rider to balance work, family, friends, training and I honestly feel its harder on the ladies to do it.  They all motivate me to want to be a better athlete but I am always so proud of them when they blow my doors off!”

See more about MJ here: http://www.topladies.wordpress.com

Profile: Rebecca Rusch

Nickname: Reba or The Queen of Pain

Hometown: Ketchum, ID

Age: 41, and faster/fitter than I’ve ever been!

When I’m not riding: part time firefighter/EMT at home

Velomuse: “Who is your role model in cycling?”

Queen of Pain: “My coach Matthew Weatherley-White because he’s a friend, a motivator, a cheerleader, an educator, a training partner and is crucial to my success. He also balances a very full time job, house, wife and training with travel, racing and exploring. He’s an extremely well rounded, elite athlete and is accomplished in rowing, running, cycling and adventure racing. Despite his achievements and ultra busy schedule, his eyes still light up like a kid when he gets on his bike or heads out for an adventure and his passion is contagious.”

Note: This is one in a series of women showcased. Hopefully, we’ll get enough response to share something new everyday.

Recent findings that give pause.

”Women are considered an “indicator species” for bike-friendly cities for several reasons.” and “An emerging body of research suggests that a superior strategy to increase pedal pushing could be had by asking the perennial question: What do women want?”, which sounds an awful lot like the rhetorical question I posed shortly after moving to the ‘Burgh. Of course, it wasn’t the first time then, and I am sure will return many times throughout my lifetime of cycling.

And, Dave Horton seems to have shed some light on the direction of the answers I seek. Some food for thought: “The relevant argument, then as now, is that danger comes not from cycling, but from cars. The compulsion on the cyclist to ‘be seen and be safe’ puts the onus to change on the wrong group. The resonance with the highly controversial contemporary issue of helmets is clear.”

Top Ten Worry-free Riding Tips

also know as Things You Wouldn’t Assume.

1) wear a helmet that fits snug, starting over your eyebrows.

2) mind your riding tools on every ride: allen set, pump, patch kit, tire levers, tube.

3) put rain jacked in large mouth water bottle and use shower cap over helmet when raining

4) wear socks with flat seams, made out of wool or synthetic material. cotton is rotten.

5) eat carbohydrates within 30 minutes of ending your ride.

6) don’t wear underwear under your riding shorts, but use chamois cream (or noxema)  instead.

7) use front (white) and rear (red) lights as early as dusk

8 ) check your tire pressure and chain cleanliness weekly (use one of the old mismatched socks from your laundry machine)

9) always bring water and a banana or apple.

10) tell yourself “keys, id, money”, as you leave the house.

Trials of Life with Ryan Leech

Bike commuting as a lifestyle in Pittsburgh?

It’s happening.