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A Reflection on Gila by Amy Charity (Vanderkitten)

May 8, 2013 by 1 Comment
A Reflection on Gila by Amy Charity (Vanderkitten)

A Reflection on Gila by Amy Charity (Vanderkitten)

 

Amy Charity

Vanderkitten Racing

May 6, 2013

A Reflection on Gila

Another attack.  I can barely see it.  It must be a mile in front of me.  Perhaps I have one more gear.  I tap my right shifter– nothing.  I need water.  When is the last time I had a sip of water?  I’m sure it’s been over an hour.  I reach down to my bottle.  I know it’s empty as I lift it, but I try anyway, in vain.  I’m on the wheel of the Columbian National Champion.  Just stay on her wheel, just stay on her wheel, I tell myself.  She takes a sip of water, and a few drops splash back to me.  I open my mouth to see if I can catch just one drop, thinking it might buy me 30 seconds of survival.   I can’t believe how hot it is, wasn’t I just in the snow at home in Steamboat?  My legs are screaming at me, I think I’m having an out of body experience… [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Tour of Gila, Vanderkitten-Focus Tagged With:

Why I ride by Emily Kachorek (Vanderkitten)

April 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
(C) Image by Jason Perry

(C) Image by Jason Perry

Why I ride-

I ride because I was born an athlete and will always be an athlete.

I ride because the desire to push my body is hardwired in.

Because I am addicted to the endorphins and adrenaline.

I ride because no matter where in the world I go I will always have a family and a community that I feel a part of.

I ride because it takes me new places.

I ride because it challenges me to ride further, faster, smoother, safer, smarter.

I fear failure, and to some degree success. It allows me to explore and test my fears.

I ride because of the bonds I have built with teammates and friends. We share pain, success, failure, disappointment, laughter and life.

I ride because the second my legs start turning circles I become a happier person.

I ride because I love to be outside. To feel the wind on my face and listen to the birds and bugs.

I ride because it allows me to take out my aggression and anger.

I ride because it stabilizes my life and creates balance.

I ride because going downhill at 40mph is fun.

I ride because I get to eat more pastry and crave more salad.

I ride because I can’t cry and pedal and the same time.

I ride because it makes my mind and body strong.

I ride because I can; because it is a constant reminder of the value of health.

I ride because it allows me to play with the boys.

I ride because no matter how bad my day, pedaling puts my mind at easy and a smile on my face.

I ride because I can go alone.

Because even though I have ridden the route a 1000 times, I never know what is around the next bend.

 

Thanks for reading :) Emily

Filed Under: Cycling Women, News, Vanderkitten-Focus Tagged With:

Energiewacht Tour by Ruth Winder (Vanderkitten)

April 14, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Energiewacht Tour

Energiewacht Tour

Energiewacht Tour

By Ruth Winder (Vanderkitten)

The Energiewacht Tour is 5 days long with 6 stages. The racing is flat, windy, and hard. The last stage of Energiewacht Tour was 7 laps around a circuit for a total of 100k. The race started out quick with multiple attacks going. My teammates and I were throwing attacks out there as well as following moves. The first and second lap we were trying hard for a break, but it wasn’t until the third lap through that I got a gap. There was a lull just before a roundabout, and that’s where I jumped, getting a gap going around the turns that followed.

I was solo and gaining time, so I settled into a good pace. With 50k remaining in the race, I was sure either I’d get caught soon enough, or a group would come up to me. Luckily it was the latter. 7 girls came across and we quickly got a 2-minute gap. [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Vanderkitten-Focus Tagged With:

Tour of Flanders by Emily Kachorek (Vanderkitten)

April 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Tour of Flanders by Emily Kachorek (Vanderkitten)

Tour of Flanders by Emily Kachorek (Vanderkitten)

Tour of Flanders

by Emily Kachorek (Vanderkitten)

 

Tour of Flanders is considered one of the toughest races of the year. Brutal weather, famous climbs including the Kwaremont and the Patterberg, relentless cobbles, and a large field filled with the fastest women in the world. This year was the 100th anniversary for the men and held the promise of being the biggest party of the year for the Belgian fans.  I was overjoyed when I got the invitation from USA Cycling.

 

Flanders was a race with a lot of firsts for me: my first World Cup, first famous spring classic, first time racing on cobbles, and first race in a field larger than 150. In the days and weeks leading up to race day I was a bundle of mixed emotions. I was thrilled and honored to get to the start of the race. As a California girl addicted to sunshine, I was nervous about the weather conditions.  Rumor has it that this is the coldest Belgian spring since the ‘50s and multiple races had been canceled due to snow. Without a full season of racing in my legs, I had been training extra hard in preparation and found extra motivation to ride longer and harder in the ubiquitous Central Valley winds. Because bike racing is riddled with uncontrollable variables, my goals focused on that which I could control: help my teammates as much as possible, never give up, and remember to enjoy the experience.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: Cycling Women, News, Vanderkitten-Focus Tagged With: ,

Vanderkitten from El Salvador

March 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment

image (1)

Vanderkitten from El Salvador. The team yesterday completed 9 days of racing including the 7 Stage UCI 2.1 Vuelta El Salvador, the UCI 1.1 GP Orient and UCI 1.1 events GP Grand St Bernard and GP El Salvador.

 

Ruth Winder and Liza Rachetto scored top tens and UCI points for Vanderkitten on a total of 5 occasions, with Kate Chilcott and Jessica Cutler also recording multiple top ten finishes. Not bad for an event that included over 28000ft of climbing during the stage race!

Filed Under: News, Vanderkitten-Focus Tagged With: ,

Vanderkitten Athletics Press Release

December 18, 2012 by 1 Comment

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Berkeley, California

 

Vanderkitten Athletics will enter year 7 of sponsoring an elite Women’s Cycling team in the 2013 season, competing in NRC and NCC events as well as select UCI events. Vanderkitten will comprise 12 athletes from USA, New Zealand and Canada racing across the USA and Internationally.

The face of Ophelia Vanderkitten, representing “Women Who Kick Ass” has adorned the athletic and casual wear of dancers, runners, cyclists and motorsport athletes across the globe for the better part of a decade.

In 2013 Vanderkitten will ride ultra premium bikes from Italian manufacturer Wilier Triestina including the Zero.7, Zero.9 and Twin Blade.

 

Introducing the 12 athletes who will comprise the 2013 Vanderkitten Women’s Cycling Team

 

From Exergy Twenty12:

Rhae Shaw (Canada) 2012 Canadian Criterium Champion, 2011 7th UCI Road World Championships TT, 1st – Tour de Bretagne Feminin International (UCI 2.2), Stage 2 TT

 

1st – Tour de Bretagne Feminin International (UCI 2.2), Stage 3 RR 1st – Tour du Limousin Feminin (UCI 2.2), Stage 2 TT

 

From Bike NZ National Team:

Sophie Williamson (NZL) 20x National Junior Road and Track Champion. 1st Iron Hill Criterium USA Crits Series 1st NSWGP Overall

 

From Primal MapMyRide:

Liza Rachetto (Idaho) 2012 Giro Donne and  Hawaii Ironman Finisher

Emily Kachorek (California) 2nd Tulsa Tough Stage 2, 2012

Jessica Cutler (Washington) 3rd GC 2012 Sea Otter Classic

 

Returning Vanderkitten:

Jennifer Reither (California, USA) 2008 USACycling Madison Champion, 2012 1st MoPro Dutchtown Classic

Starla Teddergreen (USA) 2nd 2011 Sacramento GP

Kate Chilcott (NZL) 6th GP Gatineau UCI 1.2, 2012 UCI Road World Championships New Zealand National Team Representative

Ruth Winder (California) Multi Time USA Cycling Junior National Champion Road and Track, 2012 1st Somerville GP, 1st Cherry Pie Criterium

 

New Recruits

Jeannie Kuhajek (NZL) 1st PSIMET Fox River Grove Criterium

Elle Anderson (California) 1st Burlingame Criterium, 2nd Giro d San Francisco

Amy Charity (Colorado) 1st Steamboat Springs Stage Race

 

Team Founder: Dave Verrecchia

Directors: Jono Coulter, Katheryn Curi Mattis

Community Coordinator: Courtney Dimpel

 

Sophie Williamson and Kate Chilcott will kick off the Vanderkitten year at the Calder Stewart Bike NZ Elite Road National Championships in Christchurch, NZ on 12th January.

The first team event will be GP San Miguel 27th February, followed by Vuelta Ciclista a El Salvador before Vanderkitten tackles the first NRC race of the year, Redlands Cycling Classic in California.

 

Partners:

Vanderkitten

Wilier Triestina

Psimet Wheels

Pactimo

Kask Helmets

Vittoria Shoes

Smith Optics

DeFeet

MicroShift

TRP Brakes

Selle SMP

OSMO

Sport Beans by Jelly belly

RockTape

Enzos Chamois Cream

FSA

Lizard Skins

Yiftee

Canary Foundation

Mikes Bikes

 

Founder of Vanderkitten Dave Verrecchia says “For a sport that is over 100 years old, the landscape of Professional Cycling has changed considerably in the 7 years that Vanderkitten has been involved. Vanderkitten was founded as a fashion forward apparel brand, and has evolved into a sustainable model for women’s sports. We are proud that any casual observer who witnessed a downtown criterium in 2007 and cheered for Vanderkitten can come back to the same race 7 years later and still cheer for Vanderkitten. We are the peoples team, for true believers in Women Who Kick Ass”.

 

Team Director Jono Coulter: “I am very proud to be associated with every Vanderkitten athlete on the 2013 roster. These women prove that everyday women can achieve extraordinary things, and are fine representatives of sport in the community. Very excited for a successful US and International program in 2013″.

 

www.vanderkittenracing.com

Filed Under: Cycling Women, News, Vanderkitten-Focus Tagged With: , ,