Merry Christmas

Just wanted to give everyone out there my love on this Christmas Holiday. Hope everyone has a wonderful time with their families, and if you can't be with them enjoy the people around you! God Bless!

Johnson City Cross Race

My first cross race on my new Lynskey bike was no disappointment. I am still racing Cat 4 because I haven't raced cross enought to Cat up, but I wanted to go race to represent Lynskey,who was sponsoring the race, and to represent the women's team. 

I went up to Johnson City early in the morning with a gallons worth of coffee. This is my third year racing this series and I have never had a complaint. They're courses are always fun and challenging, and all my ETSU boys make sure to come out and yell stupid things at me. Actually I think one of them ran up a hill while I was racing screaming in my ear. 

Anyways, we lined up on the start line laughing and talking, which is always my favorite way of starting a race, and off we go! The bike handled amazing. The last two years of racing I was never able to keep up because of my mtn bike, and now I was hitting the brakes so that I could talk to the women during this race. I rode the first couple of laps conservativly always seeming to get away from the group during the technical sections, but I did not want to create a huge gap and ride by myself the rest of the race, so I continued to ride conservativly. The last lap I stood up and went. The bike handled magically as I sprinted through the grass and smoothly went into the switchbacks. Winning the race was exciting, but the highlight of the race was more about hanging out with the Lynskey Crew yelling at people as they ran up a hill and seeing the ETSU boys. 

A little side note I recieved the funniest swag ever. A $250 certificate for laser hair removal. I'm pretty sure I am going to frame this prize.

Lynskey Cooper CX

Woohoo!!!
I have been waiting years to build up the perfect cross bike! My theory is instead of having a bike that can only do one thing, why not have a bike that can EVERYTHING, and let me tell you this bike does everything. I have taken it down the Black mtn, Long Branch, Big Rock, and many more trails. These trails aren't easy trails, but I get in the drops and glide (well bop around). Of course it's a cross bike so it will never feel like a plush mountain bike but it is such a strong frame and wheels that I can have the confidence to take it down trails. Also it handles so well with the frame slightly flexing on bumps and corning so well that I can easily let go of the brakes.
As for it being a road bike, it is AMAZING. I have never felt comfortable letting go of the brakes while descending down a mountain in my drops, but with this bike I can lean over in corners so well I forget what other bikes felt like. 
And as for using the bike as an actual cross bike, I couldn't have asked for anything more. My first race I had to slow down in the technical sections so that I didn't create too big of a gap and ride alone. I felt proud to win my first cross race on my cross bike. There are I-9 Ego road wheels on my bike and the 0 resistance is so noticeable.
This bike means a lot to me. I handpicked every little detail of it to perform the way I want it to but also to symbolize my home. When thinking about graduate school and years ahead I am not sure where I will be. The Blue Ridge mtns, Pisgah, and the Tennessee Valley hold a special place in my heart, they are my home and the place I think as the most peaceful area in the world. 
The frame the Lynskey Cooper CX is all hand-built in my hometown Chattanooga, TN. I know the builders, the designers, and the sellers. They are all amazing people who will do anything for their customers, trust me I call them a lot. They engraved the image of the Blue Ridge Mountain on my top tube with the lyrics " Country Roads Take Me Home", from John Denver's song which beautifully depicts this beautiful place. I have made both of my bikes to be Lynskeys and I have never felt more happy and fast on a bike before. They have many amazing frames and like my mountain bike make custom bikes to fit every rider. Lynskeyperformance.com you can see all their beautiful frames. Ti is an incredible metal and the life time warranty is awesome! I can believe that I will have these frames for as long as I ride. The seat post is also made by Lynskey. When I picked the seat post up I couldn't believe how light it was. It performs just like the frame, forgiving and extremely comfortable. I look forward to getting the same seat post for my mountain bike. This is something new for Lynskey but they have already mastered it.

View from Pilot Rock, Pisgah

The engraving on my frame

The wheels are Industry Nine Ego Wheels. These are all machined and hand built in Asheville, NC. The  guys who work at the factory have to be some of my favorite people. They are always smiling and enjoy what they do. I have so much fun every time I go to visit them. Just like at the Lynskey Factory they will do anything for their customers to make sure that their product is perfect. I have wheels on my mountain bike also. They are beautiful and pink. The wheels are beautiful but they are also the most incredible wheels on the market. The road wheels have 0 resistance and are ridiculously fast. For more information about the wheels go to http://industrynine.net/ 

The headset is also made in Asheville, NC. It is a Cane Creek 110. With their awesome warranty and great product I couldn't have thought of anything different. They are the company that started the threadless headset and they have continued to be the leader in headsets. They have followed in the anodizing trend which makes me happy because I love color coordinating everything. You can learn more about their headsets and other products from http://www.canecreek.com/ .

The other parts of the bike:

Eastern CX fork

Jagwire blue housing

Selle Italia Seat

Full Ultegra Shimano

Time Pedals

I am proud to be able to be sponsored and represent my three component sponsors. Lynskey, Industry Nine, and Cane Creek, and would like to thank them once again for all of their help. I consider these companies to be some of the top and best in the cycling business. I would also like to extend my gratitude towards one of my biggest supporter my Dad, thank you for supporting me every step of the way. I look forward everyday to getting on my bikes and end the day with nothing but a smile. Thank You! 

Brevard College the new D2 National Champions

Thats right! We went we kicked butt and got to ride some amazing trails. Held in Lake Tahoe, California at the NorthStar Resort. It was like a dream. We stayed in a multi million dollar home and were treated like royalty. Out of the 20+ person team 8 men went and 4 women from Brevard. Two weeks before we had one Conference Omnium, so we headed west with high spirits. The SECCC ( south eastern collegiate cycling conference) has always been a dominating conference at nationals. DIRTY DIRTY!

Well the day we got there we all put our feet up watched mtn bike movies and I plopped down on the bed exhausted from the day of traveling, aka I freak out super bad in planes especially when we land crooked or when we barely miss being hit by another plane.

The girls on the top of the Downhill course

One of two log rides

The Team walking the DH course

The next day was meant for walking the down hill course and pre ride the XC course. Well the girls attempted to ride the XC course to only find the course was not taped right, so we spent two hours riding around in circles. I didn't care too much, I mean we were in freaking CALIFORNIA. So sweet Chris Herndon walked the whole gravity team up the DH course. Let me tell you something that ain't no small downhill, I think it took us 3 hours to walk up and down the course. I was getting pretty tired by then, but we still needed to pre ride XC, the race was at an awesome 8 o'clock the next day. So at 4 oclock the course was ready to go. Me and Sarah rode the course very very slow. I was so excited after riding the trail. My theory was it was going to be fun on a hardtail. Man was I wrong.
The next morning girls from all across the country lined up to race their hearts out or at least til they puked. I got called up first as a UNCA student, oops, so when Julia got called up we switched places. I was laughing too hard about that and because I just laugh a lot that I almost missed the gun shot. So the 3 laps, which we learned the night before that it was getting changed from 2 to 3, were not as magical as I had expected. Altitude sucks! It's all right though I came in in 10th place, which was my goal.
The rest of the day consisted of resting and riding the LONG downhill course. I could only ride it once. Being on a hardtail, I was hurting. The trail was super rocky but I made it down unhurt but extremely tired.

View from the lift to the Down Hill course

The next day we woke up early in the morning to race short track. For being such a short painful race, I always seem to do the best in this race. We lined up on the course they had made that same morning and got ready to race. I cannot for the life of me remember the song they were playing, but I do remember dancing with Julia laughing 10 seconds before the gun went off, but sure enough BANG and we where off. OUCH! I was able to fight my way to the top on the long gravel climb and keep my 8th place for the 30 minutes. It was by far my best race and by far the one I wanted to puke the most on. We finished just to realize it was time for 4X. 

From the top of the Down Hill course

The 4X course was long and rutted, not ideal for a tired XC racer on a hardtail. I only practiced a few time because it took 20 minutes of walking up thorns to get to the top. We lined up to qualify, and I rode it conservatively hoping to safe some energy for the actual race. That climb back up to the top was the worst though, and thanks to Chris Herndon for taking my bike up. I just didn't have it in me to race this race so I was  out the first head to head. No problem for me this wasn't my cup of tea. Congratulations to Johanne Tuttle, my teammate and good friend, for winning the D2 women's race. 

The team while waiting for 4X qualifying results

The banquet that night was a blur. I was exhausted, but I knew when I heard how the teams where matching up that we were going to take home the national jersey. No one wanted to admit it for the fear of talking to soon, but I was celebrating!
The next day was our last race, down hill. Oh the down- hill. We didn't do one run oh no we did two. We have to qualify first. My poor little XC race hardtail was not enjoying this much but it did the best it could. My race run I was just trying to hold on. My body and mind was tired, I had put all my heart into the two races I needed to, so I was just too exhausted to peddle. Johanne once again dominated and got 2nd.
I would like to take this time to congratulate all of the boys and girls on the team. Without anyone of these people we would not have been able to do any of this. Also Thad Walker thank you for being our coach.
So it was time for the awards. Oh I was just about to jump out of my shoes with excitement. Johanne got 1rst for D2 women's omnium with Julia Tellman right beside her in 2nd plave. Tristan Cowie also had a nice place on the D2 podium, but here was the moment of truth. They called up Warren Wilson (my old school) then Union, then drum roll please (I guess the title already gave it away) "Ladies and Gentlemen your new D2 National Champions BREVARD COLLEGE!" It was amazing to stand up there with my team all decked out in national jerseys.
The next day it dumped snow, but we were able to go see Lake Tahoe. It was beautiful! We made ourselves entertained by skipping rocks and playing with crabs.
Side Note: There are hardly any pictures of racing because during every race I was either resting and eating or racing.

Congratulations all and thank you everyone for your support!!!!

Its time to get Dirty Dirty 2009

Ladies and Gentleman the Dirty Dirty South East Collegiate Cycling season has officially started. 

My first race, the SECCC second race of the season, was a ETSU! My new team Brevard College traveled up there at 5 am in the morning on Saturday with 4 races in our future. Our first race was short track, and it was by far the sloppiest, muddiest, most fun, most hurtful, and so much more combined. The ETSU boys decided to twist up the track a little with a rock garden, a double, and a "log" jump. Honestly they didn't need to do any of this to make the race epic because it had already rained making it nearly impossible to stay up right. As we lined up to race I already knew I was in for a treat, my shoes wouldn't even clip in as they said go. With my shoes not clipping in I ended up at the end of the pack, but I kept making my way past people, but guess who didn't put mud tires on her bike! ME!!!!! Every time I past a bunch of people, I would hit the mud section and slide out. I'm pretty sure there was a time where the bike slid out so much that i found myself running and realizing the bike was behind me. Well lets say it this race was a good way to learn a lesson about tires.

Right after Short Track it was time to practice downhill. Someone who wasn't racing had let me borrow his Specialized Epic to race the Downhill races on. Apprehensively I put my pedals on his bike and rode up to the top of the downhill. I immediately felt a difference, I couldn't stay on the bike. I found myself wanting to walk the rest of the course because I just couldn't control the bike. So I quickly rode back to the tent threw my pedals back on my Lynksey and went back to practice. One word to describe my feelings "relief". I was able to clear everything 3X more than I could with the full suspension. The thing about my Lynskey that it is not just beautiful it's also an amazing bike, don't let the hard tail fool ya. I can control where the bike goes by a slight movement of my hips. It responds exactly to what I want it to do. I had many people come up to me and ask me why on earth I would pick a hard tail to ride downhill on, my answer always is because suspension can only go so far if you can't handle the bike. So here I was happily racing downhill on my tiny pink hardtail clearing everything I couldn't ride with a full suspension. I want to be able to rely on my bike to the point that I forget about the bike and just float down trails and I am able to do that on mine.

So now comes Dual Slalom, this course is what the ETSU boys are known for. They completely switched up the course this year. It consisted of a drop unto some twisty burms then to a flat section onto more burms then a couple of jumps. Well I had a lot of time to practice this course and felt super comfortable on it. In the qualifying run I got 5th which I was super excited about. Having such a small responsive bike really helped me in the tight burms. Well then it just  downpoured in the men's runs. The boys were flying everywhere they couldn't stand up to save their lives. The flat section became a mud fest, I'm pretty sure everyone ended up on their butt at one point. Well now it was my turn and of course I get grouped up with last years D1 slalom national champion. I couldn't help but laugh  as I tried to stumble in my pedals. They let us out of the gates and we were off, well sort of. As soon as I got to the flat section I found myself sliding on my butt bike still in hand. I couldn't even stand up to run I just kept falling. so I literally scooted on my butt down the course. The next run once again I ended up on my back sliding down the flat section unable to get back up. All of a sudden I felt a hit in my back, and for that split second I thought another rider had hit me, but Ohman and Geofafafa Flyer had run out on the course mud slided into me and began wrestling me down even more. Oh what a way to start of the season!! I don't think I have ever heard of a mud fight in the middle of a slalom race. Nothing surprises me in the Dirty Dirty South. 

So early the next day it was time for XC. We started off all knowing we were due for another mud fest. Well I felt very strong but surprised after so much racing the day before. I was able to keep strong the whole race. I think I adapted because I was even able to keep speed while I slid down the hills on my butt. I ended up in 6th overall and 4th in D2 not bad considering I was exhausted. Lesson learned get mud tires!!!

A special shout out to the Brevard Team who kicked major butt this weekend!!!

ORAMM!!!!!!!

Off Road Assualt on Mt Mitchell 

63 miles of gravel road and singletrack+ 11,000 ft of climbing= 8 hours of AWESOMENESS

Funny that I say that huh? I fully expected myself to be writing this blog saying how much I mentally couldn't handle it, how I crashed and hit a wall so many times that I can't count, blah blah blah blah. To be perfectly honest it was 8 hours of being in the woods, and not just the woods, the pristine back woods of NC. The woods that I have completely fallen in love with these past 2 years, the woods I moved up here for, and let me tell you something 8 hours isn't enough sometimes. I'm not here to brag about my back yard, though, or am I? 

I thought I would start off with a description of the course. All 350 riders were started off in the small town of Old Fort, where we were escorted up the rode for 2 miles to be let loose on another couple of miles of rode. We then headed up old 70, a 4 mile gravel/paved climb. I was told to race up this and recover the rest of the race. The reason for that is there are like 14 tight technical switchbacks going up the Kitsuma trail. Well even though I pushed myself up the hill I was still behind a bunch of walkers, it ok though I figured if I got on my bike people would move over. So then there is the downhilll which even though I have ridden uncountable times is still super technical and a completely different trail once 350 people are on it. After the downhill with my hand shaking from going downhill I get to the first rest stop, and boy did I eat!!! 

The next 10 miles consisted off more tight switchbacks, steep gravel road, and awesome singletrack ( up hill of course). I was feeling great on the up hills but really shaky on the descents, but I stayed postitive and kept going. After an hour or two (I'm not really sure I refused to bring a watch with me) I made it to the next rest stop. I found out here that I can not swallow bars filled with nuts, but I loved them bananas, which I swear kept me from bonking. SOOO now it was time for Curtis Creek 9 miles of pure up hill!!! I was told that this would be the time where I could just hit a wall and want to quit. Quite  opposite though. I was having the time of my life. Thanks to being well fed and hydrated I was able to spin up the 9 miles with ease and a smile on my face. I would pass people who were cramping and just looked like they wanted to roll over, when they asked me why I was so happy I just smiled said if I even for a minute lost my smile, well I'd look like them. And hey The awesome play list on my Ipod kept playing Peter Frampton, how can you not smile?

We got to the next rest stop I grabbed some food and quickly kept going soon to learn there was a 7 ish mile up hill ahead. OH MAN!!! If I had to say there was a moment of uncertainty  it was during this climb. I had thought that Curtis Creek was the last climb til the downhill so I had spent a lot of energy, but OH WELL I kept a huge smile on my face dug my head down turned my music up and spun my legs. I kept reminding myself that just like Curtis this will be over. And soon enough I saw on the horizon line a tent. FOOOD!!!! It's funny how good food tastes when you've climbed 7 miles to get to it.

Now It is time for the 7 mile downhill HEARTBREAK!!! oh heartbreak . This is no easy downhill, it's a 45 min downhill with off camber roots and rocks, baby heads, and not too mention a freaking steep trail. I had done this trail before but man when your body hurts and your getting beating around by a bunch of small rocks and roots, well lets say there's nothing like it. I was so tired, but still happy, so every time I saw the amazing overlooks or crawled my way down the super steep switchbacks I would let out a WWEEEEE or a WOOOHOOO, but I did have to stop every couple of minutes to shake my hands and wrists because they were so beaten up. When I reached the last rest stop I learned that my OOHHs and AAHHHs weren't just heard from me. 

So back up a gravel road to Kitsuma. With a smile on my face I made my way up the road, my legs were defiantly getting tired but I didn't stop. I made a lot of Kitsuma switchbacks and held on tight on the descent. A guy actually from Chatt caught up to me at the bottom and with laughs and  tired legs we excitedly rode down the road to the finish line. 

What a wonderful feeling to cross that finish line knowing that I had successfully held a smile on my face oh and also finished such an epic race. I ended with a 6th place finish in the women class, and 143 place overall.

So what can I say about this race? UMMM how much longer til next year? 

The suggestions I can give you though is this race is not about physical ability but mental ability. I saw amazing riders fall apart. I refused to let myself even question if I could do this race and I never hit a wall. Eating is also incredibly important. As soon as I felt my body shutting down I would pop in a gu and eat some and I was able to re amp. Bananas are amazing, they are easy to digest and help with cramping. Ipods, which are used in this race, helped me immensely when it came to keeping my mind of the freaking gravel road! I had picked a greta playlist so I knew I wouldn't have to worry about what song I want to hear. So to put this all together Eat, Drink, and Smile. Smiling is a lot easier that bonking.  

The last 7 months

Yes I am lazy. So sorry to all the dear readers of my life, but now I will try to bring you back to speed on my life. 

Well after collegiate season I decided to take a mental break and have some fun on my bike. Not that racing is not fun by any means, but I needed to go outside and play in the woods without worrying about how many hours I clock in, well I caught the Pisgah bug. I fell in love with the idea of 6 hour rides in the most beautiful trails in the country. Over the past couple of months, I have learned not only to pack for long rides (one water bottle is NOT enough) but learned to read maps and know trail names. It is a magical place in my eyes and the closest to heaven as you can get. There is nothing better than looking out on the Blue Ridge Mountains knowing your 3 hours either  way from the car and the only way back is to get back on the bike and make sure you pick the best lines. Some favorite trails anything in Turkey 

Penn, Mills River, Fish Hatchery, and of course Laurel to Pilot. 

As for racing things have been alright. I had a choice this year: race this summer and spend my money on long distance travels to CO  NY and VT or go back "home" to Jamaica. I automatically picked Jamaica without any kind of hesitation. It was my third time going to Jamaica and the people who I have met are family to me. Ms Kitty, for example, is a 61 one year old women who has 17 children living in her 2 bedroom tin house, and these children are not her own. She has taken these children in because they do not have parents. Her daily life consists of waking up earlier than 5 to go into the bush to cut down trees 3 1/2 miles away and drags them back to her house, which she is building a new home herself. She gets back in time to give the 17 children the only food she has, then takes care of them all day, sleeps for 2 hours and starts all over again. Now I know racing is tough and takes a lot of courage and stamina, but nothing compares to the life time of work that is never given a award and hardly an applause. Ms. Kitty will be forever my hero. The love she gives to every child is breath taking. There has never been a race that I have done where in the hardest moments I haven't looked back at the tireless lifetime of work from one woman who will forever have a place in dozens of children, and by that time I forget my pain put a smile on my face and continue to pedal my bike. For anyone who wonders why I make a point to smile no matter what, it is the reflection of Ms. Kitty and the wonderful people who taught me how to live life with the purest happiness possible. In return for the work Ms. Kitty has done I promised to help send her money for her house. Being a barely employed college student this is a hard task. If anyone can help with this please email me at alexisdecosimo@gmail.com, you will get receipts. I wish I could give you the opportunity to meet this "Super Woman" but all I can give you is my smile that reflects the happiness she showed me.

Ms Kitty and me in her kitchen

Carter and me at the orphanage Marri Gold. He had been found on the side of the road and brought here a couple of days before we got there. He refused to make any sound until the last day he started making sounds, it was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.

Ferry from the top of Ms. Kitty's unfinished house

Back to racing! I did my first 6 hour solo race coming in with a happy third. It was a great race even though I must admit 5 laps of Tsali is not ideal. I just finished watching 24 solo, which follows Chris Eatough to his goal of being 7 time 24 hour solo world champion. Looks incredibly physically and mentally tough, but it is something I will consider for the future. As for now my goals this summer may go two different ways, mostly depending on my financial situation. As for now I am looking to finish the SERC races and US cups. Some very close to here and the others in VT and NY, with the hopes of also the national championship in CO. If I am unable to do this I may do the longer races ORAMM ( 64 miles of Pisgah) and the 4 day stage race in Pisgah. My goals are now set on collegiate, who I will be racing for Brevard College this fall. 

Prestige Asheville Woman's Cycling, is my new team. They are the sweetest group of women ever and I am proud to be part of the team. visit ashevillewomenscycling.com. 

Chan and I headed to CO before I went to Jamaica. It was a wonderful trip! We had gone to Boulder so that I could check out the Graduate school, Naropa, for Art Therapy. We had a wonderful trip, special  shout out to Dorothy, my highschool friend, who housed us for a whole week. You know for 44 hours in the car we got along perfectly, thanks XM radio for your wonderful Clue Collar Comedy Radio. I got to check out the wonderful town of Boulder surrounding trails and Chan got to really check out some of the rivers. Check out his blog post on http://www.teampyranha.com/author/chan-jones/ . Even though I did enjoy the CO mtns and trails it was the best feeling getting lost in Pisgah when I got back. Looking back on the trip I really got to enjoy time with Chan, which is so rare since he's in school, got to see an old friend, and got to check out a glimpse of my close future, hopefully. Also our good friend Geofafa Flier, got to come see us while he is interning in Colorado Springs. 

Chan and me in downtown Boulder

Chan and me at New Belgium Brewery

Chan and friends scouting the first rapid on Upper South Boulder

Me and Dorothy watching the kayaker

Chan's car in Missouri loaded down with toys

Me and Chan on one of the trails North of Boulder

Chan 

Geoff

and Me at fix bike park