Waiting for 2015 World Championship Team Selection

Hey!

Here is a cool video made by AJCmedia (Alex Jackson Creative media) to recap a bit of racing and wait for the news on who has been selected for the 2015 Canadian Women's Road World Championship team.

Seen in the video: Felt Bicycles, SRAM red components, Quarq power meter, Zipp Speed Weaponry, Speedplay pedals, Fizik shoes/saddle, K-Edge, Arundel bottle cages, JLVelo clothing, Sho-Air International sponsor, GQ-6 Hydration found at GNC stores, Modify Watches, SockGuy socks

Block l: California Winters and Bike Racing

I’ve been back in Canada for a week now and it’s COLD!  The California sun has spoiled me!  Alex has been out biking in shorts and a t-shirt and I’m bundled up in wool socks, shoe covers, leg warmers, jersey + long sleeve jersey + winter bike jacket + neck gater + doubled-up gloves! (All labeled with the team name TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air thanks to JL Velo an eco-friendly sport clothing company).

I can’t complain for long though because I am so enjoying riding my bike, spending time with Alex, crafting, wedding dress shopping for my sister, and packing up property – yes, we are moving!  To spur on our life of adventure and bikes we are moving to Alberta to be farmers for the few weeks that we aren't chasing bike races across the globe.  We have the best employers out in Alberta (thanks mom and dad!) that allow us to work and travel as much as we need to so I can work as a professional cyclist.

The cycling? Yes! It has be fantastic!  I am so thankful that Alex and my parents got to meet a few of the amazing people that I've had the privilege of sharing a meal with during my first block of training and racing down south.  First off, I've joined many new fan clubs for people I love.  One for Mama V (Julia), a former USA mtb pro, a mother of two craaaazy boys, a successful business woman with an enormous helping heart and living powerfully at an age that puts a twinkle in my eye because I know what I’m going to be like at that age too ;)  And another fan club for Chef John for his kind heart that spills over into deliciously cooked meats, chill conversation and his all-in attitude when he approaches a challenge.  This is another big thank you to you two.

"This is a road bike." (photo: VeloImages)

Training camp was awesome.  When spending time with such amazing people and athletes you are bound to soak up something – especially when you are as curious as me!

TTT practice on our FELT bikes (photo: Nick Kova)

team cheer - #powerpose

Valley of the Sun was our first race weekend together as a team, and I have to say that I LOVE RACING AS A TEAM!  The tactics are so fun and I love being a part of something that is bigger than me alone.  I was so excited to race my amazing FELT TTbike with the cool sound effects made by the ZIPP disc wheel (I’m doing things I only dreamed of before).  Unluckily, I got a flat at the turn-around and waved to every person, car, and cactus that I saw until someone picked me up 6km later.  Ugh, so I became nobody’s threat to their GC standing but I did become a grrrrREAT teammate!  (heehee)  My job for the following road race and crit was to watch and bridge and chase and listen to my teammates for what they needed me to do.  It was great fun!  We got to practice lead-outs and I got to feel what it is like to lay it all down 3 laps to go to make it easier for the next teammate to lead out our sprinter for the win (and we did win)!

Two weeks later a small portion of our team (4 athletes) drove up to Chico for a 4 event stagerace.  This was fun because we were all fairly new to pro racing and were forced to figure it out together.  It opened up a few new opportunities and I was able to take two stage wins for the team!  At the first stage, I was not ‘one to watch’ but when the pack opened in front of me on the climb 2km to go I went with all I had in a solo break that just barely kept off the masses for the finish line.  My teammate Andrea had suggested I channel energy from my last race when I got a flat at VOS TT to push hard this weekend which was really helpful to find focus for this final effort on the front.  Every race that weekend TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air had at least one person on the podium and in the end we took home all the jerseys: Yellow – GC winner, White – U23 winner, Green – points/sprint winner. After two stage wins and some hidden sprint points collected during the crit I found myself in the green jersey!  I love that cycling is dependent on having a good team – the whole team earned those jerseys, not just the person wearing them in pictures.

It’s been fantastic working with the TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air directors Mari and Nicola, my bestie team mechanic James, all of our hosts that housed us for training camp and races, and I’m honored to get to work with my favorite Canadian athlete Alison Testroete on my training program.

Race line-up for the Spring:
San Dimas Stage Race - March 27-29

Redlands Bicycle Classic - April 8-12

Subaru Sea Otter Classic - April 16-19

Tour of the Gila - April 29-May 3

Amgen Tour of California - May 8-10, 15

P.S. One of my favorite memories of of California is from building a box maze for the boys in our host house.

Oh yeah, two levels, multiple dead ends and only one way out!

Introducing ALISON JACKSON, professional cyclist

Follow @teamtwenty16 on Instagram

For me, 2015 brought with it TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air a UCI pro cycling team based out of California.  Based on some conversations after bike racing in 2014, I was offered a spot on Team TWENTY16 p/b Sho-Air.  I am excited to be working with a fantastic team of directors Nicola, Mari, Julia and Kristin.  These women are both powerful and beautiful with so much experience to offer. 

Other fantastic people that we get to work with are our sponsors Kim and Scott Tedro with Sho-Air trade show and event transportation, Felt Bicycles (#therealjimfelt), SRAM #leapthefrog, ZIPP on speedy wheels, QUARQ for da power, JL Velo for team clothing, Violich Farms (my homestay and Californian almonds), k-Edge, Fiizik, GQ:6, Speedplay, Pain Pathways magazine, Clif Bar, Catlike Helmets, Ride Biker Alliance, Thule, Oakley, Arundel, dznuts, ec3d compression (Canadian company!!!), Kreitler Rollers, Arctic Heat, Modify Watches, Bubbled Wall, Pedros (keeping my bike clean), Sock Guy, City Cycle, George’s Cycle & Fitness, and Velo Images.

I look forward to the coming days spent with teammates because they have so much experience and know how that I want to learn.  My goal is to be a sponge!!

Training on the best equipment: Felt Bicycles, Fizik, Zipp, SRAM, Speedplay, Arundel

Teammates!!!!

Pit stops = Shot Block picnics

Thank you also to Bruce from Wentings Cycle and my first ever bike team Phoenix Velo for always encouraging me and supporting me to keep biking!

I am happy to represent my family everywhere I go as they are my biggest supporters of life.  My cutest husband Alex who works hard to have me follow my dreams while meshing them with his own.  My biggest fan: Mom (who comes to more races than anyone), and Dad who I know is so proud of me.  My sister who makes family time better by scheduling my training time around family time.  My bro and his new wife who share in my excitement. My second parents and brother who love that I bike and would do anything to help me succeed.  I love you all!

I’ll keep the blog updated but it’s going to be all about bikes now!  Do I need a new nickname or will triactionjackson still fit?  Only time will tell.