On a rainy April day, Team Laser Cats headed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for a technical criterium. Elisabeth, playing directrisse sportif, brought her camera to capture Taryn, Sophia, and Michaela’s races.
Taryn lines up in the new team kit for her first criterium
Team Laser Cats is very proud of the fact that our very own Sophia Lee started the Rocky CX project — a cyclocross bike designed to be used by women interested in giving cyclocross a try. Rocky was put together by loving donations from members of our community, including a frame from bona fide pro Arley Kemmerer. A couple weeks ago, Rocky traveled to West Chester CX #1 with Tamia Santiago, a junior road racer with the Cadence Youth Cycling organization who also works with Laser Cat Taylor Kuyk-White at Neighborhood Bike Works. Read on for Tamia’s first cyclocross experience, then hop on over to the Rocky blog for more stories on the bike’s adventures this season, or to chip in a donation! Continue reading
Lindsay Hall races for Laser Cats from her homebase in Central PA. On Sunday, she joined teammates at Crossasaurus Awesome. Read more of her writing at http://trainingonaprayer.blogspot.com/
Awhile ago I (Krista) watched the women’s field at a local cyclocross race, straddling a friend’s cyclocross bike so I could bike from spot to spot along the winding course. At one straight away, in which the women zipped by with speed, an older man who was spectating beside me turned to me, gave me a quick once over and asked, “Hey, how come you’re not in this race?” His big smile pressed down the corners of his eyes with grandfatherly glee and I responded, “Oh, I don’t want to race,” a half-truth that I let hesitantly slip out. I cringed for the ensuing, well-worn conversation that I knew was about to take place.
“C’mon! You scared? You can do it, it’s easy!” he said and chuckled. I let out a little laugh.
“I’ve raced before, I know what it’s like,” I said, a smile gripping my face.
“Well, what’s your excuse then!?” he said, shrugging his shoulders. Continue reading
Last Sunday, I (Taryn) took on the Vermont 50 as my sixth time on a mountain bike. I am new to cycling in general, and have realized that the only way to learn and improve your skills is to spend time in your saddle. A 50 mile mountain bike race is exactly what I needed to figure out the sport and improve my skills, but it wasn’t easy. Continue reading
A couple weekends ago, I (Elisabeth) broke out my pro camera and headed to Trexlertown, Saturday as just a spectator, and Sunday to hop in and race as well as take some photos during the rest of the races. Here’s a little recap, including contributions from Yung TayTay and photos of the Laser Cats in Sunday’s race taken by Willem.
Nittany was the first big race of the region, and the Laser Cats Feline All-Stars were ready to rock. Roz held it down Saturday, crushing for the holeshot on her patriotic single speed. Then our good buddy Rachel Rubino tore through the whole field and took the win! Continue reading
Grinding up the hill to stay ahead of Shauna, hoping for a spray of water from Taylor. Photo: Matty Bee
True story: Cyclocross appealed to me because it was a fall/winter sport. A cold weather sport. A sport where there might be snow. I am a snow baby. I was born in the frigid cold of Nebraska in January. A year ago, I said I refused to race ‘cross in months that didn’t end in “ber” (which when you say it out loud is funny because it sounds like “brr”). I should probably revise that to “no ‘cross before Labor Day.” Sunday was hot, dry, and very dusty. But with a course as fun as Granogue, I’m nothing but happy to be back in the cyclocross game for another season. Continue reading
Taylor takes the start line of the Women’s Open with 9 other tough ladies
I may have knocked out more “firsts” on this day than any day of my life prior. So, as you read on, keep in mind while I may be describing an experience that is common place for bike racers, I am likely engulfing you in details because it was a magnificently (or repulsively) fresh sensation to this Cat 4 everything. Continue reading
Number plate secured, cloudy steamy skies above
I know better.
That’s the refrain for my first foray into the world of Cat 1 XC mountain bike racing. It means a lot of different things, though. Let me explain. Continue reading
Team Laser Cats 