Team Name: Nerac Earth
DOB: Sept 19
Hometown: Manchester
Residence: Tolland
Height: 5-6
Weight: varies
Strengths: varies
Hobbies: seasonal
Race Class: fast old ladies (fast & old being relative)
When did you start racing? 80s
Why did you start racing? 6 knee surgeries = no more ski racing/running/soccer/tennis/triathlons/etc
What do your mates call you? Anything but susie
Name your favorite ride, to date: hmm so many I just cant — top 10: Pikes Peak Ascent, Monarch Ridge Trail, Ironhorse Classic-Durango to Silverton, King of the Rockies Winter Park CO, Morgul Bismarck, Vail Pass, Wolf Creek Pass, anything near or above treeline! Nowadays I just like to ride – every day if possible, anywhere.
Who has influenced you the most in cycling? MTB: Patrick O’Grady and the mad dog team, Road: Lennard and the Zinn ladies
Where do you like to ride? up
What and when was your first win? I didn’t win too many races. The one I am most proud of is the Pike’s Peak Ascent – Race to the Summit (14000+ft elevation) 2 yrs in a row
What’s your #1 strength as a cyclist? Perseverance… and #2 is that I don’t mind hurting a little
How about skills off the bike? Raising a special kid – the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I make a mean blueberry pie
What gets you pumped up before a race? …I try to clear my head and relax
Fondest memory in a race? Seeing/& hearing my daughter ringing the cowbells for me at the Channel 3 MTB race – my first race in 12 years
What types of comedians do you relate to? Mostly the ones I work with
What has been your finest moment in racing? 7th at 1995 MTB World Championships, Kirzcharten Germany, (3rd for USA) women 35+ cross country race
What has been your finest moment on two legs? after watching my newborn daughter struggle and beat the odds to survive, going through the grief/anger/acceptance process of coming to terms with the fact that she would have a lifelong disability, then watching her ride up the chairlift (to the top of the mt) on her own version of skis (a bi-ski which is basically a chair mounted on two skis with someone- my husband – steering) and seeing her flying down the slope yelling “faster faster”… Made me realize that anything is possible.
When you’re not on your bike, what do you like to do? Spend time with my daughter husband at home, cook, eat, grow things, raise animals, be outside
Your perfect day? Every single one
Nerac Earth Cycling 