Author: rwelbes
Illinois Women Cyclists
Over here at Pretty Fast, I’ve been working hard with a group of other Illinois women with the same intentions- get more women on bikes. We’ve joined together to create Illinois Women Cyclists as a collaboration and collection of information to make our efforts more successful. Here’s the official press release and event details for [...]
Womens Cycling Meet & Greet 2012
Meet up with other female riders and racers in a friendly, low-key environment. Great for seasoned cyclists as well as newbies — come with questions or just come ready to meet new friends, say hi to old ones and be a part of Chicago’s growing female cycling community. We’ll be working with local photographer Liz [...]
A dirtbaggin’ lady takes to the road
In my short (2+ year ) racing career, I’ve done primarily dirty and muddy races. I had been a little hesitant to take on a road race because, quite honestly, they didn’t sound all that fun to me. I come from the world of cyclocross and mountain bikes. In the past 2 years, I’ve identified [...]
Ladies Dirt Days #2
For the past couple years Half Acre Cycling and Julia Daher (Johnny Sprockets) have collectively planned a series of days at local trails for women to meet up and go on friendly, non-competitive group mountain bike rides. This year we are happy to announce we have joined forces and Pretty. Fast. will be co-hosting these [...]
Upcoming Women’s Racing Clinics
Two great opportunities to attend women-only clinics are coming up. HAC Road Clinic From Half Acre Cycling’s Vanessa Buccella: This Saturday Half Acre Cycling is hosting our annual Women/Trans Road Clinic. Registration can be found here. This year we have two new clinic leaders. We are FLYING in our Intermediate Clinic leader, Cycle-Smart coach, Shaun Adamson, [...]
Gapers Block Race Report
By Pretty Fast contributor Liz Markel “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Cyclocross racing has been my response to this adage for the last few years, but little did I know that I’d be taking on another scary thing this spring: criterium races. 2011 was the first year that I said [...]
Barry Roubaix Race Report
Last Saturday was the Barry Roubaix, a 36-mile (or 62-mile if you’re brave) gravel road race. I’d describe it as a road + cyclocross race, although I only had to dismount twice due to crowds of people walking, there was certainly some technical riding included. This race had some significance for me because it was [...]
Ray’s MTB Womens Weekend 2012
A few weeks ago, four of us ladies from Chicago ventured north of the cheddar curtain to the Ray’s Milwaukee womens weekend to participate in the Friday clinic events. With my teammates Katie Maser and Katie Tomarelli — The Katies as I lovingly call them — and former teamie Ellie Blick from Johnny Sprockets [...]
Womens Racing Mechanics Workshop Pt. 1 – Wheels
By PF Contributor Kelly Clarke. Becky, Pretty Fast Organizer, and Joel, one of the knowledgeable staff members at Village Cycle Center (and also a frame builder) spoke to us at the Women’s Racing Mechanics Workshop about tires. Tire Tread Patterns For cyclocross there are three basic tread patterns to consider, and each have their advantages. [...]
Women’s Racing Mechanics Workshop Overview
By PF Contributor, Kelly Clarke I was really happy when I found out Pretty.Fast was hosting a racing specific mechanical workshop. Too often cycling workshops for women are really basic, like how to fix a flat. Ladies who ride regularly with teams and race already know how to do this. But after a full cyclocross [...]
