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| Women's 123 Race - Claire moving fast on her mountain bike CHECK OUT IMAGES FROM ROLLING THUNDER |
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| Women's 123 Race - Jen Bardsley on the Woops |
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Women's 123 Race - Kristine pushing on the straight   
Jamie ready for the women's cat 4 race
  Kristine killing it on the run up  Jen Bardsley during women's Cat 3 race 
Mama Jamie after making Poduim at Rolling Thunder!
Way to go!
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Allie, Hannah and Elise with Don checking race time.
Our high school sophomore Alli Penington put all her hill climbing miles to the test on the most technical cyclocross course in Missoula. Although her bike was super heavy, she pushed hard up the hike-up section and rocked the berms with style. Our 2nd place girl rider was Elise Baker. Elise has raced every race at the Missoula Cyclocross Wednesday night series. She easily worked the flat section on her cross bike and kept a steady pace. Also, Elise went on to race the in the Women's Cat 4 race imminently after the Jr's Race. Way to go Elise! Our 3rd place Hannah Wolf used her sweet mountain bike skills on the technical woops section and dropped the single track downhill section with ease. Hannah worked super hard and we say "GREAT JOB!" |
Hannah on the woops
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| Kristine chasing down Claire to take podium. Photo By Tom Robertson http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/ |
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| Jen Bardsley mixed in with Men's B racers and Master's Men after the run-up. Photo by Tom Robertson http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/ |
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| Claire 2nd Womens A, Kristine 1st Women's A Photo by Tom Robertson http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/ |
 Again, a repeat performance from last weeks race. Jen takes 2nd in Women's B race and Claire takes 3rd in Women's A  |
| Game Face? |
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| Series leader Pari Kemmick, Zoe Glas currently third in series, and Jen riding for MT Alpha in 2nd place in Series. Start Line for Men and Women's B Race - Photo by Tom Robertson http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/ This race was my favorite for course design. I love racing at Fort Missoula, there are rail road features, historic buildings and lots of fun hills to climb. I loved the crowd at this race, so many folks turned up to cheer on the hill climb. I had a good lead on the next rider behind me, so I stopped at the top of the hill to chug a spectators beer that he was offering. Surprisingly, it didn't make me feel bad. (probably because of the cheering squad). I jumped back on my Specialized Crux and did 2 more laps to finish in 2nd for Women's B. LITTLE HISTORY LESSON - Fort Missoula was established as a permanent military post in 1877 in response to requests from local townspeople and settlers for protection in the event of conflict with western Montana Indian tribes. Intended as a major outpost for the region, area residents were also quite aware of the payroll, contracts and employment opportunities a fort would provide. Fort Missoula never had walls; rather, it was an “open fort,” a design common for posts located west of the Mississippi. Open forts required troops to take the offensive and actively patrol the areas to which they were assigned. Tipi-Burner, (cone structure on the left) c.1946; moved 2006 Tipi-Burners were once plentiful in the Missoula Valley, being used by every sawmill to burn waste from the milling operation. (1) . References (1) Fort Missoula Flyer  http://www.panoramio.com/photo/86015579 |
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The Fast Boyz - Photo by Tom Robertson http://www.tomrobertsonphoto.com/ |
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It was pretty awesome to get back be back with my MT ALPHA ladies and see old bike friends at the Clinic hosted by Montana Cyclocross. Of course Shaun Radley did a great job organizing all the coaches into 4 sections of skills. Special thanks to Missoula Bicycle Works and Hellgate Cyclery for your help and coaching. 
Mt Alpha girls in line ready to jam - Kristine and Claire
Riding coming down hill
Evening light at Fort Missoula with Cyclocross riders chasing the light
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| S is for Strong - S is for Specialized Women As Specialized Women's Mountain Bike Ambassador, I got the honor of coaching at many women's bike skills clinics this summer. This last one in the Fall was really awesome because so many ladies turned out despite freezing cold weather and wet conditions. I was super happy to have help from Mt Alpha female racer's Kristine Akland and Emily Plant. Also, Big Sky Bike's owner Robert Slayer and Alex Bardsley.
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| Instructors - Jen Bardsley and Emily Plant |
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| Setting up for Obstacle Course |
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| Yeah girl - Front Wheel Lifts. Big Thanks to Le Petit Outre for the delish pastries for the ladies. Also, Kettle House Brewery for the cold beer and Specialized Women for Specialized water bottles. MT ALPHA! |
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| Jen competing at Dixie Trix Dirt Jam at Outlaws of Dirt. Frisco Bike Park, Colorado How rad was this? SO RAD! In August, our family traveled to Colorado to ride at Frisco Bike Park just outside of Breckenridge in the heart of the rocky mountains. It was amazing to have a week at such high elevations to mountain bike. I signed up for Dixie Trix & the Women's Dirt Jump Jam with Outlaws of Dirt. These were all the courses we worked on before the Women's Jam.
  A real high light for me was riding with so many cool girls. These girls were studs. They pushed it on all the jumps and went big!!!  Amazing Dirt Jumps at Frisco Bike Park |
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Jen's Specialized Rumor ready for Frisco Bike Park, Colorado Jen landing her Rumor during the Dirt Jump Jam   Jen so happy to learn from Kat Sweet - She is one of the main catalysts of the women's freeride movement and becoming a highly recognized face in this new era of mountain biking. Her creativity on and off the bike combined with her undying love of the sport and helping others makes Kat the super star that she is today. She is an inspiration to kids, dads, moms, or anyone who might think they are past the age of being able to learn new skills on a bike. |
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| Jen jumping the Gravity Line at Dixie Trix |
