Erica Tingey

Monday, May 13, 2013

Call to Sundance

Posted by Erica

It was so great to have another mom on the start line with me! Emma just gave birth in December and has come back super strong. I admire her so much for coming back so quickly, she is truly an inspiration! I had a smooth race and rolled across in 1st!

Megan, Erica, Emma (her baby Torin!)

Friday, May 10, 2013

Backcountry Research

Posted by Erica

Backcountry Research has been giving me great support these past two years. I swear by the awesome strap, completely! I've used during every ride and every race since 2010 and have never lost a tool or tube! They recently added a new line called the Hypalon series. The straps are made of a smooth black material that is even more durable and lighter. I added a bottle cage to my seat post for Sea Otter and Whiskey 50 so I needed to use a post mounted strap instead of my usual seat mounted one. It held PERFECTLY! I've been so impressed with every strap I've used and would recommend them to anyone. I even use one on my road bike! They also sent some more of the super cool Tulbags. They are designed to carry tools but I've been using them to keep my phone dry and clean. I'm super impressed with all of their products. Next time you see me on the trail ask to get a closer look at the way it mounts to my bike, you'll be impressed as well!

Original Series on the top row, Hypalon on the bottom row

Close up of Hypalon Series

Tulbags

Close of Tuhl bag for scale with my iPhone 5

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

bit of road riding

Posted by Erica

Saturday, May 4, 2013

JEM is blooming!

Posted by Erica

Monday, April 29, 2013

Whiskey 50

Posted by Erica

The Whiskey 50 has a reputation of being a super fun race and drawing a really big pro field. It did not disappoint one bit! I had a great race, I ended up in 7th overall in a field that wasn't missing any pro women that normally race the national races (expect Lea Davison). I wasn't sure where to set my expectations since it's more than double the distance and time that I'm used to racing. I paced myself fairly well and by the time I was half way done, at the bottom of Skull Valley, I was in 8th. As we stared the climb out of there, I could see Evelyn gaining on Georgia and Mical. But I was gaining on them as well. Evelyn passed them and they let her go, so I thought I'd give it a go! I caught them and climbed with them for a bit then decided to go on around. Georgia stuck to my wheel for quite a while. However, by the top of the climb as we entered into the single track I'd put around 20 seconds on her. I knew that wasn't enough of a lead to hold her off in the single track. She passed me near the top and I just hung on the 7th the rest of the time. I was pretty spent and had some cramping on the descent, but I pedaled through it. I came around the second to last corner on the pavement in town to see Chloe up ahead. I didn't realize it was her until the last corner at which point I started to sprint to catch her. She still rolled over 1 second in front of me! Dang it, another Iceman repeat! I'm still happy to be racing with these world class athletes and I feel lucky to see so many neat trails in the US!

Just before aid station #1 and the descent into Skull Valley (Photo Credit: MTBRaceNews.com)

Suffering at the very end of Whiskey 50 (Photo Credit: Kenny When)

Sunday, April 28, 2013

Whiskey 50 Fat Tire Crit

Posted by Erica

The Fat Tire Crit on Friday night, the weekend of the Whiskey 50 has to be one of the best events for spectators that I've raced in! I almost dare say the crowds compares with Iceman and that's a big statement! People line the streets, are full of energy and cheer like mad! 46 women were at the start line, the biggest field I've ever raced in (Sea Otter last week had 42 and that was unheard of!). I wasn't sure what to expect so I sat in to see what the field was going to do. I ended up chasing the lead group for most of the race. I was in 6th with no one in sight behind me to work with. I was just hoping for one person to pop off. With 2 laps to go I could see Georgia and Kelli had dropped, I gained on them and at the top of the very last climb on the very last hill I had Kelli (see photo below). She didn't realized I was there until someone cheered for me by name, she turned around and gave it one last effort, just enough to finish a bike length in front of me. I ended up in 6th, just off the podium, a bit frustrated but very happy to be in the mix and have given a great effort!