I Was Only Gonna Do One Race

My goal for 2007 was to do the Copper Harbor Fat Tire race and look like I belonged there. My goal was quite a contrast to my performance in 2006.

The people I ride with all race. They race and they’re good at it. The Keweenaw Chain Drive was the first race of the season, and I was often asked if I was going to do it. “No, I’m not.”

“Why not? You should do it!”

“No, I don’t want to do a lot of racing. I’m just doing Copper Harbor because I couldn’t ride it last year. I did a hike-a-bike, more hike than bike.”

“The Chain Drive is right here, though. You should do it. Come on, you’ll have fun!”

I succumbed to peer pressure once again.

The same scenario occurred for Ore to Shore and The Great Deer Chase. In a nutshell, I did all the races and did very well in them. I raced in the 30-39 age group, Female division and had the following finishes (all age-group finishes):
• Keweenaw Chain Drive: 2nd
• Ore to Shore: 7th
• The Great Deer Chase: 1st
• Copper Harbor Fat Tire Festival: 3rd


Di on the podium for second place (right) at the Keweenaw Chain Drive.

In late September, I was invited to join a team that was thrown together for cyclocross: the Red Jackets. We traveled to Marquette to compete in the UP Cyclocross Series. My cyclocross skills certainly aren’t like my mountain bike skills. I found cyclocross to be the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. Due to my dedication - my willingness to show up to multiple races - I earned enough points to take second place overall in the season.


The Red Jacket cyclocross team. Di is #23.