As per cyclingnews.com:

ValueAct Capital Cycling for 2008

Building off a successful inaugural season, the ValueAct Capital Professional Women’s Cycling Team will add talent to its 2008 roster with new riders Nicole Evans, Leah Goldstein, Marni Hambleton, Lara Kroepsch and Chrissy Ruiter to join the current line-up. The team aims to be among the best in the US.

“Last year, we had a young, spirited team that really proved they had the ability to succeed. Katie Mactier’s wealth of experience really contributed to making this team gel,” said Director, Lisa Hunt. “I wanted to build on that momentum, by adding more top stage race and single day race talent. It’s a great group of riders!”

Three-time Mt. Hood Cycling Classic winner, Leah Goldstein will add firepower to the team’s GC abilities at major stage races. Goldstein, the current Israeli National Road Race and Time Trial Champion who resides in British Columbia, excels in tough, hilly races and has a wealth of experience racing in Europe as well.

American Lara Kroepsch, who rode for TEAm Lipton for the past two years, will bring her sprinting strength as well as solid stage race experience. Kroepsch is a two-time Collegiate National Criterium Champion, with numerous podium spots in major NRC races.

Katie Mactier, who has already garnered two gold medals in the individual pursuit at the Sydney and Beijing World Cup Track events in recent months, will be racing with the squad, beginning in May. “I’m super excited to be hooking up with the girls again for another US road season. This year we are a bigger team and hungry to make our mark,” said Mactier.

The team will be contesting a full NRC schedule for 2008, kicking off the season with the Santa Rosa Women’s Grand Prix on February 18. Prior to that, the team will hold their training camp in Healdsburg, California, the week of February 11th.

ValueAct Capital Cycling Team for 2008: Sharon Allpress, Hannah Banks, Courtenay Brown, Nicole Evans, Leah Goldstein, Marni Hambleton, Lara Kroepsch, Katie Mactier, Martina Patella, Chrissy Ruiter, and Taitt Sato.

Peace out.

I

I am a Western Cycling Bandit.  Yesterday there was a little bit of snow everywhere and I road right through and melted the entire state of Oregon with kilojoules.  Today there is much more snow, and so I am here blogging for now instead of doing the world a favor and melting the snow.  We will see how that stuff holds up to me this afternoon.

And on to other stuff . . . it’s hard to train at my mom’s house. 

She makes me watch Harry Potter twice a day. 

She cooks food constantly and she can’t just leave it in the fridge.  She has to put it on little plates in front of me.  All day.  No where in the house is safe from her meals and snacks and chocolate treats, forcing me to vacate the premises. 

All vegetables are coated in one of two things: butter or olive oil.  To eat something green without these things would be unfathomable.

We don’t talk to each other in this house.  We scream.  We yell.  It’s the only way to hear above the t.v., which is on 24 hours a day.  And it makes it so you can continue conversations without being near the person.  Nobody listens to each other so you have to yell out of frustration, it’s like having a conversation with a deaf dog. 

My brother and I don’t yell.  We fight.  We wrestle.  We plot against each other.  He shot me in the ass with a pellet gun on Christmas Eve. 

Currently I am multi-tasking by having a very loud “conversation” with my mom that requires alot of my attention, so enough time-awasting with these little juicey tidbits of a disfunctional but functioning family life.

I’ve made some changes to the bug and added a used coffee cup to the exhaust.  I hope you like the improvements.

All I want for Christmas is an Oregon Scraper.

We got caught taking pictures here.  Nic (my bro) yells out the window “Nice lights” with sincerity and a wave as I peel out, yo.

A large part of the charm here is the lawn mower in the front yard.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph celebrate outdoor plumbing. 

My present to you.

Santa baby, just slip a rear disk under the tree,

For me

Been an awful good girl

Santa baby so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a 49 frameset too

Light blue,

I’ll wait up for you dear

Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun that I’ve missed,

Think of all the rides that I haven’t skipped

Next year I could be just as good

If you check off my christmas list

Santa baby, I want a kit that looks hot

And really thats not alot

Been an angel all year

Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really need

The deed

To a carbon fiber mine

Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa cutie, I want some wheels that don’t flex

And a stack of fat prize cheques,

Sign your x on the line

Santa cutie, and hurry down the chimney tonight

Come and and work on my bike

I ride two wheels not a trike

I really do believe in you,

Let’s see if you believe in me

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,

I need a new big chain ring,

I don’t mean on the phone,

Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight,

Hurry tonight.

Thanks Georgia Gould for getting this petition for equal prize money for the top 5 men’s and women’s finishers of UCI events.  Oh hell yeah.  Go ahead, sign here.  It’s easy. 

Couldn’t help but notice some entertaining, insightful, and just nice comments along with the 2,558 signatures.  Giggle.  Here are some of my favorites:

#20 - “pay georgia her money, lebowwwwskiiiii”

#38 - “Time to get paid yo!”  I like that one yo.

#214 - “And lengthen the races, too!”  Ok, thats a seperate petition, please keep those ideas to yourself for now.

#281 - “This is the 21st centure, lets act like it.” Perhaps stolen from a real estate slogan?

#286 - “It’s criminal not to award equal prize money” Criminal?  I don’t know if I’d go that far, but I like his 286’s flair for drama. 

#434 - “Equality isn’t a four letter word!”  No it’s not.  Never heard that one before, but I like it.  I think I will use this in other personal campaigns.  Let me try it out . . . Taitt, slow isn’t a four letter word!  Oh wait.

#448 - “But of course.”  Please pass the butta. 

#555 - “The International Triathlon union has shown leadership in this area for years - insisting on equal prize moeny for men and women, in spite of field size differences”  WTF, we are even behind the triathletes?  Come on people, you gotta sign this!

#605 - “hell yes”  enough said.

#583 - “yeah! but no skinsuits should be allowed”  come on now, lets save that for seperate petition ok. 

#685 - “DUH”.  Well duh.

#708 - “Only meatheads would allow this diparity.”  I like this one.  Is meathead one word or two?

#1024 - “I gave equal prize money in the mid-70’s! Get with it UCI.  Catch up to ME.” Rad . . .maybe me should always be capitalized, kind of like I.

#1245 - “hook em up!” Thanks brotha.

#1289 - “A man who believes in equal pay for women”  Trying to get a date here D?  I know whats up.

#1390 - “Show me the $$!”  I like her style.

#1820 - “Go Women!!!”  Thanks, I appreciate the not one but three exclamations. 

#2236 - “women kicking SO MUCH ASS in cycling right now! Equal rewards, please!”  Yeah!

#2540 - “I would be willing to make less for the women to make the same.”  Wow, that is one of the nicest things I’ve ever heard a male cyclist say. 

Don’t be a meat head.  I implore you to sign this petition here so that women cyclists can race, win, and get out of poverty.  And don’t just sign it, write something cool.