Frigid Bitch Alleycat 2019 – A Fierce Ride & A Personal Victory!
Some races test endurance. Others test strategy. And then there’s the Frigid Bitch Alleycat—a race that throws everything at you, from freezing temps to urban obstacles, making every rider fight for every checkpoint and every mile.
This was my 5th time competing in this legendary series, now in its 6th annual edition, and as always—it did not disappoint.
🔥 Frigid Bitch Series Recap – A History of Chasing Checkpoints
📌 #FrigidBitch2015: My first race! 📅Date: Feb 14, 2015 ❄️Weather: -15°F, "Poler Vortex", snow-covered streets 🏁 Results: 5 riders, 5 checkpoints, 20 miles, 2 hours, 2nd place finish
📌 #FrigidBitch2016: Second race. 📅Date: Feb 13, 2016 ❄️Weather: colder temps, brutal winds 🏁 Results: 41 racers, 4 checkpoints, 16.28 miles, 2.5 hours, placed middle of the pack
📌 #FrigidBitch2017: Third race. 📅Date: Feb 11, 2017 aka Birthday race! 🔥 Weather: warmest race year 🏁 Results: 82 racers, 4 checkpoints, my longest ride yet (26.23 miles), 3 hours, placed somewhere between 43-58
📌 #FrigidBitch2018: Fourth race. 🚴♂️ Healthy Ride PGH Unicorn Bike aka Moana! 📅Date: Feb 17, 2018 ❄️🔥 Weather: "Not the coldest, not the warmest and not the longest." 🏁 Results: 106 racers, 3-4 checkpoints, 13.32 miles, 2.5 hours, placed 81st
📌 #FrigidBitch2019: Fifth race. 📅Date: Feb 16, 2019 ❄️Weather: 27-34°F 🏁 Results: 118 racers, 6 checkpoints, 17.78 miles, 2 hours, placed 49th in the 'Open' and 2nd in the subcategory of "Out of Town!"
💡 Each year the race evolves—bigger crowds, harder routes, crazier conditions!
🚀 Race Day Breakdown – The Ride, The Checkpoints & The Finish
📌 Morning Conditions: 27-34°F, sunny with morning flurries, but clear by race time 📌 Start Location: Threadbare Cider & Mead (new venue!) 📌 Checkpoint Strategy: ✅ Hit distant checkpoints first, then race back toward home base ✅ Rolled out toward South Side—first checkpoint: Hot Metal Bridge
📌 Total Distance Covered: 17.78 miles 📌 Total Race Time: 2:02:22
🔥 Hit my 6th checkpoint with just SIX MINUTES before closing—cutting it close but securing a strong finish!
💡 Finished 49th in the Open Category—plus landed 2nd in "Out of Town!" subcategory (traveled in from Virginia!).
🏆 Race Prizes, Post-Ride & Recovery
✅ Three prize tables—minimum 5 prizes per rider hitting at least 1 checkpoint! ✅ Podium riders got extra passes through the prize tables! ✅ Post-race food = MAC & CHEESE, pizza, veg + gluten-free options ✅ Celebratory drinks at Spring Hill Brewing for the afterparty!
💡 This race was a perfect mix of endurance, navigation, and strategy—I’ll be back for #FrigidBitch2020!
🚀 Reflections – The Ride, The Strategy & Looking Ahead
✅ Racing smart vs. racing fast—the checkpoint strategy paid off ✅ Could I push even further next year? More checkpoints, faster return! ✅ Urban racing chaos + freezing temps = an unbeatable challenge
💡 This race reminded me why I love competitive riding—the thrill, the strategy, the hustle.
🔥 Looking Ahead – More Alleycat Races & Faster Finishes
✅ Dialing in next year’s strategy—can I hit all 9 checkpoints? ✅ Training harder for speed efficiency in open-course formats ✅ Continuing endurance work with more bike tours & group rides
💡 Every race builds experience—next year, I’m coming back stronger!
