10 Questions With... Evelyn Egizi, on MABRA Women's Racing

(ed: This is the first in a new series on GamJams.net called "10 Questions With". Its purpose is to give us some insight into a side of local racing we might not have seen before, and allow us to get to know some of the folks who toil mightily on our behalf. If you have suggestions for future "10 Questions With" interviews, nominate them by email.

This interview is with Evelyn Egizi, Team Director for Artemis and inveterate champion of women's racing in the area. Get Evelyn's perspective on the state of women in the sport today and yesteryear, the skinny on how the MABRA Women's Race Series works, and whether men or women cyclists shave their legs more frequently. Consume heartily.)

(GamJams) 1. What is the MABRA Women's Race Series and when did it begin?
(Evelyn Egizi) The ORIGINAL Women's Race Series was developed and implemented in MABRA (formerly known as "D-20") by Linda Mack (now current owner of Silver Cycles in Silver Spring).  I think that we can safely say that Linda had vision for women and clearly is a respected Elder of women's cycling. Linda set the stage and foundation for the women's series.  With her vast networking within the cycling community, she was able to inspire an energetic, enthusiastic woman (Gerri Moriarity) in New England to start a women's series there.  The outcome and success was phenomenal.  At some point, our other respected "Elder", Tracy Lea, came on board to join forces, and the Cycling Made Real Series (CMR) was born.  The purpose of the National Series is to spread our success.  Linda was lucky(??) enough to find me to pass the series torch onto.  I've been organizing it for the past 8-9 years.

(gj) 2. Other than D-20, do you know how many other districts are participating?
(ee) I think that it's safe to say that MABRA (the Mid-Atlantic region) has one of the most comprehensive women's series of all.  It certainly has longevity over the rest!  Like California, we have a very concentrated area of cyclists.  Now, if we'd only have their weather...