Triple Crankset

By Nicola Cranmer

After a successful US National Championships in Colorado Springs, Lorraine Jarvis (PROMAN Hit Squad) headed to Sydney, Australia for the UCI Masters World Championships.

The first event of the week, the 500m, was one that Jarvis had personally targeted for quite some time. "For two years, my goal has been to beat the 500m world record of 39.70 set in 2007,” remarked the Vice President and 26-year veteran of Wells Fargo Bank in downtown San Francisco.

Her dreams; however, were almost shattered as Jarvis was hit by a car during her daily commute from San Anselmo earlier this year — an accident that would require the use of an Exogen bone stimulator to heal a broken clavicle.  Undeterred, Jarvis quickly refocused on her goal of becoming a World Champion and did so in a brilliant fashion.

Jarvis commented, "I heard that 2009 Masters Nationals were going to be in Colorado Springs and I considered adjusting my training to peak at Nationals for a chance at that record, but my husband convinced me to "keep my eye on the prize," which of course was to win at Worlds two months later. I stuck with my training schedule and here I am today with the rainbow jersey and a time of 39.42! Thank you coach Kelly!!!"

Lorraine also scored a bronze medal in the match sprint at the UCI Track Masters World Championships, taking the win over Marian Renshaw, who happens to be the mother of Columbia-HTC's lead out sensation, Mark Renshaw.

A competitive volleyball player for many years, Jarvis was encouraged into track racing by her husband and coach Kelly Silberberg. Her first event was the 500m at the 2004 Northern California State Championships, which she won.  In addition to her exploits on the track, Jarvis also spearheads the team's community clean up day, an annual event in which team members pick up trash along the popular commuter route from Sausalito up to the Golden Gate Bridge.

Up next for this unstoppable Masters rider will be another assault on the World Record in the 500m, but only after a well deserved winter break.

Photos: Kelly Silberberg (top); Rob Evans (bottom)