Lauren loves bikes…and Guinness.
Name: Lauren Dagostino
Category: 1
Race Age: 34
Current team: H+H Racing
Day Job: Product Marketing Manager for Honeywell
How you got into cycling: I started dating a guy who was extremely passionate about cycling; I refused to give up my running shoes to see what cycling was all about. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why you would want to put on all that gear and cycle for hours when I could just throw on running shoes and get a workout done in an hour. It wasn’t until he bought me a single speed to ride around town that I started to get what cycling was all about. A few months later I bought my first road bike.
How you got into racing: I had relocated to NJ for work and joined a local tri club to meet some new faces. I started doing the Thursday morning group rides, and realized that I was slowly getting stronger chasing the wheels of the fast guys. My friend Andrea had heard about a clinic/race (CRCA) for new riders in Central Park and we both decided to give it a try. After a quick clinic and practice lap, I experienced my first race, and came in 2nd place. To this day, I remember the high I got from the race, and I have been hooked ever since. I bought myself a cyclocross bike (with a lot of persuasion some a crazy bike fitter guy named Ken) and actually raced a season of cyclocross before my first road season.
Favorite local course and why: This winter I got a fine appreciation for the Saturday ride that leaves out Morristown. These guys are super fast and experienced, and ride in any temperature or condition. Not a true race, but hammering down the local roads dodging dropped riders, pot holes and ice patches with frozen feet and hands was quite the experience this winter. It also was the motivator for me to ride outside this winter which I am very grateful for.
As far as official races, I really enjoy doing the Giro de Cielo. A fun mini stage race, with an uphill time trial, circuit race and crit.
Greatest achievement racing: My greatest achievement racing was getting my Cat 1 upgrade last year. It was only my second year of road racing and it took a lot of training and racing to achieve. Close second was getting the chance to race in the Philly Parx Classic last year. I grew up near Philadelphia and clearly remember being one of the bystanders too worried about getting my next beer to figure out that there was actually a bike race going on. Never would have I imagined racing bikes, let alone getting the opportunity to compete in the race with my family on the sidelines.
Worst memory of a race: As a Cat 3/4, I thought it would be a great idea to try a stage race. I went up to Killington Stage Race with my teammate Stacey, knowing they were calling for a storm but didn’t think it would be a big deal. It was pouring rain for our first race and probably around 40 degrees. I was so cold I couldn’t even feel my fingers, just put my head down for the sprint and hoped for the best. I just remember sitting in Stacey’s car for about an hour trying to fully defrost. I was ready to pack up and go home, but fortunately Stacey convinced me otherwise.
Goals/Aspirations: The goal of this is year will be riding well with the newly formed H+H team. Our women’s team is small but we are very excited to work together this year. We will be looking to compete in local races as well as some pro level crits.
What’s the most fun thing you missed out on in order to do a bike race: Probably just impromptu dinners or happy hours. Racing bikes is fun and I want to keep it that way. I try my best to balance a life outside work and bike racing, not always easy but I make it work. A happy racer is a fast racer.