TCR

I just wanted to say I had a blast. It's all kind of a blurr to me now but there were a couple memorable moments. In the CAT4 race I was sitting 3rd going into the final turn, thinking this is too cool - how did I get here, but then I finished 15th. The legs just didn't have enough the last 100 yards to the line. I remember going for a prime in that race also but that didn't work. Neither did the 3 man break that lasted all of 2 turns and never had more than 50 yards on the field. What was I thinking?

I spent half of the next race, the 30+ 3/4, just trying to recover since it immediately followed the CAT4 race. I did go for a prime with 4 laps to go. There were 3 or 4 of us sprinting to the line but...really didn't need that Simple Green cleaning kit anyway.

Not sure what happened with that crash in the 4's. We were just cruisin along the straightaway and then suddenly there's 10 guys going down in the center of the pack with bikes flipping and scraping all over the pavement.

And those poor CAT5's that had to run at 7:00am in the freezing cold rain. That had to really suck!

OC Roadie

Hey TCR-
It was good to see you out there again I had fun today. I caught your wheel as you headed to the front in the Cat 4 race. I stayed up front for a few laps, and did more pulling than I wanted. I very narrowly escaped the crash with about 5 to go. I actuallly had a bike go down and slide into me, but managed to ride away. The Masters race was easier than I thought it would be. I really liked how smooth it was (compared with some of the needless brakeless and sprinting in the 4's). Maybe next time I'll manage to get some results . What's next up for you? I think I'll do day 2 of Murrieta Stage Race and then all of San Dimas SR.

TCR

I'm already signed up for two races in Ontario next weekend. Not sure if I'll do the next CBR race on 3/12. I'd like to do Murrieta and San Dimas but I haven't even looked at the flyers yet. I did them both last year and they were both tough races, especially San Dimas.

bigdraft

I did the 50+ race and I guess we were one of the few races who got pretty wet. We didn't have a very large field (about 25 riders or so) but it was still a pretty hard race for me. Basically there were 3 teams who did the majority of the racing. Myself and Kal from UC Cyclery, Dale Ludke and Mark Gourly (I think) from Acme and then 3 Sounance/Specialized guys.

Sounance kept sending their guys up the road, one by one, and it was left to Mark or myself to chase them down. A couple of other guys tried once or twice to help with the chase, but for the most part everyone sat in. One of their guys attacked with 3 to go and managed to hold us off and won. It was fun, but everyone was pretty wet and cold by the end of the race.

bigdraft

Murrieta is a completely different race this year. Different courses and no TT. Basically it's a small, flat, 1.5 mile circuit and a larger 3 mile or so Circuit with a few rollers in it. Sounds fun, but I think I'm going to miss it this year. I got soaked there last year.

TCR

Yea, last year's race was nothing but rain. I was soaked to the bone and covered in mud after last year's stage race.

I must be reading their flyer wrong. It's $63 for both races, $25 for Saturday's crit and then $38 for Sunday's race? That seems a little odd and pricey. Last year when CBR put it on it was really cheap for 3 days of racing. I'll definetly be skipping Murrieta this year.

SteveAZ

Cool race report! Kind of gets the blood flowing. You missed a good one here TCR (VOS), but sounds like that was a pretty fun one as well.

I was just looking at CBR's race on 3/12 but noticed that the Cat 5 was CatV-public and that 30+ was Cat 3/4 Do you know if a lowly 30+ Cat 5 would be allowed to race in 30+ Cat 3/4? I probably wouldn't get any points (like that's going to happen anyway ) but I should get credit for a mass start right?

It would be blast to come over and do a race with some of you guys.

Steve

OC Roadie

If you want to come over and race, I'd suggest coming for the San Dimas Stage Race , it's the weekend after the next CBR crit. If you're curious about being allowed in the 30+ race, I would email Chris or Vera at CBR, and ask them. You really don't getting any "public/non racers" in the cat 5's. Also, the Tour of Murrieta Stage Race is next month, on the same weekend of the CBR Crit. I think I'm going to do the circuit race (3 mile laps) on that Sunday.

redal

Which Masters race did you do? I did the 30+ 123. Probably my only Masters race until nationals. My friend was driving and for the extra $10 I figured on trying to make some money. Sunday was supposed to be a moderate day for me with nothing above zone 3. My intention was really to sit in for both races and just get some fast miles into my legs. I had one teammate in the Masters race so when the break of 8 guys got about a straight ahead of us, I punched it and took my teammate and one other rider across to the break. About three laps later as we were catching the break, I thought of staying in there but knew I wasn't supposed to be riding that hard. My teammate and the other rider joined the break and I sat up and waited for the field. My teammate finished 8th.
The Pro/1-2 race was more fun. There were times where I rode harder than I should have but I am really enjoying riding with my team this year. We have added a few riders and they are all solid guys. I was in a few moves and at one point was in a break with Successfulliving.com rider and Internet celebrity Erik Saunders, and a Kodak Gallery/Sierra Nevada rider. We dropped the KGSN rider but it was too windy for two guys to stay off the front. Eventually another move went and I had a teammate in the move. Chris's races are always fun. I was involved in a crash with 7 laps to go. A rider who I don't believe is a category 2 came up the side and started to chase a group that had just rolled off the front. He unclipped his foot and went down right in front of me. After realizing that I wasn't hurt, I immediately thought of the 100 riders (we were at the very front) behind me and curled up. I took my free lap and finished the race. I cut and scraped my hip and elbow, and tore my seat, bibs and jersey.

redal

CBR is a little different in that they don't verify your category. The Pro/1-2 race yesterday had a couple of guys in it that I know race category 3 or lower in USCF races.

SteveAZ

That'll work.

Appreciate the info.

OC Roadie

I did the Masters 30+ 3/4. I sat at the back of the pack and recovered for about the first half of the race. I finished around mid-pack or slightly further behind. I went in planning on hanging on for as long as I could and getting dropped, so I was pretty happy. Even though the overall pace in the Masters race was faster than the 4's, it seemed easier, due to the smoother pack riding. No results so far this season. I feel like I have the fitness, and the confidence/balls are coming around. I hope to do something at SDSR (just like everyone else hopes to ).