curiouskid55

Any one run this course before? I am looking for a good race for first cat V, but am a little unsure of this one because it appears the 5's and 4's have the same start time. Also should I do the 30+4/5 or the Men 4/5? I am 50. Is the filed likely to be full? I would hate to go all the way to Ontario and find out that the field is full.

OC Roadie

I think TCR has done it before, same with My58vw. I'm gonna skip it this weekend but maybe do the one on Easter Sunday. I would enter the 30+ 4/5, CBR races have a 40+ 4/5 that might be a good place to start.

bigdraft

The course is a fun 7 corner 1.2 mile, industrial park crit. No hills, no off camber corners, good pavement on a very wide open course. The later your race is, the more likely you are to get some headwinds after turns 1 and 4. But other then that, it seems to be a favorite for races for S. Cal racers.

If you're 50 I would say do the 50+ race. We might be a bit fast for our age, but it's also very nice not having too many mistake prone riders that you find in the 4s and 5s.

TCR

I've never done this one before but I did a couple laps last weekend on my way home from Long Beach just to get an idea for the course. Pretty much flat, wide road, and good pavement. Looks like it will be a fast and fun course. Don't know if the fields will fill up or not. It's supposed to be sunny and nice weather so there should be a good turnout. I'm signed up for both the 30+4/5 and the 4/5 but don't know if I'll be doing both. I'm going snowboarding Saturday, only my second time ever, so I'll be extremely sore Sunday.

curiouskid55

Didn't realize the masters 50+ was "open" to all categories. Sounds like the ideal race for me. See if I can hang at the back with a group of riders less likely to pull a lame stunt and better able to deal with one if I do .

bigdraft

It's only this year that I have been seeing restricted masters cats. They never used to do it in general and never for Ontario. But after checking the flyer I see they are restricting the 45+ and below categoires, but the 50+ and up categories are open.

That being said, since it is a very popular series and some of the better talent shows up. So the pace tends to be a bit brisk to say the least. At least for us old dads.

good luck

Cleave

Hi,

Yes the 50+ at 9:10 a.m. is probably the best race for you to ride. Don't hang back too far because if you open a gap you'll have less opportunity to catch another wheel.

That being said, the best way to avoid a lame stunt is to hold your line around the corners. Stay behind a more experienced racer (if you can spot one) and follow him through the corner. Don't try to cut inside or drift too wide on the exit. Think smooth and you should be OK.

Don't stress too much, have fun, and stay upright (I'm assuming that you have to go to work on Monday ).

curiouskid55

Friday lunch time I and I am already getting excited to race Sunday morning. Had a hard work out in stationary class at John's last night. Almost pulled the trigger on a new set of wheels but caught the warning "look" in wife's eyes and backed off. Would have been slightly ridiculous to spring for new wheels with exactly 0 races under my belt. Taking the day off the bike today, very easy 20 miles or so Saturday, Up at five and off to Ontario Sunday A.M. Looks like weather is going to hold until Monday. Looking to have some fun and to learn a ton. I have thre goals : #1 Survive, #2 Finish, #3 Don't finish last. If I can find one person slower than myself to stay in front of should be a successful day. Good luck everyone on all your races this weekend.

Jesus Christ

well kid, how'd it go? i hope all went well...

my58vw

It is a very fun course... I actually train there (when racing) all the time... it is a measly 5 miles from my home. There are two slight downgrades (if you can call them that) on the course, the headwinds are nasty off the back stretch (I believe it is turn 4), and I have seen some nasty crashes on the tigher last corners. Speeds can be fast on the course (the mid 20's average is decieving, I have seen 32+ MPH down the strights..l.]

I would not choose the 4/5 mens 30+ or the senior 4/5 as a first race. It is a tought and large peloton, and theywill spit you out the back early in the 4 minute race... with USCF there is no "jumping back in"... if you are lapped that is it...

Good luck!

Mandy

curiouskid55

Well only achieved one goal in a eye opening experience. Reality started to dawn on me when I realized the 1-2-3 women would be racing the course at the same time as the 50+men. Reality really started to dawn on me when I am course side and the 55+ men are racing and they are riding a blazing pace. I am thinking jeezus I am in the wrong place. But I paid my nickle so decide to tough it out.

Take one warm up lap to get first and only pre race look at the course. Then roll up to group at the line. There are 75 guys that have no appearance of having ever taken a recreational ride. We are packed in pretty tight and I am about two guys back from the line. I am thinking just let me clip into the Keo on the first try. Heart rate is 110 and I am just standing there waiting for the whistle. Ther's the whistle and we take off as one ,my shoe clips right in. We are out of the saddle and building speed for turn 1.I am glued to the guy in front of me as we exit and really turn up the screw and get sorted out down the stretch to turn two. There is no easing up into the turn as the whole group accelerates out of the turn continuing to build speed. I am worreied about holding my line in these high speed corners and causing a big disaster. Everyone seems to have no problem going into flat turns full bore and cranking for more. It is exhillirating and starting to get a little scary.

Through the rest of the first lap I am doin ok but damn these guys are fast and not letting up one bit. Guys are getting around me probaly frustated with my inexpert choice of line and tendency to create space before a turn, then working hard to close in the straight sections. I am not confident enogh to go blazing into corners shoulder to shoulder withe these guys and am losing aero benefit because I am not close enough to effectively draft at all times. Cosequently I am working very hard to maintain contact. The pack is going 25-27 mph. Jeez the only time I have ever gone that fast is descending La Tuna. Never on the flats and definatly never on the flats and turning , and definately never on the flats and turning in the middle of fifty other guys.

I am costantly checking back to make sure I dont cut someone off in a corner but by lap 3 or 4 there is no one back there to worry about. I am out the back and have lost contact with the field. I try a sprint to catch up but by myself agaist the wind I am making about 25mph and losing ground. Back on the saddle and making 22mph doing all I can do to maintain a sustainable pace. There is one other guy coming off the back and we ride together trying to pull each other but we soon cant even see the pack.

As I check back as I feared here come the women. Riding now about 22 mph right on the edge of popping, just want to stay out of the ladies way. To go faster I could sprint but that would last about twenty seconds but then I would be done. Stay far right down the main straight and the woemn go blazing by like a freight train. Soon we are by ourselves again. Another lap or two and i am realy losing power. Check computer 20 minutes.20MINUTES. OMG this is a forty minute race. Think I have done only seven or eight laps when I am lapped byt the men on the front stretch and they get their mid-race prime. I missunderstand the track announcer and think he has directed me to drop out. I probaly wouldnt have considered it my self but looking at twenty more minutes of struggling alone to be lapped who knows how many more times I take the cowards way out in the middle of the back side of the course.

I later see the guy I was with still turning laps and admire his courage. All in all very dissapointed but also learned some things you just cant find any where else. One thing is you cant learn to race on a race course during a race. Another is dont let a promoter place you in the category. Hope to find some cat 5 races in the next few weeks. I am hoping there will be at least part of the category closer to my skill level(none).

SteveAZ

First of all, great report!

Don't feel bad, happens to a lot of us At least you got out there and did it.

You really need to get used to the high speed corners if you're going to do another crit. You're right, you wasted a lot of energy with braking and accellerating. If it's not your thing, try a RR, I'm sure you'll do much better with that if you were able to hang on that long while fighting the flow of the race.

Goodjob and good luck,
Steve

bigdraft

Ditto, don't feel bad at all. I talked to a friend who finished in the top 10 and he said it was a consistently fast race with an A list field. While it is fast, it's also predictable, in that everyone knows how to gun it in the corners and hold a line.

Jesus Christ

i'm not sure if you guys went before 30+cat4/5, but i sounds like you were'nt the guy that got carried off the course on a stretcher with his head immobilized. i actually thought of curiouskid55 when i saw that, rolling up to the start. glad you didn't go down...




by the way... any info on that guy?

curiouskid55

No wasnt there during any crashes. Watched part of next race then left after cool down. I realy liked the speed just felt that I wasn't safe for the other guys. But what little time I was able to hang it was awsome

Jesus Christ

you'll finish in no time, then you'll place, then contend, then VICTORY IS YOURS.


...from what i'm told.

TCR

Great report! Don't feel bad about getting dropped. It took a lot of courage to get out there and do it. That race probably wasn't the best one to try for the first time out. Check out this one on 3/12 put on by CBR:

https://www.californiabicycleracing.o....bike.race.pdf

They have a CAT5 only field and Chris Lott gives a free clinic before the race. The clinic isn't much more than a "do this" and "don't do that" but if you listen it's actually very helpful. It's a safe and easy 4 corner course that is great for beginners. The trick to not blowing up and getting dropped is steady pedaling into, through, and out of the corners. You have to keep the yo-yo accelerating/braking to a minimum or you'll tire yourself out. Now this will be hard to do since it's an inexperienced CAT5 field and half of them will be braking into the corners and accelerating out of them but it's still the best place to learn. I'd also recommend practicing your cornering by yourself, or even better, get a buddy or two and make a little course where you can draft each other. Practice pedaling through the corners and staying on his wheel for 30 minutes. Also do some bumping drills. Ride slow with a buddy and just lean into each other, lightly bumping, elbowing, pushing, etc, till you get used to it. You probably won't have this happen in a crit but if it does you won't panic because you'll be used to it. Hope this helps.

my58vw

Great report...

I remember being there... the pace is sure fast on the course... Everytime you race you will get faster... it will just take time...

Good luck!

curiouskid55

Looking at LA circuit Cat 5 March 5, and definately Dominguez Hills Cat 5 March 12. Thanks for encouragement and tips