Anger Management Crit
02-17-08, 03:12 PM
#1
getting dropped
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Anger Management Crit
must say, that was one of the better cat 5 races ive been in. Not too sketchy, only a few knuckleheads who didnt know how to take a turn, but other than that, a good group of guys.
Race report:
Start the day at 4:40... damn overslept(mistake #1), jump out of bed grab something to eat and run out the door. Jet over to my friends house and pick him up and were off. Start driving and realize that the tom-tom's dead, (mistake #2 forgot to charge it) so we get lost on the way there and arrive with less than an hour to get ready. Run over and get registered... damn it's still dark, im starting to agree with my friends who say im crazy for getting up BEFORE the crack of dawn. The race barely started in daytime. Jump on the trainer for a quick warm up, about 20 min. (mistake #3, though we couldn't really do much about that one at the time).
Roll out to the line and sit through the obligatory cat 5 speech, dont crash, you all suck so don't try anything stupid, blah blah blah. The guy made a big deal to one of my teammates about the sticky (3M) stuff i gave him to use instead of pins, and made him go over and put pins in. ( For the record mine stayed on just fine with the stuff, No flapping whatsoever) We get our warm up lap in and my and Rick are front and center on the line for the start with dave right behind us. Great position, about that last time that will happen today.
And were off. Nice easy pace for the first lap and rolling into the second, i figure since i didn't get a good warm up in now is the perfect time. Attack, balls to the wall for 20 seconds or so, look back and one guys bridging up (green jersey on a felt), sit up a little let him catch on and were off. Stay off the front for probably two laps. I look back again and realize the pack closing in so we sit up and get absorbed back in. For the next few laps, just stayed near the front, top 20 or so content to sit in for now, recover. With about 15 minutes to go i decided its time to launch another one, see if the field wants to chase. This time they're intent on not letting me get away and I only get about 30 yards away from them. (started too far back on that one). Next lap someone else goes off the front, so i bridge up and we manage to stay away for a lap or so maybe one and a half. One thing i did notice, is that is was much easier to take the corners by myself or with one other on a break than in the field, like 2mph faster.
The sign goes up for 5 to go and the pace starts picking up a little. With 3 to go i decide to try my luck one more time on a break. Give it everything I've got left and gun it out of the first corner. One goes with me and we stay away for 1/2 a lap or so, but the fields not going to let us try anything now. But as soon as were caught, another goes up the field on a counter. Green jersey to be specific. I knew that if someone could stay away he could, so i jumped hard again and grabbed his wheel and we manage to stay away until one to go, but to no avail, people are working in the field, they want their sprint. Going into the final turn got caught on the inside as the field clipped the apex and had to slow way way down. (mistake number... what are we up to now?) By the time I got back up to speed the sprint was already on, so i just coasted in for a mid teens finish. I've still got a lot to learn.
After the race 3 of us came back to glendale to do the normal sunday ride as a little recovery, and i feel pretty good now. Actually i felt pretty good at the finish, just out of position. That's why i hate crits, it's all about position.
Race report:
Start the day at 4:40... damn overslept(mistake #1), jump out of bed grab something to eat and run out the door. Jet over to my friends house and pick him up and were off. Start driving and realize that the tom-tom's dead, (mistake #2 forgot to charge it) so we get lost on the way there and arrive with less than an hour to get ready. Run over and get registered... damn it's still dark, im starting to agree with my friends who say im crazy for getting up BEFORE the crack of dawn. The race barely started in daytime. Jump on the trainer for a quick warm up, about 20 min. (mistake #3, though we couldn't really do much about that one at the time).
Roll out to the line and sit through the obligatory cat 5 speech, dont crash, you all suck so don't try anything stupid, blah blah blah. The guy made a big deal to one of my teammates about the sticky (3M) stuff i gave him to use instead of pins, and made him go over and put pins in. ( For the record mine stayed on just fine with the stuff, No flapping whatsoever) We get our warm up lap in and my and Rick are front and center on the line for the start with dave right behind us. Great position, about that last time that will happen today.
And were off. Nice easy pace for the first lap and rolling into the second, i figure since i didn't get a good warm up in now is the perfect time. Attack, balls to the wall for 20 seconds or so, look back and one guys bridging up (green jersey on a felt), sit up a little let him catch on and were off. Stay off the front for probably two laps. I look back again and realize the pack closing in so we sit up and get absorbed back in. For the next few laps, just stayed near the front, top 20 or so content to sit in for now, recover. With about 15 minutes to go i decided its time to launch another one, see if the field wants to chase. This time they're intent on not letting me get away and I only get about 30 yards away from them. (started too far back on that one). Next lap someone else goes off the front, so i bridge up and we manage to stay away for a lap or so maybe one and a half. One thing i did notice, is that is was much easier to take the corners by myself or with one other on a break than in the field, like 2mph faster.
The sign goes up for 5 to go and the pace starts picking up a little. With 3 to go i decide to try my luck one more time on a break. Give it everything I've got left and gun it out of the first corner. One goes with me and we stay away for 1/2 a lap or so, but the fields not going to let us try anything now. But as soon as were caught, another goes up the field on a counter. Green jersey to be specific. I knew that if someone could stay away he could, so i jumped hard again and grabbed his wheel and we manage to stay away until one to go, but to no avail, people are working in the field, they want their sprint. Going into the final turn got caught on the inside as the field clipped the apex and had to slow way way down. (mistake number... what are we up to now?) By the time I got back up to speed the sprint was already on, so i just coasted in for a mid teens finish. I've still got a lot to learn.
After the race 3 of us came back to glendale to do the normal sunday ride as a little recovery, and i feel pretty good now. Actually i felt pretty good at the finish, just out of position. That's why i hate crits, it's all about position.
02-17-08, 03:16 PM
#2
Aut Vincere Aut Mori
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must say, that was one of the better cat 5 races ive been in. Not too sketchy, only a few knuckleheads who didnt know how to take a turn, but other than that, a good group of guys.
Race report:
Start the day at 4:40... damn overslept(mistake #1), jump out of bed grab something to eat and run out the door. Jet over to my friends house and pick him up and were off. Start driving and realize that the tom-tom's dead, (mistake #2 forgot to charge it) so we get lost on the way there and arrive with less than an hour to get ready. Run over and get registered... damn it's still dark, im starting to agree with my friends who say im crazy for getting up BEFORE the crack of dawn. The race barely started in daytime. Jump on the trainer for a quick warm up, about 20 min. (mistake #3, though we couldn't really do much about that one at the time).
Roll out to the line and sit through the obligatory cat 5 speech, dont crash, you all suck so don't try anything stupid, blah blah blah. The guy made a big deal to one of my teammates about the sticky (3M) stuff i gave him to use instead of pins, and made him go over and put pins in. ( For the record mine stayed on just fine with the stuff, No flapping whatsoever) We get our warm up lap in and my and Rick are front and center on the line for the start with dave right behind us. Great position, about that last time that will happen today.
And were off. Nice easy pace for the first lap and rolling into the second, i figure since i didn't get a good warm up in now is the perfect time. Attack, balls to the wall for 20 seconds or so, look back and one guys bridging up (green jersey on a felt), sit up a little let him catch on and were off. Stay off the front for probably two laps. I look back again and realize the pack closing in so we sit up and get absorbed back in. For the next few laps, just stayed near the front, top 20 or so content to sit in for now, recover. With about 15 minutes to go i decided its time to launch another one, see if the field wants to chase. This time they're intent on not letting me get away and I only get about 30 yards away from them. (started too far back on that one). Next lap someone else goes off the front, so i bridge up and we manage to stay away for a lap or so maybe one and a half. One thing i did notice, is that is was much easier to take the corners by myself or with one other on a break than in the field, like 2mph faster.
The sign goes up for 5 to go and the pace starts picking up a little. With 3 to go i decide to try my luck one more time on a break. Give it everything I've got left and gun it out of the first corner. One goes with me and we stay away for 1/2 a lap or so, but the fields not going to let us try anything now. But as soon as were caught, another goes up the field on a counter. Green jersey to be specific. I knew that if someone could stay away he could, so i jumped hard again and grabbed his wheel and we manage to stay away until one to go, but to no avail, people are working in the field, they want their sprint. Going into the final turn got caught on the inside as the field clipped the apex and had to slow way way down. (mistake number... what are we up to now?) By the time I got back up to speed the sprint was already on, so i just coasted in for a mid teens finish. I've still got a lot to learn.
After the race 3 of us came back to glendale to do the normal sunday ride as a little recovery, and i feel pretty good now. Actually i felt pretty good at the finish, just out of position. That's why i hate crits, it's all about position.
Race report:
Start the day at 4:40... damn overslept(mistake #1), jump out of bed grab something to eat and run out the door. Jet over to my friends house and pick him up and were off. Start driving and realize that the tom-tom's dead, (mistake #2 forgot to charge it) so we get lost on the way there and arrive with less than an hour to get ready. Run over and get registered... damn it's still dark, im starting to agree with my friends who say im crazy for getting up BEFORE the crack of dawn. The race barely started in daytime. Jump on the trainer for a quick warm up, about 20 min. (mistake #3, though we couldn't really do much about that one at the time).
Roll out to the line and sit through the obligatory cat 5 speech, dont crash, you all suck so don't try anything stupid, blah blah blah. The guy made a big deal to one of my teammates about the sticky (3M) stuff i gave him to use instead of pins, and made him go over and put pins in. ( For the record mine stayed on just fine with the stuff, No flapping whatsoever) We get our warm up lap in and my and Rick are front and center on the line for the start with dave right behind us. Great position, about that last time that will happen today.
And were off. Nice easy pace for the first lap and rolling into the second, i figure since i didn't get a good warm up in now is the perfect time. Attack, balls to the wall for 20 seconds or so, look back and one guys bridging up (green jersey on a felt), sit up a little let him catch on and were off. Stay off the front for probably two laps. I look back again and realize the pack closing in so we sit up and get absorbed back in. For the next few laps, just stayed near the front, top 20 or so content to sit in for now, recover. With about 15 minutes to go i decided its time to launch another one, see if the field wants to chase. This time they're intent on not letting me get away and I only get about 30 yards away from them. (started too far back on that one). Next lap someone else goes off the front, so i bridge up and we manage to stay away for a lap or so maybe one and a half. One thing i did notice, is that is was much easier to take the corners by myself or with one other on a break than in the field, like 2mph faster.
The sign goes up for 5 to go and the pace starts picking up a little. With 3 to go i decide to try my luck one more time on a break. Give it everything I've got left and gun it out of the first corner. One goes with me and we stay away for 1/2 a lap or so, but the fields not going to let us try anything now. But as soon as were caught, another goes up the field on a counter. Green jersey to be specific. I knew that if someone could stay away he could, so i jumped hard again and grabbed his wheel and we manage to stay away until one to go, but to no avail, people are working in the field, they want their sprint. Going into the final turn got caught on the inside as the field clipped the apex and had to slow way way down. (mistake number... what are we up to now?) By the time I got back up to speed the sprint was already on, so i just coasted in for a mid teens finish. I've still got a lot to learn.
After the race 3 of us came back to glendale to do the normal sunday ride as a little recovery, and i feel pretty good now. Actually i felt pretty good at the finish, just out of position. That's why i hate crits, it's all about position.
02-17-08, 05:09 PM
#3
Over the hill
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Which team do you race for?
And for anyone that cares, here are some pics from the event (biased towards my teammates, of course)
Cat 5
40+ 4/5
And for anyone that cares, here are some pics from the event (biased towards my teammates, of course)
Cat 5
40+ 4/5
02-17-08, 05:34 PM
#4
Old & Getting Older Racer
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Hi,
4th and 5th races of the year: 50+ and 40+ 1/2/3. Tried a couple of moves off the front in the 50+ (nada), used the 40+ as a fast training ride (never saw the front). 25.2 MPH for the older guys, 27.5 with the "younger" guys.
Most importantly: stayed upright.
4th and 5th races of the year: 50+ and 40+ 1/2/3. Tried a couple of moves off the front in the 50+ (nada), used the 40+ as a fast training ride (never saw the front). 25.2 MPH for the older guys, 27.5 with the "younger" guys.
Most importantly: stayed upright.
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Cleave
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Visit my blog at https://cleavesblant.wordpress.com/
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02-17-08, 06:21 PM
#5
getting dropped
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Bicycle johns. I saw brandy there, but i wasn't sure it was her so I didn't say hi.
02-17-08, 07:08 PM
#6
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must say, that was one of the better cat 5 races ive been in. Not too sketchy, only a few knuckleheads who didnt know how to take a turn, but other than that, a good group of guys.
and one guys bridging up (green jersey on a felt), sit up a little let him catch on and were off.
and one guys bridging up (green jersey on a felt), sit up a little let him catch on and were off.
02-17-08, 07:16 PM
#7
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Were you out there with another (older) guy in a Bicycle John's kit? I thought it might have been you, but wasn't sure. 
02-17-08, 07:17 PM
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Crappy video clips...
02-17-08, 07:41 PM
#10
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We didn't stick around Alex. Sorry!!! 
George and I both did Butterfield Double Century yesterday and we were exhausted. I was up at 3:30 a.m. because I was fairly certain my stomach decided to eat itself ...I was starving! We came home and crashed for a couple of hours after the Cat V race.
BTW...George ended up with 12th place in his second crit!
Not bad for having done 193.9 miles with 8700 feet of climbing yesterday. 
I honestly expected him to be in the back of the pack the whole time and was shocked to see him up front for much of the race. 
George and I both did Butterfield Double Century yesterday and we were exhausted. I was up at 3:30 a.m. because I was fairly certain my stomach decided to eat itself ...I was starving! We came home and crashed for a couple of hours after the Cat V race. BTW...George ended up with 12th place in his second crit!
Not bad for having done 193.9 miles with 8700 feet of climbing yesterday. I honestly expected him to be in the back of the pack the whole time and was shocked to see him up front for much of the race.
02-17-08, 07:45 PM
#11
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In the second video clip, notice the last guy has on tennis shoes? He's a Triathletix racer and I heard him asking the officials what to do...he had forgotten his cycling shoes! They told him to just get out there and ride slow. He made a great effort to hang on, I was impressed!
02-17-08, 07:51 PM
#12
Used to be a climber..
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We didn't stick around Alex. Sorry!!! George and I both did Butterfield Double Century yesterday and we were exhausted. I was up at 3:30 a.m. because I was fairly certain my stomach decided to eat itself ...I was starving! We came home and crashed for a couple of hours after the Cat V race.
BTW...George ended up with 12th place in his second crit! Not bad for having done 193.9 miles with 8700 feet of climbing yesterday. I honestly expected him to be in the back of the pack the whole time and was shocked to see him up front for much of the race.
George and I both did Butterfield Double Century yesterday and we were exhausted. I was up at 3:30 a.m. because I was fairly certain my stomach decided to eat itself ...I was starving! We came home and crashed for a couple of hours after the Cat V race. BTW...George ended up with 12th place in his second crit!
Not bad for having done 193.9 miles with 8700 feet of climbing yesterday. I honestly expected him to be in the back of the pack the whole time and was shocked to see him up front for much of the race.
02-17-08, 07:57 PM
#13
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Our next two doubles have 15,000+ ft. of climbing each. Yesterday's was relatively flat.
02-17-08, 08:10 PM
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02-17-08, 09:18 PM
#17
getting dropped
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ha that guy in the green is my riding/racing buddy. He's fast and won that crit. Funny that you say the crit wasn't too bad. He said exactly the opposite, that the Cat 5's were a bunch of twitchy idiots who seem to have never been in a group ride before, and he cant wait to upgrade.
02-17-08, 09:33 PM
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given my race weekend in the 5's at the Cantua RR, i'd have to agree with him. i was in the cat 5 pack on the straightest flattest road you could possibly imagine and some idiots still managed to lock handle bars and take out about half the pack with them. buncha ******* tryin to hump a doorknob.
02-17-08, 09:47 PM
#20
RacingBear
At least they are riding them and you know using them for intended purpose instead of as a conversation piece in the garage. So don't be hatin.
well he races collegiate also and so was comparing it to his C's races, which are supposed to be equivalent to 5's, and he said the riders were much worse, mostly older guys with no pack handling skills and that it was almost disgusting how a lot of them had super nice bikes given that it was only a cat 5 race and the high risk of crashes.
given my race weekend in the 5's at the Cantua RR, i'd have to agree with him. i was in the cat 5 pack on the straightest flattest road you could possibly imagine and some idiots still managed to lock handle bars and take out about half the pack with them. buncha ******* tryin to hump a doorknob.
given my race weekend in the 5's at the Cantua RR, i'd have to agree with him. i was in the cat 5 pack on the straightest flattest road you could possibly imagine and some idiots still managed to lock handle bars and take out about half the pack with them. buncha ******* tryin to hump a doorknob.
02-17-08, 09:51 PM
#21
Aut Vincere Aut Mori
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given my race weekend in the 5's at the Cantua RR, i'd have to agree with him. i was in the cat 5 pack on the straightest flattest road you could possibly imagine and some idiots still managed to lock handle bars and take out about half the pack with them. buncha ******* tryin to hump a doorknob.
e.g. Valverde's TdF crash in 2006 and Hincapie's 2007 ToC crash.
02-17-08, 09:56 PM
#22
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I don't know of any other course as flat as this one. Per the Garmin, 36.5 miles and 51 ft of climbing for both of my races combined.
BTW, everyone managed to stay upright in both races despite a very sketchy move on the last lap of the 50+ race.
BTW, everyone managed to stay upright in both races despite a very sketchy move on the last lap of the 50+ race.
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Cleave
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