dmb2786

My first race, here's how it went:

I got there way too early just to be safe. I could have gotten two more hours of sleep.
I started warming up too early. I did about thirty-forty minutes took a ten minute break and did another twenty. I drank a lot of water, but I don't think it was enough. It was pretty hot.

The 1.4 mile course had two 90 degree turns and a short downhill section that went right into a turn. The pavement was really rough. Nine laps.

The race started and the turns were a little frightening at first but I got the hang of it. I think my fitness was fine. I stayed in 5th-15th place for most of the race which helped a lot when there was a crash right behind me with about five laps left. It was on the roughest strech of pavement and the crash took out about half of the field. The pace picked up for a bit, but I was feeling fine. I did feel a bit dehydrated though. There were about five guys in line in front of me when the crash happened. I dropped back when the pack caught up. There was really only one attack. A guy got away for a few seconds. With three laps to go, I was sitting on the left side of the pack toward the front. I could not see before it was too late, but a man was walking his dog on that side of the road. The dog ran out into the road, maybe 2-3 guys ahead of me. No one went down in front of me so I don't think the dog was hit, but people slammed the brakes and I think I reacted quickly enough, but the stock brakes on my Trek 1500 did not want to stop soon enough. I avoided the guy's wheel that was ahead of me, but my front wheel hit his frame near his left dropout. My wheel jumped up and to the left a bit but I stayed on top of the bike and I went off the road. I just held my line toward the woods and waited for my brakes to stop me. Before I stopped, I came over a six inch rut in the dirt. I realeased my brakes and stood up as I learned mountain biking last thursday. It worked and I was able to stop after the rut and before the tree ahead of me. I still can hardly believe I stayed up! Three of my spokes were bent and my hub had a gash on it. I just have a small cut on the shin from a stick or something. My wheel was a bit wobbly and making terrible noises. I just rode slowly to the start/finish line and exited the race.

The guy who won had a pretty long sprint. Quite a few people blew up on the last lap. I don't know how fast it was. I never checked the computer. I guess that's it I was really pissed for a minute or two, but I calmed down a lot sooner than I thought I would. I guess I'm just glad I'm not injured.

Summary: First race-DNF, but I did learn that I have the fitness to be competitive. I feel like I really could have finished top 5, but **** happens. Good experience. I had fun. I'm ready for the next race.

I would also like to apologize for that spoiler thread I posted. If you read it, I'm sorry. I was not thinking at all. I learned my lesson and it will not happen again. Thanks.

ljrichar

Best and cheapest upgrade for a stock bike IMHO.

https://www.glorycycles.com/korepadp.html

dmb2786

thanks. so it's just the pads that are the big problem?

SaddleBags

I had planned to do the 3/4 race but got sick and didn't race.
That's pretty good to not go OTB on your first crit. Also, if you're local, they race there every Tuesday night.

ottsville

That cat 5 race was pretty mellow paced. Come out on Tuesday and give it another shot.