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06-17-02, 06:59 AM
The course- Upper Onondaga Park, Syracuse, NY: A 1 mile loop, 20 laps. The first half was a slight uphill into a steeper chicane, then into a decreasing radius descent with straw bales protecting the guardrails. The bottom of the descent led to a flat and the final turn to the start/finish.
I registered to ride with the Cat 4/5 masters - 35+, I'm 41. At 9 a.m. the Cat 5s went off and I stood around to watch them go by. When they blazed past the start/finish after the first lap I wondered what I had got myself in to. I left the start/finish in dismay and went to warm up.
The Cat 1/2/3 masters lined up ahead of us and were given a 30 sec head start (like they needed it!). The 35-44 and 45+ Cat 4/5 masters and 35+ women left together.
On the first lap, on the slight uphill, I looked at my computers. We were going 28 mph and my HRM said I was about to expode. My cadence was 115 rpm. I was resigned to the fact that this was a fast group and I would do well to not get lapped, let alone hang on. Perhaps I should have ridden in the pure Cat 5 race? Self-doubt raged at the very beginning.
The trip up the little hill and chicane was scary, but my legs came together and I picked up several places. The descent was wild and unnerving (all day). The course was wet from the previous night's rain and the hay bales protecting the guard rails reminded us that there was potential for disaster. Speeds hit 37 mph on the descent and back to the finish.
After the first lap I was on the back of the lead group, and satisfied that I would keep up.
Racing was tight and close, as I expected. Plenty of yelling. "Watch your line!" "Get over!" "Ah-h!" There were a few "touches of wheels", but no one went down.
The speeds were amazing. 22 - 28 mph on the flats and 35 - 37 on the descent. My computer said we averaged 24.8 mph at the end of the race. The little hill dragged our average down as we dropped into the teens going over.
We were instructed that if the Cat 1/2/3s lapped us we were to let them go by. There was a pace car at the head of the race. Ironically, we nearly caught the 1/2/3s after 5 laps, but they turned it on after they realized we were about to embarrass them.
As the race progressed I found that the little hill was my strength, but I had to work hard to stay with the group on the flat after the descent. Not sure why. I never was in danger of falling off the back, and rode quite comfortably the whole way with the lead group. My cadence stayed in the 105 to 115 range, which produced a high heart rate. My legs felt fresh the whole way. I worked my way towards the front a couple of times, but could never get a wheel in the first 5, and lacked the confidence to go to the very front.
The rain held off until about the 10th lap. By the 17th lap it was torrential. Fortunately, no wind, but large drops of clear liquid, and lots of them. Amazingly, I really didn't notice, as I was quite comfortable. Every rider threw up a large rooster tail, but visibility was adequate straight ahead, but I couldn't see my computer or HRM.
On the 18th lap I felt well enough to attack, and planned to go out just before the little hill. I hadn't gone anerobic yet, and wanted to give it a try. I worked to the outside of the group, shifted and started to power down the left side when the pace car started beeping. Confusion reigned, I shut down and the group moved to the right. The pace car passed us on the uphill chicane.
Now it was bedlum. Some of the slower riders had caught up and we didn't know who the lapping riders were. The pace car barely moved in front of the group. We came down the descent. I didn't know if we would race another lap, or if this was it. When I saw riders sitting up at the finish line I realized that it was over.
What I learned about criterium racing:
It's fast and intense. This is not a place for the timid or faint of heart. Aggressive, confident riders only. The pace is furious. I loved every minute of it and came away with gobs of confidence.
What I learned about myself:
My 9th place of 13 finishers doesn't sound impressive, but I finished in the lead group and had enough to attack - or at least give one a go - on the 18th lap. An hour after the race I felt like I could have done it again, so I'm disappointed that I didn't attack sooner or follow through with the attack I attempted. Even so, experience is important in close-quarters racing, so I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience. Next time: Attack, Attack, Attack!:D
Yes, I'll do it again!
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me with encouragement and suggestions.
Thanks to the Onondaga Cycling Club for running a very tight race in lousy conditions. Hats off to you all.
Thanks to Saturn, race sponsors. Your support is appreciated.
I registered to ride with the Cat 4/5 masters - 35+, I'm 41. At 9 a.m. the Cat 5s went off and I stood around to watch them go by. When they blazed past the start/finish after the first lap I wondered what I had got myself in to. I left the start/finish in dismay and went to warm up.
The Cat 1/2/3 masters lined up ahead of us and were given a 30 sec head start (like they needed it!). The 35-44 and 45+ Cat 4/5 masters and 35+ women left together.
On the first lap, on the slight uphill, I looked at my computers. We were going 28 mph and my HRM said I was about to expode. My cadence was 115 rpm. I was resigned to the fact that this was a fast group and I would do well to not get lapped, let alone hang on. Perhaps I should have ridden in the pure Cat 5 race? Self-doubt raged at the very beginning.
The trip up the little hill and chicane was scary, but my legs came together and I picked up several places. The descent was wild and unnerving (all day). The course was wet from the previous night's rain and the hay bales protecting the guard rails reminded us that there was potential for disaster. Speeds hit 37 mph on the descent and back to the finish.
After the first lap I was on the back of the lead group, and satisfied that I would keep up.
Racing was tight and close, as I expected. Plenty of yelling. "Watch your line!" "Get over!" "Ah-h!" There were a few "touches of wheels", but no one went down.
The speeds were amazing. 22 - 28 mph on the flats and 35 - 37 on the descent. My computer said we averaged 24.8 mph at the end of the race. The little hill dragged our average down as we dropped into the teens going over.
We were instructed that if the Cat 1/2/3s lapped us we were to let them go by. There was a pace car at the head of the race. Ironically, we nearly caught the 1/2/3s after 5 laps, but they turned it on after they realized we were about to embarrass them.
As the race progressed I found that the little hill was my strength, but I had to work hard to stay with the group on the flat after the descent. Not sure why. I never was in danger of falling off the back, and rode quite comfortably the whole way with the lead group. My cadence stayed in the 105 to 115 range, which produced a high heart rate. My legs felt fresh the whole way. I worked my way towards the front a couple of times, but could never get a wheel in the first 5, and lacked the confidence to go to the very front.
The rain held off until about the 10th lap. By the 17th lap it was torrential. Fortunately, no wind, but large drops of clear liquid, and lots of them. Amazingly, I really didn't notice, as I was quite comfortable. Every rider threw up a large rooster tail, but visibility was adequate straight ahead, but I couldn't see my computer or HRM.
On the 18th lap I felt well enough to attack, and planned to go out just before the little hill. I hadn't gone anerobic yet, and wanted to give it a try. I worked to the outside of the group, shifted and started to power down the left side when the pace car started beeping. Confusion reigned, I shut down and the group moved to the right. The pace car passed us on the uphill chicane.
Now it was bedlum. Some of the slower riders had caught up and we didn't know who the lapping riders were. The pace car barely moved in front of the group. We came down the descent. I didn't know if we would race another lap, or if this was it. When I saw riders sitting up at the finish line I realized that it was over.
What I learned about criterium racing:
It's fast and intense. This is not a place for the timid or faint of heart. Aggressive, confident riders only. The pace is furious. I loved every minute of it and came away with gobs of confidence.
What I learned about myself:
My 9th place of 13 finishers doesn't sound impressive, but I finished in the lead group and had enough to attack - or at least give one a go - on the 18th lap. An hour after the race I felt like I could have done it again, so I'm disappointed that I didn't attack sooner or follow through with the attack I attempted. Even so, experience is important in close-quarters racing, so I'll chalk this one up as a learning experience. Next time: Attack, Attack, Attack!:D
Yes, I'll do it again!
Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me with encouragement and suggestions.
Thanks to the Onondaga Cycling Club for running a very tight race in lousy conditions. Hats off to you all.
Thanks to Saturn, race sponsors. Your support is appreciated.