Road Bike Racing - Santa Cruz Classic Criterium

Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.



PDA

View Full Version : Santa Cruz Classic Criterium

deadly downtube
08-18-05, 10:56 AM
Every year there is the Santa Cruz Classic and I was thinking about entering Cat5, but was wondering if anyone is familiar with this criterium, and what kind of times the cat5 people make? Or if there was a site with previous times listed? I live right near the course, just curious if I would be lapped several times or if I would keep up...

SteveE
08-18-05, 10:29 PM
You'll never know until you try. Except for TT's you'll never see times posted for races: crits or RR.

Here's the course description:

Course: A 0.9 mile loop of Santa Cruz city streets: the same as since 1970; same finish as last year, on Third Street at Main. There are some bumpy streets, and Laurel Extension along the river is still narrow, wet and rough. One hairpin turn, one climb. Streets: Third, Front, Spruce, Laurel Extension, Third, on Beach Hill, just back from the Boardwalk.

Since you live nearby, go out and ride the course.

SteveE
flyin hawaiian
08-23-05, 10:07 PM
I raced there several times in the late '70's and early '80's. It's a taxing course. It was very bumpy, had the 170 degree right-hand turn and the short climb up to the S/F line. The road was narrow in places. All this made me want to break out from the peloton. Nothing like trying to ride that course with 80 other riders boxing you in. It paid off for me as I got 2 second places.

zvalmart
08-23-05, 11:10 PM
The easiest way to get started racing in Northern California is to go to the "Early Bird Crits" held every weekend in January in Fremont. NCNCA provides free instruction prior to the race, and there are mentors riding in the race to help out, plus you only race with other new racers. The NCNCA.org website will have more details by November or December.

If you just can't wait, then go for it at Santa Cruz. Protect your front wheel, stay off the brakes (or very light at least), and hold your line without "squirliness".

The peloton for Cat 5 will probably roll about 23-24 mph on the flat most of the time, so if you can hold 20-21 mph on your own, you will probably be OK. I doubt you will get lapped, as they will likely pull you from the race before the pack catches you.

Good Luck,
Rick M.