Rate the S. Cal Crits.

[bigdraft]

Ok, since it seems like 99.999% of the threads on this forum are about organized rides and their like. How about, for those of you who race locally, rating your favorite crits.

My two favorites that are being held this year would have to be the new Roger Millikan Memorial course and the long course at Ontario. The new RMM course is a lot of fun and a great improvement over the four corner one from years gone by.

A sad note for this year is the absence of the San Fernando Crit. It was a hard course but always an enjoyable race for me.

Give it up, what's are your favorite races.

[OC Roadie]

I agree on the Roger Milikan course, I will admit I was very nervous last year, with a field of almost 120 in the 4's. I was set to start racing next weekend, but injured my back in a crash on 12/27, my season will now probably start in early March. I like the new CBR Costa Mesa course, although location has more to do with this, than the course itself (I live less than a mile from the course). I think my favorite crit last year, had to be Garrett Lamire Memorial (Ojai). The course is great, and has a bit of everything, that race also just has a good vibe to it. Although I didn't do it this year, I really like the course for the MLK crit. Personally, I prefer and do better in road and circuit races. Too bad the San Clemente Circuit Race isn't happening this year.

BTW- my name is also Pat, and I'm also racing on Team Simple Green (Cylces Veloce). I'm currenty a 4, I plan to upgrade after Vandenberg or Everest Challenge. This will also be my first year testing the waters in the 35+.

[bigdraft]

Hi Pat, and welcome to Masters racing. I've been a 4 for my entire racing career, although calling it a career is a bit of a misnomer. I never bothered upgrading since anyone could race masters as long as your age qualified you. But now that they're splitting many masters races I have to worry about upgrading, sheesh. I'm racing for Simple Green this year too Pat. So I hope to see you out there. I don't race too many 35+ races since I'm 53 this year, but do find myself in 40 and 45+ races a lot.

I do like the Costa Mesa course too, though the bots dots are a pain coming out of turns 3 and 4:( I had fun there last year and plan on racing it this year too.

One course I wish someone would resurrect is the old Whittier GP course. That was a great race with good spectators and a fun "L" shaped dowtown course. Another course I like is Barrio Logan GP. It's a classic old school course. Hopefully I can make it down for this years race.

[OC Roadie]

I'm sure I'll see you out there this season, are you going to the team meeting this Sat? I'm quite content as a cat 4, but will upgrade so that I can do Masters 1/2/3 and also be eligible for Masters Nationals in the future. I've met the criteria to become a 3 the going the cheap route (25 pack finishes), I'd like to earn the upgrade by points, so we'll see how this season goes. Last year I did some of the CBR 30+ 3/4 crits, and I really enjoyed those races more than the Elite 4's. I prefer being strung out, single file, even it hurts like a *****, and I don't place as well, it's way safer and a lot more fun. Another local crit I just remembered, the Long Beach course, it doesn't offer much for a "Stick Man" like myself, but I did think it was a good course.

[Cleave]

My favorite criterium courses generally have little to do with shape of the course. They generally have more to do with my race memories. So, number one on my list is Manhattan Beach. This is my favorite partly because it was my first race in California back in 1979. I've ridden it more often than not since then. My favorite memory from that race was during the 1980s when I rode the Cat. 1, 2, 3 race (100 Km). I was never so grimy as after that race. I looked like I came out of a coal mine but I finished in the pack. :)

My second favorite was the old Lemon Grove course. Short rectangle on a slope. I generally did well (for me) on that course but I loved the feeling going into turn 1. Front straight was downhill and turn 1 was bumpy. You'd throw the bike into the corner and it would float across the road as you went around the corner. If you didn't mind the "float" you could gain time through that corner. Good times! :D

[zzzwillzzz]

manhattan beach, don't like that finish, sprinting into the hairpin trying to get to the corner first.

santa ana used to have a really cool course a figure 8, you didn't cross over, they spilt the intersection in the middle diagonally. that was a lot of fun.

my favorite was probably the mexican independence day course with that short steep hill before the finish.

the brea course is pretty cool, i did the 40+ last year and was just outside the top ten.

[bigdraft]

Will I agree with you on the last hairpin on the last lap is not for the feint of heart. Other then that I like MBGP.

I'm looking forward to Brea too. I had a good 50+ race last year and am looking forward to it again. I like it that the masters cats this year are not back to back like Ontario, but separated by one race in-between each one. So even though I have never done three races in a day, I might this year to for the experience and gettin so good training in on the 40+ race.

[redal]

One course I wish someone would resurrect is the old Whittier GP course. That was a great race with good spectators and a fun "L" shaped dowtown course. Another course I like is Barrio Logan GP. It's a classic old school course. Hopefully I can make it down for this years race.

I'm going to agree with Cleave, I like courses I have done well on also. I too wish they would resurrect the Whittier GP course . I won the junior race the first two years they had that race and my teammates got 1st,3rd, and 6th a couple of years later in the Pro/1-2 when we were racing for the host team. The first year the course was actually a square. It was changed to an "L" to appease some business owners. After racing for the host team bigdraft, I can tell you that it is more than likely that the course will never be used again. It was very difficult to get permits and at that time one of the city council members was a cyclist and a huge supporter of the race. Santa Ana and the Mexican Independence day courses were a lot of fun as well as the Greater LA criterium. I also like Barrio Logan although I have never done well there.
Although I usually do well on it, I dread the Ontario course. I think because I have done it so many times. I prefer the short couse to the long course but don't look forward to either. If there is another race on the same day I will usually go elsewhere even though Ontario is pretty local. This year my team has actually requested that we do the Ontario series but I have already registered for the race in Long Beach on the day of the first Ontario.

[voltman]

Crits scare me, but these are good reads.

[bigdraft]

Voltman, while there is a bit of risk in crits, as in all mass start races, IMO they are not half as risky as some of the larger, group rides, like the Rose Bowl ride. I've seen crashes on that thing that looked like a bomb went off in the group.

For me the nice thing about racing older masters races is that they tend to be pretty safe, albeit fast. Most of the guys have been racing for sometime and know what to do and what not to do.

Of course crashing is a part of riding and as John Howard once noted, "There are two kinds of riders, those that have gone down and those that are going down!"

[1265 Lombardi]

Last year was my first season racing in Socal,so I only remember handful of courses. I think Cleave is right, crit course is a crit course to me. I did like La Mirada course. There is one, LA county circuit race, made me roll my eyes(straight line with U turn at each end). Lame if you asked me. Road races, on the other hand, I remember very well due to the spanking I took (Devils Punch Bowl...ewww).

[1265 Lombardi]

Crits scare me, but these are good reads.

Come on out to Eldo on Tuesdays! Easier turns and mellower pace!

[Chucklehead]

i really enjoyed the el cajon course. it was in the rain last season, but it seemed to work well for me anyway and i managed a decent 5th.

i used to think crits were pointless, but the more i think back on last season the more exciting i remember the crits being, and finding the good line and cornering are where i think my strengths lie. plus, those are the only races i have a chance of winning :p

[bigdraft]

I guess I agree with Cleave too, it's just I was kind of tired looking at nothing but organized ride threads when I don't do them and it was a way to get some kind of discussion going about racing here in S. Cal since the season is upon us.

I don't like RRs since god looked the other way when handing out bodies suited to road racing, I'm 6'3" and 210 lbs:( and every RR course in this area have some pretty selective climbs on them, I just close my eyes and wish I shoulda, woulda, coulda ya know. In my heart I'm a road racer but reality always bites when I try one. Also since TTing tends to bore me to tears, I was left with crits. So yeah I remember the ones I do well in.

[1265 Lombardi]

I guess I agree with Cleave too, it's just I was kind of tired looking at nothing but organized ride threads when I don't do them and it was a way to get some kind of discussion going about racing here in S. Cal since the season is upon us
.

Yeah, good job starting this thread.:)

[Chucklehead]

del mar is a lot of fun, too. but of all the races i've seen or been a part of, that was easily the most cutthroat.

[urbanknight]

My two favorites that are being held this year would have to be the new Roger Millikan Memorial course and the long course at Ontario. The new RMM course is a lot of fun and a great improvement over the four corner one from years gone by.

That made my heart jump, and when I looked it up to be sure, I was right. I remember Roger very well. His son raced against me many times, while he coached his son, coached his son's team, and sometimes announced the event all at the same time. Chad and I were often no more than 0.1 seconds off of each other in state and national championship trials, and he was always a good sport no matter who won (usually him). I hope he's doing ok with the loss of his father. They were one of the dedicated cycling families.
http://www.canyonvelo.org/cvpages2/millikan.html

[zzzwillzzz]

Last year was my first season racing in Socal,so I only remember handful of courses. I think Cleave is right, crit course is a crit course to me. I did like La Mirada course. There is one, LA county circuit race, made me roll my eyes(straight line with U turn at each end). Lame if you asked me. Road races, on the other hand, I remember very well due to the spanking I took (Devils Punch Bowl...ewww).
the l.a. race, do you mean the one at lax? if so, it's not really a crit and the wind really makes it different into the wind as opposed to against it. in the cat 3s a few tears ago we were doing 42 mph after the last corner before the sprint with the tailwind.

[Cleave]

That made my heart jump, and when I looked it up to be sure, I was right. I remember Roger very well. His son raced against me many times, while he coached his son, coached his son's team, and sometimes announced the event all at the same time. Chad and I were often no more than 0.1 seconds off of each other in state and national championship trials, and he was always a good sport no matter who won (usually him). I hope he's doing ok with the loss of his father. They were one of the dedicated cycling families.
http://www.canyonvelo.org/cvpages2/millikan.html
Hi,

Yes, I should have commented on the Roger Millikan Memorial Race (AKA St. Valentines Day Massacre). I missed last year's race on the new course for unavoidable reasons.

However, I was good friends with Roger. I met him before Eldo was a real race. Tuesday night hammer sessions with everyone from national champions, to former body builders, to scrubs like myself. Long Beach was going to shut down the ride for some justifiable reasons when Roger stepped in and made some deals with the city to let us hold "official" races in the park.

On the outside, Roger was somewhat brusque, but on the inside he was all heart. I remember one year at Mammoth in the 1980s. Chad had a small mountain bike or BMX bike and he was riding up and down the dirt berms on the side of the road having a great time. I also remember a few years ago when Roger decided to race regularly at Eldo after a few years with sparse appearances. He would bark at other riders in the field to pull at the front or ride more aggressively. We would have fun making fun of each other during some of the lulls in the action.

I really do miss him. I do see Chad on occasion and his widow, Lynn, shows up at the start of Eldo periodically. They both seem to be doing well and I'm glad that they are still around the sport in whatever capacity they can.

[urbanknight]

Yeah, I remember Roger being "brusque". It was actually Chad that showed him that he didn't have to be so outwardly harsh to remain a fierce competitor, and after that he was much more pleasant to be around for me. Our parents became friends in the stands of the velodrome. Say hi to him and/or his mother for me if you see them again.