Southern California - Any BF'ers in Velo Avanti's Roger Millikan Memorial St. Valentine's Day Criterium

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/pack.jpg

It's this Saturday and Sunday Feb 10th and 11th. I watched some of the races last year. Here's the pack setting up for the turn.

Roger Millikan Memorial St. Valentine's Day Criterium (http://www.veloavanti.com/vd_race.htm)

A couple of more pics
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/race1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/race2.jpg

I'll be there. 50+. I haven't decided if I'll race if it rains though.

Hi,

I'm signed up for the Masters 50+ race. I'm also not sure about what to do if it rains but if it doesn't rain I'll also do the Masters 45+ race. :eek:

I noticed that Gibby Hatton signed up for both of those races. At least I didn't see Thurlow Rogers on the list (yet).

BTW, nice shots. That's my friend Suzanne Sonye at front of the Women's pack.

I'm doing the 50 and 45+ races too. I'm preregistered, so I'll just have to wait and see what the weather 's going to do also.

Is that first shot of the 45 or 50+ at last years race? I see a bunch of my teammates, (green/yellow kit)with Kal (fmr Mr. Universe) 3rd wheel. I'm tucked in there somewhere.

So the Cat 5 and 30+ are run together?

So the Cat 5 and 30+ are run together?

It means 30+ Cat5s. I think they've made a mistake listing it twice since I see no regular cat5 race.

So the Cat 5 and 30+ are run together?
No. They only run one Cat at a time on this course.

I was there last year, but will skip it this year. Its a fun course, but last year we had 120 in the Cat 4s, that was pretty nerve racking.

It means 30+ Cat5s. I think they've made a mistake listing it twice since I see no regular cat5 race.

That's what I figured. Either that, or they just don't like me.

That's what I figured. Either that, or they just don't like me.
Are you doing it?

Are you doing it?

I was originally thinking about Costa Mesa, then just saw this link again. I've heard good things about this one, but if I had to decide now, I'd probably say no. I'm still iffy about CM. I was just curious about the categorization based on that flyer.

i think they fixed the problem the flier now shows this:
race 4 on sat 30+ cat v
race 6 on sat cat v up to 29yo

i'll race the 40+ and the cat 3 on sunday. i did the 40+ last year and was in the top 15, we'll see what happens this time. it's a good course, i like it. a lot of people have already raced at the cbr crit so maybe it won't be so sketchy...

BTW, nice shots. That's my friend Suzanne Sonye at front of the Women's pack.

The one with the tailored (read: sugar) shorts? Nice!

BTW, nice shots.

At least I didn't see Thurlow Rogers on the list (yet).

Thanks Cleave. I'll probably be there watching a few races.

These guys (Thurlow Rogers?) ran away from the pack.
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/winner.jpg

Is that first shot of the 45 or 50+ at last years race? I see a bunch of my teammates, (green/yellow kit)with Kal (fmr Mr. Universe) 3rd wheel. I'm tucked in there somewhere.
It was the 45+ race. Here's couple of your team mates taking the turn.
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/race3.jpg

Thanks Cleave. I'll probably be there watching a few races.

These guys (Thurlow Rogers?) ran away from the pack.
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/winner.jpg
Thurlow and Chris Walker.

All you multi-race guys have me me intimidated now. I may have to see if I can still sign up for the 45+ race as a second event.

What I don't get is why they have a 100 rider limit for Cat 4's and a 75 rider limit for 45+ and 50+.

"It was the 45+ race. Here's couple of your team mates taking the turn."

Ah, no wonder I didn't see myself in there. I raced the 50+ but not the 45+.

Man I sure hope the rain holds off until after the races!

Man I sure hope the rain holds off until after the races!
Hi,

Latest Weather Channel forecast for Brea on Sunday shows 10% chance of rain. :D

http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/golf/tenday/USCA0127?from=search_10day

BTW, I don't want any of you guys dropping me. :)

Well I got drenched in the 50+ race and wound up 12th. I think only 14 guys finished that race. The gutters were running full in turn 2 and everyone was trying to avoid the paint,so it was a bit stressful. Plus I find races with small fields are much harder on me. There's fewer places to hide.

I started the 45's but bailed about half way, after a hard pull and found myself unable to jump back on, when a couple of guys drilled it up the hill. So bad on me for pulling to hard, but no one seemed to want to chase the break very hard. Anyway it wsa nice that there weren't any crashes in my races today.

I was glad I brought two complete kits, so I didn't have to sit around in soaked stuff. It was nice being dry lining up for the 2nd race. Not that that mattered much, but nice none the less

Well I got drenched in the 50+ race and wound up 12th. I think only 14 guys finished that race. The gutters were running full in turn 2 and everyone was trying to avoid the paint,so it was a bit stressful. Plus I find races with small fields are much harder on me. There's fewer places to hide.

I started the 45's but bailed about half way, after a hard pull and found myself unable to jump back on, when a couple of guys drilled it up the hill. So bad on me for pulling to hard, but no one seemed to want to chase the break very hard. Anyway it wsa nice that there weren't any crashes in my races today.

I was glad I brought two complete kits, so I didn't have to sit around in soaked stuff. It was nice being dry lining up for the 2nd race. Not that that mattered much, but nice none the less
Hi,

I got there at about 8:15a and proceeded to registration where I got them to change my pre-entry from 50+ to 45+ in the hopes that the rain would stop and course would be dry by then. I watched a good chunk of the 50+ race and then left when it became obvious that the 45+ race wasn't going to be dry. :(

I had it in the back of my mind that I should race but I have ridden more than enough races in the rain in my career that I don't need further experience. ;)

Glad you enjoyed yourself. I presume Gibby won. He was sitting in the whole time that I saw him in the 50+ break. The guy pulling him around look strong but not strong enough to drop Gibby or beat him in a sprint.

yeah pat small fields are tough, with the six guys off the front in the 45+ race it looked like there were only about fifteen guys to chase, especially if the group doesn't want to work.

well luckily for me it was dry in the 40+ race just a little water in turns 1 and 2. it was sooo much smoother than the cbr 30+ 3/4s race a couple of weeks ago. we had a pretty big field, i'm guessing about 70 or more riders. the start was nice and mellow with the rolling start after the parade lap for roger. the beginning pace wasn't too bad and none of the early attacks didn't really get anywhere. finally a few guys were able to stay away with the help of one guy blocking the chase pretty effectively as only a handful of guys were really chasing. each time we'd start to gather some speed someone would pull off the front and the blocker would be at the front and no one would pull through. three guys ended up staying away. i finished 13th, just like last year, although last year i rode near the back the whole way and ended up near the front on the last lap. this year i was closer to the front a lot more and did a bit more work so i feel good about that as long as i don't get 13th next year.

I rode about as well as I could have hoped for in the 50+ race. I tried to pick up the pace on the last lap and when I looked back at turn 2 I was 100 yards or so off the front. I should have just sat up and saved it for the sprint, but I figured what the heck I might as well go for it. The pack caught me after turn 4 half way to the finish. I had nothing left but an anemic sprint and 4 or 5 guys got past me. Oh well. I thought it was a fun race.

I decided against riding the 45+ race. I was too wet, cold, and miserable to wait around.

Don't forget to check your frames for water. I had about a half pint of water sloshing around in mine. I have no idea how it gets in there.

Yeah, it was raining pretty good Sunday morning so I waited for it stop before going out to watch a few of the races.

Cat 4
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/cat4.jpg
40+
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/40.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/402.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/403.jpg

Pro
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/pro1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/pro2.jpg

Cat3
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/cat3-1.jpg

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p250/wonged1/St%20Valentine%20Race%202-11-07/cat3-2.jpg

Great shots!

My husband and I showed up right before the womens race. The rain had stopped, we had a great view and then the sun came out. Congrats to all that participated. Those are great photos....crystal clear.

Great shots!


Those are great photos....crystal clear.

Thanks. Now if I could only take pics like Luwin1026 and Chimivee........