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06-21-07, 09:12 AM
Some of you may remember my first crit report from not so long ago (Sugar Crit series) where I got promptly spit out the back after a few laps. My average speed on that crit was somewhere in the range of 22-22.5 mph. I took my lessons to heart, did some interval training and did one more crit in that series holding my ground for about 40 minutes until I did something stupid (dropped glasses trying to take them off since I could no longer see - and turned around to get them rather than create a hazard on the course). Finished that race a little ways off the back of the main pack after soloing for a few laps.
Jump forward to yesterday. I was able to finally make it to week 3 of the Memorial Crit series here in Houston. Lots more riders in this race - I'd estimate 50+ (4/5 lumped together). I'll keep the race report much shorter than last time. Needless to say, it is a pretty technical course. A few pretty sharp corners. I managed to emerge unscathed and probably finished about 15-20 back. LOTS of mechanicals. Flats and outright wheel failures all over the place in the last few laps. One nice wreck right in front of me sent two guys ass over teakettle into some permanent wood barriers. One kept going, the other had to be driven to the start line at the end but was still walking. On one of the mechanicals (last three laps), I ended up doing a flyer through a ditch, around spectators and over a curb to avoid it (may have partially been due to my stupidity and skittishness as well). I managed to hop back on, but the legs were shot leaving me out of the sprint for good.
Still no powertap, but my average speed was 26mph over the 50 minute race. With the amount of corners on that course, I thought this was pretty fast.
I still need to work on getting to the front and staying there. It's scary in the back-40. Relatively pleased with my progress through three crits through.
Jump forward to yesterday. I was able to finally make it to week 3 of the Memorial Crit series here in Houston. Lots more riders in this race - I'd estimate 50+ (4/5 lumped together). I'll keep the race report much shorter than last time. Needless to say, it is a pretty technical course. A few pretty sharp corners. I managed to emerge unscathed and probably finished about 15-20 back. LOTS of mechanicals. Flats and outright wheel failures all over the place in the last few laps. One nice wreck right in front of me sent two guys ass over teakettle into some permanent wood barriers. One kept going, the other had to be driven to the start line at the end but was still walking. On one of the mechanicals (last three laps), I ended up doing a flyer through a ditch, around spectators and over a curb to avoid it (may have partially been due to my stupidity and skittishness as well). I managed to hop back on, but the legs were shot leaving me out of the sprint for good.
Still no powertap, but my average speed was 26mph over the 50 minute race. With the amount of corners on that course, I thought this was pretty fast.
I still need to work on getting to the front and staying there. It's scary in the back-40. Relatively pleased with my progress through three crits through.