Southern California - CBR crit today 1-28-08 did anyone go?

How was it?

Alex

I didn't go, but some guys on here did and posted pics in the race report thread
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=278233&page=30

I stayed home and played XBOX all day.....

How was it?

Alex

I rode the 50+ and the 40+. Worked too hard at the beginning of the 50+ and missed the breaks in both races. Neither was particularly fast. The 50+ avg. was just under 25mph and the 40+ was about 25.5 We had great weather for both.

I was going to race 30+ 1/2/3 too, but it started coming down so I didn't stay.

I thought Bigdraft was going to be there, but I didn't see him.

Is that you, Genedoc?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2225540901_12d3b95694.jpg

was it crash fest as usual for first race of the yearr?

I thought Bigdraft was going to be there, but I didn't see him.

ahh the best of intentions often go awry Larry. I made the call not to race around 4:30am, hearing it come down in buckets. When I got up a bit later and looked out, I realized I had blown the call. Oh well..Brea next weekend will be my first of the year I guess.

I rode the 40+ 4/5 and the 30+ 3/4. For the 40+ 4/5 the sky was clear and the roads were wet. It was a good safe race with no crashes. For the 30+ 3/4 the sky was clear and the roads had dried out. This race had more pushing and sketchy riding than the earlier race but there were no crashes.

It sounds like I was fortunate to race in the morning before the rain came. I heard that the cat. 3 race was shortened and that the pro/1/2 race was cancelled.

After braving the conditions at cyclocross nationals this year I'm no longer afraid of any weather conditions here. :-)

ahh the best of intentions often go awry Larry. I made the call not to race around 4:30am, hearing it come down in buckets. When I got up a bit later and looked out, I realized I had blown the call. Oh well..Brea next weekend will be my first of the year I guess.

"Valentine day massacre" is notorious for crashes - especially last stretch and turn before the finish - for some weird reason there always numerous crashes. Last year someone crashed in front of me and Al I could see was pink dots of his flesh on the grey asphalt.. I call it "strawberry fields".

geez if only we could eliminate crashes form this sport it would be so much better. My friend crashed 1.5 month ago in PV switchbacks at 50 mph, it was insane to watch him tumble on asphalt, luckily no broken bones, but we are skipping this season due to the act that winter base training was blown due to this accident.

^ Well, they're trying to develop that fabric that becomes solid on impact. That will greatly reduce the effect of crashes.

I thought St. Valentine's Day Massacre was known for crashes because it was the first crit in the season and everybody's pack skills were a little rusty. It doesn't have anything to do with the course, does it?

not really and they've changed the course in the last couple of years. i like the new course. it's a long narrow rectangle the straights between turns 1+2 and turns 3+4 are short and the stretch from 3 to 4 is uphill. the only section to really watch out for is turn 3 in the middle is kind of a dip (i think it's near a manhole cover?) that gets you a little airborne which is not the best for traction when you are trying to turn the corner

Cool, thanks for the heads up. I'll watch for that middle section in turn 3. I've never done it even though it's been around forever. It's now named after the father of a kid I used to race against all the time as a junior (Chad Millikan)

Is that you, Genedoc?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2225540901_12d3b95694.jpg


Indeed it is. Thanks for taking the pic!


Pat, see you next weekend. Hopefully Cleave will make it out too.

ahh the best of intentions often go awry Larry. I made the call not to race around 4:30am, hearing it come down in buckets. When I got up a bit later and looked out, I realized I had blown the call. Oh well..Brea next weekend will be my first of the year I guess.


Brea is in two weeks. Next weekend we get to ride Mothballs, Red Trolley and Boulevard. RT for me. I'd do Mothballs too, but SB one day and SD the next is too much car time for me.

^ Well, they're trying to develop that fabric that becomes solid on impact. That will greatly reduce the effect of crashes.


So a well-timed punch to the thigh of another rider can stop him?

So a well-timed punch to the thigh of another rider can stop him?
If this stuff works as well as they are claiming, it would do more damage to your fist than the rider's thigh as it would go back to flexible as soon as the force is gone. They're currently developing it for olympians, although they didn't mention which sport(s)

edit: some reading on it:
http://www.aip.org/dbis/stories/2006/15201.html
http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/14/us-canadian-olympic-skiers-get-skintight-armor/
Apparently it's currently being promoted for bullet protection and snow skiing.

Is that you, Genedoc?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2225540901_12d3b95694.jpg

Larry are you giving that guy the smallpox talk?

Cool, thanks for the heads up. I'll watch for that middle section in turn 3. I've never done it even though it's been around forever. It's now named after the father of a kid I used to race against all the time as a junior (Chad Millikan)

Chad's a good kid. His dad was a great guy as well. Chad started racing again a couple of years ago so he will definitely be at the race. The new course is much better than the old one. I haven't seen any crashes in turn 4 on the new course. It helps that we are going slightly uphill into that one so the speed is reduced a little and the field doesn't swing so wide. I have seen crashes in that turn 3 in the other categories. I've never noticed the problem with the road though.

I have to chime in and say the new course is great too. Much better then the old course. As far as crashes go, I think it's more an issue of category not when the race happens. I've done this race quite a few times and can't remember any crashes in my races. The older masters cats are generally pretty safe..albeit fast. I raced it in a full down pour either last year or the year before and still had no problem with the safety of the course.

Larry, oops timetable slippage there I guess. I won't be going down to SD for the Red Trolley..so I guess it will be two weeks before my season begins..that is if you don't count the Montrose Race LOL

Hi,


Indeed it is. Thanks for taking the pic!

Pat, see you next weekend. Hopefully Cleave will make it out too.

Next weekend I'm going to Boulevard to see how long I can hang in. :rolleyes: Should be good training regardless. :) However, I will be at the Roger Millikan Memorial Crit on Feb 10th.


Cool, thanks for the heads up. I'll watch for that middle section in turn 3. I've never done it even though it's been around forever. It's now named after the father of a kid I used to race against all the time as a junior (Chad Millikan)


Chad's a good kid. His dad was a great guy as well. Chad started racing again a couple of years ago so he will definitely be at the race. The new course is much better than the old one. I haven't seen any crashes in turn 4 on the new course. It helps that we are going slightly uphill into that one so the speed is reduced a little and the field doesn't swing so wide. I have seen crashes in that turn 3 in the other categories. I've never noticed the problem with the road though.

Roger and I were friends from back when Eldo was a ride and not a race. Roger was the guy who went to city hall and figured out how to make the ride a race and keep us in Eldo when the city wanted to kick us out. (Rose Bowl people, are you listening? :) )The last time I saw Roger was a couple of months before he passed. Lynn brought him to Eldo. I was sick that day but went to take pictures. It was hard to see Roger that way. :(


I have to chime in and say the new course is great too. Much better then the old course. As far as crashes go, I think it's more an issue of category not when the race happens. I've done this race quite a few times and can't remember any crashes in my races. The older masters cats are generally pretty safe..albeit fast. I raced it in a full down pour either last year or the year before and still had no problem with the safety of the course.

Larry, oops timetable slippage there I guess. I won't be going down to SD for the Red Trolley..so I guess it will be two weeks before my season begins..that is if you don't count the Montrose Race LOL

I haven't raced on the new course yet so I'll reserve judgment. ;) I raced the old course several times and watched all kinds of crashes in the Masters 40+ and/or 45+ races. Some were just before or at turn 4, but many were on the S/F straight just before turn 1. Everyone would start pushing up against the curb to get a good line for that corner and usually someone would go down at some point. :mad:

I watched last year's Masters 50+ race in the rain. :p Didn't know you were out there Pat. I was entered but I don't race in the rain. :D I got them to move my entry to a later race but I watched the race after the Masters and it was still raining so I left. Hopefully it will be dry this year.

I watched last year's Masters 50+ race in the rain. :p Didn't know you were out there Pat. I was entered but I don't race in the rain. :D I got them to move my entry to a later race but I watched the race after the Masters and it was still raining so I left. Hopefully it will be dry this year.

yeah, I got wet that day, but luckily everyone raced pretty safely so it was just a matter of staying upright and see how fast I could get back to the car to warm up and get dry when it was over.

I generally won't race in the rain if I think the course or talent is sketchy. Its a "your milage may vary" thing for me. Very situational