"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Ris Van Bethel-DQD

Damn, first race of the season, first race not as a 5.
I did the 3/4 field, ave speed 21.9 mph. Distance 22 miles.
I am not a great group rider, it takes me a long time to get comfortable in a pack. After about lap 15-of 30-I began to feel a little more comfortable. The wind was constantly changing course, making it difficult to find some place to hide.
Coming into the last lap, the pace picked up, I was in a nice position, I thought-on the right near the front. Halfway through the lap, guys start surging up the left, no one in the group makes a move, I'm boxed in. There are already two guys after breaking away early on and staying away, now we're going for third.
Finally there's movement, I go, didn't check my power yet. I was surprised that it was so easy to go, no one is gaining on me, I'm in fourth going up the hill and I hold it for the finish. I'm psyched-first race as a 3. I take my hands off the bar, like I just won the tour, I'm overcome with emotion.
Heading back to the car, the Ref tells me I'm disqualified. I thought he was joking-no. I can't take my hands off the bar in a field sprint.
I still feel good, and I'm glad I learn this in a training race, not a stage race or one of my peak races. I have taken my hands off for all 4 of my places/wins, never heard of this, but, now I know.
It was my first race with someone who I have been training with, my coach, we are going to have our own team shortly, so it's hopefully going to be a good season.

Great race, met CDR, he got 2nd in the field sprint-and didn't put his hands in the air-smart.

You got what you deserved.

Awesome result for both of you (short of your hands...).

How was the weather? Forecast, with the wind chill, looked rough- especially this morning.

that stinks! Glad to know you had fun though!

You got what you deserved.

Yeah, it's a bit posing to do that, especially if you didn't win .... and unsafe, especially in that wind.

yeah, I have no problem with the decision, rules are for everyone.:o It will stop me from being a "poser" in future, even when I do win. So it's a win win.
Thanks for the props that some of you have given, it is appreciated.
Botto, I knew you'd be at the top of the line to say something along those lines, lol, amazing, even though you only know someone from the internet, you can know what they're going to say before they say it.
You must be a great rider Botto, you're full of that loathing, that Pcad is always talking about:D
The weather was about 32deg and very windy. It wasn't cloudy though. I was dressed perfect, long bibs, light base-layer, underarmor, wind breaker and then team jersey over that.
it's nice to know that my training has paid off and my bike handling seems to be improving.

I think raising one hand is legal.

Botto, I knew you'd be at the top of the line to say something along those lines, lol, amazing, even though you only know someone from the internet, you can know what they're going to say before they say it.
You must be a great rider Botto, you're full of that loathing, that Pcad is always talking about:D
.

Your job to know the rules.

So yes, you did get what you deserved.

yeah, I have no problem with the decision, rules are for everyone.:o It will stop me from being a "poser" in future, even when I do win. So it's a win win.
Thanks for the props that some of you have given, it is appreciated.
Botto, I knew you'd be at the top of the line to say something along those lines, lol, amazing, even though you only know someone from the internet, you can know what they're going to say before they say it.
You must be a great rider Botto, you're full of that loathing, that Pcad is always talking about:D
The weather was about 32deg and very windy. It wasn't cloudy though. I was dressed perfect, long bibs, light base-layer, underarmor, wind breaker and then team jersey over that.
it's nice to know that my training has paid off and my bike handling seems to be improving.

great? no, but i'm not an idiot either.

that's why i've never been DQ'd for raising my arms to celebrate a 3rd place.

Damn, first race of the season, first race not as a 5.
I did the 3/4 field, ave speed 21.9 mph. Distance 22 miles.
I am not a great group rider, it takes me a long time to get comfortable in a pack. After about lap 15-of 30-I began to feel a little more comfortable. The wind was constantly changing course, making it difficult to find some place to hide.
Coming into the last lap, the pace picked up, I was in a nice position, I thought-on the right near the front. Halfway through the lap, guys start surging up the left, no one in the group makes a move, I'm boxed in. There are already two guys after breaking away early on and staying away, now we're going for third.
Finally there's movement, I go, didn't check my power yet. I was surprised that it was so easy to go, no one is gaining on me, I'm in fourth going up the hill and I hold it for the finish. I'm psyched-first race as a 3. I take my hands off the bar, like I just won the tour, I'm overcome with emotion.
Heading back to the car, the Ref tells me I'm disqualified. I thought he was joking-no. I can't take my hands off the bar in a field sprint.
I still feel good, and I'm glad I learn this in a training race, not a stage race or one of my peak races. I have taken my hands off for all 4 of my places/wins, never heard of this, but, now I know.
It was my first race with someone who I have been training with, my coach, we are going to have our own team shortly, so it's hopefully going to be a good season.

Great race, met CDR, he got 2nd in the field sprint-and didn't put his hands in the air-smart.[/


My last 3/4 crit averaged 26.9. At least you learned a good lesson for next time. Even better if you do that 3 positions up though.

My last 3/4 crit averaged 26.9. At least you learned a good lesson for next time. Even better if you do that 3 positions up though.[/QUOTE]

Yeah I learned a lesson, I have no qualms with the decision, it was fair. Even if I get 3 positions up, I won't do that again-unless I'm in The TDF:).
The pace was down I think because it was so windy, 20-30 mph with 40-50mph gusts. It was coming from a different angle all the time, where I had a tailwind on a previous lap, you would get slammed with a headwind in the next lap, it definitely made for a fun race. There is also a hill thrown in there, although it's big ring, it still takes the wind out of your sails somewhat.

My last 3/4 crit averaged 26.9. At least you learned a good lesson for next time. Even better if you do that 3 positions up though.

It was friggin' windy out in CT today...

BTW, Pat...are you the dude who won Housatonic last year?

It was friggin' windy out in CT today...

BTW, Pat...are you the dude who won Housatonic last year?

Yeah, I am. Were you racing today?

Nope. I'm just glad you're not a 5 anymore.

:D

Nope. I'm just glad you're not a 5 anymore.

:D

That's a real compliment, thanks. I did 7 races as a 5 and they said I could/should upgrade.
I'm sure I'll be meeting you in the 4's though.

Yeah, since it seems a lot of races around here are 4/5's....

Did you have a dark green jersey on at Housatonic, and riding the Kestrel?

Yeah, since it seems a lot of races around here are 4/5's....

Did you have a dark green jersey on at Housatonic, and riding the Kestrel?

Yeah, that was me, did we meet?

I think you were lined up in front of me/right near me at the starting line, actually. I was in the front 10-15 riders at the base of the first climb, and then realized I left my legs home.

I think you were lined up in front of me/right near me at the starting line, actually. I was in the front 10-15 riders at the base of the first climb, and then realized I left my legs home.

Reminds me of my experience there last year.

Yeah....and then my lower back tightened up like a drum for the next hour. Good times.

i threw my arms up for that race and wasn't DQ'd, thank God.
That was a tough race, G wizard, I remember you talking about your back problems, have they been resolved?

Not really. Going to a sports med/orthopedic guy tomorrow. I found a lump on my right sitbone that seems to cause me to compensate, and also shifts my hip around a bit while pedaling...so I think I'm all messed up right now. Need to get that addressed. I sit basically directly on it, which sucks....I think it's a fatty tumor. My primary care Doc said my area down there is "normal" and probably irritated due to riding.....but, took 2.5 months off the bike, and it was still there the instant I got back on the bike. So.....no, not normal.

I just wish I could ride pain free. That would be awesome.

Sorry to hear that gw.
Probably won't help you, but, I got a new bike and the stem was 90mm, I was getting lower back pain, because I was too upright, now I have 100mm on there and it is much better.

My little post:
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2008/03/bethel-spring-series-ris-van-bethel_10.html

I didn't mention my thoughts about one rider during the race. I was riding along, minding my own business, when I saw a cross bike. Thought, ah, see, there are cross bikes here. I didn't see any last week but here's one. Not the 10 or 15 I expected, but one is better than none.

Hey, it's Ridley.

Wait, didn't someone post something in BF about putting together a Ridley for Bethel because it wasn't a priority race? Probably this guy. I looked over the bike. Pretty sweet for a "backup" bike.

So I kept my eye on how the guy was going whenever I ended up near/behind him. Seemed pretty fit, rode smooth, all that.

After the race, I went to the officials to talk to them about some fisticuffs thrown in the race. He mentioned he DQ'ed someone for taking their hands off the bars in the sprint. Whatever, I wanted to talk to the boxers on bikes.

I found them, talked to each of them individually, and asked both of them to talk to each other. Now one guy helps out all day so I have a conflict of interest there, but the other guy has been coming to Bethel forever and is normally a nice, upstanding guy. They both start talking (in a civil way), official comes over. That's when Mister Ridley Cross Bike comes over and introduces himself as a BF guy so I leave the two boxers alone.

I hear at some point "Then you're disqualified" from the official to the guy that helps out (he'd already DQ'ed the other nice guy). Helper guy starts to protest (that's mighty thin ice you tread when you try and argue with an official's call) and the official simply repeated his call. The other promoter actually talked to him after they left the course (after the P-1-2-3 race) and basically told him that he can't pull that kind of sh*t in a race, and if an official says something to you, you can't mouth back.

Anyway, after DQ'ing both of those guys, official walks over as IrishPat and I are talking. He notes IP's number.

"You number 58?" to IP.
"Yeah."
"You're disqualified for taking your hands off the bars."

IP's face just went into shock. Man did I feel bad. I left to let Pat talk it out with some privacy. To his credit he wasn't a jerk or anything about it. Apparently he knows the rules about not mouthing back at the official.

Anyway, IP rode a pretty good race because a lot of good guys weren't there for the sprint and it was very tight coming into it.

cdr

bethel yesterday was my first race ever. i raced in the 5's at 8. it was alot of fun (and actually alot easier than i expected). I plan on definitely racing again next week. they put on a real nice race over there.

bethel yesterday was my first race ever. i raced in the 5's at 8. it was alot of fun (and actually alot easier than i expected). I plan on definitely racing again next week. they put on a real nice race over there.

There's another race in that part of the state called the Housatonic Hills Road Race in June. You should check it out.

Good for you, irish pat. Take one on the chin and move on. Pretty refreshing.

Bethel is a series of races right? Bethel was once my home town. They didn't have races then though there was a Danbury Criterium. I'd love to make it back up there for a race. Are there any road races or are they all just industrial park type races?

Bethel is a series of races right? Bethel was once my home town. They didn't have races then though there was a Danbury Criterium. I'd love to make it back up there for a race. Are there any road races or are they all just industrial park type races?

the race where i broke my cherry.

Bethel is a series of races right? Bethel was once my home town. They didn't have races then though there was a Danbury Criterium. I'd love to make it back up there for a race. Are there any road races or are they all just industrial park type races?

The Bethel series is 6 weeks (4 left) all on the same Francis J. Clark industrial park course as you head south on Rt 53. CDR (posted on page 1) does a great job organizing & promoting it.
There are also less formal training races on Tuesady nights in the summer on the same course.

There are a few road races in CT during the year, not related to the Bethel series.

http://www.bikereg.com/events/?et=1&rg=8

the race where i broke my cherry.

I probably saw you since I was chief marshall for a few years ... my old club put that race on.