"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Plainville CT March 22, 2008 Report

Training race in Plainville, CT. Did the 3-4 and P-1-2-3. Sat up in first, DNF second.

http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2008/03/racing-plainville-march-22-2008.html

I don't know if there were other BFers there, I think I saw Homebrew (?), but since it's the only race in CT this weekend, I figure if someone from BF races around here, they'd have raced there.

cdr

Great read cdr.

Hi CDR, .... Yes, I was there for my first time. I did the 4/5 race, felt pretty good, (but not great). I was about 5th coming out of the last corner thinking I might place, then the guy in front of me popped out of his pedal, so I eased up. By then I was in 10th, so I just pedaled easy to 12th or so since I was out of the placings. I did the 3/4 race next. The first 2 laps were hard since I was still panting from the first race. I usually don't care if I start at the back, but it was a mistake today, since they started so quickly. After that I was fine and finished mid-pack. I don't have my crit legs yet.

Despite what everyone says about Cat 5s, it was a pretty safe race with no incidents that I know of and no real scary moves, although I prefer racing at the higher levels.

Neither Homebrew nor I mentioned but the crashes that happened that day were in the 3-4 race.

One guy must have touched wheels as suddenly I found myself riding past a guy laying on the road in the middle of a straight. I have no idea what happened in that one.

Another happened when someone flatted just as we went into a turn. He looked pretty boxed in, couldn't go straight, and fell when he hit the curb. Although I could have sworn he landed on his face, he seemed to be okay once he got up. The guy to his outside also went down. Don't know if that one was saveable but it seemed like there was a small chance it could have been a bit prettier (and also a relatively big chance it could have been worse).

and thanks kukusz :)
cdr

Great read as always Cdr!

I have to say that biologicals are no fun. I had a charlie horse during my first race and almost had to pull out because of it. Luckily, I had it just at the crest of a hill, and had a bit of descending to do where I managed to stretch out enough so I could continue without feeling like my right calf was being ripped off. Any hard effort led to pain though.

The circuit race the next day was not so much fun. My calf hurt for a good week after that though. Biologicals suck ;)