"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Weekend race reports!

Give me something to do while I'm forced to sit in bed doing nothing.
Post 'em here!

I did a TT this morning, that is all. :)

This afternoons Crit and tomorrows road race might be worth a more detailed report.

i had my 2nd ever race this morning- cat 5 Cadence Series in Prospect Park, Bklyn. long story short, last lap, i got dropped on the short climb 2 miles from the finish. i felt lame and weak. i'm not good at climbs and i could probably stand to lose 5 more pounds (my heavy, old-school, steel bike (21 lbs) could probably afford to lose 5 lbs as well). i got a calf cramp (again) on the last lap on a short climb. but the truth is, i would have gotten dropped without the cramp (i think).

i drank water all day the day before and had a protein shake in the morning. i even took an enduralyte pill to combat the cramp, still didn't help. i think i have to train harder. i'm new to racing and riding, and my training before 4 weeks ago was limited to running 5 miles (38 mins) and gym workouts. i'm looking to do more cycle specific training. i know i'm stronger than a lot of the guys that beat me :)

the highlight of my race was late into it, i was getting bored with guys on the brakes on the downhill, so i took off and attacked knowing full well that i'd be caught. at least i made them shout at each other to bridge the gap. it was fun to be in the lead- even for 3 minutes.


:)

i drank water all day the day before


Unless you were dehydrated from hard training/racing from two days ago, excessive water consumption is not a good idea. It washes out good stuff like electrolytes and water soluble vitamins.

A big drink of water with a meal is usually enough to rehydrate healthy persons. Other than that just sip on sports drink after breakfast the day of the race.

4th in the Baraboo RR. Thats good for $20 and 10% of my upgrade to the 3's.

i had my 2nd ever race this morning- cat 5 Cadence Series in Prospect Park, Bklyn. long story short, last lap, i got dropped on the short climb 2 miles from the finish. i felt lame and weak. i'm not good at climbs and i could probably stand to lose 5 more pounds (my heavy, old-school, steel bike (21 lbs) could probably afford to lose 5 lbs as well). i got a calf cramp (again) on the last lap on a short climb. but the truth is, i would have gotten dropped without the cramp (i think).

i drank water all day the day before and had a protein shake in the morning. i even took an enduralyte pill to combat the cramp, still didn't help. i think i have to train smarter. i'm new to racing and riding, and my training before 4 weeks ago was limited to running 5 miles (38 mins) and gym workouts. i'm looking to do more cycle specific training. i know i'm stronger than a lot of the guys that beat me :)

the highlight of my race was late into it, i was getting bored with guys on the brakes on the downhill, so i took off and attacked knowing full well that i'd be caught. at least i made them shout at each other to bridge the gap. it was fun to be in the lead- even for 3 minutes.


:)

fixed

harder= burnout
smarter= results

Give me something to do while I'm forced to sit in bed doing nothing.
Post 'em here!

I didn't race today because I had to do computer support for this guy.

http://www.astro.ufl.edu/~ken/ken_brian_may.jpg

He's an astronomer, and rumor has it a pretty decent guitarist, and I can say he's an all around nice guy.

For the first time since February, I'm not racing this weekend! Hooray beer!

Like reading the reports though boys, god work.

In the "making it to the starting line is half the battle" mold, I was at the poolesville road race today, warming up on some roads and got sideswiped by a car, ended up on the asphalt, again (3rd time in the past month). Dude was an older guy who simply didnt see me, it was an accident, guy was apologetic, and concerned with my welfare. Good on him, no ill will but to pay attention to your surroundings - me and him both - especially when there are like 400 racers in the area where you're driving.

Fell on my left side, again, rashed up my elbow and hip on skin that was still covered in tegaderm, and added a nice spot of no skin on my shoulder, and left knuckles.

Bike seemed OK, so a quick trip to the EMT to get bandaged up and I was off to catch the Cat 3/4 field during the neutral start. Each lap of this race has a 2-ish mile gravel section that is currently dry, very hardpacked, and littered with potholes, big ones. First trip through the gravel, I'm top 5, good position, clicking along, then I hit a row of potholes (there are so many it's not avoidable). My handlebars rotated forward (down) when I hit the potholes, which pulled all the cables on my brakes. I was going along at like 500W and losing ground wondering WTF? Then I hit another row of potholes and handlebars rotated so the drops were nearly pointing upwards, both brakes are pulled taught, and I'm skidding. Stayed upright, but had to stop and get off the bike. Couldnt get my bars to budge so I got a tool from a follow vehicle and spent a few minutes getting things right - game over on the race. It was a beautiful day weather wise so I tooled around and watched the various races while they were going on, found a few dudes who also either had mechanicals, flats, crashed, got behind crashes, found my coach, and we just rode some good hard tempo for a couple hours.

Sucky day racewise, but any time I encounter a bike on car incident, I know I'm lucky when I walk away from it.

Now, I've got to go clean out my elbow, hip, shoulder, knuckles, where ever else I've lost more skin, again. I swear, I've crashed now 6 times in my bicycling life, 3 since mid April. I know some folks on this forum have fared far worse than I, but I cant help but feel pretty frustrated right now.

My left leg stopped working. Do you know what it is like to pedal one-legged in 25mph wind in order to avoid a DNF?

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/398433720_75a5533e40_m.jpg

Coldspring, TX - My second race of the season, and ever. There was beautiful weather, it took me a good 12 miles before going OTB, then passed the one rider in front of me with 2.5 miles to go, and beat him up the final hill. I was like, "Yes! Not-last! Goals for the day met!"

Then, as I was recovering from the last climb/sprint to the finish line (I had to lay down, felt like I was either going to pass out or vomit), one of the other guys counted 14 Cat-5 guys come in after me. From 3rd-from-last in my first race, to at least 15th-from-last in my second race. Workin' my way up. Watch out...

Raced the Barrio Logan Crit this morning. Felt good physically, but thought I was retiring due to a flat after the thrid lap. Rear end felt squishy, so I raised my hand to let everyone know i was pulling off. Friend rolled by and asked what was wrong, then pointed out that my tire looked fine. Chased back onto the back of the pack, then flet the same thing. Looked down and could SWEAR i saw my QR spinning like it was loose. Slowed again, took a closer look and it was fine. WTF. Chased back on again and immediately started working forward. Someone bobbled in front of me and went wide, forcing me to hop the curb onto the sidewalk and clip a "no parking" sign. Stayed upright, hopped back onto the road and someone said "Gutsiest move I ever saw, Mav!"
Continued to move forward, then had to slow for a solo crash with one to go. Regain my spot, worked into the top ten or so, then got caught behind another crash with two corners left and finished 20th(75 field). Very interesting race. One of those where I was just happy to make it through without losing any blood or skin. Bike is also in one piece except where the sign tore off some bar tape.

4th in the Baraboo RR. Thats good for $20 and 10% of my upgrade to the 3's.

And well earned too. 41F, windy, rainy, and NOT flat:

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/MAY%203%20BARABOO/08117.jpg

Yeah, I'm standing next to the road. :D

More pics later.

Okay ... one more now.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/MAY%203%20BARABOO/08322.jpg

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/MAY%203%20BARABOO/08322.jpg

that's not natural. I don't know how you photoshopped it to make it look like that, but you did. That's a stupidly steep hill... I hope the downhill before it was just as good.

In the "making it to the starting line is half the battle" mold, I was at the poolesville road race today, warming up on some roads and got sideswiped by a car, ended up on the asphalt, again (3rd time in the past month). Dude was an older guy who simply didnt see me, it was an accident, guy was apologetic, and concerned with my welfare. Good on him, no ill will but to pay attention to your surroundings - me and him both - especially when there are like 400 racers in the area where you're driving.

Fell on my left side, again, rashed up my elbow and hip on skin that was still covered in tegaderm, and added a nice spot of no skin on my shoulder, and left knuckles.

Bike seemed OK, so a quick trip to the EMT to get bandaged up and I was off to catch the Cat 3/4 field during the neutral start. Each lap of this race has a 2-ish mile gravel section that is currently dry, very hardpacked, and littered with potholes, big ones. First trip through the gravel, I'm top 5, good position, clicking along, then I hit a row of potholes (there are so many it's not avoidable). My handlebars rotated forward (down) when I hit the potholes, which pulled all the cables on my brakes. I was going along at like 500W and losing ground wondering WTF? Then I hit another row of potholes and handlebars rotated so the drops were nearly pointing upwards, both brakes are pulled taught, and I'm skidding. Stayed upright, but had to stop and get off the bike. Couldnt get my bars to budge so I got a tool from a follow vehicle and spent a few minutes getting things right - game over on the race. It was a beautiful day weather wise so I tooled around and watched the various races while they were going on, found a few dudes who also either had mechanicals, flats, crashed, got behind crashes, found my coach, and we just rode some good hard tempo for a couple hours.

Sucky day racewise, but any time I encounter a bike on car incident, I know I'm lucky when I walk away from it.

Now, I've got to go clean out my elbow, hip, shoulder, knuckles, where ever else I've lost more skin, again. I swear, I've crashed now 6 times in my bicycling life, 3 since mid April. I know some folks on this forum have fared far worse than I, but I cant help but feel pretty frustrated right now.

jesus, what the heck is going on around here? Im glad you are relatively ok. Sounds like this race was just not meant to happen for us this year.

Dilworth Crit 2/3 race. Staged at the back as usual, so I spent the whole race trying to move up thru the pack, which was difficult given the narrow roads, extremely sharp corner which was navigated excruciatingly slowly by the pack, and grinding hill. The times I did get near the front I was gassed from the effort of moving up and ended up at the back again. I ended up 24th out of maybe 60. Fun race, good crowd.

Oh and that really sucks that everyone on this forum seems to be having a run of bad luck. Hope everyone ends up ok and no one else has a run in with fate...

Afternoon crit was hard, but kept the rubber side down at least.

2nd in Juniors. Followed the super cat 1/2 junior and he helped me finish. Breakaway on the big hill and kept it there with the downhill and tailwind to the finish.

that's not natural. I don't know how you photoshopped it to make it look like that, but you did. That's a stupidly steep hill... I hope the downhill before it was just as good.

No smoke or mirrors ... but you're right, it's just stupid steep. :)

I'll have more later today.

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc54/biffbradford/cycling/MAY%203%20BARABOO/07674.jpg

Moved up a grade. Road Race. Bridged and tried to continue the attack. There is nothing worse as you roll to the back after your pull in the breakaway than the pack being there just crusing along - smiling at you - "you guys gonna keep going and tow us all along?"
Bridged and attacked again - same, lazy pack. Needed a rest in the middle.
Beautiful sunny day for racing. No wind.
Attacked a hill and got 50m break. Died on the next hill and got spat out the back. Just couldn't hold them.
On the flat I tried to bridge. I collected a train of passangers dropped in the charge for the line. It was possible to bridge if I just gave everything. They all sprinted past me at the line, @#$tards. We didn't bridge. Man I could have been in it if I had just waited. But my legs; they wanted to go, I couldn't wait..... Avg 37 kph
Next week.

that's not natural. I don't know how you photoshopped it to make it look like that, but you did. That's a stupidly steep hill... I hope the downhill before it was just as good.

+1

jesus, what the heck is going on around here? Im glad you are relatively ok. Sounds like this race was just not meant to happen for us this year.

+1
I'm bummed about being off the bike, but I'm even more bummed about not being around the seniors before they graduate or finishing the semester with my classmates.

Dilworth Crit 2/3 race. Staged at the back as usual, so I spent the whole race trying to move up thru the pack, which was difficult given the narrow roads, extremely sharp corner which was navigated excruciatingly slowly by the pack, and grinding hill. The times I did get near the front I was gassed from the effort of moving up and ended up at the back again. I ended up 24th out of maybe 60. Fun race, good crowd.

Oh and that really sucks that everyone on this forum seems to be having a run of bad luck. Hope everyone ends up ok and no one else has a run in with fate...

I enjoyed watching this race more than the pro race actually. A good friend just became a cat3 and said this race was excruciating for most of the 3s.

I enjoyed watching this race more than the pro race actually. A good friend just became a cat3 and said this race was excruciating for most of the 3s.

Sure was. Some cat 3 won the field sprint for 5th though... I should have manned up and tried to work my way up near the end but I was hurting and it was super sketch. That's really no excuse :(

Did my first crit in Sugarland, TX. Have done several road races, but never a crit.

It was a lot of fun. I raced 4/5. The course was through the town square in a .75 mile loop. Fairly technical but also well laid out and very safe. No crashes in my race which is pretty amazing!

A teammate won the race and I finished middle of the pack at 18th.

I certainly learned a lot and should continue to improve my standing.

Steve

Did my first crit in Sugarland, TX. Have done several road races, but never a crit.

It was a lot of fun. I raced 4/5. The course was through the town square in a .75 mile loop. Fairly technical but also well laid out and very safe. No crashes in my race which is pretty amazing!

A teammate won the race and I finished middle of the pack at 18th.

I certainly learned a lot and should continue to improve my standing.

Steve

Yeah, so I tried riding in this too... I don't think I understood the instructions exactly right... as I was getting lapped by the front of the pack about 5 or 7 laps in, one of the people in orange started blowing their whistle and pointing... which I took to mean "get the heck out of the way, and get off the course." So I did, and then realized that they weren't judges (they were just blowing their whistles to let folks around the corner know that riders were approaching), and that the judges in the blue shirts would be the ones to wave me off.

Even if I hadn't left then, the judges almost definitely would have waved me off in a few laps anyway. I don't know if it was the Cat-4s, the corners/sprinting (I'm used to riding on long, straight FM roads) or what, but I was definitely not ready for this. I've got a lot more interval work to do (plus losing a few more pounds, definitely) before I try something like this again.

Question, though: This was a 4/5 race. Would the pace have been much different if it was just Cat 5?

It was a nice course.

Check thy blog for race reports.

Yeah, so I tried riding in this too... I don't think I understood the instructions exactly right... as I was getting lapped by the front of the pack about 5 or 7 laps in, one of the people in orange started blowing their whistle and pointing... which I took to mean "get the heck out of the way, and get off the course." So I did, and then realized that they weren't judges (they were just blowing their whistles to let folks around the corner know that riders were approaching), and that the judges in the blue shirts would be the ones to wave me off.

Even if I hadn't left then, the judges almost definitely would have waved me off in a few laps anyway. I don't know if it was the Cat-4s, the corners/sprinting (I'm used to riding on long, straight FM roads) or what, but I was definitely not ready for this. I've got a lot more interval work to do (plus losing a few more pounds, definitely) before I try something like this again.

Question, though: This was a 4/5 race. Would the pace have been much different if it was just Cat 5?

It was a nice course.I think the pace was average for a 5 race, maybe a bit faster with the 4s in the race. My teammate is a 4 and very accomplished track and crit rider and he won it fairly easily with a solo surge with 1/2 lap to go. My guess is that there were equal numbers of 4s and 5s in our race, with the stronger 4s for the day choosing to do the 3/4 race.

I, like you, didn't have any experience with crits. For example, I didn't know where to look to see how many laps were remaining the race. Sounds stupid, but in the middle of the final lap, I asked another rider how many laps to go and he said it was the final lap :( -- too late to improve my position :o

In any case, this is why you race. To have fun, to test your fitness, to learn and to to continue to improve.

Congrats on your first crit -- especially after the hard road race yesterday!

P.S. I think I saw you lining up at the start of the race towards the front on the left. Were you in a red Trek? And, do you have a, how can I put this, "a middle linebacker" physique? I think we checked in at 6:00am together as well.

Steve

I think the pace was average for a 5 race, maybe a bit faster with the 4s in the race. My teammate is a 4 and very accomplished track and crit rider and he won it fairly easily with a solo surge with 1/2 lap to go. My guess is that there were equal numbers of 4s and 5s in our race, with the stronger 4s for the day choosing to do the 3/4 race.

I, like you, didn't have any experience with crits. For example, I didn't know where to look to see how many laps were remaining the race. Sounds stupid, but in the middle of the final lap, I asked another rider how many laps to go and he said it was the final lap :( -- too late to improve my position :o

In any case, this is why you race. To have fun, to test your fitness, to learn and to to continue to improve.

Congrats on your first crit -- especially after the hard road race yesterday!

P.S. I think I saw you lining up at the start of the race towards the front on the left. Were you in a red Trek? And, do you have a, how can I put this, "a middle linebacker" physique? I think we checked in at 6:00am together as well.

Steve


You calling me fat?!

Because it's ok if you are. That was me, on the red Trek in the white jersey. I used to play rugby in college, so I prefer "You look like a prop." But that wouldn't make much sense to anyone.

Losing 25 lbs (or more) would definitely make me a better racer... that's my main objective at this point. But riding in races is fun, so I don't mind charting my success in the number of people that finish after me, as opposed to what place I come in. My goal for crits at this point? Get in good enough shape to finish a crit without getting called off the course. Gotta start somewhere, right?

I took some pictures after I got off the course, they'll be on my flickr page shortly, if you want to see if there's any of you/your teammates. I'll put the link here when I get the photos up.

Photos from the Sugar Land Crit are available here. (http://flickr.com/photos/greginchina/sets/72157604886222247/)

You calling me fat?!

Because it's ok if you are. That was me, on the red Trek in the white jersey. I used to play rugby in college, so I prefer "You look like a prop." But that wouldn't make much sense to anyone.

Losing 25 lbs (or more) would definitely make me a better racer... that's my main objective at this point. But riding in races is fun, so I don't mind charting my success in the number of people that finish after me, as opposed to what place I come in. My goal for crits at this point? Get in good enough shape to finish a crit without getting called off the course. Gotta start somewhere, right?

I took some pictures after I got off the course, they'll be on my flickr page shortly, if you want to see if there's any of you/your teammates. I'll put the link here when I get the photos up.

No, I am not calling you fat :). Hey, I was formerly 235lbs 2 years ago (and I am only 5'10) and I lost about 50 lbs. cycling. Get this, my teammate, and the guy who won our crit today, used to be over 400lbs. He is still 265lbs+, but he lost all the weight cycling, as well. So, there is hope for both of us!

Here is a pic, from your camera, of my teammate winning today:

http://i27.tinypic.com/10mtqg3.jpg

Thanks for sharing the pics!

No, I am not calling you fat :). Hey, I was formerly 235lbs 2 years ago (and I am only 5'10) and I lost about 50 lbs. cycling. Get this, my teammate, and the guy who won our crit today, used to be over 400lbs. He is still 265lbs+, but he lost all the weight cycling, as well. So, there is hope for both of us!

Here is a pic, from your camera, of my teammate winning today:

http://i27.tinypic.com/10mtqg3.jpg

Thanks for sharing the pics!

That guy used to be 400 lbs?!?!? Holy cr@p!

Finally some emotion! I saw 6 or 7 races (diff. catagories) this past weekend, and all the winners simply rode across the finish line like it was another crack in the road. At least fake it that you're happy you won! :rolleyes:

I raced the first Winter Crit of the season for the South Eastern combine, at Casey Field's in Melbourne...

This was to be my first race since 2001 and only my third race ever!! Since I raced C grade back then and was severely punished, I was expecting more of the same as I registered… We lined up, with C grade consisting of approximately a dozen or so mainly teenagers with a couple of adults thrown in for good measure.

First ten minutes of the 45 + 3 laps was pretty uneventful and surprisingly slow! I rode off the front by accident easily gaining 100 metres and rolled by myself for a lap but sat up as I didn’t like the idea of a 35 minute TT session and expected they must surely wind it up soon… After another five minutes or so, there is another little dig by one of the lads so I follow and roll through, once again easily riding off the front at the bottom horseshoe bend, but this time with one rider on my wheel. We immediately work together taking half lap turns of the 2.2km circuit, getting some respite from the Northerly blowing across the course…

Still not going all out we are slowly pulling away. One rider tries to bridge the gap but gets stuck in no mans land over the next ten minutes or so. Finally the group dropped back considerably, giving up the chase and focussing on third with the solo rider back in the fold…

We keep up the tempo, even though it’s down to us for first and second its great training. We finally pass our group as we cross the line and receive the bell. Mark (the guy who went with me) takes the front position still taking his turn along the inside back straight. The spot I was taking the front whilst rolling turns was up the final slight uphill before the left hand bend and finish. This time I sit on until just on the final straight, pull out and punch up the right. I didn’t have to go too hard though as Mark didn’t have the legs this time to contest the sprint…

I'm still surprised at the slow pace yesterday and expect I was given a gentle return to racing. I’m not expecting the same nice treatment next time round!

Ride home wasn’t quite as easy as on the way down… Now with worked legs and the Northerly, I took it easy and cruised back up Dandenong road with more cars to keep me company…

Next race for me will be the ITT at Kew Boulevard in a couple of weeks. Back in my element coming from a tri background, so looking forward to 10km of pain!

I took 3rd in the Cat 5s at the Hollenback Spring Classic RR. It was really short (only 22mi), but it had a couple of climbs, and the finish was up a freakin' wall of a hill. I'm ok at climbing, but I really hate these uphill finishes. The finish went somthing like this:

Wait
Wait
Wait
Ok, starting to sprint now
2 guys blow past me at a smoldering 13.5 mph
Get tired and sit back down
Ok, 4th place guy is coming up on me, I need to go again
Roll across the finish at 12 mph.

Every race I've done so far has had an uphill finish, but this was the worst by far. I hate finishing at such a slow speed, it's so anti-climactic.

Did my first crit in Sugarland, TX. Have done several road races, but never a crit.

It was a lot of fun. I raced 4/5. The course was through the town square in a .75 mile loop. Fairly technical but also well laid out and very safe. No crashes in my race which is pretty amazing!

A teammate won the race and I finished middle of the pack at 18th.

I certainly learned a lot and should continue to improve my standing.

Steve

Hey Houston Biker - I raced in that race too. Awesome course. I sat in the front pulling everyone around way too much. Only thing I had to show for it the last few laps was tired legs and a pack finish. Barely missed out on a free burrito prime :) Eric's a strong rider and rode smart. Well-deserved win for him. I was the lone GCCA guy in the race, BTW.

*edit* Thanks for the pics chinotex

I do make a number of appearances...most with my give me oxygen face...i.e.:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s289/jvan12345/SugarCrit1.jpg

"You look like a prop."

I get it. For people not used to the gamehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sol/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/rugby_union_guscott_on_sco_v_eng/img/3.jpg

Jason White is a flanker (iirc), but you get the idea :)

had a great race until the last lap. Top 15 or so for the whole race on a very technical 8 corner course with about half downhill half uphill at about a 2-3 percent grade. Last lap moved up to second wheel and coming out of the 3rd to last corner, as you start the hill I try to go on the outside and someone moves over into me and I move over into a pothole and wipe out at 30+ according to the file afterword. Before the crash I was in a spot that basically guaranteed me a top 3 as there was no more room to move up after that and felt fine but it was not to be. Ended up with a broken wrist and road rash on my hip and a bruised quad. Had to skip the RR on sunday. State championships are next weekend too. Looking at the power file afterword, normalized power was 30 watts under threshold. Soo annoying.

had a great race until the last lap. Top 15 or so for the whole race on a very technical 8 corner course with about half downhill half uphill at about a 2-3 percent grade. Last lap moved up to second wheel and coming out of the 3rd to last corner, as you start the hill I try to go on the outside and someone moves over into me and I move over into a pothole and wipe out at 30+ according to the file afterword. Before the crash I was in a spot that basically guaranteed me a top 3 as there was no more room to move up after that and felt fine but it was not to be. Ended up with a broken wrist and road rash on my hip and a bruised quad. Had to skip the RR on sunday. State championships are next weekend too. Looking at the power file afterword, normalized power was 30 watts under threshold. Soo annoying.

Crap, sorry to hear that. What's your prognosis for getting back in the saddle?

Sure was. Some cat 3 won the field sprint for 5th though... I should have manned up and tried to work my way up near the end but I was hurting and it was super sketch. That's really no excuse :(

It was a pretty decent pace, and with all the surging, guys were hurting. The guy who won the field sprint is Alan Tripp, and he's got a good jump (I don't, but that long uphill drag was perfect for my finishing style). I was coming up on him but didn't quite get there in time. I was about half a wheel from even with him at the line, unfortunately for me.

EMT said 4-6 weeks minimum (I've got a brace on right now, no hard cast as it is probably just a hairline fracture as I still have some movement)... I rode today and will do my best to race next weekend. The only reason I skipped yesterday is because I heard the course had a few sets of cattle crossings that would not have been fun to try to bunny hop. I'm also already registered in events every weekend for the next 5 or 6 weeks, so no beak time for me.

EMT said 4-6 weeks minimum (I've got a brace on right now, no hard cast as it is probably just a hairline fracture as I still have some movement)... I rode today and will do my best to race next weekend. The only reason I skipped yesterday is because I heard the course had a few sets of cattle crossings that would not have been fun to try to bunny hop. I'm also already registered in events every weekend for the next 5 or 6 weeks, so no beak time for me.

I did a crit last year with a sprained wrist, and it didn't interfere at all. I know all injuries are different -- but there's some hope :D

UmneyDurak raced all last summer in a hard cast with a broken wrist. ;)

UmneyDurak raced all last summer in a hard cast with a broken wrist. ;)

The only thing that I'm worried about is How in the hell do you sprint.

The only thing that I'm worried about is How in the hell do you sprint.

No idea. Might wanna shoot him a pm. He is often in the So-Cal forum.

Doublecheck your directions. (http://zthomas.blogspot.com/2008/05/so-much-for-weekend.html)

Velocity Stage Race:

Time Trial - 6th 10km 13:36
Crit - 2nd (lost by 2-3 inches)
Road Race - 1st (spent 80km in a 5 man break that tore its self apart in the last 5km. Field finished 6 mins back)
Overall - 1st (by 2 seconds)

Hi,

Racing may not be the operative word in my case (http://cleavesblant.blogspot.com/2008/05/from-back-of-pack-2008-mark-reynolds.html). :o

Hi,

Racing may not be the operative word in my case (http://cleavesblant.blogspot.com/2008/05/from-back-of-pack-2008-mark-reynolds.html). :o

You aren't the only one...

Velocity Stage Race:

Time Trial - 6th 10km 13:36
Crit - 2nd (lost by 2-3 inches)
Road Race - 1st (spent 80km in a 5 man break that tore its self apart in the last 5km. Field finished 6 mins back)
Overall - 1st (by 2 seconds)

Bad ass. Congrats.