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04-07-04, 09:57 AM
Last night was the first Tuesday Night Criterium series hosted by the South Chicago Wheelmen, my team. My legs are shot today. So sore that they woke me up. We raced a total of 30 kilometers broken into 3 races: 5K, 20K, 5K. The guys I rode with last year moved up to the A group leaving me behind with the B’s. About 40 of us turned out to ride on a beautiful night. Lot of guys were squirrely, not holding lines or aware of their surrounding, which seems normal the first night out.
On the second lap on the first race I had the wind and shot off the front as the group was waiting for someone to come up and pull. My heart rate was 190 when I turned and the wind hit me in the face. Wasn’t long before the group swallowed me. I was spent and did the best I could to stay in the safety of the pack the rest of the race.
The second race was 20 laps (1 lap equals 1 kilometer). The pace was high because we were frisky with spring fever. We sprinted with 10 to go which was when 3 riders chose to go off the front. Took the pack 8 laps to finally catch them. While hunting them down we caught the A group which made us all feel good (sometimes I think riding with the Bs is harder than riding with the As.) Note: at the start line the A group goes first and the Bs wait to start until the As are about a half lap ahead.
The last race was short and sweet. I stayed up front with the University of Chicago guys but refused to take a pull. I didn’t want to make another stupid mistake this early in the season. I lost the race in the final sprint as my legs were cooked.
I always loose races in the final sprint for the line. Sometimes I make dumb mistakes and sometimes I just don’t have the suds. I’m going to schedule weekly intervals to help me with this problem.
We got new uniforms this year which includes a helmet and wind jacket as well as the jersey and shorts. Much improved over the ugly rags from last year.
On the second lap on the first race I had the wind and shot off the front as the group was waiting for someone to come up and pull. My heart rate was 190 when I turned and the wind hit me in the face. Wasn’t long before the group swallowed me. I was spent and did the best I could to stay in the safety of the pack the rest of the race.
The second race was 20 laps (1 lap equals 1 kilometer). The pace was high because we were frisky with spring fever. We sprinted with 10 to go which was when 3 riders chose to go off the front. Took the pack 8 laps to finally catch them. While hunting them down we caught the A group which made us all feel good (sometimes I think riding with the Bs is harder than riding with the As.) Note: at the start line the A group goes first and the Bs wait to start until the As are about a half lap ahead.
The last race was short and sweet. I stayed up front with the University of Chicago guys but refused to take a pull. I didn’t want to make another stupid mistake this early in the season. I lost the race in the final sprint as my legs were cooked.
I always loose races in the final sprint for the line. Sometimes I make dumb mistakes and sometimes I just don’t have the suds. I’m going to schedule weekly intervals to help me with this problem.
We got new uniforms this year which includes a helmet and wind jacket as well as the jersey and shorts. Much improved over the ugly rags from last year.