Northern California - How was the Early Bird? Tell us about it!

I think the title says it all.

I know some of you were going. How did it go, how did you do?

It was great. I took off of the front a couple times, but no one wanted to try and get into a break with me so I sat up and got back in the group both times. I was behind a big crash because two riders bumped, one went down, and another endo'ed. Everyone walked away, some missing a little skin. Race ended in a sprint from the pack. My son, who I sent to grab some pictures of the pros, came back without taking any. When I asked why, he told me he thought it would be rude to take pictures after Fast Freddy Rodriguez was nice enough to take time to stop and talk to him a few minutes about his race.(Fast Freddy won again). Kudos, Mr Rodriguez, very nice of you.

Was that crash in the first race in the morning? I saw the one at the end of the 35+ Cat 5 race. They were just finishing the last turn and starting the straightaway when it happend. There were three groups, and it happened in the group that was made up of first time racers. A guy in my club saw the endo out of the corner of his eye. That guy laid there not moving figuring he wouldn't move until everyone passed him. He got some road rash. He thinks someone crossed their front wheel on his rear.
The other guy that crossed a front wheel went down and trashed his carbon frame. His left ankle was really hurting him bad, so it's either sprained or broken.

Nope. I was in the first race of the day (Men 3/4 and Women 3). No crashes, surprisingly fast for January, and surprisingly smooth. There was a two man break for about 5 laps that got caught on the last lap and one of the two breakawayers recovered and rode off the front for the win. Strong kid.

I took a couple of flyers early just for practice, tried and failed to bridge to the break, and then worked on moving up through the pack. Finished around 10th or so. A good morning.

Unfortunately it meant getting up SUPER early to get there from Sacramento.

If someone hit your friend's rear wheel, he most likely wouldn't have gone down. the person who hit his wheel would go down and it's very likely your friend wouldn't have even felt it.

if someone endo'd, it's because they hit their brakes and didn't move their body weight back. there's no other likely reason someone would endo in a crit on a flat, smooth course.

I was racing in that last group of 35+ riders on the last lap and about 150 yards from the finish when I saw the second rider crash into the first rider who was down on the ground; it happened so fast that I guess he couldn't avoid it and his bike just flew in the air and I heard it split in two upon impact. A buddy and I barely avoided the same fate with some quick maneuvering, I was racing for the first time and it was a pretty smooth ride until that final sprint. I think it started when a couple of riders going for the sprint touched bikes and one guy went down; I hope no one was seriously hurt, but it kind of sucks that it had been a clean/fast ride for 39 minutes but I guess the race (and the risk) isn't over until you cross the finish line.

It was the same as last week for me. The under 35 cat 5 were surprisingly smooth and crash free. Average was around 25mph and I was averaging less than that so I was dropped several time. Getting better (very slowly) each week. I'll post some pictures tomorrow after getting some rest. One of my carpool mates had to be there for the first race so same early story as Caloso.

Great job guys! Wish I was in town to attend....

Ken

I heard about the crash and about the flying bike after hitting the person on the ground. I hope they're both OK.

They split the 35+ Cat5's into three groups, first was the experienced guys (5+ races), second was guys with under 5 races, and the first time racers in the third. I was in the second group.

I kept a cool head mostly and didn't work more than I had to keep near the front. The pace averaged 25mph with bursts to 28-29. I did find myself mid-pack halfway through the bell lap. Coming around the last right-hand sweeper, I saw Owner (Jeff) and Mike (Roaring Mouse rider) in the front so I pushed hard, in the wind, to claw back to the front. I ended with a 15th or so place finish. The coolest part was when we (the 2nd less experienced group) caught and passed the first group.

I met a few guys from La Morinda (sp) cycling club who is sponsored by Taleo. They seemed pretty cool and welcoming and apparently has ~160 racers in their club :eek:. Next week is meet the teams week so it should be interesting.

Joel,
You should come try one of the two remaining Early Birds. If you like the Sac Wheelmen ride, you'd probably enjoy this too.

Wish I could have made it. I might try for the RR next Sat. or the crit on Sunday. I just built up my race bike... on a BD frame :o. I'll give it some work this week on commutes. I reg'd for the Cal Aggie crit so I'm committed.

Hope to see you guys out there. :thumb:

I went with the 3rd 35+ cat 5 group today. There were less people and I had a headache anyway. Nice pace the whole time. I was mid-pack coming out of the last turn when the crash took place. I was right behind them. I slowed down and helped the less injured guy get his bike off the course. Other than that it was a great day. Looking forward to meet the teams day next week.

I was in the second 35+ cat 5 group, with Blastradius. It was a nice day, with perfect weather. My computer indicates the pace was slightly slower than last week, which is surprising since we caught the first group. I wonder if there was another long, successful breakaway in that group like last week's race. Even more surprising is that the race apparently was only 34 minutes. By the afternoon, all the races are running behind schedule, so maybe they cut it short to get the juniors out before sunset!

havent raced yet just going out to watch, the 123 races have been fantastic and the weather...:roflmao2:

has been a very popular series thus far - thanks Larry!

i will be out there with a tent for my team on team day (Berkely Bike Club), will have availalble trainers, coffee and yogurt parfaits, water, and bagels :D

come say hi! Plan on racing the 123 race, just trying to kick this cough from a cold i had 2 freakin weeks ago.

<snip>
Joel,
You should come try one of the two remaining Early Birds. If you like the Sac Wheelmen ride, you'd probably enjoy this too.

Nah, I'm just not interested in riding a crit. The crowds and chaos are things I try to avoid being mixed up in. I had enough trouble keeping straight with 10 riders yesterday.

I had to work in the afternoon so I ended up going down early to do the 3/4 race and the 9:30 clinic to get my points.

The differences between the 3/4 race and the 5 35+ were a slightly higher pace (25.7 mph compared to 24.8 from last weeks 35 + race) and a longer race time (48 minutes compared to 36 minutes). The pack was very smooth yesterday and much more aware. I think this group had like two or three crashes last week! I heard somebody say the group seemed a lot smaller too. Maybe the crashes convinced some people to stay away. Another difference was that the group seemed more strung out than the cat 5's so it felt harder to move up through the pack without going out in the wind.

I spent most of the race being content at being pack fodder. Later in the race when I felt a bit more warmed up I moved up to the front for about a quarter of a lap to help bring back the break. The pack seemed a bit more organized in chasing it down than our group last week who let a three man break get away. It was a lot of fun.

Hey Henry and Jeff, I wish I was able to make that race. It was a lot of fun having you guys there the last couple of weeks. That’s awesome that you guys caught the first group. How did they handle that? Did you just sort of get absorbed into their group? How’d Mike do?

Joel, by posting this thread it seems as though you’re a least flirting with the racing bug :). You should come down and check it out!

<snip>

Joel, by posting this thread it seems as though you’re a least flirting with the racing bug :). You should come down and check it out!

I'm just an interested fan. And I like to know how my friends here at BF are doing at following their racing dream.

Hey Henry and Jeff, I wish I was able to make that race. It was a lot of fun having you guys there the last couple of weeks. That’s awesome that you guys caught the first group. How did they handle that? Did you just sort of get absorbed into their group? How’d Mike do?


Hey Tim, we missed you out there! I think our group was bigger than the first one, so if anything they were absorbed into ours. I don't know if they latched on the back or not. Mike did well, paying me back in full for the leadout I gave him in EB#1. Ah, poetic justice! Mike and I were laughing about it afterwards. It was another fun, safe race. The EB folks do a nice job.

Hey Tim, we missed you out there! I think our group was bigger than the first one, so if anything they were absorbed into ours. I don't know if they latched on the back or not. Mike did well, paying me back in full for the leadout I gave him in EB#1. Ah, poetic justice! Mike and I were laughing about it afterwards. It was another fun, safe race. The EB folks do a nice job.

You guys passed the first group and kept on going. They fell behind. That was some good riding you were doing. If the race had been another 15 minutes I'd have expected you to catch the third group.
I'm going to come watch again Sunday.

You guys passed the first group and kept on going. They fell behind. That was some good riding you were doing. If the race had been another 15 minutes I'd have expected you to catch the third group.I'm going to come watch again Sunday.

They would have never caught us...........never :roflmao2:
They probably would have caught us. The 3rd group had quite a few significant slowdowns.

So, seems like I didn't get any photos of anyone you guys would know here except for Fast Freddy. It almost looks like I'm a stalker:o I promise, I have a other pictures of my team buddies. Just doesn't seem appropriate to post them here.

http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o333/huytheskigod/Early%20Bird%20Crit%203%202009/IMG_0427.jpg
http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o333/huytheskigod/Early%20Bird%20Crit%203%202009/IMG_0428.jpg
http://i340.photobucket.com/albums/o333/huytheskigod/Early%20Bird%20Crit%203%202009/IMG_0430.jpg

Waiting for some guy to come out of the portapottie? Yeah, that's pretty stalkerish.

Waiting for some guy to come out of the portapottie? Yeah, that's pretty stalkerish.

:roflmao2::roflmao2::roflmao2:

anti-doping chaperon?

Waiting for some guy to come out of the portapottie? Yeah, that's pretty stalkerish.

My car was parked right next to the portopottie! :notamused:

Found some great pics of Owner outsprinting the field.
Taken by Garrett Lau of SugarCRM/LGBRC.
Here's the flickr set: http://www.flickr.com/photos/garrettlau/sets/72157612766542035/
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3367/3214023177_4ea8c1a297_o.jpg

Anybody doing this weekend?

I'll be there, rain or shine.

I will be there Sunday for sure.

Me too.

I'll be there Sunday, but Saturday I work.

Team Velo Girls will have a tent up for meet the teams day (with yummy goodies for everybody). Stop by and say hello!

Anyone going to be there for "the real thing" this Sunday? I'll be doing the 3/4 race again in the morning. I'm praying for calm conditions.

Also, does anyone know how upgrade points work in a combined field? Are they scored separately or would that be too much for VP to deal with?

Anyone going to be there for "the real thing" this Sunday? I'll be doing the 3/4 race again in the morning. I'm praying for calm conditions.



Will be in the 123 race. See you out there! :thumb:

I'll be there, 35+ 5s. Don't know about how combined field and points get handed out though, worst case is that only the top 5 (21-50 field size) or 6 (50+ field size) spots get any points.

*edit: Just reading the upgrade requirements here (http://www.ncnca.org/docs/upgrade/). The race should still count as experience in for one of the 25 qualifying races required. If you get top 10, even better. Top 6, better still because you get points.

Will be in the 123 race. See you out there! :thumb:

Here's to hanging on :beer: Any of the BBC guys going to be in the 3/4?

I don't think I have to pick anyone up at the train station this weekend, so look for an ugly old fart on one of those "sit down" bikes near the start/finish line. Watching you guys/gals race is great.

two words: cluster ****

two words: cluster ****

No kidding! Lots of paramedics out there today. Our Cat. 5 35+ group started about an hour late while the various emergency crews were on the course. Hope it wasn't too serious for anybody.

Had a guy go down pretty close to me. The only thing I saw were some really expensive wheels going up in the air as he flipped it. Didn't take anybody else out though. Amazing!!

No kidding! Lots of paramedics out there today. Our Cat. 5 35+ group started about an hour late while the various emergency crews were on the course. Hope it wasn't too serious for anybody.

Had a guy go down pretty close to me. The only thing I saw were some really expensive wheels going up in the air as he flipped it. Didn't take anybody else out though. Amazing!!

We were in the same group! I was glad to see he was up before we came back. In the under 35's they had a lot of bad crashes. Even the pro/1/2 had a bad sprint crash midpack. What a day.

The 3/4 am race was fine. 105 people or something. No teams were OVER represented (although some had good numbers) and so no one was driving the pace. Racers curb to curb 8 deep. ugh. No wrecks, although I watched the kid (blue/yellow kit on Trek cx bike w/ slicks) who was in the break last week pull a really boneheaded move and chop at someone's wheel. Don't even know if he knew he did it, but the godspeed rider reacted well and dealt with it. I rolled in mid-pack.

p123 race, looked fast, guess there was a wreck in the sprint.
W4 like 4 wrecks. teammate broke her collarbone, wife got a concussion......................****
M<35 5 - teammate ended up in the ER - endoed on the last lap in turn 1.

Dis-a-ster.


edit: I'd like to also say a big thank you to the nurse who was there, Kathie. She did an amazing job not only with the medical stuff, but with the psychological side as well. Thank you!!

edit: I'd like to also say a big thank you to the nurse who was there, Kathie. She did an amazing job not only with the medical stuff, but with the psychological side as well. Thank you!!

That would be Katherine Hamilton, and I'll make sure she sees your compliment.

Kudude, sorry to hear about your wife and teammates. I hope they heal up well.

There were an inordinate number of squirrelly riders today. A lot of sudden swerves and it wasn't even that windy. The guy that went down in our group was right in front of me. I saw the Zipps come up and thought crap; I braked and prepared for impact but was able to steer around him. Seemed like he protected his bike with his body pretty well.

I was involved in the final lap, last turn wreck in the Cat 5 under 35 race. A really nice gentleman on a red Cervelo ended up getting a concussion and had to be put on the stretcher. I ended up getting some bad rash on my left side, but they wern't as bad as the other 3 who were in the wreck. Katherine checked out my wounds and told me to go to the ER to check out a possible cut artery, luckily the doctor said it was not. Astonishingly my Giant was unscathed besides a few minor scratches. I want to say thanks to Katherine also for giving me the aid on site and kind motivation, and also keeping hold of some personal belongings which I left at the track.

kudude (http://www.bikeforums.net/member.php?u=49949) - a buddy of mine was also involved in the last lap/first turn crash. He had the Orbea with the taco'ed wheel. He's doing fine. sorry to hear about your teammate.

Actually 3 of kudude's teammates ended up in the emergency room in 3 separate crashes. 2 of us broken collar bones, one guy's legs but he looked like hre'd be ok to me. Looks like no cyc;ling for me for 6-8 weeks. Bah.

I think part of the problem was the training thing today -- the had us practice getting close and rubbiong at low speeds, but its different on turns. I trhink people were overconfident and panicked dureing ther actuaql race. Or maybe some wree just more confident than otrhers. The guy to my insideb went down undwer4neath ,me on a turn.

I was first lap first turn btw, if the guy who went down undere me could post what he thought happewned id like to hear his perspective

i mean last lap first turn.

Ouch, sorry to hear about the collarbone. Does it hurt as much as people say it hurts?
davids0507, which race were you in? <35? I was in the 35+ first group.

There's was a guy, Scott, on a white Cervelo that got hit by a car last week while warming up. The driver didn't stop and he thought he might have had a broken collarbone but was wondering if he should still race. I didn't see him today.

<35. I'd rather it hurt even more if it could be less inconvenient. Its not bad while its in a sling, I just can't raise my arm. It's worse when lying down, i havent figured that out yet.

<35. I'd rather it hurt even more if it could be less inconvenient. Its not bad while its in a sling, I just can't raise my arm. It's worse when lying down, i havent figured that out yet.

I slept semi-sitting up using an armchair pillow, and (i think) a pillow for my arm.

David, are you the Cal rider? I was the one with the Orbea on the inside of you of the last lap/first turn crash. My sincerest apologies for what has happened to you. I do have a recollection of what happened.

I broke out of the pack in between the start of the bell lap and the first turn to get a better position, and got along side you before the first turn. I was still near the bott's dots before turning in, so it wasn't too dramatic of a corner entry, and I knew I was beside you before even starting to turn, so I was hoping that you would have noticed me.

Once we hit the apex, I felt a bump on my left and someone calling out "Whoa", but I knew to hold my ground instead of swerve, although I did change my corner exit so that I would stay on the inside. It seemed like everything was okay after the bump, but just a few seconds after, I felt a very strong tug on the left of my drops, something like you hooked my bars, and I went down after that.

I had a friend who was taking pictures right at the inside of that corner, and from what he saw, we went three abreast into that corner with someone else on your left, and he didn't give you enough room. Once he turned in, he didn't bother to look beside him and squeezed you between him and myself. It seems that once the adrenaline kicked in, people started forgetting to check besides them before entering the corner.