"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - The Race Report Thread 2009-2012

Long story short, don't attack just to attack.

Training crits are for attackzorz.

It's either do the B race and attack attack attack, or do the A race and get dropped.

Downtown Mocksville Criterium, Cat3.

Large field with a good and bad course. Turn one went from a 4 lane finishing straight into a two lane alley road. Needless to say crashes were happening there all night - including ours.

I got caught behind one on the second lap. Came to a complete stop. Chased to catch on the back end of the field. It was my job to drag the field/team back to any breaks if we weren't in it of course. So I knew this was going to be fun.

Corners 3 and 4 were nice and wide and up hill. So I used my strength to power through the field on the outside and pass a ton of riders. It took several laps. I finally made it back to the front and lo' and behold there was a break. My team mates weren't in it. A lap and a half I drug the field back.

After that I was toast. I stayed close to the front. But with about 10 laps left someone came through our left side with not much room and fencing closing in on his left. He got his pedal caught in the barrier sign and took several people out. I missed it by an inch. My friend went to the hospital with broken bones. The ambulance came out on the track and the rest of our race was pinched into the right lane. After that crash I got moved back and struggled to make it back up front. Plus, my anus suction cupped itself to my bike seat and I couldn't move.

15th or so I think. But felt strong and did what I was supposed to. My team mate who we were working for didn't fair as well as he (and we) hoped. But there's 4 more races.

Here's a video clip of the 4/5 race at Mocksville. (http://www.charityadvantage.com/davieunitedway/Criterium.asp)


Didn't anyone ever teach you to pull one leg of your shorts up a bit and get your free lap?

Didn't anyone ever teach you to pull one leg of your shorts up a bit and get your free lap?

Bonus points for knocking your shifter crooked before you hit the pits. :lol:

My other favorite, if the pit wheels are good (like when Sram/Zipp is doing neutral support), is to ride up and just chuck your wheel to the side and grab a pit wheel. They're not going to go over and check if it's actually broken or out of true.

No race to report, but 10th at Hilltowns (and 24 points) helped earn me my Cat 4 upgrade after 8 races...:thumb:

I'll probably drop into 1 or 2 Cat 4 races before the season is over and then start focusing on next season. This winter I'll be working with free weights for the first time in years.

-Fbmxer

No race to report, but 10th at Hilltowns (and 24 points) helped earn me my Cat 4 upgrade after 8 races...:thumb:

I'll probably drop into 1 or 2 Cat 4 races before the season is over and then start focusing on next season. This winter I'll be working with free weights for the first time in years.

-Fbmxer

Sign up for tokeneke!

There are still a couple of spots!

Sign up for tokeneke!

There are still a couple of spots!

More like 1 spot open...99 riders geez :eek:

I raced Marblehead this spring which was 4/5 and 75 riders, I got in through the waiting list.

I just got my upgrade approved today, so it's too short a notice. I find I do terrible in races where I arrive late or it's unplanned.

I doubt I can get "THE WARDEN :troll:"...aka wifey onboard with this before the spot is gone, but I'll work on her early morning if it is.

-Fbmxer

Congrats on the upgrade!!!

-L

Long story short, don't attack just to attack.


Training crits are for attackzorz.

I think there's something to both of these sentiments. I honestly think that it depends upon how you're approaching a given race. If you are racing to get a good workout, have fun, cause pain or all of the above, attacking and generally racing aggressively is a great plan, and a blast besides. If you are using your training crit to try and learn ways to place in or win crits, and attacking constantly isn't working, well, then it's time to try another strategy. The whole idea with a training crit is that you can try racing really aggressively, you can try sitting in, you can try racing aggressively but with more of an eye on strategy, i.e. choosing the right time and place to make your move, you can try attacking and doing a WRI from 1k out on the last lap. When I attacked three or four laps into my race last weekend, it was fun, but it was moronic from a strategic point of view. At least I learned that I could commit to an attack, but it was more about making the race fun than anything else. And if you want to actually get something out of that training crit, why make a move that you know is doomed to failure? Unless, of course, your only goal is VO2 max intervals and/or fun, which are of course totally legit.

Another training crit tonight. I've been really aggressive the last few races, so I decided to sit in and see how things went. As it turns out, I wouldn't have had much choice - all the strong guys showed up, and the pace was fast. There was also a stronger-than-usual wind out of the north, making for a headwind down the backstretch. I was pretty consistently fighting for position just to stay about 8-10 riders back. A lot of the strong guys were content to move up in the wind. Well, good for them, if they can burn that matches. I can't. I tried to follow the right wheels and be in a good position for the end of the race.

Well, I was pretty well-placed at three to go, and by turn 3 of the penultimate lap I was about fourth wheel and positively salivating - I was feeling the strongest I've felt for the last two months, and thinking about even challenging for the win. The last lap didn't go as I hoped, though. One guy attacked across the line and got maybe 5-10m, which he managed to hold to the line. I tried to make my jump to go across and sprint at maybe 250 to go, but it was too early. I died in the backstretch wind, got swarmed, 6th. But we had gone so hard that we had gapped the rest of the field - after I got passed, I could have coasted to the line. At least two of the guys in front of me have won one of these races, and the rest have all placed well. To finish with the strongest riders in the race is certainly not shameful! That was the fastest final lap I think I've done in a very, very long time, possibly ever.

Also, got asked if I was looking for a team. I told him I was. I think I'll go to a few of their training rides this winter and see what I think. :)

Good job Grolby!

I was attacking because I wanted to animate the race and I wanted to try to get a break going in a crit.

I've been nervous to attack in crits before, so in doing so I'm figuring out how hard I can go, how I should pace myself, etc.

Training crits are for attackzorz.

It's either do the B race and attack attack attack, or do the A race and get dropped.

are you talking about wednesdays at bethel? do they count for usac points?

are you talking about wednesdays at bethel? do they count for usac points?

Tuesday nighter at East Hartford. My team runs them.

They don't count for upgrade points, but if you're a 5, then you can use them for your 4 upgrade.

Bethel's probably the same.

I haven't raced at the bethel weds nighter, but I kinda want to venture down there. It's too far for a weekday training crit though...

My other favorite, if the pit wheels are good (like when Sram/Zipp is doing neutral support), is to ride up and just chuck your wheel to the side and grab a pit wheel. They're not going to go over and check if it's actually broken or out of true.

The higher up you go the better you learn how to take a free lap. I heard about a few rock racing guys taking a free lap in a RR. Serious skillz...

I experimented with attacking today.

I've never really attacked during a race and I figure that the B training crits are a good place to go on the offensive....
It felt good to be so aggressive instead of sitting in the race like I do so often. I think I'll be sticking to the B race from now and getting a handle on making moves.

Some numbers:
20 min AP 261, NP 307. VI 1.18.
30 min AP 253, NP 303. VI 1.2.

I think my threshold is risingggg...

Good show on trying out some new stuff and adding to your bag o' trix...



I took the plunge and entered my first race on sunday. It was a road race of 33 miles and 3000+ of climbing. I lasted in the lead group for about half of the race but took a corner too fast and ended up in some gravel. After they slipped away I couldnt catch back up and ended up finishing 13th in cat5 u35. After I finished I was just happy I finished the race and too tired to care but now I'm mad I didnt push myself harder to catch back up with the group which would have made the rest for some more drafting. Overall it was a good start to my racing career and I learned how such small mistakes can have such an impact.

Sweet!!! Don't get mad, jus' ride....



Downtown Mocksville Criterium, Cat3.

...
15th or so I think. But felt strong and did what I was supposed to. My team mate who we were working for didn't fair as well as he (and we) hoped. But there's 4 more races....

Perty nice


No race to report, but 10th at Hilltowns (and 24 points) helped earn me my Cat 4 upgrade after 8 races...

-Fbmxer

Congrats!


Another training crit tonight....
got swarmed, 6th. But we had gone so hard that we had gapped the rest of the field - after I got passed, I could have coasted to the line. At least two of the guys in front of me have won one of these races, and the rest have all placed well. To finish with the strongest riders in the race is certainly not shameful! That was the fastest final lap I think I've done in a very, very long time, possibly ever.

Also, got asked if I was looking for a team. I told him I was. I think I'll go to a few of their training rides this winter and see what I think. :)

Nice!!

Concord Crit, Cat3. Two down, three to go.
The rains came. But my legs didn't.
The course was a 0.4 mile blender. It was raining and the track was nasty. But I got out there - and slipped trying to clip in. So I was last man out again. The field immediately stretched from one turn to the next. We were strung out. And I didn't have the strength to do squat. I kept pushing it and pushing it making my way up front. We had two guys in the break so I needed to get up there and make sure to set a tempo.

Twice I hit a manhole cover and almost lost it. Several times the pavement markings in the corners had me sliding. Guys were falling all over the place. I was just thankful it wasn't me. But I just couldn't get anything going with my mind or legs. Don't know what was/is wrong with me. But I made it to the front, set a tempo for a bit, then let myself drift to the back again.

My team mates got away, stayed away, and lapped the field. When that happened I sat in and tried to stay upright.

All in all - I suck this year. And hate racing crits in the rain.

Sucking would be popping off the back because of the pace.

You're doing fine. It was raining, and you had an off day. In your last report, you did a ton of work for the team, right? Not sucky.

I know. I just want a solid top 5 this year. That hasn't happened yet - as much as I have tried.
Forgive me for sounding like a baby. More racing tonight.

Sucking would be popping off the back because of the pace.

You're doing fine. It was raining, and you had an off day. In your last report, you did a ton of work for the team, right? Not sucky.

that settles it then. I sucked over the weekend.

:o

On a brighter note:
Our team is in second for the omnium right now. That's great considering that we have to get there early to set up each event before we race. It's been hot and rainy and very tough on all of us. But our hard work is paying off.

I know. I just want a solid top 5 this year. That hasn't happened yet - as much as I have tried.
Forgive me for sounding like a baby. More racing tonight.

the tactics for the concord race didnt dictate a top 5 for you. the race was up the road and you had folks in it who were competing for the WIN. your job at that point is to not worry about your own result but rather to do your best to ensure that your team mates who are in the race have the best chance to win the race.

sounds as though you did that. mission accomplished and you should chalk concord up as a success.:)

the tactics for the concord race didnt dictate a top 5 for you. the race was up the road and you had folks in it who were competing for the WIN. your job at that point is to not worry about your own result but rather to do your best to ensure that your team mates who are in the race have the best chance to win the race.

sounds as though you did that. mission accomplished and you should chalk concord up as a success.:)

Yup. My main thing before that happened was to be in the break last night. Didn't happen.
I'm over it. No more belly-aching. Promise. :thumb:

On a brighter note:
Our team is in second for the omnium right now. That's great considering that we have to get there early to set up each event before we race. It's been hot and rainy and very tough on all of us. But our hard work is paying off.

That's cool, good work by your team.

Right now I'm the M35+ series leader at the Driveway, and tonight is the last race. The guy in 2nd is only down by two points, and the points go 10, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... so I can't let him win tonight!

It's really tough balancing the desire to get a team win at the race tonight vs. winning the series. I'll have two really strong teammates, so we have three serious threats and strong support.

Sucking would be popping off the back because of the pace.

On Monday night I changed my cranks on my Cannondale from 175s to 170s, goal being to replicate my track position on the road bike, or at least the pedal stroke. My track pedal stroke sucks but that's partly because track is on Wed and I usually do 3 days on the road bike just before.

Anyway, I was too tired to ride the bike after the crank swap so my first ride on it was the East Hartford race that RTC refers to, albeit the As. After a couple laps one of the local strong guys put in a Euro style attack, one that never ended. I got popped a few laps later. I kept going to try and work on pedal stroke stuff, jumping back in maybe 4-5 times (i.e. I got lapped that many times).

Then I went to the track the next day:
http://sprinterdellacasa.blogspot.com/2009/08/dateline-2033-5-august-2009.html

Worked out a bit better than the crit.

cdr

Tonight's race:
http://www.crossroadscyclingclassic.com/salisbury.jpg

Another training crit tonight. I've been really aggressive the last few races, so I decided to sit in and see how things went. As it turns out, I wouldn't have had much choice - all the strong guys showed up, and the pace was fast. There was also a stronger-than-usual wind out of the north, making for a headwind down the backstretch. I was pretty consistently fighting for position just to stay about 8-10 riders back. A lot of the strong guys were content to move up in the wind. Well, good for them, if they can burn that matches. I can't. I tried to follow the right wheels and be in a good position for the end of the race.

Well, I was pretty well-placed at three to go, and by turn 3 of the penultimate lap I was about fourth wheel and positively salivating - I was feeling the strongest I've felt for the last two months, and thinking about even challenging for the win. The last lap didn't go as I hoped, though. One guy attacked across the line and got maybe 5-10m, which he managed to hold to the line. I tried to make my jump to go across and sprint at maybe 250 to go, but it was too early. I died in the backstretch wind, got swarmed, 6th. But we had gone so hard that we had gapped the rest of the field - after I got passed, I could have coasted to the line. At least two of the guys in front of me have won one of these races, and the rest have all placed well. To finish with the strongest riders in the race is certainly not shameful! That was the fastest final lap I think I've done in a very, very long time, possibly ever.

Also, got asked if I was looking for a team. I told him I was. I think I'll go to a few of their training rides this winter and see what I think. :)

Nice job!

Which team? It's nice to be asked.

I on the other hand am the one that needs to do the asking if I want a team :lol:

Actually found one that isn't too picky which works great for me! :D

That's cool, good work by your team.

Right now I'm the M35+ series leader at the Driveway, and tonight is the last race. The guy in 2nd is only down by two points, and the points go 10, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... so I can't let him win tonight!

It's really tough balancing the desire to get a team win at the race tonight vs. winning the series. I'll have two really strong teammates, so we have three serious threats and strong support.

Go get 'em!

On Monday night I changed my cranks on my Cannondale from 175s to 170s, goal being to replicate my track position on the road bike, or at least the pedal stroke. ...

cdr


I want to know the results of this, as I've done just the opposite.

I've gone a bit longer on my road bike cranks... 175 vs my track bike 170s.


My logic is that I don't need to spin as fast in a crit as I do in a track race, so why give up the free leverage?

Congrats on the upgrade!!!

-L

Thanks L,

Nice riding with you this past Saturday...you Thoroughbred you :thumb:

-Fbmxer

That's cool, good work by your team.

Right now I'm the M35+ series leader at the Driveway, and tonight is the last race. The guy in 2nd is only down by two points, and the points go 10, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1... so I can't let him win tonight!

It's really tough balancing the desire to get a team win at the race tonight vs. winning the series. I'll have two really strong teammates, so we have three serious threats and strong support.

Dude!

Go freaking win that series so you can get internet tough guy points in addition to real life tough guy points.

Remember all the pain from WRI's?

Well, your job is now to do a kilo effort so hard that you can't walk after it's over. Now go do it!

Nice job!

Which team? It's nice to be asked.

I on the other hand am the one that needs to do the asking if I want a team :lol:

Actually found one that isn't too picky which works great for me! :D

TriStar. Any thoughts on them?

FWIW, I don't think it's super-special or anything. The guy said that they were running out of 4's, and it's not like I've been blowing people away or anything, so it was probably more a matter of opportunity ("hey, another guy racing 4's who isn't wearing a local kit!") than anything else. But like I said, I'll definitely check it out. If it's an active team with some chance working together at the races, I'm interested, for sure.

I want to know the results of this, as I've done just the opposite.

I've gone a bit longer on my road bike cranks... 175 vs my track bike 170s.


My logic is that I don't need to spin as fast in a crit as I do in a track race, so why give up the free leverage?

Because the idea that longer cranks = more speed for free is a silly myth, that's why.

But what do I know, I love short cranks. :D

Dude!

Go freaking win that series so you can get internet tough guy points in addition to real life tough guy points.

Remember all the pain from WRI's?

Well, your job is now to do a kilo effort so hard that you can't walk after it's over. Now go do it!

Yeah, they're onto me with the kilo thing after last week, but my teammates and I have some tricks up our sleeves... still playing to that strength.

TriStar. Any thoughts on them?

FWIW, I don't think it's super-special or anything. The guy said that they were running out of 4's, and it's not like I've been blowing people away or anything, so it was probably more a matter of opportunity ("hey, another guy racing 4's who isn't wearing a local kit!") than anything else. But like I said, I'll definitely check it out. If it's an active team with some chance working together at the races, I'm interested, for sure.

Hey. I think it's cool. I am woefully ignorant of the racing scene. I've just been interested in getting faster and I like to compete :roflmao2:. But I've heard of them and it seems like they have a pretty strong presence. Looking through the TBRA road race results it looks like they are represented in most of the races and some good results too. Sounds like fun!

The team I may join for next year is Team Harpeth Bikes. It sounds like they are mostly about getting together and riding. Not that worried about results. Willing to take on Cat 5's. Not overly concerned about how many times a season you race. Sounds like a good fit for me. :D

What I'm hoping to get out of it is to ride with faster guys and learn more about racing. Plus the team gets discounts and express service at the shop. At any rate I'll get a cool kit out of it (that I will have to buy) :D. Maybe some of them will be crazy enough to get out and ride with me in the wee hours of the morning!

Because the idea that longer cranks = more speed for free is a silly myth, that's why.

But what do I know, I love short cranks. :D



suppose you have two identical bikes except that one has cranks a bit longer than the other, when you stomp on the pedals at say, 300 watts, will the bike with the longer cranks transfer more power to the wheel due to the higher leverage?

suppose you have two identical bikes except that one has cranks a bit longer than the other, when you stomp on the pedals at say, 300 watts, will the bike with the longer cranks transfer more power to the wheel due to the higher leverage?

You don't stomp in Watts, you stomp in force. The same force with longer cranks produces more torque, and more torque over time produces more Watts.

The problem is that to produce this potentially higher power with longer cranks, it's not free, because your pedal stroke is longer. Longer stroke * same force = more work. So, the power comes from doing more work.

So, your body can't just magically produce more energy (kJ) because you added 5mm to your crankarms. So, in reality, you can't produce the same force at threshold with longer cranks... your pedal force goes down.

Where it can be an advantage is in a sprint. It depends on the rider, but if you can get the same force for 10s, at the same cadence, with a longer crank, you'll produce more power...

suppose you have two identical bikes except that one has cranks a bit longer than the other, when you stomp on the pedals at say, 300 watts, will the bike with the longer cranks transfer more power to the wheel due to the higher leverage?

You may transfer more power but you need to move your foot faster to move the same amount. Or use a bigger gear. Usually I choose the latter.

My pedaling tendencies are as follows:
1. No aerobic capacity worth speaking of.
2. Lots of power in short bursts.

#1 means pedaling as little as possible, coasting, etc.
#2 means I can close little gaps instantly with one or two downstrokes, but I'm doomed when it comes to longer efforts.

175s work really well for me in crits, especially when dealing with a power climb (53x13-17). I can turn a much bigger gear on such rises.

I also remain seated a lot more with 175s, as I learned real quick when I moved to 170s.

My emphasis right now is to build some speed for the track and get some more staying power in flat crits. I've decided to go to 170s since 175s lack some snappiness, and I'm killing my track riding with the 175s. However, I got shelled in that first race on 170s. We'll see next week.

In the winter I'll go back to 175s so I can get up that hill at Bethel in the Spring.

I think someone with more aerobic capacity can use shorter cranks to some effect. I think long cranks work for me because of my peculiar riding characteristics.

cdr

suppose you have two identical bikes except that one has cranks a bit longer than the other, when you stomp on the pedals at say, 300 watts, will the bike with the longer cranks transfer more power to the wheel due to the higher leverage?

Maybe, but the system isn't that simple. How long are the rider's legs? Feet? Tibias? Femurs? If you are putting down the same power through longer cranks, are you actually spinning at the same cadence? (Hint: no.).

Let me make this simple: longer cranks mean that you are effectively pedaling a lower gear. How is that supposed to give you MORE power? Unless, of course, you spin those cranks at a higher RPM than the short cranks. Incidentally, it's (generally speaking) slightly easier to spin shorter cranks faster. I suspect that any mechanical advantage gained through longer cranks is canceled out by the increased orbit around the BB spindle. FWIW, the math in Sheldon Brown's Gain Ratio (http://sheldonbrown.com/gain.html) calculation bears this out, I think. Yes, at any given moment, the greater leverage of longer cranks means that the instantaneous force is greater, but that's not how things end up.

What I'm trying to get at is that crank length is about fit, not performance. Longer cranks won't make you faster unless they fit your body better.

....

Where it can be an advantage is in a sprint. It depends on the rider, but if you can get the same force for 10s, at the same cadence, with a longer crank, you'll produce more power...

understood.


also, do longer cranks have any useful application in time trial bikes?

I had my first TT in three years today. It was ten miles, out and back, rolling, around an air strip, so the wind was a bit tough. I did it in a 27:46, which is about on par with when I was racing juniors several years ago. It wasn't anything special, but I am pretty happy with it. I have another 10 miler in two weeks, so it will be good to see the time difference. I rode in the 4/5 class, but I wish they had advertised that there was a Merckx class. I rode with some old mini clip ons ( the ones basso used on Alpe D'Huez a few years ago). They are comfy for my hurt back, but I doubt they do a lot for areodynamics. Oh well.

I got smoked by a big hill right before the turn around, and was passed by two riders behind me. As soon as we were coming back, we hit a hill that was about 1/3 of a mile, and I flew by both of them and never saw them again, so that was my proud moment of the day.

Paging WR...

You're late with your report...

understood.


also, do longer cranks have any useful application in time trial bikes?

I have 177.5 crankarms that I'd like to try.

I think I'd just kill myself with a pedal strike though...

4/5 at rockleigh

was doing a good job in the pack, worked my way up to the top 5 or so, got greedy in t1, hit my pedal hard, skipped the rear. somehow stayed up, but the little highside jump evidently caused a massive pinchflat that blew the bead off the sidewall. sigh.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/DSC_0227-1.jpg

I have 177.5 crankarms that I'd like to try.

I think I'd just kill myself with a pedal strike though...

I was striking pedals like a mofo the other night with my 170s. I managed it twice in two different turns, including one pretty solid dig on the penultimate lap that made my rear wheel jump pretty good. Didn't change my line or cause any problems, but the poor guys behind me probably about crapped themselves. I can't WAIT to get my E5 with the 165mm cranks back.

I would just follow my own advice and coast through corners, but on this ridiculous friggin' course it really does make a big difference to pedal through as much as possible. Eight turns in 1km = LOTS of closing gaps out of corners, and most of the turns are slightly uphill and into the wind, which exacerbates the situation.

4/5 at rockleigh

was doing a good job in the pack, worked my way up to the top 5 or so, got greedy in t1, hit my pedal hard, skipped the rear. somehow stayed up, but the little highside jump evidently caused a massive pinchflat that blew the bead off the sidewall. sigh.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v33/fatallightning/DSC_0227-1.jpg

Wow, you have such feminine hands.

^that made a sound like a gunshot, and nine or ten guys immediately made jokes about how it was just like the tour de france, getting shot at.

my race report:
watched my teammates have fun. stuck to the plan and didn't attack at the bell despite slow speeds. picked the wrong wheel in the sprint, got boxed in, threw my bike but didn't nip Mr Fifth Place. hmmph. Rockleigh, it seems, means hitting the line with more speed than the people I didn't pass.

Lost a little fitness in the three weeks w/ no racing.. too many long rides and not enough intervals I guess. Took a pull on 2nd to last lap which gassed me for the last lap and sprint.. ended up 15th or so.

Need to start doing 1 min torture sessions.

Sorry to disappoint with a late report... but: I blew it.

I got 5th, the guy behind me in the series (PJ) got 2nd, and he took the series win. Still a total blast, and I love racing with my teammates.

We had a plan for my two teammates to do rotating attacks, but the other team had one hammer head go to the front and set a blistering pace (this guy has won P/1/2 races before... K.S.). So, that left my two teammates pretty gassed after their two attacks.

I was just marking PJ and taking it easy. Not a tough race at all. Really technical course, but that's fine for me. Well, the plan was to send teammates after the race win, soak up some points, then I'd just stay ahead of PJ in the finale to take the series. I should have altered the plan and started attacking when I ended up on my own. When I ride defensively, it hasn't been working out.

Two laps to go, a guy got between PJ and I. Then he opened a gap, which I closed, but two others went to the front. PJ jumped around the other side, and I couldn't follow. Now I was sitting in 5th with one to go.

We hit my kilo landmark, and the pace is just blistering from PJ's teammate fighting off these attacks. If I went then, it would have little effect (no gap). 2 minutes at 500W at that point, and I knew I didn't have the launch.

The course is really technical going into the finish, with 5 turns in the last 300m. The order you go in is the order you finish, with maybe one trade in there. I went in 5th, crossed the line 5th.

There are a lot of places I could have made something different happen, and I just didn't see the opportunities at the time. This enlightens me further on how impressive the pros are. Assessment, reaction, aggressive, fit. Hey, at least I can play and learn.

The part that's really frustrating is that I went into 2-to-go with a full tank. I should have launched with 4 to go. I can't believe my racing has transformed from waiting for the sprint to attacking for the long break. I still suck at sprints for some reason. Really frustrating. I hit over 1600W just warming up, but can't sprint. :wtf:

So, I got 2nd in M35+ series 2. That's two 2nd place series trophies this year, with one win in each series. I'll take it. Worst placing was 5th.

Salisbury Cat3 Crit. 45 mins in the pain cave.
Third crit in as many days. Still getting up at 5 to be at work (mainly because it's automatic for me), working half days, traveling to the races, setting up, racing, driving home.

Right now it's a matter of holding on. I feel run over by a train. Last night I came this ----> <---- close to throwing in the towel and pulling out of the race. But I didn't and paid dearly for it. Around 2am I dreamed I had a cramp. It was no dream but I couldn't wake up. I almost slept through it. Ha!

The crit course was awesome. A figure 8 (see this (http://www.bikeforums.net/showpost.php?p=9431674&postcount=1876)). Second to last lap there was a nasty crash in turn 11 or 50. I don't know. The thing had Eleventy-billion corners. But it took out a bunch of guys. Fortunately, I was tail gunning the race and just went around it. Said a prayer as I went by and gave them my blessings with sweat, spit, and blood.

2 more venues. 2 more races. Some one slap me.