"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Fort Ritchie Classic Crit—Saturday, May 9th

I did not do this one last year. Signed up for the masters, but would like to double up. Anyone have any insight regarding the course? Is the "uphill" anything worth mentioning?

didnt do it, and I'm doubtful for saturday - my grass is like a hayfield and my shrubs are turning into weeds. from those I know who did the race last year, no one mentioned anything about a hill, but I did hear that a couple of the corners are "for real".

So, I've concluded it's a good crit with some technical skills required.

^^same here. I'm hoping the rain will end sometime mid week so I can get a quick mow in. :)

My parents are in town - good luck to all racing

Signed up but now I can't do it.
Raced it last year-course is somewhat technical, the hill is short and moderately steep, it can hurt you and shell you off the back if you are already struggling, but shouldn't make a differrence in the front of the race. The thing about the hill is that at the top there are 2 90 degree right turn in fast succession and then a left very shortly after that leading into a sweeping fast flat/downhill. It can be a good place to attack. Carrying speed at the top of the hill through those turns will save a lot of energy that could be wasted accelerating on the flat. If it stays together in a pack sprint, the other deciding factor is your positioning and ability to hold speed in the last turn, which is pretty tight and not far from the start/finish line.

That is all.

IR the moto jock for this one. Same as last year. More fun to moto on this course than to race it.

I'll be there - it's like five minutes from my parents so I'll get the double credit of racing and spending the weekend with the folks!

My missus is trying to convince my mom to come with her to watch... I'm trying to convince them both that it's not so exciting if they lack a helicopter and long lens (neither having ever come to watch me race before).

I'll be there - it's like five minutes from my parents so I'll get the double credit of racing and spending the weekend with the folks!

My missus is trying to convince my mom to come with her to watch... I'm trying to convince them both that it's not so exciting if they lack a helicopter and long lens (neither having ever come to watch me race before).

Dunno, Joe Jefferson announcing+technical, relatively short-course crit could be pretty entertaining to watch. More than a flat stage of the TdF, that's for sure.

Dunno, Joe Jefferson+technical, relatively short-course crit could be pretty entertaining to watch. More than a flat stage of the TdF, that's for sure.

Plus you get Joe raggin' on you over the PA when you get shelled OTB. :lol:

I thought Joe was an anti-Semite?


























































































































:roflmao2:
























:innocent:

I'm signed up. I generally like technical crits (one of the many reasons I skipped Bunny Hop last weekend).

I may double up and do the W4s and Open. We'll see how the morning goes..

i'm in the cat 4

Ill be there in the Cat 5's race. They actually created a 2nd Cat 5 race, but figured ill let people on the wait list fill that one up. I also took Friday off so I might go check out the course with my buddy who's racing, but I might just sleep in and go for a ride instead. Based on the images of the course I don't think their will be really a hill but more a incline at the start/finish. That said at the Waynesboro they said there was a incline at the start and finish and that was definitely considered a hill ha.

One of the advantages to not having a lawn to mow, you can ride instead of have to cut threw the jungle in your backyard after a couple days of rain ha.

I'd go if I was CAT4. I hate the morning.

^^ do both cat 5 races in the morning and you'll be that much closer to your upgrade.

Decided not to be lazy, and took a drive up to look at the course this morning. Ended up talking with who I believe is the promoter or works with them on the race. He knew all about it and what they would be putting were this year. Map of course provided by promoter:
https://www.bikereg.com/inc/content/images/promoter/681/FtRitchieCrit4.JPG

- Incline starts about 400 meters from the start line, at the slight left on the course. This incline continues till the top of the first right turn. Not really a hill but a slight slope up, maybe a couple degrees at most.

For the most part the course is in fair condition, a couple cracks on the road but nothing major. Couple corners might be tight but nothing to bad.

Note about Google Maps directions: (If your coming from around my area or south)
- It will say I-270 continuing North on I-40 W. You will see a exit on the right for I-40 (No direction) DO NOT TAKE THIS exist. Just keep on I-270 which turns into I-40 W.
It got me a little confused cause theirs no signs saying I-270 turns into I-40W until after that exit and google maps has been wrong before.

saw a lot of people (besides jim wilson) taking pictures. anyone know where i can find them?

saw a lot of people (besides jim wilson) taking pictures. anyone know where i can find them?

GamJams.net normally posts the links to sites containing images from the weekends races. They have not put them up yet, but hopefully later tonight they will get the links up.

http://www.gamjams.net/

yeah i've only found jim wilson's too. there are always tons of people taking pics but only jim and a few others posting albums online... we gotta spread the word: we're narcissists! we want pics!

the dad of one of the juniors/cat 4s on my team was taking pics... i emailed him about 'em but haven't heard back. if he posts a link, i'll forward it along.