"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Lost River Classic

Who's in?

I'm registered for CAT 4, but I'm debating whether or not to go.

Are/have you guys pre-riding/ridden the course? How much of a disadvantage will it be to not know the course?

I'm in the Cat 4 for now. If I do well at Coppi, I might upgrade to the 3s.

Definitely racing (and working it) as my team is hosting and one of my good friends has worked his nuts off to see this event happen. Jay Moglia, who runs the the Lost River Barn/Raw Talent Ranch, is a great guy to serve us MABRA cyclists with a nearby training ground. This RR is the beginning of what many of us hope will become an omnium or stage race but it's scenic and tough. Before anyone asks, the race distances are shorter because we're predicting most fields will suffer from high attrition on the climbs. However, MABRA referees have told us that it WILL still count for full upgrade/BAR points for a road race.

I've ridden out there a lot so I'm very familiar with the course. I would say that like any race, it's an advantage to know the course. However, it won't make you lose this race. Just know that the first hill is a solid 2 miler with 3-4 "stairstep" pitches followed by a short downhill pitch, then a LONG downhill drag that is super-fast and fun. The second hill (and finish) is a 1-mile hill with it's steepest pitch at the very end. The descent after that isn't very technical except for the left bend before the right turn off of that road. The races start late so you can just drive the course early if you want. I

In THIS course, the corners are sharp but mean nothing. If you're dive-bombing or making up ground in the corners, you're in idiot. This course will be won going up hills AND then staying away during the LONG drag between the two hills. It's beautiful and the descents were just repaved (gracious community hosting us). Should be awesome.

For those that are not in the know: http://www.ncvc.net/lostriver

If anyone on these forums wants course maps, by all means email or PM me.

Bumpin' this thread up. Registration has skyrocketed in the lower categories this week and closes tomorrow at noon.

Who's signed up?

I am now in the Cat 3 :-).

40 miles of pain. Can't wait. Heading out early tomorrow to help set-up.

I think I had the date wrong when I made this thread.

I've been sick since Sunday. Just had my first ride today and I'm hoping I'll have the legs for this. I thought I would check out the course, but said sickness got in the way.

Well I thought I'd be racing you Siggy, but given your recent success, I'm glad I wont be. :lol:

Assuming I can start eating like a normal person tomorrow, I'm ready to "get my epic on!"

I really wanted to go to this but it's just too far away. It would have been awesome though.

Well, it's closer than Jeff Cup with a hell of a lot less traffic and there's a buffet dinner to watch the Ventoux stage at a nearby restaurant afterwards. If you win wearing Gamjams socks you get a $100 bonus. And we actually have a podium.

To each their own :-)


This one's for BDCheung:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2475/3750701269_10f50040c3_o.jpg

haha

Brian Cheung was getting his epic on.

Now he's got a family emergency to tend to (siggy, it's the same class of emergency as what I had previously spoken with you about)

take care of business cheung.

for the rest of y'all...

yerrrr missin' out. this is gonna be one heck of a fun and tough race. :p :thumb: the two fun descents have recently been repaved, we swept all the corners today, we have an actual podium and a little birdie told me have ... bottles of bubbly.

Well, how did it go?

CAT 4.

Chain dropped on the very first incline. Got off. Fixed. Fought for my life to get back and got a thumbs up from the follow car. Joined just in time for a long climb with my legs already burning. Dropped.

Course was brutal. I had been sick all week and I was probably malnourished, but it was a challenge to finish. (I also did one lap as a warm-up [stupid])

Cat 3.

With about 30 or so starters, we were probably the only race that really stuck together throughout the race. Pace was strong on the uphills but not too bad through the rest of the course.

Being my first Cat 3 race, it was a total confidence booster when I made it up the 2nd to last climb (first of the final lap), barely hanging on, but only about 15 or so guys were left in the race. Awesome.

After that descent, some breaks started being pushed and I was shadowing some dude in a Cyfac kit on orders from a teammate. He took a few digs to test the waters but I followed as did everyone else. Then a Bike Rack guy took off strong. New guy to the 3s squad, I decided to make my impact here as the team workhorse.

I dragged the group for a long while - nearly all of Rt 259 and then after the turn to Crab Run Rd, when I saw my teammate at the front, I got back to the front there and drilled it all the way to Cullers Rd to minimize the damage from the break. After the chicane over the bridge, some attacks flew and I sat up, happy to know I survived just fine in the 3s and did my part.

Passed one dude up the final hill to finish 14th. As I said, I felt like I fit right in with the speeds, so I'm content.