"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - First Time Race Report - 8/02 Dominguez Hills Crit

So I did my first race today. Had a ton of fun and definitely learned a lot. Here is a quick report.

Woke up at 4:30 this morning. I don't normally get up this early but being a Cat5 my race was at 7:15. Had a quick oatmeal and loaded the family into the car (GF and the dog). When we hit the road it was misting a bit (we live near the beach) but by the time we reached the course it was clear. Got there about 6AM which left plenty of time to warm-up and have a couple snacks. Got registered and jumped on the bike for about 15 laps of warm-up. Course was 4 90 degree corners. Had an apple and Banana and got lined up about 7:10. They gave a safety brief and explained the importance of getting the 10 races over to get the hell out of Cat5. Guy was pretty funny actually.

The race got started and to be honest it wasn't as bad as I had imagined - at first. We had to do 15 laps and by lap 8 or so I was dropped with about 10 others. By lap 12 we had been lapped :(. However, 4 of us worked together and managed to hang in there and finish the race. I was very concerned about the cornering as I am quite possibly the worst cornerer ont he planet. However, I held my lines and actually think I learned a thing or two for next time. Not sure of my placing but we started with 56 so I'd guess about 45 or so. Racing is hard. And it hurts. However, there were no crashes and I had a ton of fun so I'll be back.

Mistakes -
Last night I had the bright idea to eat pasta with soy meatballs. This left me with a wonderful case of loose stools before the race. Won't do that again.
I was a total noob and pinned the number on wrong. Awesome.
Start at the front - gotta remember this for next time.
I rode pretty hard at 5PM in the afternoon yesterday for about an hour. Don't ride hard the night before.
Don't get dropped.

Some pics:

Obligatory pre race photo:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/robncircus/DSCF1344.jpg

At the starting line. Try to find me. I'm the one with the number facing the wrong way:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/robncircus/DSCF1346.jpg

Too fast for my camera (need to give the lady a panning lession):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/robncircus/DSCF1364.jpg

One of my 2 fans:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/robncircus/DSCF1357.jpg

The four I finished with:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v358/robncircus/DSCF1370.jpg

Cheers

rob

The first one's under you're belt... you kept the meat side up, and it sounds like you had fun. That's what it's all about.

Cheers. :beer:

1. Good job.

2. Dogs + racing = crashing

3. You might have had your number pinned on wrong, but that doesn't look nearly as bad a 'Mark Cavendish' right next to you.

I like the body art. It reminds me I need to get some more.

Cool dude!!! Keep at it :)

Nice job, congratulations on having the balls to do what I haven't done yet and really want to.

Congrats!

Yeah the GF needs some photography lessons

3. You might have had your number pinned on wrong, but that doesn't look nearly as bad a 'Mark Cavendish' right next to you.



I thought the same thing when I saw the guy at the race. What is Cavendish doing in a CatV race!!!

Nicely done :) Congrats on getting the first one under your belt

2. Dogs + racing = crashing

True. However, he was so scared of all the bikes if anything he'd run in the opposite direction. I was actually surprised at how many people brought their dogs. There were quite a few there.

rob

Re: hard ride the night before. Try and see what works for you. My best TT's have come with 50-60 miles the day before. My top crits have come after about 90 minutes of hard efforts and sprints.
Try new things the night before and see what makes you race well the next day. I seem to do better when I wake up and think, "Damn, my legs are kinda sore, why am I racing today?"

Nice job on the race, it gets easier for a while; then you upgrade.

Congrats on the first race!

I was a total noob and pinned the number on wrong. Awesome.


haha, nice - i don't feel so bad now ;)

i did the same thing and pinned it in a similar fashion. luckily a guy saw me warming up and told me that i may want to turn it before the race started. i also got some advice to pin it in the center of the number as well as the middle of the edges as to not create a parachute and not tear my jersey

Congrats on the first race. Nice report.

What kind of dog is that? It has some similar traits to our "terrier mix" that we really don't know what the heck it is :D. Just curious!

Good job!

Congrats on the first race. Nice report.

What kind of dog is that? It has some similar traits to our "terrier mix" that we really don't know what the heck it is :D. Just curious!

Good job!

Thanks

He's a Jack Russel/King Charles Cavalier. Very loving and has the energy of a toddler.

Rob

Hi Rob,

Glad to see that you got your feet wet and came away with some good experience and lesson-learned. Sorry I missed you there. When's your next race?

Hi Rob,

Glad to see that you got your feet wet and came away with some good experience and lesson-learned. Sorry I missed you there. When's your next race?

Glendale on the 30th. I missed registration for Brentwood this weekend. Sucks, especially since my team is the sponsor and my employer is the corporate sponsor. Go figure :notamused:

Rob

MOVE! UP!
That guy that announces at CBR crits is nuts.

Thanks

He's a Jack Russel/King Charles Cavalier. Very loving and has the energy of a toddler.

Rob

Whoa! Very cool. That is the exact mix we "guessed" on our dog. Considering how similar they look I think we may have been on the money! Thanks for the info. Our too (female) is very loving, submissive and energetic. She also shows the Jack Russel tendency to be smart but only obeying when it suits her ;) :D.

Here's a pic attached of ours.

but only obeying when it suits her ;) :D.


Forget the breed, this is different from any other female how?

Heh

And that heh is meant only in the kindest way
:D