Cleave

Don't you just hate people with natural ability? Oh, wait... I'm talking with Racer Ex.

Cleave

Why did I sign up to do San Dimas?

Racer Ex 

$7 cheaper than a 2 park ticket for Disneyland?

Allegheny Jet

Having been 55 yrs and a Cat 5 six years ago my opinion is to cat up ASAP. If you can currently ride in the mix with 5's, the 4's will be no problem and most likely safer. In our area the masters race would be harder than the 4's due to team tactics and individual riders not letting breaks happen for their sake. That dynamic can produce several minutes of deep hurt multiple times. Reading other's reports here at BF it's not always like that. Early on I had better results as a Cat 4 but now mostly race masters even if combined with younger masters AG's.

Cleave

Just saw a screening of Cheetah: The Nelson Vails Story. We were acquaintances when we were both much younger in NY back in the 1970s. I've bumped into him on occasion. The most recent bump was during our club century last fall. He was riding in north San Diego County and he told me that he had a documentary about his life coming out.

The movie was good, not great, but there was a lot of nostalgia in it for me from both coasts. Pictures of him racing in NY during the aforementioned era and then photos of the 7-11 Olympic Velodrome from the 1984 Summer Olympics. Worth seeing if it shows near you or if you can get your hands on the DVD when it gets released.

Racer Ex 

I guess that's why you missed Eldo?

Cleave

^^^ Yep.

Racer Ex 

Did the 123. Fun.

Cleave

If my legs still work after San Dimas, I will be there next Tuesday.

Speaking of San Dimas, I start second -- not surprising. Kevin Susco starts third -- WTF?

Looks like you're racing sans teammates.

Racer Ex 

Racing may be the wrong term. Wishful training is probably better. Had I know my junior had registered for the 3s I wouldn't have entered and just snuck in some training. If my sore throat doesn't get better I am not sure what I am doing.

When Kevin comes by tell him I will be 55 next year. He will get a good laugh. We raced each other hard for several years up north. Class act.

shovelhd

Is that what it's called?

VanceMac

And, once again, stripes ever-present. I count at least 4, not including the guy who is in stealth mode.

sarals 

Now, that's some horsepower. I'll bet the ground was shaking.

Hermes

The rabbit will be caught early.

revchuck 

Tomorrow's my first "big boy" stage race, M40+/M55+ rather than Cat 5. The RR course is four laps of a rectangular 15 mile circuit with the longer legs oriented north-south. Weather prediction is clear with a ~15 mph north wind. The start is about two miles from the first corner with a tailwind, then there's about a three mile crosswind section before it turns straight into the wind for about four miles.

My guess is that the first attack will occur at the first turn into the crosswind section in order to cause some separation, and to maintain the separation into that 15 mph headwind. Does this sound about right? Alternatives? I'm bound and determined to not repeat the mistake I made last year, when I was surprised by the first attack.

Hermes

I think it will be fast from the gun as racers try to be at the front for the first turn in anticipation of the crosswind section.

shovelhd

I'm with Hermes. Just be hyper aware. Don't chase anything that's not worth it.

Racer Ex 

Hard to say where the attacks will start. As Shovel noted keep your head up...the further you look up the line (and the further up the line you are), the less likely you are to be caught out. Go get em.

I'm coaching this weekend. Bad cold, no sleep. Bagged San Dimas.

Hermes

I am off to NYC with wife for a couple of days where I plan to bias my chemistry to some great wine and food.

Cleave

revchuck, I guess the 40+ guys could make it hard from the start. Hopefully the numbers for your 55+ competitors will be obvious enough so that you can stay with them and not chase 40+ guys. The key for positioning will be the crosswind legs. Hopefully the echelon will use as much of the road as possible. Lined out in the gutter is ugly.

sarals 

Chuck, good luck...and have fun!

shovelhd

Yeah!

revchuck 

Thanks for all the well wishes, all! Unfortunately, it wasn't my day. I was doing fine, keeping up with the attacks (other than the one that went OTF, but they were 40+ so I didn't care) when I think the pack slowed while I was looking forward, I touched the wheel of the guy in front of me and went down. I ended up going to the ER, and in the x ray my right collarbone looks like a collection of pot shards. I'm ticked because I was ready, part of the race for the first time. I've got that mental box checked, now I know I can hang...just need to keep the rubber side down in the future. Oh, and the bike seems okay.

Going to the GP Monday for a referral to a bone doc. Looks like it's Black & Decker time!

The Percocet and Soma are kicking in, time for a nap.

shovelhd

Oh. man. Heal up quick.

Hermes

Heal up fast and good luck with the surgery.