RIDE REPORT: 1st race yesterday!
04-30-06, 01:16 PM
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RIDE REPORT: 1st race yesterday!
Yesterday I participated in my first road race ever. I did do one 15mile loop in a duathlon last weekend, but this was my first strictly bike race. I participated in the 1t stage of the Tour of St. Louis in Carondolet park. The course was .8miles and had a large downhill at the start followed by a shallow and steady uphill that finished on a fairly strong uphill. The event was run extremely well. I was really nervous when I got there as the weather was supposed to be horrible. The Cat 4 race before me did not experience too much rain until the end where there was a big spill on the downhill. This got me even more nervous as I have never ridden in the rain before. Regardless I knew that I had already paid to race and I wasn't going to leave (not to mention my girlfriend had dropped me off and I had no way of leaving anyways
). There were originally 50 Cat 5's signed up for the race but only 28 showed up to race. By the time they blew the whistle for my race the rain was coming down at a steady rate. I jumped up to the front pack from the get go because I have heard so many horror stories about being dropped. I managed to stay up at the top the whole race. I even had one or two moves into the top 4. I finished about 5-6 seconds behind the winner of the race in 12th place. I cannot even put into words how much fun that was. I cannot wait to get back out and race some more. I wish I didn't have to miss next weekend's race. I was pretty satisfied with my place considering if was my 1st race and I had no clue what I was doing. The pace was right above 25mph. It was 30minute +5laps. Just thought I'd share. If any of you are thinking about doing a crit but are too nervous, shed those feelings and get out there!
~Nick
). There were originally 50 Cat 5's signed up for the race but only 28 showed up to race. By the time they blew the whistle for my race the rain was coming down at a steady rate. I jumped up to the front pack from the get go because I have heard so many horror stories about being dropped. I managed to stay up at the top the whole race. I even had one or two moves into the top 4. I finished about 5-6 seconds behind the winner of the race in 12th place. I cannot even put into words how much fun that was. I cannot wait to get back out and race some more. I wish I didn't have to miss next weekend's race. I was pretty satisfied with my place considering if was my 1st race and I had no clue what I was doing. The pace was right above 25mph. It was 30minute +5laps. Just thought I'd share. If any of you are thinking about doing a crit but are too nervous, shed those feelings and get out there!~Nick
05-01-06, 09:51 AM
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Doing your first crit in the rain take some cahones. Good job.
05-01-06, 11:37 AM
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Congrats on your first race. It's a heck of a good time!
Nice to see EURO back spreading love and good cheer.
Nice to see EURO back spreading love and good cheer.
05-01-06, 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by WD_40
Congrats on your first race. It's a heck of a good time!
Nice to see EURO back spreading love and good cheer.
Nice to see EURO back spreading love and good cheer.
__________________
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo daVinci
"When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return." - Leonardo daVinci
