I didn't crash for the first 5 years I raced. I crashed in training, pushing limits in turns and such. I don't think I was as comfortable in the field as I could have been, but for the last couple years of those 5 years I did skills clinics (touching wheels, bumping, etc).

The next 5 years I crashed frequently. Virtually every crash was similar - I'd be in good position with 3 to 20 turns to go in the race (P123, 123, 2-3, 3, or 3-4 races), maybe 5th-8th, someone would come blazin' up the inside, try and turn, slide out, and take out 3rd-10th. Or, if raining, a guy around me would fall over on a manhole cover and take my wheels out from under me. I did hit one guy that was doing a "Sit N Spin" on the pavement in front of me at 30 mph. I had one "half crash" in a road race - pretty much the whole field crashed at 45 mph on a descent after a guy up front flatted and crashed. I endo'ed into a huge pile of riders, rolled up the stack of riders, rolled back down, got my bike, pulled it off the stack, and kept going.

I crashed 1x in the next 17 years - I loosened up my SPD-R cleats a bit (the original Shimano road clipless, not the Look type) so I wouldn't have to hit my shoe with my fist. I was sprinting out of a turn, back of the field, unclipped, and highsided at about 35 mph. All by myself. I think this was 4 years ago? Maybe 5 years ago. I retightened my pedals and started looking for new pedals (I use Keos now, have unclipped 2x in races but no crashes from unclipping).

Then I crashed 1x after that, last fall. Someone moved across the road just before the sprint, no regard for anyone around him. He took me out as well as half the 15-20 rider field. He was suspended for a bit.

Last year was the first broken bone in my life for me.

For the record - 3 years as a Junior (Cat 4). Been a 3 since two races into my Senior (18-99 yr old) years. This is my 28th year of racing. I do mainly crits. I love setting up for field sprints. Love going really fast in a pack. Love cornering hard in a pack. If I could just do crits all the time for training I would. Um. I'd have to have a course disclaimer - Mainly flat, hopefully with a little rise somewhere. No 39x23 walls on the course.

I hate doing Masters races. Too hard. I'd rather race against the "regular" Cat 3s. I point this out because Masters races are typically safer than 3s.

I also don't feel the need to win. I want to perform to the best of my ability in a given situation. I'll back out of a situation if I don't feel things are right. Heck, last week I backed off in both the 3-4s and P123s.

cdr