I participated in my first USAC track night last Tuesday: The Jackie Dunn Memorial at San Diego.

Background: Second season racing Tuesday night ATRA series in San Diego, complacent cat3 roadie. I feel similarly to jmikami with respect to my road and track racing.

Short Version:
It wasn't my night.

Long Version:
Being a cat4 on the track, I had two fields available to me: cat4/5 and cat3/4. I decided to pay the extra $5 to make me eligible for both fields.

Cat 4/5 triple sprint (3x5):
I took third in this one, but I could have won. During the first race, I was positioned perfectly and just gunned it super hard at 1 to go. I was able to hold my gap.

I didn't really participate in the second race, as a break of three riders took off and stayed OTF from 3 to go. I wasn't in a great position to respond, and I knew these guys were strong, so I just let them roll in.

Last race: I blew my load sprinting too early, taking off from second wheel at like 1.5 to go, effectively leading out the sprint. Additionally, I accelerated around the first rider seated, barely going faster. In retrospect, I should have recovered for like 2 seconds, leaving a little gap, and got out of the saddle to sprint into the first rider's draft before coming around. I got nipped before the line by first and second place, both less then 1/2 a bike length ahead.

Cat 3/4 30-lap scratch:
*disclaimer: The 1-3 field was too small, and combined with this field.

I started this race in the very back, which turned out to be a bad idea. A couple strong riders just drilled it from the bell, and I spent the first 6 or 7 laps closing gaps from people who had been blown off the paceline. I got gapped for the millionth time at like 8 laps in and pulled out, partially out of anger. This race was particularly frustrating as there were riders who I regularly beat at TNR that managed to stay in the race.

Cat 4/5 15-lap tempo:
There's not much to say for this one either as I wasn't really a player here either. I figured that I would sit in the pack and let some riders burn up some matches for the first few laps, then take some laps at the mid-way point. What happened was that 3 riders stayed OTF the whole time, with no one really willing to chase hard. Bah.


It just wasn't my night. Additionally, I could be a little better prepared: I've been missing bar end plugs on my track bike for like 3 months, and had to scramble to borrow some before each race, getting me late to the rail.

Bottom Line: I learned some lessons, and will be more prepared and vigilant next time.