Actually, I have been in breaks that survived, but I wasn't by myself. I know my limits, I know what I can do solo. It's not going off the front and expecting to stay away. I can commit, but I'm not a strong solo rider, I'm a sprinter. I do know if I can work with two or three other riders, a break is definitely worth doing. In my case, this is largely age dependent, in a race where I can pretty much expect that the riders I'm with are pretty close to me in age and therefore fitness. In a "normal" 3/4 crit or road race, it's hard enough given the age difference just to stay in position in the peloton.

The thoughts I've had in the (two) successful breaks I've been in were more along the lines of organization, making sure we were working together and not frying each other on the front - until the last lap! Then it's gaming to make sure I'm not on the front on the final corner.

I tried a break at the State Crit last summer, also not solo. I chased another woman for a prime, which was a pre-planned setup to get a teammate off the front and up the road. It didn't work, my teammie didn't follow, so I went for the prime win instead. Got it, too.