[QUOTE=Ultron;20086321
Aside from the brifters did your new bike make that much of a difference?[/QUOTE]

No. Weight on most crit courses is inconsequential unless it is on your rims/tires. Plan ahead and be in the right gear so you can accelerate out of turns. Or take the outside and keep the speed and rpms up. My new bike was a LeMond Maillot Jaune-- still steel--but tig welded Reynolds 853 with a carbon fork. I imagined that it responded more readily to my intentions.

Taking your hands off the bars in a tight group at speed makes it hard to react to silliness in front of you. And if you can't be smooth when the dudes before you do something stupid, the dudes behind you can suffer. I was always mindful of crashing out the other guys and felt better about shifting from the hoods. Bar ends are classic and would achieve the same goal if I were to race again.

Have fun this spring. I'm jealous.