patentcad

You're all friggin Wussies. Except for Dr. W, he's a Sandbagger.

blonduathlongrl

definitly!
that's what I intend to do next time, that's the advice that was given to me after the race as well, but I cant go back, it's done and over with now. Ill just know better the next time!

we had 20 -25 MPH wind gust in that specific corner as well, which didnt help feeling a bit unsettled, and to that blogger,Cat3Phenom ? I felt good about my decision from the little experience I had at the time and was praised by the team for keeping the safety issue a priority as they have never seen conditions like these on the track in many years. But I appreciate your critisism, you are right, quitting should never be an option again and your advice on staying off the back will be very helpful!

And also next time, Ill bring my other wheels for a quick change if ever needed, the zipps didnt help with the wind.
it's all about learning!

patentcad

Fixed.

Spreggy

How did I miss this? Congrats Karen! I'm looking forward to your next race report. Is that your new team kit in your avvy? Lookin' good!

umd

I've been following this thread for a while, and while I generally agree not to pull out of a race, I did pull out of one halfway through two weeks ago. The only race I voluntarily did not finish. There were very gusty winds and even with my regular wheels I was being tossed around all over the place. My wife begged me not to race and I promised I would pull out if I felt unsafe. In the pack I was much more sheltered and the winds didn't bother me too much, but after I was snapped off the back and did a lap solo, I was almost blown over by a gust and when I rolled back around to the start I saw my wife watching and decided, screw it, lets go home. Didn't hurt that it was 5:30 in the evening and we had a 5 hour drive ahead of us too.

I thought about pulling out of my race yesterday after I had a nasty speed wobble on a gusty descent at nearly 50mph and saw my life flash before my eyes, and then later dropped on chain on the climb and lost the pack. It would have been a convenient excuse, but I hung in there, fought back and finished solidly mid-field. I was going to go the back of the field on the descent the following lap so that I could slow down if needed, had my chain not done it for me.

waterrockets 

I was doing my team's crit in the 3s, and we followed the 5s. I was marshaling the crowd at the start/finish, and when one of the 5s heard the bell, he thought it was the finish, looked at his belly button and started sprinting all out. He went into the back of the rider in front of him, and had the nastiest endo I've ever seen. He did the expected somersault, then it's like his bike welded to the ground for the second flip, and he swung around with his feet as the fulcrum, landing on his face.

When I got to him (I was closest), he was foaming at the mouth, and in the fetal position (but "concious"). He had probably just nailed his max hr, and then crashed. He started returning to human behaviors after a couple minutes, but it was really scary there at first. Turns out he shattered his eye socket, cheek, jaw, and collar bone.

So, I lined up for the Cat 3 race, really shaken. Next thing I know, I'm flying through the first corner at 30mph with guys leaning into me from both sides. Sigh. Luckily, after three laps, I flatted on the back side and just dropped out.

This is supposed to be fun, you know. If it gets too far from that mark, DNF starts to look more and more attractive.

2manybikes

Good job, you started. Good plan next time to drift off the back (if needed).

I think the advice about a flat race is good, I don't remember many flat roads up there.

Bailey would like a photo of the smelly sneakers or the food .

Red Rider

Congrats for showing up and starting! I get your fear -- I've felt it.

I totally feel you on the squirrelliness. That's why I hate crits.

My advice, FWIW, try road races. They start off like crits but they aren't as fast, and being in the pack isn't as scary. And then, you might adapt to and really love them. I'm not there, yet. I'm still loving the RRs, for the lack of tight technical turns.

Be sure to keep racing!