Racer Ex 

It was like a minivan drag racing a Turbo Porsche.

LAJ

Character building races suck, @sarals! Regroup for San Ardo, and kick some butt there.

LAJ

Nice job, @Racer Ex. Every bit of that scares me to bits.

LAJ

50+1-2-3

I was to go with every attack, though I don't think we planned on like 10 in the first 1/2 hour. Rode near the front, went with 6 of them, and then was unceremoniously spit out the back. This is the State Patrol test track on top of a tabletop mountain, which lends itself to wind, and there was some of that. I almost latched back on, but just didn't have enough. Smaller field, since folks are more into the race tomorrow. I just want to get to know who I'm racing with, and see how it is.

Either way, I wasn't last. Of course, some d-bag Boulder Ortho guy had to ride some Marine's wheel till he used him up to catch me, then sprint to the line for 15th, or whatever. Whatever is right, but **** like that just motivates me, and I don't forget garbage like that. Honestly, this is a whole different crowd than the other guys, and I better realized this bike racing thing is very serious business. Very serious.

40+3's tonight. A different plan. Obviously, I'm not, nor never will be a sprinter, but sitting in will be the word of the day til later. Then we'll see.

Hermes

[Track] endurance riders are sprinters who can go long. Sarah Hammer

LAJ

valygrl

Same race as LAJ, windy race track, nice gentle corners, wind and a little climb. My first race post-accident. I raced the MW50+ b/c my usual category - SW3 - was combined (one purse) with the P123 and that sounded too much for my first race back. I thought about doing both but ended up just having one great race and calling it good.

There were just 4 in my field we were racing with the 40+, of which there were 5. I won my field and 1st in the field sprint, with one 40+ off the front. Second in the points primes too, so for once, payed for my race entry today! Pretty easy and uneventful race, I'm going to stick with racing 3's.

Racer Ex 

@LAJ, that BO move is bush. But it happens. You'll figure out the "big boy" moves soon enough and be ahead of that kind of nonsense. BTW, 10 attacks in 30 minutes is not an outlier in a 1/2/3 race. Well, maybe on the low side

LAJ

I thought I saw you, but you were in a crowd, so I wasn't sure if it was you back racing, or one of your teammates, valygrl. Good stuff!

LAJ

Thanks @Racer Ex. I have a lot to learn, but my season is now about learning what I need to do for next season. I'm certainly not a gifted athlete, so preparing my head for what's next is really my goal right now. Course, Mrs. LAJ is on board, as she would rather hear of podium pictures, than failed attacks, and off the back stories.

Finished with the pack in the 40+3's, and that's OK. I was messing about in all positions, and was very comfortable racing with those guys. They aren't perfect, and neither am I, but it was A-OK cornering in tight quarters with them. I had a good time.

Heathpack 

Nice racing @LAJ!

And that's a pretty sweet first race back, @valygrl!

LAJ

Thank you, @Heathpack

LAJ

Bannock Crit 50+123 and the 40+3 combined for 60 riders on a figure 8 course. 18/31. 2 cars parked on the course, one at the outside of the fastest corner on the course.

I always worry about being the guy that can't clip in on the front row, but need to get over that, and get there. Started in the 3rd row, and had lots of positions to try and make up. Was getting there, and would pick off 4-5, then lose 2-3, but they're a bit more aggressive, so it was slowly working. Got to mid pack, doing OK, and they decided to tangle it up on an uphill straight. I went way left, and it should have been missed by all involved, but of course not.... I went over the bars, landed on some guy, untangled my bike from the barricade, and got my free lap. Rejoined at the back, made up some spots, but refused to join in on the last 3 corner games, just because. Hung with the pack, but there was certainly no threat from me to steal a podium spot.

Bike is dinged up a bit, and I'm feeling it a bit now too. Gonna take some doing to hide the bruises all over my back from Mrs. LAJ, but we'll see how that plays out. I heard it was one of the old guys that started the shenanigans, and so far, I'm not impressed with that bunch.

valygrl

Ugh, sorry dude!

Just go ahead and start in the front row, if you can't clip in, then whatever, you wouldn't be the first one that happened to.

Glad you are ok-ish. Advil is your friend. Are you really keeping it secret from the missus?

I couldn't get there for the 3's race today (about to leave for the airport) and the 50+ at 7:45 was too early for me.

LAJ

Thanks @valygrl. Mrs. LAJ knows, just not the gory details. Just a little scuffle I got caught up in, with not much more detail given.

revchuck 

LAJ - Ugh. Hope the soreness isn't too bad. Hopefully, Mrs. LAJ's maternal instincts kick in and you get some extra TLC rather than extra butt-chewing!

Heathpack 

Gnarly, @LAJ! Feel better. Sounds like the new crowd is going to take some getting used to.

LAJ

Thanks @revchuck, @Heathpack!

Not sure what the deal is. I have never heard so many tire blowouts, and crappy sounding bikes than I have in this race. People swerving around manhole covers, which weren't even a bump in the road, just strange. The only thing I didn't worry about was the cornering, even after the mishap.

sarals 

@LAJ, that was eventful two days! Hiding from the Mrs is never easy, we have a nose for "man hurts".

Good work, and thanks for the props!

@valygrl, I did not know you'd crashed. I guess that's a good thing in disguise? Anyway, good racing for your first one back. Glad you're okay!

valygrl

sarals - yeah, i kinda kept it on the dl for a while, but did mention in the training thread a little while ago: https://www.bikeforums.net/18925529-post8370.html

totally self-inflicted, not in a race, just training - sprinting for a city limit sign, i had an incomplete front upshift which lead to chain drop which lead to a broken cleat and i kicked my own front wheel out from under me. really just lucky i didn't get run over by a car since i landed in the middle of a busy high speed road. also lucky the folks around me were all great bike handlers and i didn't take anyone with me. all better now.

sarals 

Oh ***!!! The mental image I had of that was horrendous. I am so glad you're okay!!!!

(Is the bike okay?) I had to find a way to giggle a little, certainly that was not something to laugh about. I'm so glad you're safe.

valygrl

it was expensive - handlebars, pedals, derailleur hanger, helmet.

LAJ

I had no idea either, other than when you said something here. Very good you made it through to the other side.

Expensive indeed. Broken Carbon looks to be getting some of my business. Though, I did do 10 laps on it, so maybe it isn't as bad as I think.

LAJ

Thank you, @sarals. Tough start to this upgrade business.

sarals 

Yikes!

But...

The helmet did what it was supposed to do. Someone once told me, when I complained about the price of helmets, "What, do you think you have a $40 head? Go ahead and buy that $40 helmet, then..." Expensive, yes, but the alternative you can't put a price on.

I'm so glad you're okay.