LAJ

I missed Sarah's report. Nice!

I want to thank each of you fine Folks for the well wishes. It means a lot.


I'm so with rwt. I'm stronger, I can hang with the 55 guys, and I do that well, if I may say so. Not every race has the 55's, so I get to race with the kids. Testosterone is strong sauce, and people do stupid stuff when amped up. Sad, as every single person in that race knew that corner, yet they still buried their goofy self into it. Stupidity ruled the day, and this hospital has many guests as a result.

LAJ

I forgot to add.... Crits are one of the strongest drugs I have ever done, and the high cannot be matched.

Hermes

Don't be so sure...

shovelhd

If I could ride a track like that every week, I'd be the next Hermes. My road bike would never see a race course again.

Hermes

There are IT jobs in SoCal.

IBOHUNT

That looks like a hoot. Only thing missing is an infield like Talladega

Hermes

Don't be so sure... Elite track nationals at Velo Sports Center Carson, CA.

IBOHUNT

Clearly never been to 'dega where liquor abounds and tops on women don't

Cleave

Hi. If you want a Talladega-infield or Turn-1-infield-at-Indy experience, go to a Six-Day race in Europe. Not sure if the unfiltered cigarette smoke stills hangs as heavy in the air as it did in the early 1980s but it's definitely a multi-day party. Getting on to the infield as a non-racer is something like getting a backstage pass at a 1980s Van Halen concert.

Cleave

Great, just what I need, another 55+ Master in SoCal who will make my life wicked miserable at bike races.

shovelhd

Sounds like some Tulsa Tough, Iron Hill, and any decent cross race.

And I've been to Bristol. Think Dega in 1/5 the size and the same number of crazies. We're talking dynamite as fireworks and beer bongs at 6am.

IBOHUNT

There was a time I'd be all over that like a pack of dogs on a 3 legged cat. Now in my mid 50's....pass.

Usedta could not be able to get a ticket to Bristol.

Dalai

Just dropped back into this thread and see LAJ's post. Horrible news mate. Hope it heals fast!

sarals 

I've been to Laguna Seca.

Oh, wait, it's four miles from my house!

LAJ

Thank you Dalai.

I have to agree with the horrible part, but it is slowly coming into the realm of reality. Not that I like it, but I do somewhat accept it.

The bike looks to be something that can be worked with.

shovelhd

How are you feeling?

LAJ

shovelhd, to be honest, I'm pretty pissed off. Each one of us took that corner 8 previous times, and knew what was involved. Looks like a tailgunner of a group with a gap on us of about 10-15 feet lost it, and laid there like a pile of laundry. The next bunch, which I was about 4th or 5th in, then got to deal with him. Of course, I have film, and perhaps there is some criticism that I would eat up like my favorite desert. I thought I was clear, but a sideways hit, or a rearended finished me off.

Crutches suck. Walkers suck. I have no other option though. Thank you for asking, shovelhd.

17 minutes in, or so.

shovelhd

Man. That guy's comment about a minute before was an omen. Nothing looked technical about that turn either. Mr. Green just wadded it.

sarals 

I was going to say the same thing. Nothing gave that away, it looked to me like someone went wide, hit a barrier, and it's all over. Not a thing you could have done. LAJ, your bike handling was absolutely solid, good steady lines through the corners, no sideways movements, just right on. I was thinking it was a fairly safe race until "the moment". I am so sorry it happened. I hope you're feeling better, and I'm wishing you a speedy recovery.

valygrl

Weekend Race Report:
Saturday - Best on Hess SW3, 3rd / 3 (last)
Windy, rolling 9 mile TT in the plains south of Denver. Not much to say.

Sunday - Guanella Pass HC, SW3, 5th/6
11 miles, 3200' climbing, from 8,500' to 11,700' elevation. Dropped after 5 minutes, so no strategy to speak of, just an uphill TT at ridiculous altitude. The last 2 miles >8%. Cold and windy. Hovered near vomit-threshold for a long time.

revchuck 

Must've been one of those weekends.

That hillclimb sounds just brutal!

Hermes

Brutal

Racer Ex 

LAJ, heal up.

Can't say why the guy hit the deck...but he wasn't going to vanish in 2-3 seconds. The guy leading your group through the corner was probably not looking up track, the rest of you were following wheels. You probably would have been clear if you were the end of the line, or the lead guy had gone inside.

**** happens. Been there and it sucks.

gsteinb

Start finish line outside the Flying Fish brewery

https://www.bikereg.com/somerdale-tour-de-fish

IBOHUNT

LAJ - Don't see anything there that would be on your shoulders. Someone screwed the pooch that you and others paid for.

Heal up.