Middi-zon

I felt like a complete sandbagger. Let me start with some backround...Last year I competed in 4 races in the Jr. Novice division, 2 5th place finishes, 1 race a went an extra lap and ended up in 11th, and 1 win in a very small race. There was a very big field in 3 of the races, and I felt I competed and belonged in my class. I get to the race last Thursday (ALONE thanks to moabrider47!), I haven't been on my bike in weeks (it was at the LBS), and decide that because I'm moving up to the Senior age category, I would stay in the Novice skill category. The kids race goes off, isn't it fun to see them go around, and Novice and Super Jr. (12-14) are asked to go to the starting line. I make my wave through the 40 something 12 year olds to the novice riders, to my surprise, their were 6 of us! Me, 3 guys in their late 40s, 1 woman in her early 30s, and 2 women in their late 30s.

The race starts, I fly off the line and start in on the first descent, in to a wide flat section with 4 90 degree turns, I handle it like a race car driver, high in, low out, into a sprint section, I'm doing a good 30 mph in top gear, I look back...there is one guy in sight, a good quarter mile away ! I feel kind of bad, and slow up coming into the climb section. The climb is a long but an easy middle ringer. A guy and a girl are gaining on me and I feel better. Into the singletrack I go, I take it easily, and am about to come out for the end of my 1st of 3 laps, just out of the single track there is a sharp sandy turn, the 1 thing I forgot to do before the race came back to bite me...my tire pressure was too high! I didn't notice it on the practice laps because I wasn't going all out. The bike went out from under me and I hit the ground, it wasn't bad, I didn't slide, just went down. I pick the bike up and the girl passes me, "Oh, I shouldn't have slowed up!" I thought. I get back on the bike and drop the chain, "Nooo, I'm gonna loose!" 1 guy passes me. I'm back on the bike, catch and drop the guy within 100 ft, and then blow by the girl on the climb. On the 3rd lap I lap 2 in my class and 4 Super Jrs as I go in for the win almost 2 minutes ahead of anyone else.

I congratulate the other riders and head to the medic tent to treat my wounds on my arm and knee from my fall. I come out all bandaged up as the Sport and Expert riders are lining up, " I could compete with these guys, maybe not win, but I'd be in the middle of the pack," I thought to myself. I watched their race eating my chicken burrito you get free for racing, and I made my decision to move up to Sport Class.

What do you guys think?

dirtbikedude

I would not call you a sandbager. You went up a catagory in age and did not know what to expect. Now that you know and decided to move up in class is a good and considerate decision. So you did the right thing buy testing the water and then deciding to move up. What you should do is check out what time the riders are running in the higher cat. so you know where you stand.

Cyclone

Free chicken burrito for racing?! I'd probably lose but where do I sign up? !

Congratulations on the win though. Think of it this way, since you screwed up and still beat them pretty badly it'll inspire them to work on becoming better.