That crit was ****ing hard.

That is all.

Keith Berger Crit, East Hartford CT. P123s, with a few teams I've never seen before (NoTubes, Boston Bicycle School?). I usually wait to the last minute to move up but felt the desire to move up by about 13 to go (45 laps, based on BG's numbers, 40 or so miles). At 10 to go I finally succumbed to the pressure and started moving up. It was totally uncontrolled, curb to curb going into each turn, then all sorts of pinching/cutting/etc. Two crashes in the last three laps that I know of. I lost position 2nd turn last lap, realized I had nothing in the tank, sat up. On rethinking, it's possible I could have made it up there, but with a 5 or 6 wide sprint at the line, the sprinters had to have 100% to make it work. I had maybe 80% at the time.

On an aside, the Missus and I stopped at the race on the way back from Wisconsin. We left Wed early AM, visited friends in Chicago, a family wedding in Wisconsin, then drove back. I'd raced Tues night (two other guys crashed early, then I messed up the field sprint), left everything as is in the car, brought 3 kits along with me, used one on one ride (Fri), then raced Sun after driving about 4 hours. We spent 17 hours on the road on Saturday so we could make the race Sunday.

Although I don't necessarily recommend driving 2000+ miles before a race, I felt okay once my teammates stopped attacking the field for 10-15 laps. I was very close to sitting up at that point, but then it settled down. I was redlined for a while.

Exhausted after - didn't download nothing, SRM or camera.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't get it. I traditionally hear lots of whooshing sounds.

the post directly above it has your answers. if 1.01.

Ah.

whoosh

no pun intended, but I thought it was iffy.

Dude. My date tomorrow is ~2 years older. I called her old and wrinkly.

Not sure, but I don't think she appreciated it all that much.

Cdr,

When did the KB crit become the state champ race?

What happened with nutmeg?

Homebrew - glad you didn't end up in the hospital.

Badhat - I was pretty jealous of your break. Long before you guys were out of sight I was already wishing that I had joined your hail mary. The peloton was surprisingly nonchalant about chasing it down (until after the cone).

Dead Dog Stage Race (SM3)

Road Race: This was an awesome course with beautiful scenery, good climbing, and 50+ mph descents. By the numbers: 86 miles, 7,500 feet of climbing, and a 10,800 foot pass. Unfortunately my fitness decided to stay home this weekend only to be replaced by an early case of cramps. The power file looks more like a January training ride than a race…the final two hours were a solo slog that I would rather not repeat.

Crit: I’m a big fan of downtown crits and this course did not disappoint. Downtown Laramie was a great venue. 10th place in a pack finish.

TT: The 10 mile TT promised to be a fast race. My motivation had already checked out for the weekend (I believe it was already home hanging out with my ‘fitness’) but I was determined to finish.

The Lesson: Sometimes you're just going to ride below your expectations. It’s as simple as that. There is nothing you can do but accept it for what it is, lick your wounds, and get back on the horse.


*edited --- that $hit was too long. If I don't feel like reading a report that long, I'm sure you don't either.

It's confusing.

KB is the USAC/NEBRA recognized state championships, this is the first year I think.

Nutmeg State Games is a CT-run, CT-monitored, CT-"Olympics". It has nothing to do with USAC/USCF/etc. In fact, this year the Nutmeg crit was non-USAC (like Quabbin, some other races).

So... top Nutmeg racers are recognized by the entity "Nutmeg State Games" as champs/whatever.

Top CT racers in the KB crits are recognized by NEBRA/USAC as CT champs.

I think the New Britain Crit (same venue as Nutmeg for those not from the area) are the New England championships, so recognized by NEBRA/USAC.

It was the CT state criterium championships for all categories except Masters.

I saw that but didn't know the distinction from the KB and nutmeg.

Racer Ex got 100 win over the weekend. Big Congrats!

Tour of KC Crit on Sunday P/1/2

Was the lone Iowan in the race, and had no idea who anyone was, so it was weird not knowing who potential threats were. Early break had Tilford in it. Since he was pretty much the only guy I knew about in the race I went with it. Lasted for a few laps. A three man break went, and I guess it had the GC leaders in it, so the leaders team moved to the front and slowed everything down. All the big teams had someone up the road. Rest of the race was boring. Pack finish.

Congrats EX!

You're already at 37% Salsa? Geesh.

Helps that I got 3rd and 1st in my first two races as a 2. I'm running out of races to do in Iowa so I'm looking to do Tour of Lawrence this weekend if I can find someone to carpool with.

It's as if they're trying to make CT the dumbest state in the union.

Big fight over who gets to be the championship race. It started 2 years ago at the NEBRA promoter's meeting when the KB promoters asked how they could bid for the state championships. NEBRA replied there are none that they recognized. That started it all.

All I know is some guy I beat last year got a state championship jersey in the masters

Be sure and bow your head in homage as you pass Mount Oread.

Thanks. Did the State Track Championship Saturday night, started getting a sore throat Thursday, stayed with me Friday on the plane ride and woke up Saturday morning and could barely swallow. Took two Aleve and sucked it up for my teammates in the Team Sprint for #100. Felt like monkey butt. Went back to the hotel and figured I was done, but a long nap and some food and I felt OK. Figured I was there anyway and needed the checkout ride so I did the evening session. Got third in the 500m, then matched up with the other fast guy in the 2k who had beaten me in the 500.

First 4 laps we were hitting the stripe at the same time and I could here people start yelling "Go, go go!". Turned it up on the last two laps and won by 4 seconds, a bit slower than my time at Nats but I was happy with the ride all things considered. Two jerseys and a medal. Two out of three ain't bad.

Congratulations, RacerEx!

Nice to see you Homebrew and bostongarden. Bostongarden was working his butt off in the 3's field. Very fast. Homebrew was in with me but got taken out with two to go. Damage didn't look to bad, but heal up quick.

Keith Berger Memorial Criterium, M40+, 17th, around 75 riders, spot showers, 70's, slight wind right to left. As a 54 year old in a 40+ field my plan was to watch for a bit and then attack at an appropriate time. Several small groups got away and got reeled back in. A group of 8 including the national champion I lapped the field with at Wells with were off for a bit taking primes. I tried a step bridge through another rider but he was toast by the time I got to him and I fell back. We caught the group right afterwards. I went with several other attempts with no luck. With 8 to go the bell rang. I was in a good position on the backstretch and drilled it. One rider came along, passed me in the short chute, but I was able to take him coming out of turn four. The prime ($170 service) was from my fitter which I will use to fit the cross bike. There was a crash with 2 to go, and the field did the classy thing until the bell when it got frantic. I got squeezed a bit in the backstretch but sprinted well out of the turn. I left a bit on the course but I stayed upright in the 40's and didn't come home empty handed.

One thing I learned here. This was a very fast race. I was one of a handful of 50+ year olds, yet I was in it, I was able to get away, and I was able to win a sprint. Although I do best when I get away in a break, I have got to be more aggressive setting up for the field sprint, because I can beat a lot of these guys.

Reston?

Aha! Congrats!