1st crit in ~14 years

Triathlon Forum
1

I went out for a local crit this evening after work. It is held on a flat, 1.8km loop with nice easy corners and very good traffic control. Signed up for the “C” category, and figured I’d do well to finish in the pack - while at the back of my mind hoping not to get blown out during the first lap.

I rode my bike to work today, and, not knowing how long it would take me to get there, I left really early. Dropped off my bag on the way so as not to have to worry about my laptop, and arrived at the race site @ 17:00 - 1/2 an hour before sign-in, and a full 1:15 before gun time. Well, lots of time to warm up and pre-ride the course…

Rode the course a bunch of times, signed in and got my number, and warmed up. Finally rolled up to the line. Okay - let’s take it out as easy as I can get away with, and not do anything (too) stupid. Horn. Clip & roll. 1st 20m or so were REALLY easy. Then some dude went off in a flash, and about 8 riders went on his wheel. A gap - not on my watch! Somehow my brain turned off as soon as the horn went off. I jumped on, closed the gap and hung on for dear life as I was pulled 'round the course a LOT faster than I would have liked. If you’ve ever wondered what it must feel like to inhale hot coals, try racing a crit.

Of course I had completely missed the fact that there were far more riders than 10, and that the pack had splintered into three groups. Rounding the back stretch (tailwind) the leaders wound it up (what? I thought this was wound up - we’re in the fucking C race for christs’s sake!) and I was alone. Wasted. Still moving pretty fast, but losing the pack even faster. The second pack went by. I tried to jump on, but the lungs and legs were having none of it. The third pack rolled by - slow enough that I should have been able to sit in EASILY. Not after an effort like that, though.

All alone. WAY off the back. Riding scared now. There are 15 laps to this race. How long can I hold on before I get lapped? Do I have any chance of catching up with the 3rd pack? Drop the hammer and ride my brains out. I’m hyperventilating to the point where my stomach aches, and the only reason I’m not throwing up is because my throat is too dry.

1 lap

2…

3…

4…

They must be closing fast now…

5…

Still no group in sight.

6…

What the hell? Sure they’d have slowed up - but this much?

Sev… caught. Dropped. Out of the race.

Sat up and coasted in to the start area. The commisaire tells me “this is a training race - soft pedal a lap and then hop back in it when they come 'round again”. I sit up and take an easy lap, struggling to breathe and spitting out a lot pf phlegm. The first pack goes by and I try to respond, but they’re gone almost as fast as the first time 'round. The second pack roars by and I jump on a wheel. I last a good 1/2 lap before succumbing to lung failure. The third pack comes round. “Are you in?” “Out” “Dammit!” They surge on but I manage to sit in until just before the bell lap, where I pull off. Don’t want to mess up anyone’s finish.

Goddammit I’d forgotten how hard crit racing is. I’l be back next week though… Maybe with a brain. Maybe.

2

Yep, that’s a crit alright. Heavy adreniline before the race, thinking “WTF am I doing here” during the race, and looking forward to the next race afterward.

But if you were truly paticipating in a “c” crit, where are the tales of riders slamming on brakes and not holding their line around corners? Nothing worse than riding 23mph, boxed in on both sides, while you’re two inches behind a squirley rider’s wheel.

3

I wouldn’t worry too much. Most riders’ brains never turn on no matter how many crits they do. :slight_smile:

Despite the difficulty you had, it still sounded like you had fun, yes?

4

But if you were truly paticipating in a “c” crit, where are the tales of riders slamming on brakes and not holding their line around corners? Nothing worse than riding 23mph, boxed in on both sides, while you’re two inches behind a squirley rider’s wheel.

From your comments it seems crits are the same the world over! Nicely encapsulated.

5

Where was it held, Khai? Your report sounds like my first season’s experiences. Got to love those time trialling laps as you try to get back to the pack. Our course was around 3 miles per loop, amazing how little variance in your speed and their’s as you start the sixth lap of trying to catch them.

6

But if you were truly paticipating in a “c” crit, where are the tales of riders slamming on brakes and not holding their line around corners?
Nothing worse than riding 23mph, boxed in on both sides, while you’re two inches behind a squirley rider’s wheel.

These guys were all roadies, not triathletes. ;-p I was actually quite surprised by the quality of the field in the C race. Not just the speed, but the bike handling abilities as well. This series is a smaller one that’s put on by one of the local teams - I’d guess that close to 75% of the field if not more was affiliated. Maybe the squirrely and total noob riders don’t know about it? The well known weekly crit is the “World Tuesday Night Championship” out at UBC. I don’t have the engine to hang there yet…

7

Despite the difficulty you had, it still sounded like you had fun, yes?

I had a blast! It just dawned on me that next week’s race will be 3 days before my 1/2 - so I might give it a pass. But I’ll definitely be back to fight another day!

8

I wish I could say I was TT’ing to get back on, but I was really just giving everything I had to prolong getting caught. Frankly, I was surprised I lasted as long as I did, given the pace at which they started.

The series is put on by Simon’s old team: http://www.teamcoastalcycling.com/display/team/Team+Coastal+Thursday+Challenge+Series

and is held in South Richmond

http://www.teamcoastalcycling.com/download/attachments/140/thurs_nighter_map_zoom_out.jpg

Flat, easy corners, and just enough wind to make a difference.

9

Hey good on you for giving it a go, will join you later in the season.

Want to ride tomorrow and Sunday? Tomorrow HSB/Cypress (the whole way) and back to Cafe d"Art in Park Royal for a coffee and cake! Interested

10

Tomorrow I have Lee’s, so unless you want to roll out (really!) late I’ll have to pass - but Sunday sounds good.

How much time do you have to cram? ;-p

11

6 weeks on Sat! I did not check out the profiles of some of those climbs before I signed up!

We are planning a flat land ride, but longer than usual on Sunday and probably at easy pace as well, so lets plan to meet you at 9/30 at the Arms

12

I dunno. You might be fine at the next crit if you sit in with the right group and don’t close any gaps. But what do I know. I’ve yet to sign up for an official tri event.

13

I recognise the area from a trip to Steveston with C last year. Try sticking to the peleton next week and haul the breakaways in that way you will get more of an even workout and see the finish too.

Good luck at Lee’s.

14

Sounds like a plan. Sunday, 09:30, @ the Arms.

Longer is what ~4hrs?

15

yup 4hrs if I dont get too bored riding around Richmond. Might need to do Iona, River Rd, Steveston and maybe UBC to get 4hrs in, easier way might be to count a coffee stop!

16

I’m not so much worried about having my legs torn off as I am considering the lack of time to recover from a crash, should Lady Luck leave my side. Having fresh legs would just be a bonus, and I’d piss that advantage away pretty quick anyway. ;-p

I still have the Wed night TT, and a score to settle with my Biryani assisted 15min time…

17

Oh sure - race strategy is easy when I’m sitting in front of a computer…

We’ll see what happens when the gun goes off!

18

True, you wouldn’t be living up to your signature line if you did, eh?

Don’t let Simon slack off some Fondo specific training, make sure he goes up Cypress with you Sunday.

19

Depending on how well you recover from HSB/Cypress, 4hrs the next day could be anything. I’d lend you a fixie to keep it interesting, but Linda would kill me with that whole knee surgery recovery thing…

20

Take the fixie, she’ll kick your arse, might as well offer her your head too!!